Aug. 29, 1999 VMI board: Bunting has our support The resolution puts to rest for now any question of the superintendent's continued employment at the college. By MATT CHITTUM THE ROANOKE TIMES The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors voted Saturday to express its "complete and unanimous confidence" in Superintendent Josiah Bunting III, whose spending practices have been under investigation by state authorities for two months. The vote was less than unanimous, however, because one board member stormed out of the meeting hours earlier after a dispute with the president of the VMI Alumni Association that was related to the Bunting matter. "Based on our review, we have concluded that all of these funds have been spent in the best interests of VMI and its mission," the board's resolution read. "There has been no intent whatsoever of personal gain to the Superintendent." The resolution puts to rest for now any question of Bunting's continued employment, though no board member has said he wanted to fire him. The board took the vote of confidence despite much talk earlier in the week that without the report from the investigation, the board could do little to address whatever might have been done wrong. The investigation rests with the Lexington / Rockbridge County commonwealth's attorney and the state police. Apparently in question are purchases of books, flowers and other gifts from Bunting's discretionary account. All 16 board members present voted in favor of the resolution. Board member Charlie Lindsey had abruptly left the meeting earlier during remarks by VMI Alumni Association President F.E. "Bert" Deacon III. Deacon told the board of his "heartfelt disappointment" that alumni and a few board members "made disparaging remarks during the last several weeks against the superintendent and that reflect poorly on VMI." Several alumni, including some who acknowledge they have never been fans of Bunting, have accused Bunting of behavior ranging from poor judgment to dishonorable conduct. Deacon apologized to Bunting on behalf of the alumni. Lindsey, one of only a few board members who have commented on the matter, admonished Deacon to stop what he was saying. "I think it's unfair of you to launch into this," Lindsey told Deacon. "If you don't stop now, I think there will be some other repercussions." Lindsey appealed to board member Sam Witt to intervene, but Witt told Deacon to continue if he wanted. Saying "I'm out of here," Lindsey rose, grabbed his sports coat and drove home to Northern Virginia. Reached later, Lindsey declined to elaborate on why he left or whether he intends to resign. He said he would make a statement in the next few days. Deacon called Lindsey "a fine individual" who has served VMI well. He said he was sorry Lindsey left the meeting. VMI spokesman Mike Strickler said the board believed Lindsey would have supported the resolution had he stayed, because when it was discussed during a three-hour closed meeting Thursday, no one objected to it. Bunting, who has said almost nothing about the investigation, called the board's resolution "a real source of comfort" and "vindication in the minds of the people I work for." "It obviously is a difficult thing when one's integrity is publicly questioned for a long time and one is essentially disbarred from making comments about that," Bunting added. He also wants those in the VMI family to know "they have a leader who has tried very hard to do his best for the school that he went to, and obviously I'm a fallible human being like anybody else, but all I have done that's the result of conscious action has been undertaken with what I conceive to be in the best interest of VMI." Deacon and the heads of the VMI Foundation, which provided most of the money in Bunting's discretionary account, and the Keydet Club athletic boosters group said they joined the board in their support of Bunting. Board President Bruce Gottwald also told Bunting to express to his wife and family the board's regret for the "rough and unnecessary treatment" the Buntings have endured from the publicity of the matter. Referring to the freshman training rite all new VMI cadets must endure, Gottwald said, "It's time to let the superintendent out of the ratline."