Investigators did set up a videoconference to meet VMI leadership, including VMI’s interim superintendent, Major General Cedric Wins, and other senior officers, and has arranged subsequent weekly teleconferences. Negotiating with VMI the rules of engagement “has consumed valuable time that the Team could have spent on conducting substantive fact-finding work.” Work was delayed by “procedural issues,” in particular the “surprise involvement” of VMI counsel McGuireWoods LLP and then the reassignment of that role to Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, says the interim report. The interim report said that the special investigative team has met “virtually” with VMI’s leadership several times, started conducting alumni interviews, and submitted document requests. “We at Barnes & Thornburg wholly denounce racism in any form,” states the firm’s website, “and seek to play a part, in whatever way we can, to address the burdens the in Minneapolis have brought and the larger social forces that led to them.” The procurement process resulted in the selection of Barnes & Thornburg, a law firm that emphasizes its commitment to racial justice. Additionally, the investigator is ordered to compare VMI “across multiple dimensions” to other Virginia public universities and to recommend reforms. The RFP for the contract, administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, gave the investigator a wide scope: not only to identify civil rights violations and threats of racial violence, but to gauge if there is a “culture of racial intolerance” at VMI, and to determine if there are “equity gaps” in VMI’s culture, policies, practices, and traditions. To some VMI officials and alumni, it appeared as if the fix was in. The investigation arose from a series of Washington Post articles accusing the military academy of “relentless racism.” Decrying what he called the “clear and appalling culture of ongoing structural racism,” Northam announced in October that he would hire an independent outside investigator to probe the charges. It’s not surprising that VMI administrators are feeling defensive considering the origins of the inquiry. “The Team firmly believes that the presence of VMI representatives will undermine the independence and effectiveness of the investigation, and may well deter the cadets and faculty being interviewed from being as forthcoming as they might otherwise be,” states the report. Also, Barnes & Thornburg has sought assurances that individuals speaking to investigators will not be retaliated against. The two parties have sparred over VMI’s request that legal counsel attend an administrative briefing and sit in on interviews of faculty, staff, and cadets. VMI has hired its own law firm as counsel, and disagreements have arisen over how to conduct the investigation. The law firm has not had enough time to draw any conclusions, but the report does describe the testy relationship between the firm and VMI administrators as the investigation unfolds. Prior to this, recipients will be issued the historical archived paper transcript.Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the special investigator selected to probe racism at Virginia Military Institute, released its first progress report today, as required by contract. Secure electronic (.pdf) transcript processing is available for cadets/alumni who attended/graduated VMI after 2000. Virginia Military Institute reserves the right to withhold grades and transcripts for individuals with outstanding administrative or financial obligations with the Institute. ![]() $10.25 per copy – paid for by credit or debit card.Electronic or Written Authorization from the individual cadet/alum (option provided online).Name, Address, Phone Number and Email address of where you can be reached (in the event there is a problem processing your request.). ![]() Social Security Number or VMI ID number.Name & Address of Recipient (Please be thorough as very often transcripts do not make it to their desired destination due to incomplete address information - include full name, address, and zip code).Transcript requests must be made through the National Student Clearinghouse electronic ordering site. All transcripts are issued as a cumulative summary of a cadet's performance at VMI. A transcript is a copy of a cadet's permanent academic record at the time of issue.
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