William and Mary president, faced with ouster, resigns

[Cabcere]

Source: Daily Press (Hampton Roads, VA)

WILLIAMSBURG - Embattled College of William and Mary president Gene Nichol informed staff members this morning that he is resigning effective immediately. He said he came to this decision after being informed that the college would not renew his contract.

In an e-mail sent out to staff members, he wrote: "I was informed by the Rector on Sunday, after our Charter Day celebrations, that my contract will not be renewed in July. Appropriately, serving the College in the wake of such a decision is beyond my imagining. Accordingly, I have advised the Rector, and announce today, effective immediately, my resignation as president of the College of William & Mary. I return to the faculty of the school of law to resume teaching and writing."

Nichol, who became president of the college on July 1, 2005, became the focus of a controversy that became a national talking point later that year over the placement of a historic cross in the campus' Wren Chapel. Because the chapel is non-denominational, Nichol removed the cross from permanent display, but made it available for use in Christian services or for any group that requested it.

Read more: http://www.dailypress.com/dp-now-nicholout.f12,0,1208083.story

---

As a W&M student, this decision obviously affects me personally, but I thought that others here might be interested as well. Apparently, the idea of separation of church and state really annoys some people...

~Cabcere

[queenbdem87]

1. I too am a student at W&M

I am deeply saddened by what has just happened here.

[smiley_glad_hands]

3. Shouldn't you be studying or something?

LOL

[underpants]

25. Welcome to DU

:hi:

Havne't seen your name on here so even if it a belated hello HELLO

I grew up in "THE COUNTY" York County. In Richmond now.

[smiley_glad_hands]

30. He's been here awhile.

He just doesnt post that much and obviously doesnt check My DU even after I talk to him on the phone. lol

[Cornus]

2. Just one of the reasons why I support both FFRF and Barry Lynn nt

[Ian David]

4. God hates giant statues of Jesus

And a booming voice from Heaven shouted, "What part of 'no craven images' did you not understand?"


See prior thread:

Don't mean to laugh, but...Christ struck by lightning
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2852239&mesg_id=2852471

[Neurotica]

5. His resignation letter is a must-read

You can link to it from the Daily Press article.

[Cabcere]

7. There's also a link to Rector Powell's response

(which is, IMO, a load of rubbish, but worth a look anyway if you're interested). :hi: Peace.

[tomg]

47. Thanks. I would have missed it

otherwise. It is a wonderful letter.

[Cabcere]

6. dupe, delete

[marshall]

8. why do they still maintain it as a chapel???

I'm confused as to why they feel the need to maintain a chapel. Doesn't the town have churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques?

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Many colleges do

They're usually non-denominational, and used for different services, along with performances and other things. I was married in such a one at my alma mater.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

17. UVa has one.

WWJD? J = Jefferson.

[Recursion]

31. Because they have a theology department?

M Div students need a chapel to practice their future trade.

Also, many students like to be able to go to church on campus.

[marshall]

38. Isn't it a state school?

I'm confused. None of our state colleges out where I live would dare have a chapel on the campus.

[Recursion]

39. It's the oldest state school in the US

I also wasn't aware that there was such a thing as a college without a chapel.

[marshall]

40. The college I work at certainly doesn't have one

There are churches right on the edge of campus but they are definitely NOT on the state sponsored tax paid campus.

[generalbetrayus]

61. It's the oldest state school in the US

Actually, not quite true. It was a private college until 1912, when the state of Virginia took it over. I suspect that Colonial Williamsburg would have a corporate heart attack if the chapel were ever closed. It's too much a part of CW "history". Just as a snarky aside, I had a history prof at W&M that said that Colonial Williamsburg would never be authentically historical until they ran an open sewer down the middle of DOG Street and had people throwing garbage out of second story windows into it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. W & L, my alma mater, has a non-denominational chapel.

When I was a student it was used for concerts, speeches, memorial services when students or faculty died, optional non-denominational services, etc. Now my university was a private institution, but even if it had been state I don't see a conflict. It's located next door to VMI and I attended many services at their lovely chapel. Again. Concerts, speeches, memorial services, etc. I never once felt a particular denomination was being endorsed.

[Cabcere]

43. Ours is used for all sorts of different ceremonies, speeches, etc., too.

:hi: It's definitely not exclusively used for religious services.

