Charleston, SC (WLTX) — A internal report conducted by The Citadel has concluded that a group of cadets photographed wearing white pillowcases over their heads last month did not intend to be offensive.
School President Lt. Gen. Jon Rosa released the findings in a statement Monday, where he also outlined some policy changes that will be put in place and discipline for some of the cadets.
Last month, pictures surfaced online of a group of cadets in barracks with pillowcases over their heads that had holes cut out for their eyes. The images caused a stir in the public, with some feeling that the images resembled the attire often associated with the Ku Klux Klan.
The report found that the students were supposed to be singing Christmas carols while dressed in costumes. According to the findings, the freshmen used what they had in hand, including the pillowcases, in order to be the "Ghosts of Christmas Past." The lyric sheets seen in the photos were for "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas", and "Joy to the World."
"The investigation found that the cadets did not intend to be offensive," Rosa said. "However, I am disappointed some recognized how it could be construed as such but didn't stop it."
Within an hour of the incident, several other cadets reported what happened to the cadet leadership. Those leaders then contacted a company tactical officer, who in turn notified the administration.
The school temporarily suspended eight of the cadets, and Rosa called the display "offensive and disturbing." Seven more cadets were added to the investigation, the school says.
"While the skit had no ill intent, it did show poor judgment," Rosa said. "It demonstrates that we must integrate an even higher level of diversity education into cadets' daily activities, and into the already extensive leadership and ethics curriculum. We are working on that now," Rosa said. "The bottom line is that the cadets involved now understand that the costumes could be considered offensive and hurtful to many."
Fourteen cadets have received either on-campus punishments or dismissal. Dismissal means a cadet must spend two semesters away from campus.
Rosa said he's creating a task force to advance diversity and inclusion, which will be led by the college's diversity, equality, and inclusion council. He also said the school will expand the racial sensitivity and ethical decision making training that cadets already receive.
