Citadel investigates cadets wearing pillowcases on heads

It was pointed out in the statement by The Citadel Minority Alumni Association that this is not the first, second or third time problems like this have occurred. I imagine, as alumni, they have both loyalty and insight into the inner-workings of the institution, as opposed to uninformed opinions on the internet. And their assessment came quickly and clearly.[/QUOTE]

I find calling Bruno post an "uninformed opinion on the internet" misplaced considering his involvement in assisting folks through the process of enrolling into, and attending these Senior Military Academies as well as his direct and lengthy involvement in one of them. As it is stated in EVERY training I have attended in my 30 years of Naval service, the service is a reflection of society. Society is full of people making either stupid decisions that lead to unintended perceptions, as well as people making stupid decisions that were designed to illicit a volatile reaction. Bruno's statement is merely trying to point out that at this time, where this one falls out is not known, and may never be known. There is too much publically released official material from all of these SMA's to think that there isn't a significant amount of time spent on addressing racism, nor to think it is institutionally fostered. Racism of all types will occur in all locations, regardless of being located in "the deep south" or Berkley California, reference the Affirmative Action bake sale that occurred at Berkley. The Citadel is taking action and is hopefully going to render a prudent and properly measured response, not one based on perceptions or public opinion, but based on fact.
 
It was pointed out in the statement by The Citadel Minority Alumni Association that this is not the first, second or third time problems like this have occurred. I imagine, as alumni, they have both loyalty and insight into the inner-workings of the institution, as opposed to uninformed opinions on the internet. And their assessment came quickly and clearly.

I find calling Bruno post an "uninformed opinion on the internet" misplaced considering his involvement in assisting folks through the process of enrolling into, and attending these Senior Military Academies as well as his direct and lengthy involvement in one of them. As it is stated in EVERY training I have attended in my 30 years of Naval service, the service is a reflection of society. Society is full of people making either stupid decisions that lead to unintended perceptions, as well as people making stupid decisions that were designed to illicit a volatile reaction. Bruno's statement is merely trying to point out that at this time, where this one falls out is not known, and may never be known. There is too much publically released official material from all of these SMA's to think that there isn't a significant amount of time spent on addressing racism, nor to think it is institutionally fostered. Racism of all types will occur in all locations, regardless of being located in "the deep south" or Berkley California, reference the Affirmative Action bake sale that occurred at Berkley. The Citadel is taking action and is hopefully going to render a prudent and properly measured response, not one based on perceptions or public opinion, but based on fact.[/QUOTE]
100% agree
 
And, it is what every media outlet would do. Plus... I am a visual learner. And a picture is worth a thousand words. :)
Exactly the problem...

The Citadel appears to have a cultural issue on their hands. South Carolina has a very racist history. Seriously, ISIS could take a page from the KKK. I'm very sorry if anyone thinks I'm being pedantic about history. But truly, the slow barbeques done by KKK makes ISIS style beheadings appear quite humane.

WOW....Seriously....Pedantic...you reckon (Southern for "you really think so") ;)


You really are making this hard on me...
2vknt50.jpg
 
Agree this will all be worked out in the end. For the most part this is a bunch of parents and us old guys commenting.

For the young guys out there lurking... This a great chance to think, "what would I have done in this situation?" As a Knob, Plebe or whatever else we call Freshman at each school? Tough decision. As a Sophomore, Junior, Senior? And its just not this scenario, but any of these scenarios you read about. Bottom line is trust your gut in many of these situations. Remember with rank comes responsibility. More is expected of you in decision making, responsibility, accountability as you progress through ROTC and on active duty. Also when you put together X (insert Cadet, Mid, Lt, Major) there is always someone senior in the room even if you are all the same rank. This can and should be a great teaching moment for Cadets/Mids at all the SMCs, ROTC Battalions/Wings, and SAs. Trust me you will face tough decisions in ROTC/SA life and in the fleet. Doing the right thing is hard and can be widely unpopular at times.
 
Agree this will all be worked out in the end. For the most part this is a bunch of parents and us old guys commenting.

For the young guys out there lurking... This a great chance to think, "what would I have done in this situation?" As a Knob, Plebe or whatever else we call Freshman at each school? Tough decision. As a Sophomore, Junior, Senior? And its just not this scenario, but any of these scenarios you read about. Bottom line is trust your gut in many of these situations. Remember with rank comes responsibility. More is expected of you in decision making, responsibility, accountability as you progress through ROTC and on active duty. Also when you put together X (insert Cadet, Mid, Lt, Major) there is always someone senior in the room even if you are all the same rank. This can and should be a great teaching moment for Cadets/Mids at all the SMCs, ROTC Battalions/Wings, and SAs. Trust me you will face tough decisions in ROTC/SA life and in the fleet. Doing the right thing is hard and can be widely unpopular at times.

Yes hopefully this is a learning moment for many... and remember,that www. social media can/may bite you.....sometimes, even if you think it was just joke...
 
Seriously, ISIS could take a page from the KKK. I'm very sorry if anyone thinks I'm being pedantic about history. But truly, the slow barbeques done by KKK makes ISIS style beheadings appear quite humane.

I find this quite disturbing.

EDITED per poster's request as it identified the wrong person as being quoted.
 
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I find this quite disturbing.

Seriously I do too, I could not get it to credit the post to it's author so I cut and pasted and answered in RED. The way you quoted it, it looks like my quote. For the record... OH NO not my quote...:) It belongs to kyguardmom...

