THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9608290028
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 32 lines
A year ago, the brief stay of Shannon Faulkner at The Citadel caused the same kind of teeth-gnashing that hit Virginia this summer when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered women into the Virginia Military Institute.
Now, four women have entered South Carolina's august institution and the Earth did not stand still.
There were cat-calls and razing and head-splitting music and even a few tears. But the freshmen, or ``knobs'' as they are affectionately called, shared in the bad and the bad, male and female alike.
The only discernible difference was that the mens' heads were shaved, the womens' were nearly. The effect was the same. Any personal vanity was swept up and tossed away by the barber.
As VMI's board of visitors approaches this month's decision on whether to accept women or take the school private, the news from South Carolina is calming.
The Citadel's experience, thus far, suggests that change can be accepted with shoulders back and chins out. If manners mark the gentleman, what better opportunity to prove one's mettle?
Of course, in this case, little civility will be afforded any knob for months to come. But those who make it or don't should be judged on determination, courage, strength and any other number of genderless traits.
Now, that's the South Carolina way.
It can be the Virginia way as well. by CNB