[appal_jack]

9. He sounds like a true hero.

From his resignation letter:

"I have refused, now on two occasions, to ban from the campus a program funded by our student-fee-based, and student-governed, speaker series. To stop the production because I found it offensive, or unappealing, would have violated both the First Amendment and the traditions of openness and inquiry that sustain great universities. It would have been a knowing, intentional denial of the constitutional rights of our students. It is perhaps worth recalling that my very first act as president of the College was to swear on oath not to do so."

and

"And I have thought, perhaps most acutely, of my wife and three remarkable daughters. I've believed it vital to understand, with them, that though defeat may at times come, it is crucial not to surrender to the loud and the vitriolic and the angry -- just because they are loud and vitriolic and angry. Recalling the old Methodist hymn that commands us "not to be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong," nor "afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich." So I have sought not to yield. The Board's decision, of course, changes that."

Wow, a president who is willing to take the hard road when it is the right path, and who takes his own oath to uphold the Constitution seriously?

Why does he hate America? :sarcasm:

-app

[Cabcere]

10. Yeah, he's a good guy.

I think he did the right thing, and I'm sad and angry that he was punished for it. :(

[generalbetrayus]

60. He sounds like a true hero

As a W&M alum ('75) and University of Colorado graduate alum ('80), I was astounded when I heard the news how many years ago it was that Gene Nichol was leaving CU after accepting the position at W&M. I didn't know him personally at CU, but he seemed much too progressive to fit into the W&M administration. I kind of expected this to happen eventually. Sad news for W&M and the Nichols family, but I'm honestly not surprised it happened. Sounds like the Bored of Dizzywhores has not changed since my times there.

[robcon]

11. It's not Church and State. It's the Sex Workers Art Show

The idea that he 'couldn't interfere' with a student group's choice of entertainment was either cowardice or a really screwed-up sense of values for a president of a college.

[Cabcere]

12. We've had the Sex Workers Art Show here before

and people didn't go crazy about it then (or at least not *as* crazy)...I think the actual decision was a combination of those things. :shrug:

[robcon]

13. Here's how he treated the Sex Workers' Art Show issue...

"Second, I have refused, now on two occasions, to ban from the campus a program funded by our student-fee-based, and student-governed, speaker series. To stop the production because I found it offensive, or unappealing, would have violated both the First Amendment and the traditions of openness and inquiry that sustain great universities. It would have been a knowing, intentional denial of the constitutional rights of our students. It is perhaps worth recalling that my very first act as president of the College was to swear on oath not to do so. "

That is a super-weenie attitude, IMO. He has the right to allow or disallow any group on campus, and hiding behind the non-existent "first amendment rights" that somehow are attached to a show that some of the students wanted is legally absurd, and an abdication of his job.

http://www.wm.edu/news/?id=8672

[Cabcere]

14. I can see where you're coming from

and you make some valid points. However, it seems to me that Nichol was going to get slammed either way he went on this issue - if he banned the student-sponsored and student-funded event, it would be seen as censorship, but if he allowed it...well, it's obvious how that turned out. Personally, I think he made the right decision, but I can certainly understand how others might disagree. Peace. :hi:

(Incidentally, here's a link to Nichol's original statement regarding the Sex Workers Art Show, if you're interested: http://www.wm.edu/news/index.php?id=8631 )

[defendandprotect]

19. "and the traditions of openness and inquiry that sustain great universities".....

I think NICHOLS had the better argument . . .

and better position on "first amendment rights" for students which I hope will always
be protected by someone like him.

[robcon]

23. I don't understand, defendandprotect.

What "first amendment rights" do students who want this show have? How does the first amendment intersect the desire of this group to invite a show to the campus?

The decision to allow them was the call of the president, of course. Hiding behind the first amendment, as if some first amendment right would be violated if he did not allow the group on campus, is pure hogwash.

The president was a weenie - hiding behind a purported constitutional prohibition on his preventing the show from coming on campus, when there is no such prohibition. He decided to let the show happen, and he wants to shift the blame for that decision on the first amendment, rather than on his judgment. It's not that his decision was right or wrong, IMO - it's that he bases it on avoidance of his personal responsibility/accountability to make the decision to allow the show or not.

Allowing (or disallowing) the show is not a firing offense, but the incident shows him to be a weenie, IMO.

[Pacifist Patriot]

35. The quote defendandprotect used as the post headline is the key.

The president was not hiding behind the first amendment although he needlessly cited it. His decision was based on his belief about the purpose of a university. You can't separate that out and just focus on the first amendment comment because that is not the entire explanation, nor is the more important.

[swimboy]

51. I don't know what you think you know or why you think you know it

but the man is no weenie.

He is a man of great intellect and integrity who has been punished for doing the right thing.

[robcon]

55. Weenie = intellectual coward

The president of W&M was a weenie. He said it would violate someone's first amendment rights if he stopped a show from appearing on campus. He certainly knows, as a law professor, what nonsense that is.

