Comments on: Right Wing Succeeds In Campaign To Bring Down Progressive College President

By: batteries

batteries — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:43:48 +0000

I still remember having to throw a sheet over the cross 23 years ago so the wedding of my tax and tuition paying Jewish roommate could could proceed in that state-owned “nondenominational” chapel. The fact that it took a constitutional law scholar as president of the College to rectify this violation of the establishment clause speaks volumes about the history of my home state since Thomas Jefferson’s day. The fact that a common sense solution to such an obvious violation raised such an uproar simply reinforces the wisdom of my decision to leave my home state shortly after graduation. In defense of the rector and board of regents, I do not perceive this decision as one driven directly by ideology. Instead, it is a reflexive reaction to pressure from right wing members of the General Assembly and a concentrated group of wealthy alums who threatened to withold financial support if their demands for Dr. Nichol’s head were not met. Those alumni are well within their rights to support whatever institutions they choose as am I. I sincerely hope that those who demanded the termination of an excellent asus l3500 battery,asus l3800 battery president who was (and is) extremely popular with much of the school’s out of state alumni base are willing to step forward now. As long as the College remains in the thrall of the right wing bigots controlling the Virginia General Assembly however, this is one Third Century Club member who has no intention of renewing his pledge.

By: WMStudent

WMStudent — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:56:34 +0000

Why did he want to restrict critics who wanted to tape the sex show???

sex shows ok

cross is evillllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!

Comment by Ricl077 â€” February 13, 2008 @ 8:37 am

The Sex Workers Art Show does not allow outside cameras into their shows for fear that there would be widespread dispersal of the film. Viewers buy tickets to see the show; the organizers don’t want audience members taping the show and making money off it. It’s similar to any theater production that prohibits flash and video photography during their shows.

By: tribekooker82

tribekooker82 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:05:32 +0000

Nichol showed his lack of class and his lack of love for W&M in his final letter. He truly loves to stir up controversy and he was more interested in being seen as a “victim” (oh so typical of liberals) than in the long term interests of W&M. He could have left with some quiet dignity, but not this man. And, by the, way, for you liberal fascists out there, check out the real neat speech code he was in the midst of implementing at W&M…along with the infratructure to support and enforce this “bias” system. For you lovers of the 1st amendment out there, if this does not send shivers down your spine, I don’t know what will. This man was PC run amok; lowering standards on the alter of “diversity; using skin tone as the ultimate measure of a man or a woman…..When can we move past all that crap and get back to MERIT and ACHIEVEMEMENT as the basis for evaluating our students. This man was a poor administrator who alienated many of the various interest groups tied to the college, not the least of which was/is the large base of Christian alumni such as myself who vowed to never give another nickel to W&M so long as Nichol was at the helm. Well, my check book is open again and I will be sending a check within the next few weeks.

Robert S. Meybohm
Class of 1982

By: Ricl077

Ricl077 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:37:52 +0000

Why did he want to restrict critics who wanted to tape the sex show???

sex shows ok

cross is evillllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!

By: Ricl077

Ricl077 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:32:53 +0000

The good guys win again!!!!

By: asha

asha — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:05:57 +0000

Some important things to note.

William & Mary is a STATE school and it is a non-denominational chapel, so yes, the cross was inappropriate. I pass the Wren Chapel 5 or 6 times a week and I have yet to see anyone in there. This is such a shame for the school. These ideaologues have hijacked the administration and kicked out a good leader who was bringing good changes to the school.

The cross was available for anyone wanting to use the chapel.

This was done by a small number of people in the VA house of delegates and the BOV. Secret votes and dismissals for no GIVEN REASON other than distaste for someone who dared to work for the ACLU before coming to Virginia.

One of the people involved, a member of the house of delegates, is considering running for Warner’s Senate seat. I forget his name, but he is a total wingnut.

By: Moderation

Moderation — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:51:04 +0000

Err, first sentence above should say “TRIAL lawyer”, not “TRAIL lawyer”.

Heh

By: Moderation

Moderation — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:50:32 +0000

You have to question the SANITY of a POSTER that doesnâ€™t understand the term NON-DEMOMINATION! Seems like Aspergers isnâ€™t the ONLY brain damage you suffer from – TARD!

Comment by republicans hate facts â€” February 13, 2008 @ 12:37 am

Doesn’t Hendler claim to be a TRAIL lawyer? He goes to court with an inability or severely hampered ability to read the body language of those he is prosecuting OR defending?!? I know many people can function with Asperger Syndrome. My own lady is one of them. But to be a successful trial lawyer really does require a strong ability to read a person’s body language, facial expressions and other visual cues that indicate a propensity to lie, or an emotional state.

Not that I actually believe he is a trial lawyer, since he spends an awful lot of time posting here and elsewhere. I’ve never met a lawyer of ANY ilk with so much free time, and I’ve known and know an awful lot of lawyers. :/

By: Zooey

Zooey — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:29:13 +0000

Great to hear from William and Mary students and alum on this issue.

Thanks!

By: kbartoy

kbartoy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:51:45 +0000

#36 WMStudent

Thank you so much for that tidbit of information. I knew it and I was always upset that the right wing never seemed to mention that fact. The original chapel would have never had a cross.

All these supposed “Christian” folks need to know a bit more of their religious history. But, then again, I guess that they always like to revise their histories to fit whatever it might be that they are screaming about on any given day.

