ON THE STREET

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What do you think about the Citadel military academy's decision to admit women?"

Tracey Dunn, Cape Girardeau

"I think it's a good thing. I think it's long past time."

Judy Weber, Cape Girardeau

"I guess if it's all right with the guys ... I think it's the all-American thing now to admit women to these academies but it's still nice to have the old traditions as well."

Rocky Bender, Cape Girardeau

"It's good in a way. It's good for women's rights, but then in a way again they're breaking tradition that's been there for 153 years. It's almost like if they had an Annapolis Naval Academy ... letting women in there. It's an advancement for the women, but then again it's breaking down something that's been there for a while."

Dave Moore, Chaffee

"I don't agree with it. I'm an old military man. They don't belong out there at that type of atmosphere...a military atmosphere is very stringent and mentally ... it's a type of mental demand on a person that you don't see in too many women. You're there to do three things. Take orders, destroy things and kill people."

William Swan, St. Louis

"I think it is a tradition, but it's like everything else ... in a few years you're going to find women in baseball ... I think it's a long way down the line but the way they're taking over other sports and playing other things. I won't say they are dominating, but they're eventually getting into it more and more. I think it's going to happen. I think it's a good deal that they would grow up and withstand the rigor, they go into the service and everything like that. They've been in combat and I think they deserve the chance."