Roy Exum
Here is a trio of stories that you need to know about.
As if the world doesn’t have enough problems with whose restroom is whose and ever-mounting creative ways to exploit political correctness, The Citadel – also renowned as The Military College of South Carolina – has just called for a halt in the march. It seems an incoming freshman has requested to wear a Muslim hijab with her uniform.
On Tuesday, Lt. Gen. John Ross, the university’s president, announced that after almost a month of carefully considering the request, the governing board was denying the request. "As the Military College of South Carolina, the Citadel has relied upon a highly effective educational model requiring all cadets adopt a common uniform,” said General Rosa. “Uniformity is the cornerstone of this four-year leader development model."
Before you cheer or sneer, please know that The Citadel has made it very clear the board hopes the girl will attend the Charleston, S.C., school and that it will accommodate prayer and diet requests, as well as transportation to religious services. A spokesman for the girl’s family said the family is considering legal recourse and, if she cannot wear the hijab as a result, she will attend college elsewhere.
Nick Pinelli, not a school spokesman but a cadet there, wrote somewhat brilliantly on his Facebook page: "Equality means the same set of rules for everyone, not different rules for different people. It means accepting everyone, and giving them the same tools to succeed as the rest."
Pinelli and a number of other Citadel cadets feel to allow a change in the uniform – which has been the standard for 174 years, may have led to "further disintegration of the system." And he admitted the decision was a slippery slope. "This girl should be welcomed to the Corps with open arms, as should any person of any religion, race, gender, or identity. That's equality. It's not equality to let one of those groups follow a different set of rules," he wrote.
My sentiments exactly.
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A HONEST – AND HILARIOUS – NOTE
Thomas Callow, a 20-year-old in Massachusetts, had just aced an English exam when he found a note under the windshield wiper of his car. “I thought it was another parking ticket … I get them all the time.
But, no, what was written has gone viral as the funniest note of the week: “Yo I hit your car. I am leaving this note because somebody is watching. … They are still looking … OK I am good. My bad (expletive) Peace out.”
Understand, no telephone number, no name, no address but Thomas’ funny bone almost broke. “Just a couple of scratches … I don’t care. Hands down the funniest thing that has ever happened to me.”
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STATUTORY RAPE OR BLACKMAIL?
A sordid story in Knoxville just got worse when the wife of a South Doyle High School assistant football coach, charged with six counts of statutory rape, said the illicit sex was the result of being blackmailed by the player involved.
Apparently she and her husband let the player and his brother live with them for just over a year. During this time, according to an account in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the player obtained some “compromising photographs” and threatened to “light up the school” by distributing the images on social media. “A teacher is going to be crying,” the student allegedly wrote.
When South Doyle football coach Clark Duncan found out about the story, he notified Principal Tim Berry but – in an error reminiscent of the Ooltewah basketball rape in December – neither reported what had happened to the Department of Children’s Services or police officials in a timely manner.
Duncan and Berry have been “on leave” for the last three months and will be allowed to resume school duties on May 23.
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EAT AT CAFÉ DUPONT WHEN IN BIRMINGHAM
Café Dupont is considered one of the best, the trendiest and the most expensive restaurants in Alabama. Reservations are a must, as are the beignets for dessert. The restaurant is closed on Mondays but this week the lights were on for a “private party.”
Café Dupont, you need to know, is near a wonderful homeless shelter for men, the Brother Bryan Mission, also well-respected for its alcohol and drug addictions programs. So the other day Chef Chris Dupont, who has hired two men from Brother Bryan to work in his restaurant, called over and invited the whole crowd to a gourmet feast.
On Monday night 60 men walked very excitedly to Café Dupont and Chef Dupont pulled out his very best. He had a full team of waiters who vowed to do the best job ever. His kitchen was sizzling and his dishes were impeccable. Best of all, there was no bill. Zero. Nada. And the only time a waiter said “no” was when a guest tried to hand him a tip.
“We’re all trying to serve people in some form,” Chef Dupont modestly responded to a media request. “These people are right down the street. They are in our community. It’s just a gift for people who are trying to do good.”
The next time you are in Birmingham, make reservations at Café Dupont. If the fact it’s a little pricey bothers you, remember the night that the chef fed 60 men the best meal of their life. And if you get a chance, tell the reservationist that Brother Bryan recommended Café Dupont.
royexum@aol.com