Editor’s note: The piece below summarizes four important, informative, and highly researched “must-read” articles written by Virginia Military Institute cadets for The Cadet, their student newspaper. The Cadet is one of the oldest independent student newspapers in the country. Wins’ administration continues attempts to suppress, control, or impede these award-winning student journalists from speaking Truth to Power. Those interested can support the cadet and alumni efforts at The Cadet Foundation.

The recent decision by the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Board of Visitors (BOV) not to renew the contract of Superintendent MG Cedric T. Wins ignited controversy and debate over leadership, governance, and the role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies at VMI. While MG Wins has characterized the decision as "a partisan choice that abandons the values of honor, integrity, and excellence upon which VMI was built," a deeper examination of the facts suggests otherwise and reveals an alarming number of his defiant, false, and misleading statements. This decision reflects not only the Board’s commitment to VMI’s long-term success but also a necessary response to Wins' defiance of executive policies issued by the Governor of Virginia, the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States.

At the heart of this controversy is MG Wins’ insistence that his authority at VMI comes directly from Title 10 U.S. Code (Armed Forces). VMI claims that the law allows him, not the Governor, Secretary of Defense, or The President, to restrict cadet freedoms, mandate attendance at NCAA sporting events, and enforce DEI training—despite explicit executive orders seeking to eliminate such divisive programs. His stance has placed him in direct opposition to national and state-level directives.