He should have admitted that it was his decision (which was/is ok) to allow the show on campus. Intellectual cowardice is not taking responsibility for his decisions - blaming it on some phantom rights violation.

[Cabcere]

56. I don't know why you're so focused on this name-calling,

but Gene Nichol is not a "weenie," a "coward," or any of the other words you used to describe him. He did what he believed to be the right thing, and he has been punished for it. Whether or not you think he handled the situation appropriately is one thing, but this name-calling nonsense has gotten kind of ridiculous. I get that you don't think he did what he did for the right reasons, and that you believe his defense of his actions was inadequate. That's fine; you are entitled to your opinion. However, when you persist in throwing childish insults at someone who I know from personal experience is an honorable and decent man, I find that really kind of obnoxious. Disagree with his policies and methods if you want, but don't call a man who has lost his job for standing up for his values a "weenie" or "intellectual coward."

:rant:

[robcon]

57. An intellectual coward blames other people for his decisions.

In this case Nichol blames non-existent first amendment rights (i.e., that the constitution "forced" him to allow the sex show to come onto campus) instead of standing up and saying "I decided to let the show go on."

I don't know why you don't focus on Nichols' intellectual cowardice in his statement on the issue. If you can refute it, do so.

[Cabcere]

58. Who, exactly, is he blaming?

:shrug:

"Second, I have refused, now on two occasions, to ban from the campus a program funded by our student-fee-based, and student-governed, speaker series. To stop the production because I found it offensive, or unappealing, would have violated both the First Amendment and the traditions of openness and inquiry that sustain great universities. It would have been a knowing, intentional denial of the constitutional rights of our students. It is perhaps worth recalling that my very first act as president of the College was to swear on oath not to do so."

It seems to me that in this statement, he acknowledged two things that are relevant to your point:

1) He had the authority to ban the show from campus.
2) He chose not to do so.

I don't see how stating this implies in any way that it wasn't his decision, and/or that someone or something "made" him do it - it seems to me that he is merely explaining why he felt that it would have been wrong for him to move the show off campus. :shrug:

Now clearly, you and I feel very differently about this issue, and I doubt that I can say anything to change your mind, or vice versa - it seems that this is a question of interpretation, and obviously we have interpreted the situation in different ways. I'll admit that I am biased in favor of Nichol (as you might have guessed by now ;)), but I'm willing to listen to reasonable arguments against his actions as well. Peace.

[appal_jack]

20. two different points

The church-state issue was connected to his removing the chapel cross to make the space more welcoming to all students: jews, muslims, atheists, etc. At the same time, the cross remained available for use during Christian events. To me, this sounds like the ideal combination of not prohibiting the free exercise of religion, and also avoiding any 'establishment' of religion via direct-support by the state.

As for the sex workers art show, do you REALLY think a college president, of a public university should be able to ban such? If so, exactly where does the prohibition on 'abridging the freedom of speech' apply? You may find it distasteful, but many others apparently find it illuminating (not having seen it myself, I have no opinion on the show, but I am proud to have graduated from a college that allowed all sorts of controversy into its halls in the name of free expression). How, exactly, were Nichols' actions either cowardly or screwed up?

Keep whittling away at that first amendment, and you won't even have a matchstick.

-app

[Cabcere]

21. Well said.

:thumbsup: You put it much better than I could have; thanks. :hi:

[appal_jack]

22. cheers Cab!

:hi: :toast:
Here's hoping that the rest of your college times are good, even if you have lost a fine pres.

Also, I just noticed that I was kinda random in my capitalization above. This is the result of typing in a hurry and feeling rather :wtf: about censorship not supposedly violating the 1st Amendment, and not some coded endorsement of 'Christians' over 'jews... atheists'

if i could make the rules around here, capitalization would be purely optional, but when i type all lowercase like this, i get responses like, 'dood, your shift key is broken.' :shrug:

-app

[Cabcere]

27. Thanks

:toast: I didn't even notice the capitalization until you pointed it out...I'm still feeling pretty :wtf: about the whole thing myself. :hi: Peace.

[Pacifist Patriot]

44. I wonder how many people think W&M is a private university.

[Cabcere]

48. It seems to be a fairly common misconception.

:shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

15. That's a shame. What a very silly reason not to renew him

What do you think of his performance otherwise?

