The rally at President Nichol’s house was a great success, with approximately 1500 to 2000 students and faculty showing their support for their leader, and saying their last farewells. I’ll let the video do the explaining for now. :)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Let Them Hark upon the Gale
On Tuesday morning, approximately 9:45 am, President Nichol of the College of William and Mary announced his resignation in an email sent out to the student and faculty. This news sent shockwaves throughout the student body who had most enthusiastically supported Nichol in the controversial decision that the Board of Visitors had been discussing under the protection of closed doors. According to the TransWorld News, four decisions led to the final decisions of the Board of Visitors, led by Michael K Powell:
“His decision to remove the Wren cross, his refusal to ban the Sex Workers’ Art Show, his support of the College’s Gateway Program and his commitment to the College’s faculty diversity.”
All of the four decisions made by President Nichol were justified in his e-mail sent to everyone in the college to read. He justified the removal of the Wren cross, saying that he was advocating the separation of church and state, and at the same time voicing the opinion of the numerous religious groups in campus, such as the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc. making them more comfortable in a college that set its goals to diversify the student community.
The Sex Workers’ Art Show was defended by the argument of the freedom of speech, which defends the program which is completely student-run and student-funded. Asking what right he has as the college authority to suppress the voices of the student body that has put in the effort to make the program happen. However, apparently, freedom of speech is one of the hardest ideas to defend in this country, as it has always been involved in controversy in recent times.
Third, President Nichol has been criticized and eventually been forced to resign due to his financial Gateway program for students who come from fairly poor households. In his efforts to reach out to the young and talented students who are also held down by financial inadequacy, President Nichol has gone under heavy fire by the rich, white, social elite who cannot imagine the idea of giving poor intellectuals the financial support to succeed.
Speaking of rich white elites, Nichol’s fourth act that has pushed the BOV to discontinue Nichols contract was his decision to broaden the College’s diversity. William and Mary has always been known to be a small and, more noticeably, homogeneous college, consisting of mostly middle to high class white students enjoying the seclusion from the inferior minorities of different cultures and history. Those were the good old days, weren’t they?
To defend their own names, the BOV sent an email to the William and Mary community following President Nichol saying that their decision was “not based on ideology”. Rather, they decided that the further progress of the college required the removal of Gene Nichols. Yet, it seems rather ironic that the BOV removed an active president, always in search of new programs and ideas for the sake of progress, and the betterment of the community. By progress, do they mean status quo? Because it seems like what Powell was saying was that the College needs to return to its original path and stop involving itself in its diversity mumbo-jumbo.
“ Many policies championed by President Nichol are fully embraced by the Board. We agree unflinchingly with the President’s efforts to make William and Mary a more diverse educational environment.”
Yeah right. After President Nichol refused to accept a financial bribe by the BOV to keep quiet, I find it hard to believe anything that comes out of these hypocrites’ mouths.
“I add only that, on Sunday, the Board of Visitors offered both my wife and me substantial economic incentives if we would agree “not to characterize [the non-renewal decision] as based on ideological grounds” or make any other statement about my departure without their approval.”
-President Nichol
“His achievements in this area will be the most enduring part of his legacy.”
-Michael Powell
We can now see that it is a legacy gladly ended by the Board of Advisors.
Also, the student of the College of William and Mary will hold a rally in front of President Nichol's house in support of him and their absolute disgust at the Board of Visitors' decision. Please be there! Updates will come soon. I will have videos from the rally :D
“His decision to remove the Wren cross, his refusal to ban the Sex Workers’ Art Show, his support of the College’s Gateway Program and his commitment to the College’s faculty diversity.”
All of the four decisions made by President Nichol were justified in his e-mail sent to everyone in the college to read. He justified the removal of the Wren cross, saying that he was advocating the separation of church and state, and at the same time voicing the opinion of the numerous religious groups in campus, such as the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc. making them more comfortable in a college that set its goals to diversify the student community.
The Sex Workers’ Art Show was defended by the argument of the freedom of speech, which defends the program which is completely student-run and student-funded. Asking what right he has as the college authority to suppress the voices of the student body that has put in the effort to make the program happen. However, apparently, freedom of speech is one of the hardest ideas to defend in this country, as it has always been involved in controversy in recent times.
Third, President Nichol has been criticized and eventually been forced to resign due to his financial Gateway program for students who come from fairly poor households. In his efforts to reach out to the young and talented students who are also held down by financial inadequacy, President Nichol has gone under heavy fire by the rich, white, social elite who cannot imagine the idea of giving poor intellectuals the financial support to succeed.
Speaking of rich white elites, Nichol’s fourth act that has pushed the BOV to discontinue Nichols contract was his decision to broaden the College’s diversity. William and Mary has always been known to be a small and, more noticeably, homogeneous college, consisting of mostly middle to high class white students enjoying the seclusion from the inferior minorities of different cultures and history. Those were the good old days, weren’t they?
To defend their own names, the BOV sent an email to the William and Mary community following President Nichol saying that their decision was “not based on ideology”. Rather, they decided that the further progress of the college required the removal of Gene Nichols. Yet, it seems rather ironic that the BOV removed an active president, always in search of new programs and ideas for the sake of progress, and the betterment of the community. By progress, do they mean status quo? Because it seems like what Powell was saying was that the College needs to return to its original path and stop involving itself in its diversity mumbo-jumbo.
“ Many policies championed by President Nichol are fully embraced by the Board. We agree unflinchingly with the President’s efforts to make William and Mary a more diverse educational environment.”
Yeah right. After President Nichol refused to accept a financial bribe by the BOV to keep quiet, I find it hard to believe anything that comes out of these hypocrites’ mouths.
“I add only that, on Sunday, the Board of Visitors offered both my wife and me substantial economic incentives if we would agree “not to characterize [the non-renewal decision] as based on ideological grounds” or make any other statement about my departure without their approval.”
-President Nichol
“His achievements in this area will be the most enduring part of his legacy.”
-Michael Powell
We can now see that it is a legacy gladly ended by the Board of Advisors.
Also, the student of the College of William and Mary will hold a rally in front of President Nichol's house in support of him and their absolute disgust at the Board of Visitors' decision. Please be there! Updates will come soon. I will have videos from the rally :D
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