LEXINGTON (WSLS 10) - The only color some VMI alumni can see is red after getting word cadets will be coloring to get rid of stress before their finals next week.
The institute's cadet peer educators advertised coloring book stations, therapy dogs and yoga during a Reading Day event.
Roger Jarrell is a member of VMI's Class of 1991. He recently made a critical comment on social media about college programs to reduce exam stress.
"I get a private message from a VMI professor that said I hate to tell ya but we do that up here now," said Roger Jarrell. "I have always felt we needed to take a little of VMI and apply it to other schools. I just didn't expect that what some of the other schools were doing would apply to VMI."
VMI says it's not handing out coloring books to cadets, but rather single coloring sheets with intricate designs and that studies show coloring can reduce stress.
"I believe with these young people if you set high standards, they'll live up to them. I worry that we're mollycoddling them too much," said Jarrell.
In a statement, VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III said, "No one should assume that VMI coddles its cadets or has become soft. In fact, the Institute is more difficult academically and physically than my time years ago."
Peay said VMI is committed to cadets' well-being and that suicide is on the rise among young people.
"VMI has not been exempt from these tragedies. Despite full reviews of applicants during our admissions process and in hiring practices, we face mental health issues daily."