VMI’s Integrity at Stake

This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire

By Sal Vitale
Real Clear Wire

For several years, I, along with other concerned alumni, diligently worked to restore the “Old Corps” leadership and ideals to the management of the VMI Alumni Association. Our efforts faced resistance from those in charge, and now we find ourselves also grappling with issues far beyond governance of the Alumni Agency (VMIAA) and its affiliated organizations, including the Alumni Association.

A particularly troubling matter involves the selection of Mr. Philip Crane a Visiting Professor under VMIAA’s Peay Endowment, whose public involvement in anti-Semitic activities and support for Hamas raises serious questions about the Institute’s stance on crucial moral issues. This matter requires immediate attention and full transparency from VMI and its Board of Visitors (BOV) and the VMIAA to preserve the integrity of the Institute and its alumni body.

For years, our group of alumni worked diligently to ensure the concerns of VMI graduates are heard and acted upon. One of our key goals was to reinstate legitimate proxy voting for the VMIAA Board members, to ensure those selected truly represent the alumni body and not just the interests of a small group. We also pushed for better access to alumni contact information to foster meaningful communication and ensure that all viewpoints are considered when important decisions are being made. Unfortunately, our efforts were thwarted at every turn. The VMIAA has repeatedly denied us access to critical resources, including alumni contact lists, citing unfounded concerns about personal data usage. A number of alumni are now suing VMIAA to force transparency, accountability, and return the VMIAA to alumni control, but a much graver issue demands immediate action.

Recently, we discovered VMI hired Mr. Phillip Crane, himself a VMI graduate, as a Visiting Professor at the Institute. Crane’s background as a leader of the Palestine Working Group (PWG) while a graduate student at Columbia University from 2022 to 2024 is deeply troubling. That group issued a public statement endorsing Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization. His hiring after his endorsement of violence, especially following the brutal October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israeli civilians, raises alarming questions about VMI’s commitment to upholding its core values. This is not a minor issue—it demands scrutiny. We must ask: Does VMI stand with those who condone violence, or will it take a firm stand against hatred and terrorism?

Mr. Crane’s hiring forces us to confront difficult but necessary questions about VMI’s values, particularly regarding its faculty hiring practices and the influence of external political movements. In a world where anti-Semitism and terrorism are rising globally, we cannot afford to remain silent. VMI must take swift and decisive actions to reaffirm its commitment to fostering an environment of respect, tolerance, and open dialogue.

This is not a call for censorship, nor is it an attack on academic freedom. It is a demand for accountability and transparency. We need to understand how individuals like Crane, whose public actions align with groups that support violence and terror, are vetted before being hired as faculty. This issue goes beyond one individual. It speaks to the very future of VMI and its ability to maintain its reputation as an institution that upholds honor, integrity, and respect for human life.

VMI can remedy the situation by returning to the standards of transparency and accountability that VMI once embodied. We propose a comprehensive review of VMI’s hiring practices, with particular focus on the vetting process for faculty members funded by donor programs like the Peay Endowment. The alumni and donor community deserve a detailed explanation of how these vetting and sections are made, particularly when there are legitimate concerns about the individual’s political affiliations and actions.

VMI alumni and donors deserve to be fully informed about the decisions that affect the future of the Institute. We cannot be expected to remain silent when questions of moral integrity and accountability are at stake. Alumni are not merely financial supporters—they are stakeholders in VMI’s future. It is only fair to give us access to the full facts surrounding Mr. Crane’s hiring. This is not just about one professor; it is about VMI’s commitment to the values it has always represented.

We are not here to impose our views on VMI, but to foster a productive dialogue on how to move forward. We understand that academic institutions must protect academic freedom. However, endorsing violence and terrorism should not be protected under the guise of academic freedom. We propose the BOV and VMIAA fully disclose the details of Mr. Crain’s selection and hiring to alumni, donors, and the public followed by the BOV publishing a path forward to prevent this from recurring. VMI’s integrity is too important to be compromised by external political movements or by its own actions that appear to endorse hate.

We acknowledge that academic freedom is a vital component of university life and professors should have the right to express political views. However, endorsing an organization that engages in terrorist activities and violence against civilians crosses a moral line. This is not simply a matter of differing political views; it is about whether VMI is willing to stand by its values or compromise them in the face of political movements that promote hate and violence. Some may defend Mr. Crane’s actions at Columbia, claiming they were misinterpreted or that his personal views should not disqualify him from teaching at VMI. However, the facts are clear: Mr. Crane was not simply expressing political views; he served as Secretary of a group that endorsed Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. This issue is not about political disagreement; it concerns endorsing violence. VMI must ensure it does not become a platform for hate.

Some may argue that VMI’s decisions do not have the same national implications as those of larger institutions. However, VMI’s alumni body includes many who serve in the military and other vital roles across the country. More than 50% of VMI graduates go on to serve as officers in the U.S. military, and many in the Virginia and other state National Guard units. This makes VMI a critical institution, not just locally, but nationally. The moral example set by VMI must be beyond reproach.

In response to our inquiries, the Alumni Agencies and the administration has been evasive. VMI denied Mr. Crane’s involvement with Hamas-supporting groups, even in the face of clear evidence to the contrary. We provided documented statements from the Palestine Working Group, and we asked straightforward questions: Was Mr. Crane’s involvement in these groups overlooked during the vetting process? Was the process thorough enough to prevent such an appointment? What steps will VMI take to ensure this doesn’t happen again? The administration refused to provide clear answers to these questions, leaving us with a sense of distrust and frustration. Crane and the BOV could resolve these questions by addressing them directly, but both have remained silent, avoiding the issue.

VMI must take immediate action to address these concerns and repair its reputation as an institution of honor and integrity. VMI must stop using vague language to deflect attention and start providing clear answers. The BOV must begin to act and execute their statutory responsibilities. If VMI is to remain an institution its alumni can be proud of, it must reaffirm its commitment to transparency and accountability in all aspects of its operations, especially when it comes to hiring faculty.

I urge all VMI alumni, donors, and supporters to add their voice to those who demand VMI take a stand for honor, integrity, and respect for all. This is not just about one professor or one appointment; it is about the future of our alma mater and the values it represents.

We cannot allow VMI’s legacy to be defined by inaction. We owe it to ourselves, our fellow alumni, and future generations of cadets to ensure that VMI remains a place where honor and integrity are upheld. This is a fight worth having, and together, we can ensure that VMI continues to stand as a champion of values we can all be proud of.

Sincerely, Sal Vitale VMI ’61

Sal Vitale is a 1961 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. VMI’s Board of Visitor’s president, Mr. John Adams, is a senior partner in the Richmond Law firm of McGuireWoods as is Richard Cullen, Counsel to Governor Youngkin. Despite signing a joint letter condemning anti-Israel protests, McGuireWoods  hired Harry Davis III  as a 1L Diversity Fellow in their Baltimore Office. Davis was a member of University of Michigan group that signed onto a statement arguing that Hamas is “fighting for justice” and blamed the terrorist attacks on Israel’s “racist, colonial actions.” To date the Mr. Adams, the Governor’s Office, and the VMI Board of Visitors have yet to respond to Mr. Vitale and other alumni who raised these questions and previously donated to the Peay endowment or make any public statement on Mr. Crane despite Governor Youngkin’s public statement standing with Israel against Hamas.

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