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Derision, misogyny, sexual assault: VMI women face attacks on campus and online
WP EXCLUSIVE
Derision, misogyny, sexual assault: VMI women face attacks on campus and online
Women at Virginia Military Institute describe an atmosphere of hostility and an expectation of backlash from male cadets if they report being groped or raped.
The Corp of Cadets march out of the barracks in May for a change-of-command ceremony at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. (Parker Michels-Boyce for The Washington Post)
By Ian Shapira
July 12, 2021|Updated today at 10:35 a.m. EDT
They marched out of their castle-like barracks and onto the crisp green parade field to the sounds of drums, trumpets and bagpipes. Minutes later, the cadets at Virginia Military Institute stood at attention in their uniforms of white pants and gray coatees.
On a sunny Friday in May, the corps was poised to mark a first in the 182-year history of the nation’s oldest state-supported military college: anointing a female student as their top military commander.
Kasey Meredith, a rising senior from Pennsylvania, strode past photographers and positioned herself next to the college’s superintendent, retired Army Maj. General Cedric Wins, the institute’s first Black leader. Then, Wins handed her VMI’s white battle flag and the two clasped the colors, signifying the corps’ change of command.
“Cadet First Captain Kasey G. Meredith has now assumed leadership of the VMI Corps of Cadets,” the emcee announced.
Cameras clicked and applause rippled from the spectators — a crowd that included women who’d graduated from VMI and wanted to witness this moment.
{snip}
About this story
Editing by Lynda Robinson. Photo editing by Mark Miller. Copy editing by Frances Moody. Design by J.C. Reed.
By Ian Shapira
Ian Shapira is a features writer on the local enterprise team. Twitter https://twitter.com/ianshapira
Derision, misogyny, sexual assault: VMI women face attacks on campus and online
Women at Virginia Military Institute describe an atmosphere of hostility and an expectation of backlash from male cadets if they report being groped or raped.
The Corp of Cadets march out of the barracks in May for a change-of-command ceremony at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. (Parker Michels-Boyce for The Washington Post)
By Ian Shapira
July 12, 2021|Updated today at 10:35 a.m. EDT
They marched out of their castle-like barracks and onto the crisp green parade field to the sounds of drums, trumpets and bagpipes. Minutes later, the cadets at Virginia Military Institute stood at attention in their uniforms of white pants and gray coatees.
On a sunny Friday in May, the corps was poised to mark a first in the 182-year history of the nation’s oldest state-supported military college: anointing a female student as their top military commander.
Kasey Meredith, a rising senior from Pennsylvania, strode past photographers and positioned herself next to the college’s superintendent, retired Army Maj. General Cedric Wins, the institute’s first Black leader. Then, Wins handed her VMI’s white battle flag and the two clasped the colors, signifying the corps’ change of command.
“Cadet First Captain Kasey G. Meredith has now assumed leadership of the VMI Corps of Cadets,” the emcee announced.
Cameras clicked and applause rippled from the spectators — a crowd that included women who’d graduated from VMI and wanted to witness this moment.
{snip}
About this story
Editing by Lynda Robinson. Photo editing by Mark Miller. Copy editing by Frances Moody. Design by J.C. Reed.
By Ian Shapira
Ian Shapira is a features writer on the local enterprise team. Twitter https://twitter.com/ianshapira