W&M President Nichol to resign

[Cabcere]

Hi all,

I just got an e-mail from Gene Nichol, president of the College of William & Mary, announcing his resignation. His contract was not renewed in the wake of several controversial decisions made during his presidency, most notably the Wren Cross controversy, and I just thought that some of you might be interested to know. The e-mail was just sent out about an hour ago, so I don't know all the details just yet, but I thought it might be of interest to some DUers here - I know it came as kind of a shock to me (I'm a student here), and I will be sad to see him go. I'll post more later as I find out additional details.

Peace,
~Cabcere


Edited to add link: http://www.dailypress.com/dp-now-nicholout.f12,0,1208083.story

[underpants]

1. I can only assume that the conservatives will claim it had something to do with the sex thing

W&M had a sex worker conference just last week.

He was right about the Wren chapel thing, he should have never put it back there.

[Cabcere]

2. I think that was the final straw

This isn't the first time W&M has had the Sex Workers Art Show - in fact, I'm pretty sure it's been going on for at least three years, and I don't recall anyone making a huge deal out of it before (although I could be wrong; maybe I just didn't hear about it). :shrug: But I guess after the whole cross thing, people were just hypersensitive, and when they found out about the art show...well, I guess that was it. :shrug: Personally, I'm with Nichol on the First Amendment issues, but apparently the Board of Visitors disagreed.

[swimboy]

3. "Jesus's little helpers" dragged Nichols through the mud

and then complained that the school was getting bad publicity.

Another lesson on what can happen to people of intelligence and integrity who do the right thing in the current "Plymouth Colony" mentality in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Too sad the Board of Visitors would not stand up to the bullies in the General Assembly.

The William and Mary community has sustained a grievous loss.

[Cabcere]

4. Yeah

and apparently there are some here who feel the same way. :shrug: Go figure. :hi:

[swimboy]

5. I'm scratching my head here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3178699#3181734

[Cabcere]

6. I just got back from the teach-in held in the Sunken Gardens

and saw that post...I had to respond. I hope I didn't step too far over the line, but that poster clearly either has some major issues with Nichol or is just baiting us - IMO, childish name-calling is really not necessary to get a point across, and doesn't help the case. :shrug:

[swimboy]

7. cross-post from GD on Wrengate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2866161&mesg_id=2866161

The name-calling was rank. Thanks for speaking out.

[Cabcere]

8. Hey, thanks for posting that

:) I went to a few YD meetings my freshman year, but sadly I haven't been able to fit it into my schedule lately. :hi: Peace.

[Hoooweee]

9. It was the last gasp of the Gilmore appointees

W&M also has a tendency to not have presidents sit for very long. Timmy Sullivan was president when I was there (2000-2004) and was an anomaly for having served about a decade.

The students loved Nichol (although Timmy was way cooler... my college girlfriend knocked on his door and got him to sign her 21st birthday shirt) but the alums who donate are largely christian conservatives. The members of the board who wanted Nichol to resign were all appointed by Gilmore, not Kaine or Warner (cough, Powell cough cough). Fortunately for us, the W&M BOV will be liberally dominated for the next decade or so, once Kaine can slip a few on.

[Cabcere]

10. Looks like we just missed each other, then.

:hi: Timmy J was president for my freshman year, and he seemed like a really cool guy. However, I liked and admired "Big Nick" as well, and I'm going to miss him. :(

You're right about the Christian conservative ties of wealthy alums, and it does irritate me how these people have the power to really financially hurt W&M if their beliefs aren't exclusively enforced (McGlothlin, I'm looking at you). But as a number of current students have pointed out in the focus groups and such that I've been to during this whole thing, we will be alums with money (well, hopefully ;)) someday as well, and we can maybe help promote some of the good programs that Nichol was involved with, instead of figuratively holding that money over the head of the College as a threat.

Unfortunately I came down with the flu before the Powell and the BOV actually came to campus for a forum, so I've missed a lot of the events and haven't been able to participate as much as I would have liked. There is still a lot of controversy going on here, though, and it will be interesting to see how things continue to develop. :hi: Peace.