Shannon Faulkner’s First Full Day: Tests, Prayer and Goodby : Education: President of The Citadel, who had opposed her admission, says, ‘I cannot legislate respect.’ Chaplain’s sermon ignores her.

CHARLESTON, S.C. —  Shannon Faulkner rose to a rap on her barracks door at The Citadel at 6:10 a.m. Sunday and spent her first full day on campus taking personality and writing tests and attending chapel.

Federal marshals shadowed her movements, and video cameras monitored the hallway outside her third-floor barracks room. Faulkner is the first female cadet in the history of the 152-year-old publicly funded military college, which fought to keep her out.

Late in the day, the 20-year-old junior said a private goodby to her parents, Ed and Sandy Faulkner.

Citadel President Claudius Watts said he didn’t know whether other cadets would ignore Faulkner.

“I cannot legislate friendship. I cannot legislate respect,” Watts said.

“She can earn my respect. She obviously believes in what she’s embarked on, and she should get credit for that. I don’t agree with her position,” he said.

Chaplain Charles Clanton urged the 400 incoming cadets to help each other but did not mention Faulkner.

“With God’s help, you’re all going to succeed,” the chaplain said. “You’re going to help each other out. You will do some bonding here which will help you the rest of your life.”

Faulkner took a personality test designed to help develop study habits and met with academic advisers Sunday, the second day of an orientation for incoming students. Formal military training begins today in what is known among the freshmen as hell week.

Although not in uniform and not marching, Faulkner walked around campus with other members of India Company and sat with them in the dining hall.

Faulkner occasionally spoke and laughed with other cadets, but most of them ate in silence. Starting today, new cadets, known as knobs because of their crew cuts, may speak only when spoken to by upperclassmen at meals. Faulkner does not have to get a crew cut.

Faulkner, who fought in federal court for 2 1/2 years to break the school’s gender barrier, reported to campus on Saturday, a day after two U.S. Supreme Court justices rejected a last-ditch appeal from The Citadel.

The school has vowed to continue its fight to keep women out.