Gene Nichol
Gene R. Nichol is the twenty-sixth president of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Nichol attended [[Oklahoma State University, where he received a philosophy degree and played on the varsity football team. He received his law degree in 1976 from the University of Texas, graduating Order of the Coif. He was the dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law from 1999 to 2005 as well as dean of the University of Colorado Law School from 1988-1995. He previously worked at William and Mary as Cutler Professor of Constitutional Law and director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law from 1985 to 1988. His other positions have included teaching law in the undergraduate and law schools of the University of Colorado, the University of Exeter, the University of Oxford, and West Virginia University. Nichol made a bid for the United States Senate representing the state of Colorado in 1996 with the Democratic Party, but was defeated in the primary. He also made a bid for the US House of Representatives and was also defeated.
Nichol succeeded Timothy J. Sullivan to become the 26th president of the College of William & Mary on July 1, 2005.
Athletic Logo & the NCAA
As President of the College of William & Mary, Nichol was forced by the NCAA, and agreed to drop the College's feathers from its logo after a lengthy appeals process. The College was allowed to retain the team name of "Tribe" until the next NCAA review. While several schools, including the University of North Dakota[1] and the University of Illinois[2] have been forced to abandon their mascots, others, such as the University of Utah and Florida State University were allowed to keep their Native American-based logos. The College administration strongly disputed the NCAA decision, but Nichol agreed to the restrictions rather than fight a protracted legal battle. W&M has a strong claim to the Native American symbol since the school was originally used partially to educate the local Indian population.[3]
Wren Cross Controversy
The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
Nichol's October 2006 decision to change a long-standing university policy, removing a cross from permanent display on the altar of the Chapel in the [Wren Building] ended his first year as president in more controversy. Nichol explained that a cross in the chapel of a university partially funded by public funds made some students of other religious traditions feel unwelcome in a place considered by many members of the community to be an important part of the campus.[1].
Under the new policy, the cross would only be displayed in the chapel during [Christian] religious services, or upon request, in an effort to make the space more welcoming to groups of mixed faith. After complaints were made, Nichol quickly amended the policy so that the cross would be displayed on Sundays, and other Christian days of observance.
Nichol quickly became the target of criticism from a number of alumni, students, and benefactors for changing this policy without seeking consensus. Nichol claimed that he had received several complaints from students and parents {Flat Hat News 03/02/2007} because the College frequently holds student organization meetings in the Chapel.
From its construction in the eighteenth century until shortly before World War II, the Wren Chapel had no cross. The 18-inch cross was loaned to the College by Bruton Parish Church, an Episcopal church near campus, as a symbol of the College's early history as an Anglican seminary. This was the first cross used in the Chapel. It is noted that many of the Colonial colleges display crosses in their chapels, although only William & Mary, and [Rutgers] are considered state universities.
After his decision, Nichol enjoyed mixed support from students and faculty members, while enduring a reduction in alumni confidence. Due to this decision, alumnus James McGlothlin revoked $12 million in planned giving to the College's capital campaign - the largest in its history.[2]
After months of controversy, Nichol agreed that his decision to remove the cross may have been flawed, and established a presidential committee to explore the issue. Comprised of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the committee was charged with examining the "role of religion in a public university" in general, and at William & Mary in particular. The committee quickly focused its efforts toward resolving the Wren Cross controversy[4].
On March 6, 2007, William & Mary announced that the committee had recommended that the cross be returned to Wren Chapel in a glass case, with a plaque explaining the College's Anglican heritage, and connection to Bruton Parish Church. Nichol and the Board of Visitors agreed to the recommendation in a press conference. In addition, the chapel [sacristy] would continue to be available to store religious symbols of any faith, which may be brought into the chapel as appropriate[5].
References
- ^ Official College description of the Wren Building
- ^ The Flat Hat student newspaper.
External links
- Alumni and Student Run Website supporting President Nichol
- Website questioning President Nichol's record.
- Website devoted to returning the Wren Cross for Display
- William and Mary Home Page of President Nichol
- Website Opposing the Politicization of the Wren Cross Issue
- Removal of cross from Virginia college's historic chapel raises ruckus: CNN Article