Virginia Military Institute, renowned as one of the nation’s toughest public schools, has a rich historical background and a myriad of traditions. Perhaps the most infamous tradition at VMI is the grueling six month long trial that freshman endure each year to become formally accepted as members of the corps of cadets — the Ratline. Through their six month encounter with submitting to VMI’s rigid military standards, Rats (freshmen) at the Institute come together to form a unique discourse community that they will often remain a part of through their cadetship and, usually, throughout the rest of their lives.
Methodology
I was able to observe VMI’s discourse community by experiencing it firsthand. As a freshman at the Institute, I’ve personally experienced all of the various lexes, acculturation methods, and forms of discourse that are used to expand and train the corps of cadets. By currently being a part of the community, I’m exposed to the communication methods used at the school as well. This allows me to make closer observations and more informed judgments on the process of meeting the goals set out by the community — observations and judgments that may not be readily apparent to anyone viewing VMI from the outside looking in.
Being at VMI allowed me to conduct informal personal interviews with those who have experienced the system, as well as those who actively work to maintain the system (RDC representatives, for example). The interviews themselves were not particularly formal because they were, more often than not, just questions and discussions that presented themselves in the context of a normal conversation. Being at VMI also presented the opportunity to observe and understand the variety of texts present in the Institute community which outline how the system works.
Results
The basic common goal of the Virginia Military Institute each year is to mold the freshman class (called the “Rat Mass”) into model cadets who represent the values and standards that the Institute seeks to uphold. As a discourse community, this goal is achieved through a two-pronged approach focusing on the community’s lexes and genres. Rats become enculturated into the discourse community through a variety of time periods which largely revolve around them learning these two aspects of the campus’s culture.
The first of these multiple time periods is known as “Hell Week”. Hell Week is a nine day period that begins on the day that the rats matriculate and ends on the day that they start classes. Every minute of Hell Week’s 17-18 hour days are dedicated to making rats a part of VMI’s system. This includes everything from becoming acquainted to rifle drill to learning the history of the Institute itself. Becoming introduced to VMI’s colorful and unique discourse lexis is a key point of Hell Week.
During their first nine days at VMI, rats get introduced to terms such as “dyke”, “raping ducks”, “Gim”, “hop”, “bone”, and “B.R.F”. To almost any outside observer, the language system used at VMI would likely sound asinine, inane, or rude. But in reality, the lexis reflects VMI’s connection to its own past. Many of the terms derive from a history with deep roots in Southern United States culture, dating back to the mid-1800’s. Many of the terms used at the Institute back then are still in use today, displaying the strength and resilience of the discourse community despite the significant passage of time.
Equally important at VMI in the discourse community is not only what is communicated but the way in which communication takes place. In contrast to how one would normally teach a student, cadre at the Institute (those who have undertaken the responsibility of training the year’s Rat Mass) are rarely calm or patient when giving instruction. Because they are being indoctrinated into a military system, significant portions of communication with rats involves yelling at close distance to emulate high intensity situations and forcing rats to operate under pressure. Outside of training, information gets disseminated throughout the corps using primarily emails and an in-barracks public addressing system that issues “turn outs”. Using these forms of communication ensures uniformity and coordination within the corps when it comes to being at a formation on time and being in proper uniform.
Besides an emphasis on the lexis, the authorities of the Institute heavily emphasize and demand an understanding of the Institutes texts and genres. In fact, one might assert that an understanding of VMI’s texts is much more critical to survival as a cadet than an understanding of its lexis. Texts in the community can be divided into three main subcategories: The Blue Book, Charters, and the Rat Bible. Initially, the most important text that a rat will become familiar with is the Rat Bible. The Rat Bible is a book that rats will carry with them everywhere they go during their first year. Its purpose is to ingrain rats with a model cadet’s knowledge of VMI history, noteworthy alumni, principles, and core values. Knowledge of the rat bible is viewed as a critical component of cadetship at VMI.
The Blue Book is designed to be every cadet’s go-to guide whenever they are uncertain on an Institute guideline, rule, or regulation. The Blue Book (literally a blue book that is available in every room in barracks) is covers nearly every aspect of life at VMI, including things such as uniform regulations and room maintenance standards. While students are not required to memorize many specific details that can be found in the Blue Book, it is arguably one of VMI’s most important aspects of living. It is crucial to any cadet who wants to avoid demerits and all related punishments. However, what the blue book does not do is outline the standards of social conduct that every cadet strives to meet. Conduct standards are primarily outlined in organization charters (also found in every room in barracks). These organizations include VMI’s General Committee, Honor Court, Office of the Guard Association, Cadet Equity Association, and, most important to the development of the Rat Mass, the Rat Disciplinary Committee. The charter of the General Committee outlines the rules and punishments regarding any instances of making yourself, a fellow cadet, or the Institute as a whole look bad or unprofessional. The GC undertakes the handling of the largest scope of offenses at VMI. The OGA and CEA charters respectively deal with any cases involving sexual harassment, hazing, or discrimination within the corps. The Honor Court charter handles the infrequent instances of honor violations at the school. Prior to even beginning the school year, everyone at VMI knows the single-sanction honor code that cadets are expected to live by — “A cadet will never lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do.” If anyone is found guilty of violating this code by the Honor Court, it is grounds for immediate expulsion and public shaming through an old military tradition known as a drum out. Finally, the RDC charter lays out all rules and restrictions that are unique to the rat mass.
The RDC is an ever-present organization throughout the ratline. In contrast to cadre, who are technically supposed to teach the Rat Mass, the RDC is formed strictly to punish. Whenever a rat is found to be in violation of a ratline or Institute policy, he or she is sent up to the RDC at 11:15 PM for a misconduct trial. When the rat is inevitably found to be guilty of the violation, he or she is sentenced to a number of “gross misconduct workouts” proportional to the severity of the violation. When the Rat Mass as a whole fails in a task, everyone receives a gross misconduct workout at the same time. These workouts (more commonly known as sweat parties) involve fifteen minutes of intense physical training. Usually the entire Rat Mass is forced to fit into a single gymnasium but it isn’t unheard of for the RDC to kick down doors at 5AM and conduct a surprise sweat party on the fourth stoop of barracks or “RDC PT” on VMI’s practice drill fields. By the end of the workout, the temperature in the gym has spiked several degrees, the floors are slippery from sweat, and the Rat Mass, while tired, feels even more motivated and unified than before the workout began. In some ways, the sweat parties represent the core of what the RDC is meant to do — unify rats via force and hardship.
The creation of a graduating class at Virginia Military Institute starts through the introduction of freshmen into the discourse community. These cadets will then go on to upkeep and pass on the discourse community to the next group of freshmen who choose to come to VMI. The cycle of discourse dispersion through the one-of-a-kind lexis, varied genres, and lessons from current members of the community acts as a challenging but rewarding time in life that will carry cadets through their term at VMI. For many, as evidenced by overwhelming alumni support, the discourse community becomes a part of them for the rest of their lives.
Works Cited
Carpenter, Logan. Personal Interview. November 2014.
Green, Andrew. Personal Interview. November 2014.