The Citadel is a half military/half civilian college located in Charleston, South Carolina. It was originally founded as the South Carolina Military Academy in 1843.
History
From www.citadel.edu: "Enrollment in The South Carolina Military Academy increased from thirty-four students in 1843 to two hundred ninety six in 1864. The $200 tuition in 1843 increased to $1,200 in 1864. When South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, Major Robert Anderson moved his garrison of U.S. troops to Fort Sumter and requested reinforcements from the federal government. On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets stationed on Morris Island fired on the U.S. steamer, the Star of the West, which failed to supply Fort Sumter with troops and supplies. This was the first overt act of the war. On January 28, 1861, the Corps of Cadets were made part of the military organization of the state and were known as The Battalion of State Cadets. The Arsenal and The Citadel continued to operate as military academies, however, classes were often disrupted when the governor called the cadets into military service. Mounting and manning heavy guns, guard duty and escorting prisoners were among the services performed by the cadets. On February 18, 1865, The Citadel ceased operation as a college when Union troops entered Charleston and occupied the site. The Arsenal was burned by Sherman's troops and never reopened."
Although not a major factor in the conflict, Citadel students were in several battles during the Civil War:
- Star of the West, January 9, 1861
- Wapoo Cut, November 1861
- James Island, June 1862
- Charleston and Vicinity, July to October 1863
- James Island, June 1864
- Tulifinny, December 1864
- James Island, December 1864 to February 1865
- Williamston, May 1865
- Confederate States Army
Citadel graduates are well known for their military service, but most graduates seek civilian endeavors upon graduation. Citadel graduates have fought in every war since the Civil War.
The school's sports teams are called the Bulldogs. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-AA, and the Southern Conference. Cadets and civilians alike play on the Bulldog sports teams.
After enrolling in 1966, Charles Foster became the first black cadet to graduate from the Citadel in 1970.
On January 20, 1994, Shannon Faulkner, by court order after a two-year court fight, became the first female student to take day classes at The Citadel. After additional legal battles, Faulkner joined the Corps of Cadets on August 15, 1995. One week later she resigned, due to exhaustion and complaining of harrasment. Prior to Ms. Faulkner, there was no male or female option on the application; it was simply assumed that all applicants were male.
On May 8, 1999 Nancy Mace became the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel. Most people do not know that her father was Commandant of Cadets at the time. The first African-American women graduated on May 11, 2002. The Citadel, like the US military, has adopted gender norming of physical fitness tests. This means that while a male cadet of age 17 will have run two miles in thirteen minutes to achieve the maximum score, a female of the same age will only have to run two miles in fifteen minutes and thirty-six seconds to achieve the maximum score. [1][2] [3] [4] [5]
Fictional depictions
Pat Conroy's 1980 novel The Lords of Discipline was based on Conroy's experiences as a cadet at The Citadel during the 1960s. This book highlights the hazing experienced at The Citadel, but also shows the closeness and brotherhood that develops between the knobs as they endure taunting by upper classmen. Due to the events described in the novel and its undeniable relationship to the institution, the Board of Visitors requested that Pat Conroy relenquish his ring. It was only after Pat Conroy publicly stated that his novel had no relationship to The Citadel, his ring was given back to him. Although this may have been the case, cadets understand that the novel accurately depicts the foundation of The Citadel, from the breaking down to the building up; a everlasting bond between classmates and brothers.
The Lords of Discipline was made into a movie starring David Keith and Robert Prosky in 1983.
The Band of Gold
The Citadel and its graduates, take great pride in their ring. Following The Citadel's trait of sticking to tradition and unswerving in the face of change, the characteristic of the ring has remained essentiallly unchanged since its creation. While others may choose to select a specific design by class, it is The Citadel's belief that all graduates should wear the same design, as cadets and alumni are all connected by the similar rigorous experience endured by all of them. The Citadel contains 14 points. One of many "knob knowledges" that 4th class cadets are required to learn.
The Citadel today
Today, The Citadel is a part military with a "corps of cadets". However The Citadel earns its reputation as a unforgiving experience and the hardest and longest freshmen year of all senior military colleges and academies. The incoming freshmen are fourth classmen and are referred to as "Knobs" (also "Smacks", "Freaks", or "Plebes"). While the knobs undergo basic training during what is called "Hell Week," a dark ritual of "Hell Night" insures their placement as the lowly fourth class cadets. Throughout the year knobs are forced to memorize "knob knowledge" such as: The Battle Streamers, The Alma Mater, The Cadet Prayer, The Presidents (Name, Date and Service), multiple definitions, The Cadet Creed, The Prayer of the Citadel, Tour of Campus (identifying names, dates, location of buildings), 14-points of the ring, as well as their Comapany, Battalion, and Regimental Chain of Command (called TO&E). However above all, all cadets must remember the cadet honor code: "A Cadet will lie, cheat or still, nor tolerate those who do." These words provide the foundation of The Citadel and exemplify the great degree of importance of honor to the institution. The Cadet's greatest challenge is managing daily cadet life with their college academics. The most obvious way to identify a knob around campus is by their walking pace around anywhere on campus. Each cadet is to ordered to "step it out" which is equivalent to a normal jogging speed but speed-walking. Furthermore the second most identifiable trait of a knob is the action of bracing. Bracing is the action of rolling shoulders back, tucking the chin in, forcing your arms to your side without any gap, and at times, bending your back over 45 degrees. While its description may seem harmless, it is assured by cadets that several hours of this can lead to indescribable pain to the lower back region. While other academies recieve their training prior to the academic sessions, knobs are faced with daily "activities" held by upperclassmen that occupy most of their lives. The reference "Knob" is to the shaved heads of the fourth class that make them look like door