The following letter is posted at the request and with the permission of the author. Perhaps we can take heed and do our part to support her so eloquent request.
April 11, 2007
Michael Powell
Rector, Board of Visitors,
College of William and Mary
7921 Bracksford Court
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Dear Mr. Powell:
As the Board of Visitors prepares to meet for the last time this school year on April 19-20th, I am compelled to write you with regard to Gene Nichol.
With his contract expiring in July 2008 and the one-year-notice clause coming due shortly, I assume that contract renewal or non-renewal will be on the agenda for this last BOV meeting. Please consider the following list as abundantly ample cause for non-renewal of this president’s contract:
1. With the Wren Cross decisions of October and December 2006, Nichol created a problem of such magnitude that it took five months and a committee to reach some sort of agreement. As of this date, the decision made by the Committee on Religion has yet to be implemented and the cross remains in the closet. There is no indication from the Committee as to when the topic will be discussed again.
2. The Committee’s decision to put the Wren Cross in a glass case was based, in part at least, on the University of Virginia’s practice. In truth, UVA has not implemented any kind of glass case for its cross; indeed their cross sits as it ever was, on the altar. When queried about a timeline for implementing a decision made last October, the public relations person avoided answering the question. I could not get a sense of when their glass case would be made much less where it would end up. The only conclusion to draw is that UVA’s president has no intention of changing anything with regard to its cross, but said they were fixin’ to do something so that Gene Nichol might hang his hat on it. Thus Nichol’s Committee decision is based on false data.
3. Admissions growth to the College has decreased by 80% since he came into office.
4. The loss of millions in alumni donations during Nichol’s tenure is a public disgrace and entirely Nichol’s fault.
5. The loss of our good name and reputation as a top tier school through the negative publicity on the Wren Cross decisions, as well as the Sex Show and the obscene photograph in the Flat Hat, both of which Nichol supports, is a loss that will take years to overcome.
I am deeply disturbed by the lack of understanding Mr. Nichol reveals by his actions and his own pen. He seems to be a man with charisma but with little understanding of our College’s great and noble history and the role alumni play in keeping it so. He also seems to be without a moral compass of any kind; a great leader he is not. Surely the Board can find a better man or woman to serve as president who will not only revere and protect our college’s traditions and history, but one who has the maturity and wisdom to avoid rash and petty actions that result in a downward spiral of our reputation.
Great leaders must rise to the challenge of making tough decisions. Your job now as Rector is to guide the Board in deciding the future of our beloved College. The College can neither withstand nor afford three more years of Gene Nichol’s brand of leadership. Please release him so that he may find a job that better suits his temperament, his goals, and his politics. William and Mary will be better off by far.
Yours sincerely,
Karla K. Bruno
Class of 1981 and 1992
cc: BOV members
Gene Nichol
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19 comments:
Karla,
A well stated point of view. For these reasons and others Mr. Nichol needs to go.
For point of interest, the chapel study included over 100 schools and NO OTHER SCHOOL has encased their cross in a glass case. The Colonial Colleges all display their crosses either removable or coverable upon request. Thus, the "compromise" has the appearance of a deliberate effort to mis-state the actual practices of other schools.
Jane L. Franks '75
I hear Queen Elizabeth II is coming to visit W&M. Gee, I don't know... doesn't her crown sport a huge cross right on the top? Makes me feel... well... a little offended. It's almost as if her visit would make the College belong more fully to some than it does to others. Perhaps Gene should advise her to leave the crown behind. Or better yet, bring it in a glass case with a nice bronze plaque explaining its significance. No, that won’t work. Suppose she agrees to be addressed as just as “Liz”? ….You know what? She should just cancel her visit altogether! Unless she plans to do a strip show in the University Center cause that'd be protected by academic freedom and such. I’ll tell you one thing: NOBODY better even think “God Save the Queen” though, or they’ll be expelled immediately! We got inclusiveness here at W&M and won’t tolerate any of that religion stuff making people all squirmy and uncomfortable. A Queen’s Royal sex artist show would be fine, of course. I mean… that’s ART, for God’s sake!
Ow! It makes my head hurt to think like a PC college President. How does Gene hold so many contradictory thoughts in his brain at one time without exploding?
Spare us the childish, low-brow sarcasm. Only folks that support this site could turn such a proud moment for the College- Queen Elizabeth II coming to W&M- into another reason to carry out a personal grudge against the College's president.
Your cause du jour is over. Grow up, get a hobby (I suggest hiking- the weather's great).
As opposed to what, high-brow sarcasm such as the Flat Hat cartoon showing Nichol as Jesus and the alumni as a Roman soldier beating him? Besides, I happen to like sarcasm, low-brow or high. (And I love that you are bothered by mine!) Stupidity deserves derision, especially the stupidity of educated PC snobs. The Queen is coming to visit the College despite Nichol, not because of him. He'll use the visit to shore up his sagging ratings, no doubt. Politics is his game and he’ll play this hand well. Saps like you will applaud him. The Queen may or may not wear her crown. Emperor Gene will be wearing no clothes, as usual. (I’ll be around to point that out.)