(And congrats on being at W&M... many long years ago, that was my first choice. When you guys wait-listed me, I had to look elsewhere. And so, didn't marry Jon Stewart, lol)

[LostinVA]

24. It's a public university -- he needs to go somewhere else

[davidinalameda]

26. I'm sure if he wants to leave, he'll find a good position

[Cabcere]

28. Well, I think he's done a good job

obviously there are others who feel differently, but I have been impressed with him. :shrug: Personally, I feel that he has done a lot of good things for the College - increasing diversity, protecting freedom of religion, etc. - and I am sad to see him go. :hi: Peace.

[defendandprotect]

18. Tremendous loss for W&M, the students and the future ---

[kath]

29. Whoa, check out this paragraph of his resignation e-mail:

"I add only that, on Sunday, the Board of Visitors offered both my wife and me substantial economic incentives if we would agree "not to characterize as based on ideological grounds" or make any other statement about my departure without their approval. Some members may have intended this as a gesture of generosity to ease my transition. But the stipulation of censorship made it seem like something else entirely. We, of course, rejected the offer. It would have required that I make statements I believe to be untrue and that I believe most would find non-credible. I've said before that the values of the College are not for sale. Neither are ours."


Highly recommend reading his full letter - link is on the page linked in the OP.

He sounds like a really great guy. Also highly literate - try to imagine our Chimperor composing such a letter...

[Cabcere]

32. Yeah, there's some pretty nasty stuff that went on, apparently.

He gave a great speech last night about the importance of standing by your beliefs and doing what's right, even if it hurts you at the moment, and he also encouraged us to keep expanding W&M's horizons by embracing diversity. I'll miss him. :(

[kath]

53. How lovely that they were trying to buy his silence. What a bunch of fokkin' scumbags.

[Anser]

33. too religious

So, a possible reason for his departure is that he is too religious to be president of a public university and in his letter of defense he... quotes a methodist hymm.

Sorry, not impressed. We don't need wanna be preachers running public funded schools.

[Cabcere]

41. Nichol is not a "wanna be preacher"

nor is he "too religious," IMO. One of the things that got him into trouble was his decision to make the chapel more welcoming to people of all religions (or lack of religions). Yeah, he quoted a Methodist hymn in his letter, but I would rather have someone who does that and is willing to stand up for freedom of religion than somebody who doesn't quote hymns but who enforces Christianity only on a college campus. Peace.

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. Did you read the article and the link to the president's message in its entirety?

I am being serious, not snarky at all!

I am having a difficult time seeing how you could come to the conclusion that he was too religious or a wanna be preacher. He holds a quite progressive, ecumenical and welcoming stance. Utterly in support of the separation of church and state. A veritable 180 degrees from your interpretation. It would seem his opponents are the ones who would prefer a preacher in the presidency of W&M.

Is it possible the use of a Methodist hymn triggered something in you that made you shut down on the rest of the piece? I don't mean to be insulting at all. It's just that I see this all the time in my congregation from people who come to UUism after being wounded by Christianity. Any use of reverential language or Christian references kick in an automatic defensive wall that shuts them off from any further engagement or hermeneutics. A shame because it often means the bigger message is completely lost.

[Anser]

52. Hmm.. you may be right

I've seen and experienced a lot of suffering at the hands of people extolling just how progressive christianity truly is. All the while ruining peoples lives for no other reason than closed mindedness and blind hate.

The point of my post was that someone caught up in a seperation of church and state based scandal aught not to be quoting hymnals in his parting manifesto.

I never claimed to hate the man, or even assess his presidency, I just think he should keep the hymms in the church.

[swimboy]

50. Wow. Way to assess the big picture.

:sarcasm:

It's a shame you commented without making any more of an effort to understand the issue and the man.

[AngryAmish]

36. Who knew this was a public school?

weird.

[Cabcere]

42. A lot of people seem to think that it's a private school

for one reason or another. :shrug: But yeah, it's one of the "Public Ivies." :hi:

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. Wow! The full text of his email is a must read.

http://www.dailypress.com/dp-now-nicholletter_feb12,0,1930435.htmlstory

[Elspeth]

45. Was the cross part of the historic structure or did some folks put it there recently?

If it was part of the historic structure, they should have left it alone. But if some folks put it there after the fact, I have no problem with it being removed.

[Bo]

46. WOW, magnificent writing.

The Man of course was hated by the weak minded idiots who own/run Virginia, Same ones who have place a speeding tkts of a 1000 dollars on the poor and needy of the State.

[Blue_Tires]

54. a shame...he is a good liberal...

ironically, he is also an attorney and first amendment expert....

hmm...Old Dominion University is looking for a new president, so maybe this can have a good ending

[libnnc]

59. UNC-Greensboro is looking for a new chancellor

he's probably way outta our league though.