knobs. Female cadets do not shave their heads but are required to maintain short lengths even as upperclassmen. This issue has been recently brought up as other females in the military as well as academies could grow their hair and place it in a bun. Over extensive deliberation the Citadel Board of Visitors have denied this privelage. Uniform prepration also follows The Citadel tradition of taking the extremeties not observed in academies and senior military colleges. Many times cadets are to sand down brass from buckles, covers, and even make metal backings for their insignia out of brass. "Old Corp" (Heel and Sole) becomes the ritual application, from shoes to areas behind the belt. The problem The Citadel faces today is the poor average GPA shown in the freshmen class. However this issue seems inevitable as Knobs are often awake until the early mornings preparing their uniform, than having to start college academics. Weekends, while often relief, are often filled with SMI's (Saturday Morning Inpection). However unlike other colleges, knobs are forced to stay up all night many times insuring that their room is prepared for inspection; going to extents of ironing proper crease-folds on their racks (beds). It is further assumed that by Winter Break most of Knob-life has been well-adjusted to. Yet on the contrary, as Knobs report back after Christmas break, they are faced with new leadership: the Sophomore Class. With new leadership comes more pressure and more "activities" to successfully occupy the hours. Knobs are always called by their last names and are not allowed to know or utter the first names of upperclassmen. All upperclassmen are referred to as "Mr." or "Miss" before and after the statement (known as "the sir sandwich." Freshman are not allowed to speak in the first person in all situations except for classroom settings, the proper way to describe oneself their freshman year is, "This Cadet Private." The culminating point of their training is Recognition Day that occurs after final exams. Essentially Recognition Day becomes Hell Week condensed to a single day with a massive PT "Spirit Run" at the end. Ending finally with the ceremony where all of the upperclassmen (sophomores, juniors, seniors) shake the hands of the knobs, call them by their first names, and welcome then into the Corps of Cadets as upperclassmen. Some may criticize The Citadel and call their "tradition" unprofessional. Perhaps this may be true, and in exchange the institution is often famed for its ritual-like induction and life of the "knobs" as described in Lords of Discipline. But it is in this, what some called "unprofessionalism," graduates take the greatest pride in. To them it is merely surviving the tradition experienced by those before them and branding their past forever with the ring; the true life as none other than The Citadel cadet.
As the now banned Citadel Prayer states: "Give me a boy, Oh God, who is wiling to learn the true value of honor, the necessity of perseverence and loyalty, and the meaningfulness of devotion to God and country. And I shall take this boy as does a blacksmith take a crude piece of metal, and place him over a forge whose liberating flame of education is fired by the bellows of strict military discipline. Into this ingot of a man I shall temper self-respect and self-discipline, fear of God and respect for mankind, appreciation of freedom and awareness of what sacrifices must be made to preserve freedom, and above all an insatiable desire for truth and honesty. And when all these things I have done, I shall brand my finished work with a ring of gold to let all of humanity know that I have given back to the world a ...Citadel Man.
Changes
The campus has recently undergone a barracks renovation program. This program began with the construction of Watts Barracks (1996), the demolition and rebuilding of Murray Barracks (reopened 1999) and most recently, the demolition and rebuilding of Padgett-Thomas Barracks. The new "PT Barracks" is visually identical to the original barracks, the first built when the college moved from downtown Charleston to its home on the banks of the Ashley River. Law Barracks is currently being demolished, with plans to rebuild it on site. This leaves Stevens Barracks as the last of the "original" barracks on campus, and it will most likely be torn down once Law Barracks is rebuilt and 3rd Battalion moves back into its original home.
In the summer of 2000, a barracks constructed of trailers were moved onto campus across from Watts Barracks to house the Regimental Band during the transitional period of the Padgett-Thomas rebuild. The Regimental Band now lives in its original home in 2nd Battalion, and Palmetto Battery has moved from 1st Battalion (Murray Barracks) to the trailers. However as of the summer of 2005, Palmetto Battery will move into 4th Battalion (Stevens Barracks) and the location of the trailers soon to be turned into space for additional parking.
Each class (not just the fourth class) is bound by the tradition of progression; only receiving privileges as they rise in seniority and rank. At the direction of the Regimental Commander, such privileges are normally set forth at the beginning of the second semester:
- Freshman: Nothing but to serve the upperclass
- Sophomores: "Cut the quad". The right to walk across the checkboard quadrangle in the middle of each barracks.
- Juniors: "Cut the deck" and the Blazer uniform. The right to cut across the Parade Field in the middle of campus, and the right to wear the Blazer uniform during periods of general leave.
- Seniors: Get their rings and diplomas.
While The Citadel exemplifies its efforts to establish an equal environment for women, many times, controversy has arisen from the unfair benefits given to women when punishment is needed. Recently the greatest debate originated from a female cadet pregnancy. After great deliberation from respectable faculties as well as threats of lawsuits, it was found that the female was allowed to stay, however the male involved willingly left due to the dishonor he may impose to the institution. Another incident over a female cadet who had lost her marine scholarship over an alcohol violation was overthrown by political influences and further threats of law suits under sexual harassment charges. However in the spring of 2005, the two female cadets were in charge of a volunteering activity off-campus that led to possession of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol. After the attempt on part of these two female cadets to influence those involved to all lie under the same story, their plan failed and were finally led out of Lesegne gates the day before graduation. While the corp of cadets sympathize their departure, many are relieved that the Honor Court and the appropriate faculties had made the correct decision, regardless of gender.
Furthermore with recent changes made on the institution, the Graves of Gissinger can unfortunately, no longer be found on campus.
