THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 29, 1995                TAG: 9507290294
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, S.C.                   LENGTH: Short :   36 lines

IS FAULKNER FIT TO BE IN CITADEL? JUDGE SAYS THAT DOESN'T MATTER

First it was what haircut Shannon Faulkner would get if she became a Citadel cadet. Then it was where she would live and whether she could play in the band.

Now, her weight has become an issue in Faulkner's almost 2 1/2-year fight to march as the first women in the 152-year-old state military school's cadet corps.

With Faulkner about two weeks away from becoming a cadet, U.S. District Judge C. Weston Houck ruled this week that her physical condition can't be used to keep her out of the corps.

Much of the debate was behind closed doors because Houck said discussions about her personal matters should be private.

His office said Thursday the confidentiality order was still in place.

But that was after Citadel spokesman Terry Leedom had gone public with the school's contention that Faulkner was at least 20 pounds overweight, based on U.S. Army standards for her height.

In return, one of Faulkner's lawyers said they were preparing to ask Houck to sanction the school for breaking his confidentiality order. Leedom said Citadel officials believed the order had been lifted and the school was just responding to reporters' questions. ILLUSTRATION: Faulkner

by CNB