VMI Declines Wins' Contract Amidst Controversy

Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, the first Black superintendent at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), will not have his contract renewed after the Board of Visitors voted 10-6 against it, a decision surrounded by claims of political and racial motivations. Wins, who has served since 2020, stepped into the role amidst allegations of racial and gender discrimination at VMI and worked to improve diversity and inclusion efforts. The board's decision has been criticized by various state officials and organizations, including the Virginia NAACP and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, who argue that the decision was politically motivated rather than based on Wins' performance. Wins himself expressed disappointment, claiming that the decision was driven by bias and a desire to resist modernizing the institution. The vote has sparked political controversy, with allegations of political pressure and racism influencing the outcome. Governor Glenn Youngkin and the board members he appointed supported the decision, emphasizing a return to traditional values over Wins' diversity initiatives.