Maybe I should have done this when I could not quote the box:
Kyguardmom said:
Harmless prank or cultural issue?
Putting the pictures side by side only makes sense to me, to come to a conclusion. And, it is what every media outlet would do. Plus... I am a visual learner. And a picture is worth a thousand word :) ............
None of which changes the fact that The Citadel appears to have a cultural issue on their hands. South Carolina has a very racist history. Seriously, ISIS could take a page from the KKK. I'm very sorry if anyone thinks I'm being pedantic about history. But truly, the slow barbeques done by KKK makes ISIS style beheadings appear quite humane. (End of kyguardmoms quote)
 
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And, it is what every media outlet would do. Plus... I am a visual learner. And a picture is worth a thousand words. :)
Exactly the problem...

The Citadel appears to have a cultural issue on their hands. South Carolina has a very racist history. Seriously, ISIS could take a page from the KKK. I'm very sorry if anyone thinks I'm being pedantic about history. But truly, the slow barbeques done by KKK makes ISIS style beheadings appear quite humane.

WOW....Seriously....Pedantic...you reckon (Southern for "you really think so") ;)


You really are making this hard on me...
2vknt50.jpg
some folks need to get off the soapbox and stop making inflammatory and slanderous comments; by all appearances this was a case of some stupid college kids making a poor decision and they will no doubt be pounding the quad for the rest of the school year to learn their lesson. Also a sad reminder how many in the country see what they want to see and push agendas. Additionally an abject lesson in the stupidity of trying to advertise your life on social media.
 
You're making my point.

These kids could be stigmatized for life, not unlike the Duke LAX knuckleheads in attendance at their stripper party.

I'll defer to the developmental neurologists, whose consensus is that the male human brain is not fully developed until age 25.


Stigmatized for life? Yeah, maybe. I was born in 1964 so I had the benefit of doing some pretty stupid things before the age of, say, 25 or so without ever having to worry about having my digital picture being taken and uploading onto the Internet instantly...

...or my careless, drunken midnight statements giving to a handful of other friends and then forgotten when the next days hangover wore off, rather than be posted across the web for all the world to see.

No, my peers and I didn't have the 500 TV channels or 20,000 songs for free online or be able to watch whatever movie we wanted at any time.......but we were able to make mistakes without the world knowing about it.

Honestly, I don't think I'd make it as a young kid nowadays.
 
I do think this was the result of poor decisions by a group of very young men. Understand that young people sometimes make very bad decisions. From what I have seen it covers a wide spectrum of bullying, drugs, alcohol, harassment and other illegal activities. As far as the military it must have zero tolerance for such decisions. You see, if you make these types of decisions like these men did, it shows you may make more of these types of decisions. IN THE MILITARY ACTIONS WITHOUT THINKING GETS PEOPLE KILLED. That said the school should act on this behavior. It should reinforce to all to see it values and what is important. Make no mistake the Citadel produces some of the nation's best officers. This event affects many people. From those victims of the tragic church shooting to the rest of the Corps and Alumni of the college. These young men caused some pain to many. They will face consequences with their future. As we pile it on them be careful. They are young men who have changed their future. I hope they get counseling. Young people react desperately sometimes.

I can't agree more.

Citadel administration should be firm, but overly zealous, in discipline in this issue.

It reminds of a guy I used to work with. He was a young 22 year 2nd lieutenant in the Army in 1969 and replaced another young officer as a platoon leader in Vietnam. The southern white GIs had confederate flags flying in their hooches. Some guys even had Nazi swastika flags! The black GIs had black power and Black Panther symbols. Tensions sucked. My friend had all these divisive symbols torn down, though his predecessor had ignored them and the company CO was so afraid of being fragged he did nothing either. The whole platoon hated him, except the NCOs who backed him up. He ordered the troops to shave daily, get haircuts & wear their uniforms properly (or close enough). In short order, the platoon began to resemble a military unit again instead of a undisciplined, armed mob of hate-filled drunks and druggies. Hell, he said, the GIs still smoked dope (apparently this was incredibly widespread at that time) but at least they did so privately, on the sly, instead of openly and defiantly.

An absolutely awful time to be a junior officer. Glad I missed it.

I know - I'm kinda off topic here a bit .........
 
I think you meant NOT overly zealous. Some feel the cadets should have been immediately expelled but that would have been a kneejerk reaction and denial of due process; this was clearly a lapse in judgement and a poor decision so severe punishment is warranted, I suspect they will be 'pounding the quad' for the entire second semester, that and the shock of seeing the controversy and bad PR they have created should serve as a harsh lesson.
 
I think you meant NOT overly zealous. Some feel the cadets should have been immediately expelled but that would have been a kneejerk reaction and denial of due process; this was clearly a lapse in judgement and a poor decision so severe punishment is warranted, I suspect they will be 'pounding the quad' for the entire second semester, that and the shock of seeing the controversy and bad PR they have created should serve as a harsh lesson.

Yeah, Major, I mean't "NOT". Poor proofreading on my part.

Company punishment for those cadets would be my option, would I be the power that be. Run in place for an hour with rifle above head, or something like that. Maybe I'm too easy. Glad I was never an officer.
 
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some folks need to get off the soapbox and stop making inflammatory and slanderous comments; by all appearances this was a case of some stupid college kids making a poor decision and they will no doubt be pounding the quad for the rest of the school year to learn their lesson. Also a sad reminder how many in the country see what they want to see and push agendas. Additionally an abject lesson in the stupidity of trying to advertise your life on social media.

I know I am beating this to death but...Major, you do realize my words are in red. The quote belongs to another, I want no part of those remarks...
 
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