THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250010
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Associate Editor Beth Barber hit the nail on the head in ``If you can't stand the heat, get out of the Citadel'' (Aug. 19).
I have been extremely troubled by the attention that the college has received over the past 2 1/2 years regarding the Shannon Faulkner issue. Cadets at The Citadel are forced (not through coercion, but through structure) to focus on academics and physical/military training. It is an extremely efficient educational environment. The events that have transpired over the past 2 1/2 years have done nothing but distract the institution from its 152 year-old mission of providing a single-gender collegiate education.
I have seen firsthand how the school has been distracted by the lawsuits, the admission of Ms. Faulkner into the college as a ``day student'' and her eventual admission into the corps of cadets. What did all of this accomplish? Nothing.
Ms. Faulkner asked that she be treated equal to her male counterparts in the corps. She was, and she left before the end of the first week. This proves that what has worked for 152 years can and should not be changed. I personally believe that Ms. Faulkner did not quit because she lacked physical fitness or mental strength. Rather, she realized that once inside, the corps, The Citadel experience is just not designed for women.
I hope that other women who wish to conquer the single-gender concept of The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute carefully examine the lack of results of Ms. Faulkner's crusade and allow these fine institutions to continue to provide such time-tested traditional educations.
J. A. VELOTTA
Virginia Beach, Aug. 20, 1995
Editor's note: Mr. Velotta is a 1993 Citadel Graduate. by CNB