ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701270074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: COLUMBIA, S.C.
More freshmen cadets have quit The Citadel so far this year than in all of last year, among the highest dropout rates the military academy has seen in the past decade.
``I wish I could put my finger on the reasons why,'' said interim President R. Clifton Poole. ``Whatever it is, we need to do something to turn that around.''
``My guess is it's something in the barracks,'' said James W. Bradin of Beaufort, a former Citadel commandant and board member.
The state-supported school also is facing close scrutiny after two of the four female cadets who joined this year dropped out, claiming harassment.
The Citadel in August enrolled 581 freshmen, including the four women. The class of 2000 now numbers 468, down 19.4 percent, the second-highest dropout rate in the past 10 years. Last year's freshman class lost 102 by May, or 16.2 percent. For the past 10 years, the rate at the end of the first year has been 17 percent to 24 percent.
-Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 29 linesby CNB