National Action Network Rescinds Call for Citadel President’s Job

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV/AP) – The call to remove the Confederate Flag hanging in The CItadel’s Summerall Chapel will begin again, Rev. Al Sharpton said Wednesday night after meeting with the school’s president and commanding officer.

Sharpton told members of the media that he and members of the National Action Network were prepared to go to the state legislature to have the flag removed from the chapel. The state’s Heritage Act protects it from being removed because of its storied history within The Citadel and the state.

The meeting between Sharpton and Lt. Gen. John Rosa was supposed to address the white hood photos that were shared on social media last week.

Afterwards, members of the National Action Network said the meeting cleared up a lot of confusion they had in the matter and rescinded their call for Rosa to resign his position as The Citadel’s president.

Meanwhile, The Citadel reported Wednesday that it had completed the initial stages of its investigation into the photos of cadets in white hoods. Among those involved in the investigation was Dr. Lamont Melvin, a 1991 Citadel graduate and chairman of The Citadel Minority Alumni Association.

“I invited Dr. Melvin to be a part of this process to provide transparency, but, more importantly, to work together to build a learning environment where all cadets, no matter their background, can thrive at The Citadel,” said Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, Citadel president.

Rosa said the eight suspended cadets were allowed to take their final exams, which started the day after the photos appeared on Facebook and Snapchat. The students will also be able to return to class in January.

Col. Brett Ashworth, the vice president of Marketing and Communications at The Citadel, said all of the cadets in white hoods were freshmen.

“We are aware of a few incidents and are reminding our cadets to be vigilant, to remove themselves from any situation that could get out of control, and to remember they are representing The Citadel,” Ashworth said.

According to Rosa, the cadets involved have provided statements to the investigating officers, and will now face due process hearings in which they will have to answer questions from officials. Those hearing will determine what punishments are handed down.

Rosa said the entire process should be complete by early February.

“We pride ourselves on our core values. The images we saw last week are not consistent with these values,” Rosa said. “I want people to know The Citadel is a place where everyone can flourish, meet their full potential and be treated with dignity and respect. I am committed to nothing less.”

The college initially said an investigation indicated the cadets were taking part in a “Ghosts of Christmas Past” skit.

The 19-year-old woman who posted the photos to Facebook said afterwards that she did not want The Citadel to take blame for the incident, and that she did not think the students should be expelled.

Local civil rights activists have called for Rosa to step down. Rosa issued a statement last week saying he plans to honor the terms of his contract to serve as president of the military college until 2018.

Approximately 22 percent of the cadet population is composed of ethnic minorities, with African Americans representing eight percent.