On April 14 2016, The Citadel had to endure its first hardship in its 174 year existence.
A Muslim woman wants to attend The Citadel. Wearing a hijab.
I cannot ever recall a time when the school was in a position to deal with a tribulation of this magnitude.
Except in the 1960s with black cadets. Then again in the 1990s with female cadets. And let's not forget their reconstitution after the Civil War.
But this, this will be the ground shaking event that finally brings the prestigious school to its knees.
One of my classmates recently posted a status that made national news and there are many points in his post that need deeper examination.
Read The Anti-Hijab Argument Here
Accommodate.
This word is used multiple times and the way it was used implies that this is some unheard of idea for the school. Accommodations and threats of lawsuits have been made before for certain cadets. I will not call anyone out with this post because they are not the focus and embarrassing people is not my intention. The point of stating is to say that it has occurred in the past.
The Citadel isn't considering creating a entirely new guideline for religious accommodations. According to Citadel Policy Memo 2-20, which was published in August of 2010:
Requests for religious accommodation generally fall into five major areas:
i. Worship practices;
ii. Dietary practices;
iii. Medical practices;
iv. Wearing and appearance of the uniform; and
v. Personal grooming.
The memo also states that:
The Citadel will approve requests for accommodation of religious practices unless accommodation will have an adverse impact on a competing institutional interest including, but not limited to, cohesion, morale, good order and discipline, cadet welfare, safety and/or health.
Citadel Policy Memo 2-20
No where in this memo does it state that approval is contingent on uniformity.
This memo has existed for six years and no one even batted an eyelash until last week. For six years The Citadel has had guidelines set up for a request like this.
"Currently, the Citadel is exhausting resources and man-hours to accommodate a woman who will be attending this school next semester."
It was brought to my attention that the "exhausting man-hours" culminated to a whopping 15 minute conversation with the girl and her mother.*
"She will be the first cadet authorized to wear a ḥijāb, as well as full body covering when the uniform does not conceal the entirety of her body"
While wearing short-sleeved shirts, the girl will wear either a long-sleeved compression shirt or a close equivalent.* Guess what? They come in a variety of colors. She can get a navy blue one for physical training and a nude one to wear with the duty uniform.
The school is even exhausting resources to research which company to place her in, so they ensure she is in the most accepting company in the Corps.
Throughout my time at The Citadel I had some incredibly messed up things said and done to me solely because I am a woman. So yes, if this is true, but I highly doubt it is, I can understand the school trying to find a company that will ensure no harm will come to this girl.
As you can imagine, the reasonable person sees issue after issue here. The Citadel is putting up zero fight. And you can't blame them. The Administration knows that, in the end, it's either or both a battle they can't win and/or can't afford. No matter how reasonable their argument is. So, to be clear, I don't blame the Citadel at all.
You know the "Jake From State Farm Commercial"? The one where the woman goes, "Well she sounds hideous," and the husband replies with, "Well she's a guy so..."
That's how I feel about this point.
"The Citadel is putting up no fight at all!"
"Well, we're a public school so..."
"The Citadel should be able to tell the prospective student to wear what they tell her to wear."
Yes, the school should be able to tell the cadets what they want us to wear. And she should be able to apply for a religious exemption.
Those who came before her gave up their identities to attend this school.
Giving up her identity is one thing. You are asking her to give up part of her religious beliefs. And to the best of my knowledge, I do not know of one female Muslim that has attended The Citadel. Also, not all Muslim women wear hijabs so this was never an issue if a Muslim woman has attended the school.
Agree or not with the system, this institution has that system for a reason (that most maintain has worked exceptionally for almost 200 years) and the disruption of that system by exempting those who don't wish to conform is legally pronounced a slippery slope that will lead to the further disintegration of said system.
The school, while made of stone, is not set in it. The reason the culture of the school changes is because of people inside of the walls. We are people shaped by the society outside of these walls before we ever set foot on campus. As much as you try to deny it, the "system" has changed. The inventions of cell phones and computers guaranteed that. Electricity changed the school more than anything. Before electricity, a group of cadets would get up in the morning before everyone else to tend to the oil lamps for the school. I cannot recall one time in my four years at this school when I had to tend to an oil lamp.
Repetitively failing the PT test is "refusing to conform" and grounds for being dismissed from the military and yet we do not kick those cadets out.
The haircuts for female knobs is "refusing to conform" to a system that has been set up for almost 200 years and yet many alumni applaud some of our esteemed female graduates.
Many people are arguing that the hijab is no longer religious, but cultural. From my research on the topic, this is hotly debated, even among Muslims.
But an article written by author Umm Reem I feel explains the situation perfectly:
A piece of cloth that made me look different, caused many to stare and laugh at me, slowly became my pride. It was not just ḥijāb anymore; it made me realize what it meant to do something for no other purpose than to please Allāh alone; to be tested and along the way to become stronger (inshā'Allāh).
Ḥijāb became a responsibility. It was a symbol or worship and servitude to Allah azzawajal. I was representing my dīn every time I stepped out of my house. I started enjoying being an ambassador. I used my ḥijāb to avail every opportunity to make da'wah.
Translations:
Da'wah - A call or invitation to invite non-Muslims to understand the truth about Islam
AzzawajalorʿAzza wa-jalla - An honorific written alongside Allah
insha'Allah - If Allah wills it
Din - Loosely meaning "religion"
I am not Muslim, nor do I trust a 30 second Google search to give me all the information I need to make an educated stance on this matter, however, a Muslim alumnus, name withheld for privacy, posted this on one of the Citadel's alumni run pages:
Once a Muslim woman decides to wear a hijab it is usually a lifetime choice...And when a Muslim women decides to wear a hijab she has made a holy vow to God. A show of sacrifice and modesty. It is a very serious decision and not tossed aside easily.
While I understand that some alumni are angry over a "lack of uniformity," both the Canadian and American armies have set a precedent should the school choose to follow the military when making a decision.
Lt.-Commander Wafa Dabbagh, an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and the first woman to be allowed to wear a hijab in uniform.
Capt. Tajdeep Rattan, Maj. Kamaljeet Kalsi and Cpl. Simran Preet Singh Lamba are currently serving in the United States Army.
My focus for this article was to present a different side of the argument. But my next point, turns to you alumni.
The Citadel is meant to raise Officers and Gentlemen/Ladies. We are instilled with and supposed to live the values of Honor, Duty, and Respect.
Let me tell you, from what I have seen and heard these past few days, we have let our school down.
These comments, some made in anger, others in ignorance, make our Long Grey Line look racist, sexist, and downright appalling.
Being a Citadel Man/Woman is about more than how hard you PT'd or how long you got hazed. We are supposed to be leaders. We are supposed to be the examples that others live by. Every step we take, every post we write on the Internet, represents our school.
If you are angry, fine, be angry. But the attacks I have seen towards the school, Muslims, women, even other alumni, is ridiculous.
I know we all come from different generations at The Citadel, but I ask you this:
If the Commandant during your time at The Citadel had read what you posted, would he be proud of you?
I'll end with this, The Citadel has survived riots, protests, and even a civil war, this issue will not be what breaks us.
The school is still producing good men and women, and like the Oak Leaf on our Band of Gold represents, we are strong and we will endure.
*Not official Citadel statements