Personal grudge? Never even met the man. Don’t care to either. When he goes back to the ACLU where he belongs I hope to never hear of him again. Did it ever occur to you that it’s his POLITICS we oppose, not his person? Or does everyone who does not agree with you obviously have something “personal” going? How about we leave your paranoia out of this? And by the way, when you dive into politics as Gene has, you are now wearing a sign that says: “sarcasm welcome here”. It’s kind of a rule or something. (You did take a few basic courses on democracy and free speech, didn’t you?) You can yammer on all day about grudges, vendettas, etc., if it makes you happy. In politics they call what you’re attempting a red herring. But it’s booooring! And very childish (look, I borrowed YOUR low-brow sarcasm!). Maybe you ARE getting into the spirit of things!
Well, well, well. Red herring seems to be the catch of the day. We need to get our focus back on the problem that the Cross of Christ brought to light. (Seem to recall that He is the light, but man prefers the darkness to hide his dirty deeds.)
My concern is and has been the secular cleansing of America that began in the nineteen sixties and continues as the ACLU and their allies attempt to sweep any references to God or Christ from our schools, government, and the public square. But, there is hope dawning as we see more and more appeals courts telling the ACLU to quit using the red herring of a mythical "wall of separation of church and state" arguments that are, according to the Sixth Circuit Court, "extra-constitutional, and have become quite tiresome." (ALCU of KY vs. Mercer County of KY, December 2005.) Another similar case got tossed today by the Fifth Circuit.
One very important point to close with- A major problem today in important discourse is the loss of civility. I would really appreciate that name calling, sarcasm (high or low brow) could be confined to the bar or comedy club.
We should all welcome civil discourse based on sincere and reasonably held convictions. There were disagreements in our founding, but only one that I recall ended in a duel.
OK, I'll try to hold it down. Since I (along with all other Nichol opponents) have been depicted in the Flat Hat as a sadistic, Christ-beating Roman soldier, perhaps my desire to strike back in kind got the better of me. (Nichol as Jesus Christ?! That doesn't disgust you? Talk about gall.) And that was done by a campus newspaper that benefits from state money and uses state facilities. Where's our place for rebuttal if not in the blogosphere? Or does Nichol not only control religion on campus but also control the press? Must be nice: President, Pope, Editor-in-Chief. What’s next? Chief of Police? I know, I know… I could write a letter to the Flat Hat. If they printed it (doubtful) it’d be on page 9 in teeny-type, heavily edited. They were a useless liberal rag when I was in College and it appears they’ve not changed much. (Except back then they didn’t kiss the President’s butt on a regular schedule.) Unless they let me put my own cartoon about Nichol, same size, same page, forget it. The great thing about the internet is that the powers that be can no longer stifle dissent.
It's hard not to make fun of PC thinking though. It makes such an easy target because it's so feeble philosophically, logically, ethically and, as you so aptly pointed out, historically and legally as well.
But admit it - can't you see the hypocrisy of Nichol getting all giddy over the visit of the head of the Church of England after he just appointed himself Bishop of Wren? He'll be showing her the Wren Multi-purpose Room (formerly the Chapel), scene of his cross theft! He'll be trying to look all “presidential”, wearing some traditional academic garments, with all PC thoughts or utterances put on hold. Mixing religion, politics and tradition is all fine and good for him, just not for the rest of us. (Too bad he couldn’t have just solved the cross issue by having those 2 or 3 offended doofuses along on this little adventure to see how one can actually mix these things and come away NOT offended!) If the Chancellor is there, she'll be wearing her badge and chain of office. Did you know that one part of that chain depicts a cross from the Archbishop of Canterbury? Better stick that sucker in glass case quick-pronto, else the offendees will be lining up outside Nichol's door for more secret depositions! You just can't make this stuff up. You don't see any of this as being worthy of sarcasm? How about just a tiny bit of biting humor? - e.g.: Do you think he’ll kiss Her Majesty’s ring? Better bring a magnifying glass Gene, there might be a cross engraved somewhere on that sucker! [drumroll + rimshot!] OK, ok, I’ll stifle it. (I said, “biting”, not “funny”.)
I see your point about civility. I don’t suppose “but he started it!” works with you, does it? Didn’t think so; never worked with my mom either. You do have a pleasant, civil and easy writing style. Me? I’m just a low-brow smart-aleck who can’t suffer fools lightly. I love being King Nichol’s jeering jester though, so maybe some part of me enjoys this foolishness. If there was ever a puffed up bag of wind who needed a razzing sidekick, it's Gene Nichol.
To the "low-brow smart-aleck who can't suffer fools": You make your points well and I have more sympathy for the sarcasm than my prior e-mail might imply. You see my problem is that if I don't really keep myself in check on this matter I could easily cause our quest more harm than good. I may even be feeling a little envious that I can't let go and state how rediculous the position that Nichol and the BOV have taken. Oh, that did feel good to get off my chest, thanks.
I was once told that I should have someone read my e-mails before they are sent. Suffering fools is one of the most difficult things I do. I would rather meet a bear in the woods just robbed of her cubs than fool in his folly.
