“It demonstrates that we must integrate an even higher level of diversity education into cadets’ daily activities,” General Rosa said, “and into the already extensive leadership and ethics curriculum.”

Of those punished, seven were freshmen and seven were juniors. One junior was dismissed, meaning the cadet must spend two semesters away from campus, and two juniors were suspended, which requires them to spend one semester away from campus. Eleven cadets were given punishments of hourlong marches; such punishments can number from 40 to 120 marches.

The episode began as part of an annual tradition at the Citadel in which freshman cadets sing carols to upperclass cadets. There were four nights of such singing in early December, a college spokesman, Brett Ashworth said. On three nights, the freshmen used whatever materials they could find to dress as reindeer, elves or other Christmas icons.

But on the fourth night, cadets used “what they had close at hand” to dress as “Ghosts of Christmas Past,” the statement said, and donned the pillowcases.