Proposed all-male military college would not be Confederate-based, official says

Tullahoma News ^ | 13 July 2002 | RITA BAUER

[stainlessbanner]

BEDFORD COUNTY -An all-male private military college, which representatives of The Southern Military Institute hope to build west of Shelbyville, will have a Christian, not a "Confederate" theme, officials say.
The school will focus on engineering and science and require that students enlist in military service with the National Guard or U.S. Reserves.

Lt. Col. Michael J. Guthrie, a Virginia Military Institute alumni and member of the Tennessee Army National Guard, heads the group of VMI alumnus that has been working to purchase a 450-acre tract of land on Warner's Bridge Road in Bedford County with plans to build the new four-year private military institution.

Funding for the land purchase will come from private donations from the general public. A purchase contract probably won't be finalized for at least two months, he said.

Meanwhile, the proposed traditional military college is generating controversy, and some of it, like an article published this week in a state newspaper that says a "Confederate theme would be at the heart of the college," is apparently a result of some twisted facts and information.

"That article is misleading. The headline is 95-percent nonsense," Guthrie said.

He said the Confederate-related statements in the article were based on three questions he was asked by the writer.

"I was asked, would we honor the Confederate Memorial Day, and my answer was that we will honor all U.S. holidays and all traditional southern holidays.

"I was also asked if we'll permit the Confederate flag to fly on the campus, and yes, during military ceremonies it would fly along with the U.S. flag and full military colors.

'Most people know that there is no ill intent here at all. We're just trying to preserve some traditions out of respect for those who fought in that war (Civil War), but that is not the 'heart' of the school.

"The 'heart' of the school is actually the Christian faith," Guthrie said.

The main thing the group wants to do is to re-establish the traditional all-male military academy concept.

"There aren't any left in the United States," Guthrie said.

"In 1996-97, there were 101 women's colleges in the U.S. and only five all-male colleges. There are three all-male colleges left in the U.S. today, and there are zero all-male military colleges in the U.S.," he added.

Guthrie said there is one all-female military college in the U.S., the Virginia Women's Institute of Leadership at Mary Baldwin College in Virginia.

He considers the talk about a Confederate theme "hype and sensationalism," and says it possibly comes from a small group of people who simply don't want to see the return of a traditional military academy.

"The bottom line is this, we want to re-build a school that requires military service. At VMI, most of the students do not actually serve in the military.

"We will require military service in the National Guard and U.S. Reserve forces.

"I've had nothing but positive calls and e-mails concerning the college. Most people read between the lines and know we will be a private, traditional, non-denominational Christian based school," Guthrie said.

"And because we will be an engineering and science school, we hope to become a feeder school for colleges like the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma."

[stainlessbanner]

I think this school is a great idea.

FReepmail me to get on/off ping list

[Libertarian_4_eva]

Good luck to them. It seems like a pretty good idea for a school and I hope the nannies in this country do not give them much trouble.

[Illbay]

"I was also asked if we'll permit the Confederate flag to fly on the campus, and yes, during military ceremonies it would fly along with the U.S. flag and full military colors....

"...along with those of Nazi Germany, the Empire of Japan, the People's Republic of Vietnam and the North Korean People's Republic. We believe in giving equal time to the enemies of the United States of America no matter where or when!"

[greydog]

Oh now, just settle down.

[Non-Sequitur]

A little harsh, I think. They can pattern their school after any thing they want, it's still a free country. On the other hand if some group had wanted to found a school based on conservative Muslim values then these same people would probably be screaming bloody murder.

[Illbay]

They can pattern their school after any thing they want, it's still a free country.

Oh, sure! I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy.

And I suspect this sort of thing is only done just to stir up controversy. You might have noticed there're a lot of folks who really like that.

[SouthernFreebird]

"...along with those of Nazi Germany, the Empire of Japan, the People's Republic of Vietnam and the North Korean People's Republic. We believe in giving equal time to the enemies of the United States of America no matter where or when!"

did you forget to refill the 'scription

[warchild9]

Duck, Illbay, our movement is expanding. Round Two is heating up!

[Illbay]

...our movement is expanding.

From 0.2% to 0.28%. Why, that's a 40% increase!

[Non-Sequitur]

Come on, when it comes to hypocracy these Lincoln bashers wrote the book! Any honest comparison between Lincoln and Davis shows just how much worse Davis was. But they can't be bothered with that, can they?

[Godebert]

"along with those of Nazi Germany, the Empire of Japan, the People's Republic of Vietnam and the North Korean People's Republic. We believe in giving equal time to the enemies of the United States of America no matter where or when!"

You lost illbay....get over it.

[Bahbah]

I like contradictory voices so I like to hear from you. I must tell you though, that when I see your screen name, I always translate it in my mind to "Illwill".

[warchild9]

Ahh...but the rest...they're brainless soccer moms, sports-addled boobs, and Mexicans. We don't need 'em. (Would like to hear from more Copperheads, though.)

[Illbay]

Copperheads (n.) "Peace Democrats" that supported capitulation to the rebels during the Civil War. They were no longer heard from after the fall of Atlanta.

[warchild9]

We consider them sympathetic Yankees. Definitions change, just as "scalawag" is now a confused Southerner, and not a traitor and scumbag good only for ass-whooping practice, as as they once were, if you get my drift.

[CatoRenasci]

This place won't make it. A pale imitation of The Virginia Military Institute full of contradictions (requiring military service as an enlisted man but no ROTC -- who'd sign up for that?), without accreditation or sports, and explicitly "Christian" (whose definition?). Not my cup of tea. I had too many Jewish Brother Rats (many of whose forebears served Virginia in the revolution and War for Southern Independence) to want such place. In fact, which I don't think women should have been let in, and I think there have been more problems than publicly reported, I think VMI is doing a pretty good job with the few women who want it. Heck, VMI doesn't work for most men, let alone women. My bottom line is that any woman who can go through the whole VMI program under the same standards as the men deserves her ring and sheepshin as much as any man.

VMI'70

[stand watie]

are you REALLY that DUMB?

for a FREE dixie,sw

[stand watie]

Copperheads WERE & ARE honored by TRUE SOUTHRONS!

free dixie NOW,sw