Citadel Told to Devise Plan for Woman Student

A federal judge wants to know how The Citadel intends to house, clothe and feed Shannon Faulkner if he permits her to become the first woman in the military college’s all-male corps of cadets this fall.

U.S. District Judge C. Weston Houck on Friday gave the school 30 days to come up with the plan. He also asked Faulkner’s attorneys to submit their own proposals.

Houck made the order after hearing 10 days of evidence in Faulkner’s federal court lawsuit to join the corps.

He made no ruling in the case and recessed the trial to give attorneys time to prepare their closing arguments, which he will hear next month. Houck said he would likely rule after July 1.

“During the period I’m making the ruling something should be done to prepare for the possibility she may be admitted this fall,” he said. “It could become a reality on the last day of August. It could become a reality never.”

Faulkner, 19, was accepted into the corps last year after asking that references to her gender be omitted from her high school transcripts. The college revoked its acceptance after learning she’s a woman.

The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute are the nation’s only all-male, public military colleges.