Shannon Faulkner’s withdrawal from The Citadel in no way reflects that women do not belong at the publicly funded school. At least 30 other cadets, all male, also could not withstand the first week of rigorous training.

Faulkner, the first woman cadet at The Citadel, withdrew from the school last Friday after spending most of the college’s “hell week” in the infirmary. Faulkner, along with several other cadets, suffered from dehydration and heat exhaustion caused by drills in 100-degree heat.

Citadel cadets celebrated by cheering and blowing horns after hearing of Faulkner’s announcement. Their reaction showed that discrimination against women is indeed prevalent in a public school in 1995.

The 2 1/2-year legal battle took an emotional toll on Faulkner, who received death threats and whose home was vandalized. She told reporters that she could not continue at the school “just for the political point.”

Faulkner’s company manager, Alex Pettet, said, “Let the alumni forget, let the lawyers forget and let everyone get on with their lives.”

It’s not likely that Faulkner’s story will be forgotten quickly. A precedent was set when a federal judge ruled that an all-male admissions policy at a public school is unconstitutional.

One of Faulkner’s lawyers said The Citadel has received over 200 requests for information from women in the past 2 years. Before the cadets can put away their horns and stop their cheers, the school could admit another woman who will carry on the fight for equality.