The Citadel considers first-ever uniform exception: allowing a Muslim hijab

WaPo ^ | 04-14-2016 | Susan Svrluga

[NRx]

The Citadel is considering a request from an admitted student that she be allowed to wear a hijab in keeping with her Muslim faith, a move that would be an unprecedented exception to the school’s longstanding uniform requirements.

If the request for the traditional Muslim hair covering is granted, it apparently would be the first exception made to the Citadel’s uniform, which all cadets at the storied public military college in South Carolina are required to wear at nearly all times. (At beaches, for example, college rules stipulate that, “Cadets will change into appropriate swimwear upon arrival and change back into uniform when departing.”) A spokeswoman said that to her knowledge, in its nearly 175-year history, the school has never granted a religious, or other, accommodation that resulted in a change to the uniform.

As word spread on social media, students, alumni and others responded strongly to the idea of an exception being made at an institution where uniformity, discipline and adherence to rules are defining values, where loyalty to the corps is paramount and individual preferences are trivial.

That the first exception might be for a Muslim student was an additional provocation for some — and welcome symbolism for others — in the midst of a national discussion about Islam in U.S. culture.

[stellaluna]

actually, the Citadel was ruined when it was forced to accept women.

[HomerBohn]

Next no pork allowed to be served in the mess hall, then a mosque must be erected and any references to the true God must be removed. This will be just one of many demands made on VMI before it’s brought to its knees by Muslims who will demand bomb making instructions in the lab.

These school officials look weak and stupid to even announce that they’re considering this stupidity.