Well I think that when you are "Instutionalized" for four years straight for a very stressful place like VMI(or any other academy for that matter) it becomes necessary to relax from time to time, mostly though small things. However, Halloween is a time where you can forget who you are and enjoy yourself for a night. I think that is what most of these cadets were doing (other than the hitler jugen).
I think that would be a case of bad judgement, they will probably be punished severely since the adminstration has been embarrassed by this incident, and the old addage says that "shit roles down Hill. However, to expell these cadets on this incident would be stupid. I can tell you that a lot worse things are taking place on this nations college campuses and in the frat quads. I would rather have any of these "morons" at my side than some frat boy from State U.
I was a frat boy from a state university and left as a major. And I can tell you, while we did a lot of stupid (and fun) stuff, no one, not one of my fraternity bothers ever dressed up as a nazi or a black "savage". Sorry, but "slips" like these can destroy unit moral and integrity and in the end cause casualties.