Should the Citadel Change Its Socialization Practices?
The Citadel–The Military College of South Carolina–was founded in 1842. It has a student body of about 2,300 undergraduates (2,121 males and 171 females) and about 1,000 graduate students. The college’s vision is “achieving excellence in the education and development of principled leaders.” Its “primary purpose has been to educate undergraduates as members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and to prepare them for post-graduate positions of leadership through academic programs of recognized excellence supported by the best features of a military environment. The cadet lifestyle provides a structured environment that supports growth and development of each student’s intellect, discipline, physical fitness, and moral and ethical values.”
In socializing new students, the Citadel uses the divestiture approach reviewed in Table 14.2. In this method, organizations attempt to strip away a newcomer’s existing sense of self and re-orient it into one that conforms to the institution’s image. College President Lt. General John Rosa said “the cadet system is based on common uniform and standardization of cadets in appearance, actions, and privileges is essential to the military system.”
A newly admitted female student requested to wear a traditional Muslim headscarf, called a hijab. President Rosa said “the school respects students‘ religious views, but could not accommodate a request that would disrupt the school’s core principles.” “Uniformity is the cornerstone of this four-year leader development model,” said Rosa. The school does make “accommodations for prayer and dietary needs.”
The student’s parents are considering legal action because the Citadel is a public university. Assuming you were the president of the Citadel, what would you do?
- The college has the right to determine its own mission, culture, and socialization techniques. I would deny the request because such action is consistent with the Citadel’s mission, culture, and method of socialization.
- The college is a public institution, and it needs to be more open-minded when it comes to supporting diversity. I would accommodate the woman based on religious considerations.
- I would deny the request because the Citadel is a military school. The prospective student knew this coming in, and she should not have applied if she could not abide by the dress code for religious reasons.
- Invent other options.
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Read the ethical dilemma. Analyze and summarize the case. Choose one of the opinions listed after the case (or invent other options) that best describes your opinions associated with the case. Explain why you chose that opinion and provide research from the text and outside research that may help support that opinion.
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