Join the "No Cross, No Cash" Brigade

I have been receiving letters from alumni asking me to add their names to the "No Cross, No Cash" list. I am not adding names unless the person has written to me with that request, or ther person has stated on another blog that he/she will be withholding contributions. Pleases let me know if you would like your name added to the list.

Also, if you send me a letter asking me to add your name, please let me know whether or not I should post your letter. If you would like your letter posted, I will post it here.

Letters:

As an alumnus and contributor (Fourth Century Club) to The College of William and Mary for almost forty years, I am withholding all financial support until the Wren Cross is returned to its rightful place in the Wren Chapel.

I am returning the solicitation letter sent to me with "No Cross, No Cash! written across the front and am encouraging others to do the same.


Eugene R. Thurston,Jr. '66

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The Fund for William & Mary

P.O. Box 1693

Williamsburg, VA 23187-9915

RE: 2006-2007 Gift for Fund for William & Mary, and

President Nichol’s Ill-Considered Wren Cross Policy

Dear good people:

We regret having to write this letter. We have given to the Fund for William & Mary for many years (and the “Annual Fund” before that), and have been pleased to do so. We have certainly not been your largest donors, but with three children and other financial commitments, we have truly given all we could and looked forward to being able to give more.

This year we have decided to give nothing.

We still love the school that we remember so fondly. However, we believe that new President Nichol has taken the College down the wrong road in removing the Wren Cross, has failed the honor the historical origins of the College and the Wren Chapel, has substituted an unpopular policy for one that has been in place for many years with little complaint, and has unnecessarily harmed the reputation of the College. He himself admits to having acted too quickly and consulted too little in his original pronouncement. Then, ironically, he again acted unilaterally in deciding on a “compromise.” He has yet to speak directly to alumni about this matter.

As the end of the fight over the feathers, President Nichol said we needed to stop fighting the NCAA to focus on – in his words – our “core mission”. Just two weeks later, he orders the cross removed based on one letter of complaint and a few anecdotal stories of “concerns” expressed – most of which could have been addressed under the old policy. By now, he has had an opportunity to balance those few concerns against those of thousands of alumni and hundreds of students who have signed the petition at www.savethewrencross.org. Yet, he has not returned to the old policy. Is the pursuit of political correctness now part of the “core mission” of the College?

In the fight over the feathers, at least the NCAA was being unnecessarily “politically correct” and looked silly. Now, it is the College that is following in the NCAA’s sad footsteps and looks silly. We find ourselves ashamed of our school for the first time.

We are sorry to take this step, but until President Nichol reverses this ill-considered Wren Cross policy and returns to the policy that worked well for many years, we will no longer support the College financially. We hope that this action will get the attention of those who may have influence in this matter, and our financial support may begin again soon.

We would be glad to discuss this matter with you or anyone concerned for the future of the College.

Very truly yours,



Andrew R. McRoberts, A.B.‘87

Constance Bruce McRoberts, B.B.A.‘88

ARM/CBM/s

cc: President Nichol

William & Mary Alumni Association

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