By: madmike

madmike — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:46:44 +0000

The University of Colorado is currently facing the nomination of a right-wing ideologue, Bruce Benson, as their new president. Benson is a multimillionaire sponsor of Republican candidates and initiatives, founder of the 527 Trailhead Group, and former (losing) candidate for governor. If any of you know any influential folks in Colorado, call them and ask them to speak up against this guy. With a bachelor’s degree and millions in the bank, he thinks he can buy himself a prestigious university presidency.

By: kbartoy

kbartoy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:46:15 +0000

As a W&M alumnus, I am appalled at the actions of the Board. It is not hard to believe that they would cave in to the vocal, hate-filled right wing rhetoric. Most of those folks are from the right wing.

I truly think that President Nichol’s final statement was one of the most poignant and moving addresses that I have read in a long time. His words have significance far beyond Williamsburg. He hits on many of the problems that are tearing this country apart.

By: paleolib

paleolib — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:11:30 +0000

As a W&M alum (and, ironically a classmate of Michael Powell) this is truly heartbreaking. I still remember having to throw a sheet over the cross 23 years ago so the wedding of my tax and tuition paying Jewish roommate could could proceed in that state-owned “nondenominational” chapel. The fact that it took a constitutional law scholar as president of the College to rectify this violation of the establishment clause speaks volumes about the history of my home state since Thomas Jefferson’s day. The fact that a common sense solution to such an obvious violation raised such an uproar simply reinforces the wisdom of my decision to leave my home state shortly after graduation. In defense of the rector and board of regents, I do not perceive this decision as one driven directly by ideology. Instead, it is a reflexive reaction to pressure from right wing members of the General Assembly and a concentrated group of wealthy alums who threatened to withold financial support if their demands for Dr. Nichol’s head were not met. Those alumni are well within their rights to support whatever institutions they choose as am I. I sincerely hope that those who demanded the termination of an excellent president who was (and is) extremely popular with much of the school’s out of state alumni base are willing to step forward now. As long as the College remains in the thrall of the right wing bigots controlling the Virginia General Assembly however, this is one Third Century Club member who has no intention of renewing his pledge.

By: Moderation

Moderation — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:57:23 +0000

You have to question the competence of a college president when his / her priority is to purge Christian symbols from a chapel.

Comment by Jason M. Hendler â€” February 12, 2008 @ 2:39 pm

You have to wonder the competence of a poster when he or she refuses to read the original article. He or she would have READ plainly in print that the cross was being removed because the “chapel” is non-denominational. For those folks too ignorant to know, too lazy to bother looking it up, or too intellectually dishonest to acknowledge the actual reason behind the decision, the phrase NON-DENOMINATIONAL means the building in question wasn’t just a chapel set aside for use by Christians. Rather, it is a chapel for Christians, Jews, Muslims, Shintoists, Scientologists, Pastafarians, or ANY OTHER RELIGION (or the non-religious wishing a peaceful place to get in touch with their spirituality) to use as a place or worship.

For a cross to be left up, while keeping down any other religion’s symbols, is the violation of the rights of the students to equal treatment and equal rights. Not taking down the symbol of a lone religion in a building intended to be used by all religions (or even a lack thereof).

Thanks, Jason, for once again proving your extreme intellectual dishonesty. At least you are consistent about it.

By: d

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:29:38 +0000

@WMStudent:

Thanks for setting VAvoter straight. I wanted to point that out.

By the way, I’m an alum. And while I haven’t been following the Nichol’s presidency, I’m disappointed in his ouster after waking up to his email to the W&M community.

By: The Dogfather

The Dogfather — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:15:27 +0000

In the end, President Nichol wins by taking the high road and showing how narrow-minded and bigoted the reichwingers and their media nut enablers are. More bothersome to me and my fellow Virginians is the involvement of the reichwingers in our Virginia Assembly in this witch hunt.

But fear not — we’re changing Virginia from red to blue more and more each year; we took back the state Senate last November, and will soon take back the House of Delegates as well. That should prevent solid educators and other public servants like Nichol who don’t drink the Rovian koolaid from being purged in the future…

By: Lefty Patriot

Lefty Patriot — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:58:35 +0000

Don;t go to W&M. Donâ€™t send your kids to W&M. If they want to be the next Bob Jones University, so be it.

Comment by McE â€” February 12, 2008 @ 4:24 pm

Sorry, that’s limiting my freedom. Take the cross down except when it’s requested. perfectly rational, fair policy.

By: The Republic of Stupidity

The Republic of Stupidity — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:47:29 +0000

Really? Well, then Iâ€™m in good intellectual company, though I donâ€™t share his taste in drugs.

Comment by Brain From Planet Arous â€” February 12, 2008 @ 3:57 pm

Yaaaas indeed, it was a Lenny Bruce line.

Yeah, Lenny was a brilliant satirist, years of ahead of his time, who unfortunately had problems he couldn’t solve.

By: Xisithrus

Xisithrus — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:31:21 +0000

If Jesus came back to Earth, in the USA, and declare that he was against war they would call him a pacifist, the anti-christ and a heretic then likely crucify him.

By: McE

McE — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:24:29 +0000

Ok, this is easy.

Don;t go to W&M. Don’t send your kids to W&M. If they want to be the next Bob Jones University, so be it.