# Citadel Military College Cadets: Christmas Ghosts or KKK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106 "2015-12-10T19:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/1 "2015-12-10T19:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Officials at the Citadel Military College (South Carolina) say eight cadets have been suspended as a result of photos that appear to show cadets wearing white sheets on their heads. The pictures surfaced on social media Thursday morning. According to college officials, a preliminary report states the cadets were singing Christmas carols as part of a “Ghosts of Christmas Past” skit… > > The post originated from a woman who said she posted screenshots of videos showing the cadets wearing hoods on Facebook after seeing them on a messaging app called Snapchat… > “Whether they are supposed to look like ghosts or not, we all know what they look like and they know what they look like and it’s just rude,” she said in a Facebook post. [http://www.wfsb.com/story/30715696/eight-citadel-cadets-suspended-due-to-controversial-photos](http://www.wfsb.com/story/30715696/eight-citadel-cadets-suspended-due-to-controversial-photos) Surely no Doper would find these offensive? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/2 "2015-12-10T19:53:12Z")
If I saw those without context I would assume they were meant to represent KKK costumes rather than ghosts. The pointy top in particular makes it look more like a hood than the usual “bedsheet ghost” costume. Regardless of their intention, these guys should have been aware of potential misinterpretation. Posting that on Snapchat was pretty dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/3 "2015-12-10T20:07:07Z")
If it’s a skit, where’s the audience? It looks like the guys in hoods are all crammed into someone’s dorm room. Is the audience sitting on the bed? And what’s up with the guy in blue, who appears to be an adult? Has he been identified? It looks to me like they cut holes in pillow cases for the hoods. By strange coincidence, in each case the eye holes were placed in such a way that the point of the pillow case would be directly on top of the wearer’s head. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/4 "2015-12-10T20:14:34Z")
Perfectly innocent pointy headed wink wink nudge nudge sheet ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/5 "2015-12-11T04:45:13Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > And what’s up with the guy in blue, who appears to be an adult? Has he been identified? The statement from The Citadel identifies him as “an upper class cadet.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/6 "2015-12-11T04:46:12Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Surely no Doper would find these offensive? Do you actually think they look like they’re supposed to be ghosts? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/7 "2015-12-11T05:04:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > If I saw those without context I would assume they were meant to represent KKK costumes rather than ghosts. The pointy top in particular makes it look more like a hood than the usual “bedsheet ghost” costume. > > Regardless of their intention, these guys should have been aware of potential misinterpretation. Posting that on Snapchat was pretty dumb. Also makes them look like some of the ghosts in some of the versions of Casper. Anyway, freshmen are dumb. It’s a defining characteristic. And getting freshman to do dumb things (rushing and hazing) is a legitmate training method, which is why it survives in military colleges, despite community opposition. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/8 "2015-12-11T05:17:31Z")
“Whether they are supposed to look like ghosts or not, we all know what they look like and they know what they look like and it’s just rude,” Crazy. They look more like union busters than anything. A Klansman wears a whole bed sheet, not a flour bag. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/9 "2015-12-11T13:02:05Z")
My first reaction (pre-looking at picture) was that this was a bunch of guys with sheets over their heads in the classic ghost look and it was much ado over nothing. Then I looked at the pictures and yes, they could pass as Jr. Klansmen making do with what they had. So at best stupid costuming, stupid posting picture, and while suspension might be overdone, they deserved getting a kick in the ass over it. IMHO as always. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/10 "2015-12-11T14:00:43Z")
I was prepared to think it was an overreaction. But they look like Klan, not ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/11 "2015-12-11T15:41:55Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The statement from The Citadel identifies him as “an upper class cadet.” Dude looks like he’s 50. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/12 "2015-12-11T16:38:30Z")
Regardless of their costuming intentions, they look like total dorks. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/13 "2015-12-11T18:07:37Z")
“Ghosts of Christmas Past”? Specifically [Dixie in 1864](https://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/recon/klan.htm), right? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/14 "2015-12-11T18:12:14Z")
Even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they really had no idea they looked like klansmen, that only means their judgment - in performing the activity, and then uploading photographic proof - is so monumentally bad as to be worthy of severe rebuke. Do we really want people this fucking dumb in our military? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/15 "2015-12-11T18:14:36Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > A Klansman wears a whole bed sheet, not a flour bag. No, they usually wear separate [pointed hoods and white robes.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Ku_Klux_Klan_Virgina_1922_Parade.jpg) They don’t normally wear bedsheets (although [ghosts](http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/28005288/images/1383102670314.jpg) do). ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/16 "2015-12-11T18:15:08Z")
If these had been Yalies, we might have assumed ghosts. But given the location of college and the history in the area, it is unlikely they’d be assumed anything but Klan. Again, probably a hazing stunt, but ill-considered. But if upperclassmen made them do it, perhaps the punishment landed on the wrong group. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/17 "2015-12-11T18:15:50Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > It looks to me like they cut holes in pillow cases for the hoods. By strange coincidence, in each case the eye holes were placed in such a way that the point of the pillow case would be directly on top of the wearer’s head. I would guess that works well for keeping the pillow case properly oriented on your head so that the eye holes stay where you want them. If you put it on so that the top of your head is in the middle of the pillow case’s short end, hours of subversive activity will eventually have the pillow case migrating to the left or right. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/18 "2015-12-11T18:20:35Z")
I think the idea they didn’t know what they were doing is as likely as when Cartman dressed up as a ghost. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/19 "2015-12-11T18:29:03Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they really had no idea they looked like klansmen, that only means their judgment - in performing the activity, and then uploading photographic proof - is so monumentally bad as to be worthy of severe rebuke. Do we really want people this fucking dumb in our military? It’s kind of like dressing up [like this](https://colewebbharter.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/great-dictator-4.jpg) and saying you meant to be Charlie Chaplin. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106/20 "2015-12-11T18:43:55Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I would guess that works well for keeping the pillow case properly oriented on your head so that the eye holes stay where you want them. If you put it on so that the top of your head is in the middle of the pillow case’s short end, hours of subversive activity will eventually have the pillow case migrating to the left or right. [Charlie Brown](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aa21pDDxkAk/maxresdefault.jpg)had a solution to that problem. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citadel-military-college-cadets-christmas-ghosts-or-kkk/740106.md?page=2)