The Carousel Podcast How RBG Destroyed VMI
Dec 24, 2025
Scott Yenor, an academic and policy analyst at the Simon Center, dives deep into the impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's landmark ruling in United States v. Virginia. He argues that the decision drastically changed Virginia Military Institute, undermining its foundational culture. The conversation explores the historical context, legal implications, and the evolution of VMI's honor code from the 'Code of a Gentleman' to a modernized version. Yenor highlights the far-reaching consequences of integrating women and calls for a reassessment of the ruling's legacy.
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RBG's Prediction Versus Reality
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg's majority opinion predicted admitting women would not change VMI's adversative culture.
- Scott Yenor argues that prediction was empirically disproven and thus the ruling was wrong.
How Intermediate Scrutiny Was Tightened
- Sex-based classifications get intermediate scrutiny, but RBG's opinion functionally made that standard much harder to meet.
- Yenor says her use of stereotype arguments gave the ruling a near strict-scrutiny effect on single-sex institutions.
President Tried, Then Replaced
- Josiah Bunting tried to preserve VMI's original standards after the 1996 decision but was replaced within five years.
- New leadership then loosened physical and grooming standards, starting the cultural shift Yenor documents.