Support President Gene Nichol

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Gene Nichol, President, The College of William and Mary

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UPDATE: 2/13/08

GENE NICHOL FORCED OUT AS W&M PRESIDENT

Students, faculty, alumni are returning to this site to express support for Gene Nichol.

Please show your support by signing the petition and adding comments below.

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RELIGION COMMITTEE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT NICHOL!

Thanks to your help, the Wren Chapel remains welcoming to all and the Committee has supported President Nichol's goal.

"William and Mary belongs to all Virginians, to the nation, and to the world." - From a resolution unanimously adopted by the W&M Board of Visitors November 17, 2006

Dear President Nichol,

We, the undersigned students and alumni of the College, concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation, support your decision to make the College's beloved Wren Chapel a more welcoming place for everyone in the College community by having religious objects available in the Wren sacristy for use on appropriate religious occasions.

%u201CWilliam and Mary belongs to all Virginians, to the nation, and to the world.%u201D
- From a resolution unanimously adopted by the W&M Board of Visitors
November 17, 2006

Dear President Nichol,

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We signed the "Support President Gene Nichol" petition!

# 2,318:

9:13 pm PDT, May 21, Name not displayed, United States Minor Outlying Islands

# 2,317:

7:55 pm PDT, Apr 13, Robert Gaines, California
1995

# 2,316:

1:47 am PDT, Mar 24, Shannon Sultan, Wisconsin

# 2,315:

7:58 pm PST, Feb 26, Melissa Shelton, Virginia
c/o 1991 --- thank you for engaging all of the 30 something alums with your email updates. I really enjoyed them and will miss getting them. One of the reasons I came back to work at W&M was because of your spirit. I'm very upset with the BOVs decision and I wish they'd made it before I accepted my job!

# 2,314:

10:43 pm PST, Feb 23, Rachel Anderson, Washington
William and Mary Class of 2002

# 2,313:

5:20 pm PST, Feb 19, Angie Boysen, California
Friend of Gene Nichol

# 2,312:

6:11 am PST, Feb 19, Name not displayed, Virginia
2002 and 2006

Parent

# 2,311:

5:34 am PST, Feb 19, Name not displayed, Virginia
Class of 2002

Alum

# 2,310:

4:20 pm PST, Feb 18, Jane Andrews, Maryland
My son is in the class of 2011

Parent of current student

# 2,309:

2:05 pm PST, Feb 18, Octavia (Seawell) Walstrom, California
William and Mary Class of 1939, English major, Phi Beta Kappa

Alum - I am appalled at the shabby treatment of Gene Nichol and to his family. Shame on the Board of Visitors! By the way, my husband and I got married in the Wren Chapel on March 7, 1942. We are still doing quite well, and we both agree that the Wren cross should not be a symbol of exclusion to others.

# 2,308:

1:36 pm PST, Feb 18, Alice Campbell-Ireland, Illinois
Class of '82 B.S. Psychology

# 2,307:

5:19 pm PST, Feb 16, Juliana Nannarone, New Jersey
Class of 2002

# 2,306:

3:49 pm PST, Feb 16, Anton Oscar Iorga, Canada

# 2,305:

11:35 am PST, Feb 16, Shar Wolff, Virginia

# 2,303:

5:29 am PST, Feb 16, Win Whitehurst, Virginia
1969

alumna - I am encouraging all supporters to follow the example of James McGlothin (you remember him - he disagreed with President Nichol and withdrew $10M in support). Vote with your dollars. INCREASE your donation this year and give it in HONOR of Gene Nichol. The College needs our support, but let the BOV know that every dollar we give is a vote of confidence for President Nichol and reminder that they blew it.

# 2,302:

4:23 pm PST, Feb 15, Kathleen Coles, Illinois
William and Mary Class of 1971

# 2,301:

1:01 pm PST, Feb 15, Robin Jordan, Virginia
I am shocked and saddened by this news, and upset at the way this was done

I am a parent of a third year undergrad

# 2,300:

11:34 am PST, Feb 15, Amy Nicole Clinger, Virginia
WM Class of 2011 In the words of our True President "Go Tribe. And Hark Upon the Gale".

Current Student- Freshmen

# 2,299:

7:55 am PST, Feb 15, Tara Kee, Pennsylvania
1981

Alum

# 2,298:

6:44 am PST, Feb 15, Rebecca Hjelm, Virginia
Class of 2002

# 2,297:

5:31 am PST, Feb 15, John Knaul, Virginia
I have worked and continue to work at the college since 2000.

# 2,296:

8:44 pm PST, Feb 14, Jennifer Holden, Virginia

# 2,295:

8:23 pm PST, Feb 14, Kyle Strumfels, Pennsylvania
2001

Alum

# 2,293:

5:02 pm PST, Feb 14, Gail Kent, Virginia
My Christian beliefs are strong enough that they do not need to be upheld by the Virginia Legislature. If the monied alumni of William & Mary want to run the college, they should be willing to pick up the entire tab.

# 2,292:

11:13 am PST, Feb 14, W. David Winsper, Massachusetts
The clarity and grace of President's Nichol's farewell letter offers yet another reminder of what William and Mary's board has so foolishly discarded. Nichol stood for all that is best in the life of a contemporary university. The decision to end his tenure was small-minded and short-sighted. If I can find a bright spot in this whole affair it is that, based on the sentiments expressed in his letter, interim President Ravell will honor the spirit of Gene Nichol's tenure.

# 2,291:

8:52 pm PST, Feb 13, Mark Streer, Virginia
The evidence suggests Gene Nichol's de facto firing was a result of political machination and idealogical contests rather than any complaints of substance. I can't accept the BOV's decision with such an absolute lack of substantial rationale, and will not until such points, inadequate as they might be, are divulged honestly.