I'm afraid I win the "can't keep myself in check award". We all have our faults. In fact, before somebody gets upset, let me stipulate that my last remark about Nichol (puffed up, etc.) concerns his political discourse ONLY, not his personal qualities. I'll gladly acknowledge that he has a sense of humor, is kind to children and small animals, pays his bills on time, obeys the law, curbs his temper (got me beat there!), is a faithful and loving father and husband, etc. As I have no personal knowledge of him I don't actually know if any of those are true, but I think it's safe to assume they most likely are. He might even make a passable college president if he'd stick to that job and stay out of politics. (Ok, now I've let this civility stuff get waaaay out of hand!)
You're right, of course. Reasoned, patient argument wins in the long run. The left has been calling us Nazis for years and it's been water off a duck's back. The Roman soldier bit is just the same thing with a biblical twist. Not particularly clever or original, but their point was (crudely) made. And if they wanted me to stop reading and start using the Flat Hat to line my bird’s cage, it worked there too. However, I doubt that was their intent. Had they instead used reason discourse, as you suggest, I might have continued to read. Maybe this civility stuff has some promise after all. (I hope that the occasional venting won’t be denied me though.)
Would never deny you the opportunity to speak -- and, you already appear to be in an adequate state of "denial." There, a little humor from someone often called "a stuff old codger."
make that "reasoned discourse" - can't type, spell check OR keep my temper!
Vote whether Gene Nichol will be President on 1/1/2008:
http://home.inklingmarkets.com/trades/new/18699
May 31, 2007 end date on that would be preferred. It would clearly be best to buy out his contract and cut the college and the community's losses. An agenda driven idealogue can do a lot of damage in seven months.
Anonymous at 12:30 PM:
You are right in rebutting the Flat Hat in the blogosphere, I will never disagree with your right to do this. But the Flat Hat is about as far liberal as Fox News is conservative. Everyone has a way to voice their opinions, this particular persons just happened to be in The Flat Hat.
And I agree with you that the Flat Hat has the right to be as liberal as they want to be. And they've been so for 30+ years by carefully making sure their little kingdom is passed down liberal to liberal, class to class. No conservative need apply except for the occasional "token", who's there only to be the exception that proves the rule. Let's not upset the students by allowing contrary opinions. The College knows this and condones it by granting them special rights on campus whereas opposing views, such as the Virginia Informer, must struggle along unaided. The internet, however, is eroding the FH monopoly on campus just as Fox has stolen viewship from what used to be the Big 3 (CBS, NBC, ABC). The FH, boring dinosaur that it's been for decades, is slowly losing ground. Welcome to the new era of digital global media, Flathatasaurus! (Look out for that asteriod FH. Periodically, large & ponderous unadaptable creatures become extinct.)
It just keeps getting better and better! Emperor Gene has got himself a whole new scandal. Apparently, if you kiss his butt long enough, you can become the head of the Philosophy Department even if you're an English professor! (It doesn't hurt that the outgoing Philosophy chairman refused to support a petition supporting Gene's view on the Wren cross issue, whereas his replacement was one of the vocal originators of that petition). My, my what a tangled web has been woven. Seems my prediction that this was just the beginning of Nichol's campus cleansing campaign is coming true. Support Gene's PC pogrom, become a department head (doesn't even have to be your field!). Don't support PC Gene, lose your position. Coincidence? Let me think.....NOT!
Well, well, little Nicholites, what say you now? Please, no more talk of religion. It's politics, pure and simple. It has been all along. Religious expression was the first victim, now it's religion's cousin: unapproved philosophical musings. Who's next to drink the hemlock?
6 July 1535 - Sir Thomas More was executed in the Tower of London for refusing to swear an oath recognizing Henry VIII as head of the church. My, Colonial Williamsburg recreates the 1700's while W&M recreates the 1500's. Apparently men for all seasons are sorely lacking on campus these days. More's the pity?
Nickol really does need to just go to another school. There are plenty out there who would just looooove him and his brand of getting things done.
Try Marlboro College in Vermont. Oh, Lord, they would adore him.
It's nice that all of you have so many opinions to offer but if you really have nothing more pressing in your lives today then to look back at your alma mater and squabble over the removal of a statue than what are you doing with your lives today.
Get of the complain train and go do something for your community or for the world. People are starving and dying of preventable disease but let's invest thousands of dollars into debating an object. That if religion is true doesn't need to be there as a symbol.
The only thing the people withholding contributions are doing is hurting the students of the college and do you think that is going to alleviate the situation? The students here support Gene Nichol, all innovators are hated, Jesus himself being the biggest but Kudos to Gene for not being afraid to do what he believes.
I'm sure it is easy to sign a petition but what have you really done for the College in the last 10, 20, 30 years?
Given 10 dollars a year?
Keep it, and we'll keep our dignity.
Cordially Yours.
Dear Cordially,
We helped send Nichol packing, which is worth a lot more than 10 bucks a year. Otherwise he'd still be there leading a group of left-wing nut jobs on their PC rampage, closing the minds of W&M students for decades to come. His brand of BS is small-minded, bigoted and anti-intellectual. A cross in a chapel is "offensive". But whores in the campus center is art! Only to people who can't tell shit from shinola...literally.
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