Citadel Disciplines 4 in Alleged Hazing of 2 Female Cadets

A Citadel cadet was suspended from the military college Saturday because of the alleged hazing of two female cadets, and three student officers were relieved of military duties pending an investigation.

The hazing incident about four weeks ago allegedly involved someone spraying cadets with a flammable liquid and setting their clothes on fire. Officials said no one was injured.

At least one male cadet was also a target of the hazing, said Clifton Poole, interim college president.

“With the information I have now it appears we are talking about an upperclass-knob situation, not male-female gender-related,” Poole said Saturday. Knobs are freshmen, named for their close-cropped hair cuts.

Poole would not give the names of any of the cadets involved or details of the incident.

Four women were admitted to the state-supported military school when the college dropped its all-male policy. The change came after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a similar policy at Virginia Military Institute was unconstitutional.

Poole said one sophomore cadet was directly involved in the hazing and “I thought the offense was serious enough to suspend him from the school immediately. Those charges have to do with improper behavior--hazing.”