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In the tradition of the original "Institute," SMI
will be a small engineering and science institution emphasizing the foundations of Christian faith and morality. It will also provide a sound background in the history of Western Civilization, American politics,
Constitutional studies, and military history. SMI will be steeped in southern tradition and will re-establish the all-male Corps of Cadets, the Gentleman's Honour System, the "Brother-Rat" Class System, and the
traditional "Ratline" basic training system. SMI will sponsor programs that advance the knowledge and awareness of Southern history and culture including the honouring of Confederate Memorial Day and New Market Day,
which celebrates the valor of the VMI cadets at the Battle of New Market, Virginia on the 15th of May, 1864.
SMI is to be modeled after VMI, but it will also seek to
preserve elements of the traditions that once were part of her southern sister, The Citadel, as well as some of those of the old West Point. The Institute will be unique among colleges and universities, not only in
its military and southern traditions, but in the fact that it will be a small Christian engineering and science college, and one of only two all-male colleges remaining within the United States.
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