The Citadel, which is a public college, admitted its first female cadet in 1995. Although the SC military college adheres to a strict dress code[1], school officials were willing to consider modifying the dress code for the unnamed Muslim student.
The cover of The Citadel uniform guidelines is seen here.
The Citadel's decision about the student's hijab and uniform is a cornerstone decision in an ongoing heated debate. Although medical and religious tags are permitted, they must be "covered by the undershirt and... not visible". Christian cadets have been told[2] not to display crosses, for example.
The U.S. military allows religious exceptions to its uniform rules[3] for hijabs and other articles of faith, albeit with caveats, he added.
" "The military departments will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) of service members" unless it might affect military readiness or unit cohesion, the updated policy on religious accommodation said[4]". She would have been the only Muslim woman enrolled at the school[5] .
The ACLU had consistently championed such laws throughout its history, but, in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling striking down laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman, said they provide a license to discriminate against gay people "in virtually all aspects of their lives".
She will not attend, he said. They had expected their request to be granted.
"We do everything we can to support our cadets", Ashworth said. Hooper also noted[6] that the family is weighing its legal options and considering the possibility of suing the institution.
"It's an important civil rights matter", Hooper said. " ... Whether it's hijab or beards or turbans, to cling to these outdated "traditions" merely out of a sense of not wanting to change anything is, I think, untenable in this day and age and in our increasingly diverse society".
She cried this morning after getting the call, Hooper said. "The decision was made after the most careful consideration by all involved and with an enormous amount of concern for both equality and reason", Pinelli wrote.
Keelor said it was a hard decision.
Why? Because all cadets must wear a common uniform.
The Citadel, a 174-year-old military school in SC, is known for its uniformity - which is detailed in a 35-page guide[7] - and is not willing to compromise that by letting a newly admitted, potential student wear her traditional Muslim headscarf[8], according to The Washington Post[9].
He added that he hoped the student would still attend The Citadel in the fall despite the school's decision.
The Citadel "has relied upon a highly effective educational model requiring all cadets to adopt a common uniform", said Lieutenant General John Rosa, president of the SC college.
Rosa says while the request was rejected, religious beliefs are respected at The Citadel and freshman cadets meet with a number of faith-based organizations from the community.
Suzanne Chisholm is a graduate of the Citadel.
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