College President Is Forced To Resign Amid Controversy Over Cross and Offensive Art Show

Liberty Counsel – www.LC.org

February 12, 2008

College President Is Forced To Resign Amid Controversy Over Cross and Offensive Art Show

Gene R. Nichol, the controversial president of the College of William and Mary, submitted a resignation letter yesterday after receiving notice that his contract would not be renewed by the College’s Board of Visitors.

Several appointees to the Board who were pending reconfirmation recently appeared at hearings before the Virginia House of Delegates’ Privileges and Elections Committee. During the hearings, Nichol was strongly criticized for controversial decisions during his short reign as president, including his removal of the cross from Wren Chapel, the resulting loss of a $12 million gift and allowing students to host a “Sex Workers’ Art Show.”

The controversies began in October 2006, when Nichol announced that the brass cross that stood in Wren Chapel for 75 years would be removed. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to President Nichol and the university chancellor, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, stating that the removal was unnecessary and unconstitutional, and urging that the cross be returned.

Nichol announced that the cross would be returned on Sundays, during Christian religious services or when requested by a visitor. Although this was a step in the right direction, college officials underestimated the fallout from their failure to return to the traditional display of the cross.

Read our News Release on this issue.

Read Nicol’s resignation letter.

Read the Board of Visitors’ announcement of Nicol’s resignation.

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