THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 14, 1995 TAG: 9510140322
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Shannon Faulkner, who withdrew from The Citadel in August, is thinking about trying another school - Old Dominion University.
Faulkner visited Old Dominion for about two hours Friday, ODU officials said.
She took a tour of the campus. She got an application. She got the lowdown from Patricia P. Cavender, assistant vice president for enrollment services, and Katharine C. Kersey, chairwoman of the child study/special education department.
``She was basically gathering admissions information for the university,'' ODU spokeswoman Beth Cooper said. ``We don't know what she intends to do with that. She's keeping her options open.''
Cavender wouldn't say much about her interview with what could be ODU's most famous applicant. ``I'm not sure what her final intentions are,'' Cavender said.
Faulkner could not be reached for comment Friday.
After a three-year battle to get into The Citadel, an all-male military school in Charleston, S.C., Faulkner became the first female cadet in August. A week after she enrolled, the 20-year-old dropped out, citing the stress of her fight.
Dana D. Burnett, vice president for student services, talked to Faulkner briefly. ``She seemed like a real nice person and someone that would fit in well here,'' he said. ``If she comes, we'll try to treat her just like we do our other students - well - and we want her to become involved in campus life.''
Students generally reacted positively to the possibility of Faulkner's attending the university. ``I think ODU should be proud if she comes,'' said Priscilla Wilwer, an 18-year-old freshman. ``Obviously, she has the strength to get through hardship.''
Joe Ruettgers, a 38-year-old student, had mixed emotions about the media attention that would surround Faulkner. It would give ODU more prominence, he said, but it might also disrupt classes.
``It doesn't bother me at all,'' said Shameer Grewal, a 21-year-old senior. ``She'll just be another face in the crowd.`` MEMO: Campus correspondents Jimmy Gnass and Valerie Carino contributed to
this story.
ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
The Citadel's most famous dropout visited the Norfolk school
Friday.
by CNB