Wren Cross - "I'll give you a plaque, a cross on Sundays" and a partridge in a pear tree

Okay, Beach Girl here, I added the "partridge in a pear tree" but the addition seemed appropriate given the Christmas Season. The following was provided for posting:

Nichol’s “I’ll Give You a Plaque and Sundays” proposal is unsatisfactory. A plague that commemorates what was does not, by definition, support what is. The extended hours of display on Sunday is condescending and a continuing slap in the face to the nature of the Chapel itself. It is the Wren Chapel, not the Wren Spare Room.

Nichol does not address the idea that the Chapel with the cross on permanent display was indeed welcoming as witnessed by the plethora of non-Christian and secular events that have been held there over the years. No one has been turned away because they were not Christian. If a visitor is insulted by the history and tradition of William and Mary and chooses to leave a tour and not apply to the College for admission, perhaps that is just as well. We should not be remodeling ourselves to suit a particular sort of applicant, a very narrow sort. There is a waiting list already, a huge waiting list. If in the name of diversity we must eliminate a cherished core value and tradition, we are not doing anyone a service, least of all the College.

The movement to appease potential members of our community over appeasing the thousands who are members is a sign of misguided thinking at best, and pure animosity toward Christianity at worst. Had this been a synagogue or mosque with equal history and tradition behind it Nichol would never have even considered removing a permanent symbol of that heritage. Never! Those religions would have been celebrated, honored and protected. The hypocrisy makes my head spin.

I applaud Vince’s call for a vote at the Board of Visitors meeting in February. Let the vote be recorded, member by member, so we may all know where each stands on this issue. That Nichol has the support of the BOV Chair, the Faculty and the Student Senate is telling. That he did not consult any alumni group is also telling. We must continue to put pressure on those elected to represent the community as a whole.

Also, we should note the timing of this letter to the students and faculty -- Dec 20th is the end of exams. Most if not all of the intended recipients have left for the break and may not look at their email till January.

KKB