A US military college has denied a request by a newly admitted Muslim student to wear a religious head covering along with her uniform, VoA reports.
The Citadel[1] in Charleston, S.C., announced[2] on Tuesday its month-long pending decision on a prospective student's request to wear a hijab with her uniform.
Mr. Rosa said[3] he still hopes the student, who was admitted as a part of The Citadel class of 2020, will decide to attend the college.
Ibrahim Hooper with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington said he spoke with the family after Citadel officials called to tell[4] the woman she could not wear a hijab. The woman's family is considering legal action, according to a Muslim advocacy group.
"They obviously are heartbroken", he said of the family.
Strict discipline and tradition are the cornerstones of The Citadel and the school[5] in the 1990s fought the enrollment of women cadets before relenting. Last year, AJC welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit filed on behalf of a Muslim woman, Samantha Elauf, who was denied employment in an Abercrombie & Fitch store because she wears a hijab.
Some current Citadel students and alumni had spoken out against allowing an exception, citing the military college's emphasis on uniformity in apparel and privileges.
Recently, the Army allowed long-term religious accommodations for a Sikh officer, which included wearing his turban[6] with his uniform.
Rosa did state that the school "recognizes the importance of a cadet's spiritual and religious beliefs, providing services for specific needs whenever possible". "She told the commandant it wasn't fair that she has to choose between practicing her faith and going to the Citadel", he said.
She cried this morning after getting the call, Hooper said.
"This process reflects an initial relinquishing of self during which cadets learn the value of teamwork to function as a single unit", he added.
Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said The Citadel erred in barring the student's religious expression.
The Citadel's uniforms, are "composed of articles of dress issued by the Cadet Store or approved by the College Uniform Board, Commandant, and President", according to the college's Blue Book Regulations[7], issued for the Corp of Cadets of The Citadel. For example, the school provides accommodations for dietary restrictions and offers transportation to churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship for cadets without cars. However, in his opinion, "the school is doing their job and their due diligence to try and accommodate a need".
Citadel cadets are required to wear uniforms almost all the time.
This post[8] has been updated.
References
- ^ The Citadel (www.citadel.edu)
- ^ announced (www.citadel.edu)
- ^ said (www.washingtonpost.com)
- ^ tell (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ the school (www.youtube.com)
- ^ wearing his turban (www.guns.com)
- ^ Blue Book Re gulations (www.citadel.edu)
- ^ post (www.facebook.com)
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