Woman’s Enrollment at The Citadel Blocked by Federal Appeals Court

CHARLESTON, S.C. —  A federal appeals court on Tuesday blocked a woman from enrolling at The Citadel until it can hear more about whether women should be allowed into the state-supported military college.

“I’m shocked,” said Suzanne Coe, the attorney for Shannon Faulkner, the 18-year-old who had planned to register Thursday for classes at the all-male college.

Coe said attorneys would either appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court or ask for a speedy trial.

Faulkner’s mother, Sandy, said her daughter was not available for comment but was “very disappointed.”

U.S. District Judge C. Weston Houck ruled earlier this month that Faulkner could enroll in day classes but not in the Corps of Cadets while her sex discrimination lawsuit against the college is heard.

The Citadel appealed, and the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., in a 2-1 ruling, said her desire to become a member of the Corps of Cadets was not addressed by Houck’s order.

“Whether a constitutional violation is established by showing that The Citadel pursued a male-only admissions policy in the circumstances of this case remains to be decided,” the court said.

Faulkner, a resident of Powdersville, applied to the college last fall, asking that her guidance counselor delete any reference to her sex on her high school transcript. The college accepted her application but then rejected it after learning that she is a woman.