Debate notes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Debate notes - Essay Example At the University of Colorado, football coach Bill McCartney was accused of publicizing his religious views and giving priority in hiring, recruiting, and playing time to individuals sharing his religious attitude. [FN1] While similar practices might have gone unchecked in the past, several recent Supreme Court decisions have limited the days of blind indifference to these rituals. Pre-game prayers are regularly held in public high school and university locker rooms throughout the United States. These rituals are often undertaken without any thought to possible legal consequences because the coach, team, or school have never received any complaints from concerned athletes or parents. However, the Supreme Court has recently limited the various avenues by which prayers can enter into public school activities. [FN2] The First Amendment protects student-athletes by providing them with certain safeguards against state endorsed adherence to a specific religion, most often the coachs religion. This constitutional protection must be balanced against the coachs right to effectively run his or her team without having every word or action scrutinized. The conflict of prayer in a public university locker room centers on the students right to be free from state imposed religious indoctrination and the coachs right to free speech. This conflict can be examined through the eyes of the First Amendments Entanglement, Free Exercise and Free Speech clauses. Courts have yet to specifically address the topic of prayer in a public universitys locker room. Since there are no cases on point, this article will attempt to present the possible legal arguments that would be presented by the two sides of this debate. The players interest in practicing their religion is weighed against a coachs right to motivate his/her team. Both of these rights have to be examined in light of any action undertaken or attributable to the state, and whether those actions constitute endorsement