Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Monday defended his push to make the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) more inclusive in a speech to cadets.
In a speech to VMI’s Corps of Cadets, Northam honored the institute’s leaders and cadets for their work to “embrace change” and “sustain the Institute in the long term,” according to a transcript of his remarks.
“For VMI to survive and thrive for generations to come, we must continually ask ourselves a few simple questions,” Northam said. “Do we reflect the people that we serve?”
“Does our reputation invite new students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, or do they simply never consider VMI in the first place?” he continued.
Northam’s speech was closed to the press, and students were ordered to leave their phones in their room so they could not record, The Washington Post noted.
VMI has been under fire in the last year over reports alleging a culture of widespread racism.
Northam ordered an investigation into allegations of “structural racism” in October last year after the Post reported several allegations, including a student’s lynching threat, a teacher reminiscing about the Ku Klux Klan and instances of people openly admiring the Confederacy.
The results of the probe, which was released in June, revealed that institutional racism and sexism were tolerated and left unaddressed at VMI, even though it didn’t specifically enforce any racist policies.
Northam, who graduated from VMI in 1981, didn’t directly address the probe. However, he acknowledged that the past year has been “an incredibly difficult time” for the institute.
“If you haven’t experienced sexism or racism yourself — perhaps because you look like me,” Northam said. “And you haven’t paid much attention to what it looks like, you’re going to have a very hard time recognizing it. Until you learn what it looks like. Until you learn how to see it.”
The governor said that understanding the past was important to “move forward together as one.”
“Gone are the statues that glorify rebellion against the United States. In place are new provisions for privacy and safety for all — especially women,” Northam said. “The Institute has now stated a commitment to diversity, and to making certain that all cadets, faculty, and staff, feel safe and welcome. This needs to continue for VMI to succeed.”