This weekend, The Citadel celebrates its 166th birthday. The college is ushering in its 167th year with its annual Corps Day Weekend – complete with speakers, exhibits, parades, and even a musical narration entitled The Citadel Story. The theme of the weekend is principled leadership. There will be panel discussions and speeches from military experts like Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp who is currently overseeing most of our nation’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. The State newspaper reports that US Senator Lindsey Graham will deliver the keynote address on Friday evening.

The Citadel was founded in 1842 and has an undergraduate program of about 2,000 students who make up the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Any Charlestonian recognizes these cadets as the short-cropped exercisers along Lockwood Drive with their white belts and navy running gear or the young men walking down King Street in full-dress during a weekend study break.

The school gained public interest from Pat Conroy’s novel, The Lords of Discipline, when it was published in 1980. Conroy, a former student, chronicled the story of a “knob” or “plebe” (a first year cadet) and his emotional and physical trials growing up in a very disciplined environment at a “fictional” military college set in Charleston. It was well-known to most as being The Citadel, though not explicitly said in the novel.

The story was made into a film in 1983 and was planned to be shot on location at The Citadel. The military school film Taps was shot in 1981, and was heard to have presented many shooting delays and burdens to the school. When The Citadel got word of this, they declined to allow the shoot to take place. Some have said the school and its alumni felt that the story also showed Citadel life in a negative light, so some feel that the refusal encompassed that sentiment as well.

Regardless of the differing views, The Citadel has been know to produce great results. The school ranks number 3 nationally for percentage of students who graduate in four years, including master’s level programs. Princeton Review also sings The Citadel’s praise by listing The Citadel School of Business one of the nation’s 290 best business programs.

We certainly wish The Citadel continuing success as one of South Carolina’s best colleges.

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