ANALYZE REAL CASES
25. In April of 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court
refused to hear the appeal of a case involving
Virginia Military Institute (VMI). The case cen-
tered on the issue of whether or not, at a public
supported college such as VMI, a prayer tradi-
tionally offered before the evening meal should
be prohibited as a violation of the constitutional
mandate requiring the separation of church and
state. In an unusual step, two of the Justices of
the Court criticized the other Justices for avoiding
the responsibility of rendering a clear decision
with attendant guidelines on the matter. Failing to
take the case left in place a lower court's deci-
sion against having the prayer. The two Justices
pointed out that, although there were previous
decisions against such prayer in the public
schools where attendance was enforced, col-
leges were voluntary institutions. Should the court
have taken the case? How do you feel the court
should rule on the mandatory recital of the
pledge of allegiance, with the phrase "Under
God" therein, in public schools or colleges?