Date: 02/14/08

College of William & Mary President Abruptly Resigns

By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
Associated Press Writer

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) Gene Nichol resigned Tuesday as president of the College of William & Mary after a tenure that included the removal of a cross from the public school's chapel and a sex show on campus.

Nichol's decision, effective immediately, was outlined in an e-mail to the university community after he was advised Sunday that his contract would not be renewed in July. The Board of Visitors confirmed his departure.

Nichol had been sharply criticized by some alumni, students and members of the General Assembly during his almost three years on the job at the nation's second-oldest college.

"Mine, to be sure, has not been a perfect presidency," Nichol wrote in the e-mail. "I have sometimes moved too swiftly, and perhaps paid insufficient attention to the processes and practices of a strong and complex university. A wiser leader would likely have done otherwise."

In October 2006, Nichol sparked loud protests when he removed the cross from permanent display in the school's Wren Chapel to make students and visitors of non-Christian faiths feel more welcome.

Thousands of alumni, students and others signed petitions and one donor rescinded pledges to give $12 million to the school. Angry state lawmakers weighed in on the matter, and some outraged alumni and students sought to remove Nichol from office.

The cross was returned to the chapel in August in a locked, Plexiglas-like case near the altar. It can be removed from the case and placed on the altar by request.

Nichol defended his decision in his e-mail. "We are charged, as state actors, to respect and accommodate all religions, and to endorse none. The decision did no more."

Last week, William and Mary brought to campus the "Sex Workers' Art Show" featuring monologues and performances by porn actors, strippers and other sex workers. It sold out.

In his e-mail, Nichol said he and his family had been the target of a "committed, relentless, frequently untruthful and vicious campaign" on the Internet and in the media. He added that a House of Delegates committee had effectively threatened board appointees if he had not been fired.

"That campaign has now been rendered successful," Nichol wrote.

In response, Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylania and chairman of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, denied the allegation.

"We never threatened anybody, never made his job removal a litmus test," Cole said. "To say we did this just to try to get him fired is ridiculous. It's just sour grapes."

One of Nichol's harshest critics — Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William — said: "The fact is his behavior was threatening the commonwealth. That was the only threat around here.“

In a statement to the university community, the board said the decision was extremely difficult and not based on "ideology or any single public controversy."

"His energy and passion is legendary," the board wrote. "He is a truly inspirational figure who has enjoyed the affection of many."

But the board said it believed there were "a number of problems that were keeping the college from reaching its full potential and concluded that those issues could not be effectively remedied without a change of leadership."

Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of students and faculty gathered in the school's sunken garden for a rally in support of Nichol.

"We are a community under attack. It is time we acknowledge that," said Francis J. Tanglao-Aguas, an assistant professor of theater.

In the student commons, the sentiment was much of the same.

Summer Fink, a 19-year-old sophomore, said while she didn't necessarily like all the things Nichol did, he should have been given a few more years.

"I think he probably made big changes too early, but they weren't necessarily bad changes," Fink said. "He probably should have gotten more political capital before he made those changes."

Nichol said he plans to return to the faculty at the school of law and resume teaching and writing. He came to William & Mary after serving as dean of the law school from University of North Carolina and the University of Colorado.

William & Mary will begin a search for a new president immediately, the board said. Law School Dean W. Taylor Reveley will take the post until a replacement is found.

"Though not a mission I sought, I will serve this marvelous college as best I can," Reveley said in a statement. "Listening and learning will be crucial for me in the weeks to come."

Tuesday, Nichol supporters left flowers and taped letters outside his private residence on the edge of campus.

One student wrote: "Gene Nichol was my president and will always be my president of William and Mary. He embodied all that was the best about this school ... "

Students also planned to gather outside Nichol's residence Tuesday evening to sing the school's alma mater.
———
Associated Press reporter Larry O'Dell in the Capitol contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.