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CNN Live Today

The Citadel Will Mark a Milestone Tomorrow

Aired May 10, 2002 - 11:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move east now. The Citadel will mark a milestone tomorrow. Seven African-American women will receive diplomas, and we're going to talk with two of them in a moment. First, some background from our National Correspondent Brian Cabell in Charleston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN CABELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another long, tough year ends at the Citadel. Another class graduates from this venerable and, at one time, controversial institution.

Plenty of women here now, a stark contrast to just a few years ago. But there are still a few reminders of an ugly past. Just ask 2002 graduate Sha Peterson.

SHA PETERSON, CITADEL CADET: I remember walking past certain battalions and guys hissing out the windows at me and, "Leave my school," and that kind of stuff. So...

CABELL (on camera): It didn't bother you?

PETERSON: In that case, yes.

CABELL: Did it bother you?

PETERSON: Well I couldn't let it. If I let it, I wouldn't be here now.

CABELL (voice-over): But she is here now, along with six other African-American female senior cadets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Good morning.

CABELL: They are celebrities of sorts, pioneers. The first African-American women to graduate from a college that was slow to accept blacks, even slower to accept females. The first black man graduated here in 1970. The first woman to attend the Citadel, Shannon Faulkner (ph), made it in only after an extensive court fight in 1995, then dropped out after a few days. Nancy Mays (ph) was the first female to graduate in 1999, but a couple of her female classmates dropped out after alleging extensive abuse by the males.

Now the resistance has ended. The abuse by individual cadets has subsided. Almost 100 females march alongside their male classmates, and more are on the way.

COL. HEDY PINKERTON, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT: We hope to see them increase. We'd like to see them get more closely to what they have at the service academies. About 15 percent would probably be a good number in terms of demographics.

CABELL: The number at the Citadel now is only about five percent, but officials say there's quality here. Sha Peterson, for example, recognition from "Who's Who", a chest full of medals and seven semesters on the Dean's list.

(on camera): Six or seven years ago the media were an almost constant presence here. That's no longer the case. That's a sign of the times, a sign of the changes. In the minds of many, the Citadel has moved from the 19th century into the 21st century.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Charleston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And we have excellence in our midst. We have two excellent women with us right now. Two of the graduates for tomorrow: Natosha Mitchell and Adrienne Watson. They graduate tomorrow, and they join us from the Citadel campus in Charleston -- ladies, good morning and congratulations.

NATOSHA MITCHELL, CITADEL CADET: Good morning -- thank you.

ADRIENNE WATSON, CITADEL CADET: Thank you.

KAGAN: I understand if I had a chance to talk to each of the seven, each one of you would have a different reason for why you came and why you wanted this experience. Adrienne, why did you come to the Citadel?

WATSON: I came here for the mental challenge and to see if I could survive anything that was put in my way. And I definitely received that, and I did survive it. And I'm here today.

KAGAN: You certainly did. Natosha, what about you?

MITCHELL: Well I came here to play sports on the college level and also for the discipline. I knew I couldn't have did as well as a regular college if I didn't have the discipline that they instilled in us at this school.

KAGAN: I'm always fascinated with the issue of role models, especially when it comes to girls. Clearly, you didn't have a role model about going to the Citadel, so who told you -- each one of you -- that you could do this?

WATSON: My father. My father was a deputy sheriff in Sanford (ph), North Carolina, and he's experienced a lot of hardships. So he did very well as a deputy sheriff. So he told me I could make it, because he made it as a deputy sheriff and a minority in Sanford (ph), North Carolina. KAGAN: And Natosha?

MITCHELL: I'd have to say both of my parents, my mom and my dad. My mom is in the United States Air Force, so she's dealt with the military. And my father, he used to be in the military. And they support in anything that I decide that I want to do.

KAGAN: So, clearly, you did have your role models of people telling you could do this. Now I know this had to be difficult. What was the hardest part? And was there ever a time, as there have been with other women in the past, where you might have thought, you know, it's time to go home?

WATSON: No, the word "quit" is not in my vocabulary. I know that my dad always said, "Forget the word quit. Don't know what it means." You know, don't understand it. So the hardship was maybe being accepted by the male counterparts, but that was it.

KAGAN: And, Natosha, what about an African-American woman? What do you think that you brought uniquely to this experience?

MITCHELL: Well we were the first large class of African-American women to come into the school. They didn't know how to deal with us just on small levels. I think we taught them a lot. Once we became (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we were able to talk more and tell them what they needed to do that was special for us.

KAGAN: And what did you teach them -- Natosha?

MITCHELL: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Can you say it again?

KAGAN: What did you teach them? What do you think -- you know a lot of people are going to focus on the seven and say what you learned, but what do you think are the lessons that you're leaving behind?

MITCHELL: Well just small things, like how the hair thing was a big issue, which is an issue with all the females. But, as you all know, we have different textures of hair. There are certain things that we have to do that they didn't know about. And us being here helped them realize what they needed to do.

Just small simple things can make a big difference with having more African-American females come to this school.

KAGAN: Absolutely. I'm sure there are more that are going to be following your trail. Quickly ladies, tell us what's next for each of you.

WATSON: Yes, well I just received my commission this morning at 8:30. I was the second lieutenant in the United States Army. I'll be attending OBC (ph) at Fort Gordon (ph), Georgia for six months, and then my following assignment is Korea.

KAGAN: You are off and on your way. And, Natosha, where are you at? Where are you headed?

MITCHELL: Well right now I'm going to move back to Atlanta, Georgia and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) some companies out there. Nothing is official just yet, but it's looking good with one of the companies.

KAGAN: Well, Natosha, I've got to tell you, we need more excellent young ladies like you at CNN. You come back and talk to us. We'll get in that recruiting (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MITCHELL: Hey, I will be there.

KAGAN: You come see me and Leon, we'll help you out. You'll do OK. Well, I should say, it's Lieutenant Watson now, and Natosha Mitchell.

WATSON: Yes.

KAGAN: That has a pretty good sound, does it?

WATSON: Yes it does, definitely.

KAGAN: It sounds pretty good. Ladies, congratulations. A pleasure and an honor to get to meet you and talk to you on this special weekend.

MITCHELL: Thank you.

WATSON: Thank you.

KAGAN: Congratulations.

HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

KAGAN: Absolutely.

HARRIS: A change from South Carolina to Korea. That's a big change.

KAGAN: Yes, the education is going to continue.

HARRIS: You got that right. Way to go guys -- congratulations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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