A Tale of Two Universities

The University of Virginia (UVA) and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) are both part of the highly-regarded Virginia public university system.  Still, it would be hard to find two more different schools.

Jefferson designed UVA and founded it in 1819, when he was in his in his 70s. He counted it as one of his three greatest accomplishments, along with writing the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom (...serving as President of the US didn't make the cut). 

VMI was founded in 1839 as the "West Point of South."

The architecture is noticeably different.

<-- UVA







                                VMI -->

UVA's hero is clearly Jefferson, and it's classic architecture and liberal arts education reflects his values.  





VMI's hero is Stonewall Jackson, who was a professor from 1851 until the Civil War.  Its architecture resembles a fortress, and it's curriculum reflects its military roots.

Jefferson designed UVA around the library, a pantheon of knowledge, and chose not to have a church on the campus.

VMI has a prominent chapel and its first commandant gave each new cadet a bible.

 UVA traditions include streaking on the lawn (sorry, we didn't get a photo of that).  The best students are honored to live in the original Jefferson designed Lawn Rooms senior year.  Because the showers and toilets require walking a distance outside, all "Lawnees" as issued white bathrobes, which they wear with honor.  At VMI the dress standards are somewhat more formal.