THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508260008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
I am disgusted with the attitudes of the male cadets at The Citadel.
In my first four years in the U.S. Navy, I made the rank of E-5 and was then accepted into the enlisted commissioning program. I have been active in the program for more than a year and will receive my commission next May. During my tour as an enlisted electrician, I served on an all-male ship that was targeted to have females assigned. There was grumbling about it, but generally the idea was accepted.
As the leading petty officer of my shop, I considered myself a skilled electrician. But I will gladly admit that in four years on my ship I met at least a half-dozen females who could work circles around me, and numerous others whom I would have exchanged some of my ``superior'' male electricians for.
Just because there are not any female cadets at The Citadel now, do cadets think they'll never have to deal with women in the military? Are they going to throw a fit when they become pilots and the officer in charge of maintaining their aircraft is female? If their platoon is under fire in the field and a female is in charge of the artillery support, are they going to wait until they find a male before they'll accept the support? If a female saves their lives (and it may very well happen), will they say they would have rather died?
The military can teach needed skills, but only individuals can change their own attitudes.
Shannon Faulkner should be commended for the ground she broke for females. I hope she still pursues a military career at a more-civilized institution and realizes that the real military has more honor and dignity than the exposure she received at The Citadel.
JAMES H. ROWBOTTOM
Officer candidate, U.S. Navy
Virginia Beach, Aug. 19, 1995
Regarding ``Some on Faulkner's course aren't impressed'' (local news, Aug. 19): I have a hard time believing that the young ladies quoted in the article are as unsympathetic as they seem. Certainly they wouldn't be attending the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership's newly developed class had it not been for people like Shannon Faulkner questioning the system.
When I first heard of Shannon's legal battles to obtain admission to The Citadel, I too wondered why she bothered. Now I wonder, ``Why not?''
One girl at the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership said, ``We just want a better education!'' Is she saying that women can find a better education only at an all-male VMI or Citadel? Why can't they receive their ``better education'' at Mary Baldwin without VMI becoming a part of it?
Shannon left The Citadel with her head held high, despite the fury. And over what? The right of a woman in 1995 to penetrate the walls of a tax-funded Good Ol' Boys institution. It seemed everybody wanted Shannon to represent their personal views, but in the end Shannon had the courage to represent only her own.
DEBBIE RYAN
Norfolk, Aug. 21, 1995 by CNB