Virginia Military Institute invites the greater Lexington and Rockbridge community to participate in a debate on immigration Sept. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. in VMI’s Marshall Hall. The question being debated is “Should undocumented immigrants to the U.S. be accommodated or deported?”

Maj. Molly Kent, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, will discuss the level of stress in rats based on their home and lifestyle, and what these lessons have taught her about human stress, on the public radio program, “With Good Reason,” Sept. 7-14.

Retired U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, the H.B. Johnson Jr., Class of 1926, Distinguished Speaker, addressed the entire Corps of Cadets, members of the academic board, faculty and staff during convocation, the ceremonial start of VMI's 185th year.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, appointed the rank of honorary brigadier general upon CAVU, the chaplain’s office facility dog, in a ceremony Sept. 3 in New Barracks.

Guest speakers are Michael E. Woods, professor of history and director of The Papers of Andrew Jackson at the University of Tennessee, and Reeve Huston, associate professor of history at Duke University.

The VMI Community Theatre will hold auditions for its fall show, “The Real Inspector Hound,” Monday, Sept. 9; Tuesday, Sept. 10; Wednesday, Sept. 11; and Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7:45 p.m. in Gillis Theater located in Marshall Hall on post.

Over the summer, improvements and upgrades have been made to the Post Exchange (PX). Menu items from two new Parkhurst Dining brands are available: Cinco, which offers a Tex-Mex menu, and Grill 1839, which offers classic grill items.

Retired U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, the H.B. Johnson Jr., Class of 1926, Distinguished Speaker, will address the Corps of Cadets and faculty at the academic convocation at Virginia Military Institute on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 10:30 a.m. in Cameron Hall on Main Street.

Sherry Wallace has been named the new director of communications and marketing at Virginia Military Institute, effective Aug. 26. She is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and holds a Master of Public Administration from Missouri State University and a bachelor's degree from Hendrix College.

This year’s Rat Mass comes from 36 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Guam, six foreign countries, with 62% from Virginia and 38% from out of state. Eighty-six are female, and 168 are recruited NCAA athletes.