An elite US military school is considering an unprecedented request from a new student who wants to wear a traditional Muslim head scarf.
The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, said an incoming freshman who has been accepted for this year's term has asked to be allowed to wear a head covering.
A spokeswoman for the 174-year-old public military college, Kim Keelor, said it is the first time as far as she is aware that such a request has been made.
"The college is reviewing the request at this time," said a statement from the Citadel.
"We do not currently have anyone that has a special religious accommodation for uniforms."
Ms Keelor added the school, which admitted its first woman student in 1995, has had a number of other Muslim students.
A decision is expected within the next couple of weeks.
Citadel students are required to wear their uniforms at nearly all times.
The Citadel's policy states it will approve religious requests "unless accommodation will have an adverse impact on a competing institutional interest including, but not limited to, cohesion, morale, good order and discipline, cadet welfare, safety and/or health".
Nick Pinelli, a Citadel cadet, said changing the uniform rules to accommodate one person was a "slippery slope".
"This girl should be welcomed to the Corps with open arms," he wrote on Facebook, "as should any person of any religion, race, gender, or identity.
"That's equality. It's not equality to let one of those groups follow a different set of rules."
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