Neuroscience/Music Major, Class of 2009 (Current student)

# 2,290:

7:46 pm PST, Feb 13, Greg Johnston, North Carolina
1989

Alumni

# 2,289:

5:44 pm PST, Feb 13, Kimberly Walker, California
Alumnae Class of 2006

# 2,288:

2:28 pm PST, Feb 13, Erin Biddlecombe, Canada
Shame on the Board for such a blatant act of white, conservative ignorance. I work at a public institution in Canada and would be APPALLED if my President, trying to do good on our campus, was asked to leave. Shame on them.

# 2,287:

2:02 pm PST, Feb 13, Virginia Carter, Virginia
1977

# 2,286:

1:56 pm PST, Feb 13, Megan Coolidge, Virginia
2010

current student

# 2,285:

1:34 pm PST, Feb 13, Katherine White, Virginia
Katherine White: William and Mary Class of 2004; concentration, Government.

I am an alum of the great W&M and Morton Hall!

# 2,284:

1:18 pm PST, Feb 13, Name not displayed, Virginia
2004

# 2,283:

1:04 pm PST, Feb 13, Lisa Zanetti, Ph.D., Missouri
As I recall, the purpose of a liberal arts education is to learn to think for oneself. President Nichols was right to allow the Sex Workers' Art Show (freedom of expression) and to separate church and state. I am saddened and disappointed - although not particularly surprised - that the Board of Visitors chose to endorse a reactionary position at the expense of Constitutional freedoms. Lisa Zanetti, BA, Class of 1982

Please indicate if you are a parent of a current student or alum

# 2,282:

1:03 pm PST, Feb 13, Lisa Butler, Virginia
1994

current parent - 2011

# 2,281:

10:48 am PST, Feb 13, Maureen Egan, Virginia
parent of class of 09 student

I am ashamed to live in Virginia now that Gene Nichol has been forced out by people of lesser courage and intellect. He is everything William and Mary needs in a president--challenging, articulate, and fair-minded. It's a terrible loss.

# 2,280:

10:47 am PST, Feb 13, Trevor Savage, Virginia
2010

# 2,279:

8:55 am PST, Feb 13, Christie Nixon, Tennessee
My daughter is a member of the class of 2007

I am a parent of a 2007 graduate and had many opportunities to talk personally with President Nichol as my daughter was very active on campus. My heart is broken and my hope is that this affront to all does not divide the students and faculty of this incredibly special college...Gene Nichol would not want that. Lets all gather in support of President Nichol!

# 2,278:

8:22 am PST, Feb 13, Thomas Jefferson, Virginia

# 2,277:

7:45 am PST, Feb 13, Sarah Bieging, Massachusetts
2005

# 2,276:

5:21 am PST, Feb 13, Tracey Smith, Virginia
1998

Alum

# 2,275:

5:11 am PST, Feb 13, Dianne Maughan, Florida
1965

Alum

# 2,274:

4:59 am PST, Feb 13, Anthony Elopre, Virginia
2008

Current Student

# 2,273:

6:49 pm PST, Feb 12, Diane Heath, Virginia

# 2,272:

6:39 pm PST, Feb 12, Tim HUnter, Virginia
1970-

alum

# 2,271:

6:26 pm PST, Feb 12, Name not displayed, Virginia

# 2,270:

5:57 pm PST, Feb 12, Tricia W, Virginia
I too hate to see this wonderful and articulate president unseated. His efforts to make the Wren Chapel welcoming to people of all faiths are commendable and courageous. He is loved by students and faculty alike. What a horrible, sad, disappointing decision.

Parent

# 2,269:

5:53 pm PST, Feb 12, Christin Copp, Virginia
1989

alum

# 2,268:

4:33 pm PST, Feb 12, Maddie Phillips, Maryland
03

alum

# 2,267:

4:24 pm PST, Feb 12, Ann H. Johnson, Virginia
I had the privilege of meeting Gene Nichol two years ago in Richmond, and my first impression was how fortunate I thought William and Mary was to have such capable and fine leadership.

# 2,266:

3:23 pm PST, Feb 12, Virginia Gerbasi, Maryland
86 (BA), 89 (JD)

# 2,265:

1:13 pm PST, Feb 12, John A. Hall, New Mexico
2000

# 2,264:

11:00 am PST, Feb 12, Jennifer Davis McDaid, Virginia
M.A. 1990

alum

# 2,263:

10:23 am PST, Feb 12, Elizabeth Kennedy Singh, New York
Alumna Class of 1990. I hate to see this progressive and articulate president unseated. His efforts to make the Wren Chapel welcoming to people of all faiths are commendable and courageous.

Alum

# 2,262:

10:00 am PST, Feb 12, Name not displayed, Virginia
1992 - I'm Christian and was married in the Wren Chapel. I don't think the cross belongs in a public chapel that should be welcoming to all religions.

alum

# 2,261:

9:23 am PST, Feb 12, Name not displayed, North Carolina
Class of 1997. I'm terribly disappointed about the colleges decision regarding president Nichols. I am no longer confident that the colleges values and ideals are representative of those I cherish and hold dear. This decision sends a powerful message about the future direction on the college.

Alum

# 2,260:

8:35 am PST, Feb 12, Brian Giamo, Illinois
1997

alum

# 2,259:

7:18 am PST, Feb 12, Alexandra Chang, Washington D.C.
2007

# 2,258:

10:59 pm PST, Feb 10, Name not displayed, Greece

# 2,257:

8:09 pm PST, Feb 9, Patrick King, Virginia
2007

Alum

# 2,256:

2:37 pm PST, Feb 8, Joseph Burns, Massachusetts
Parent

# 2,255:

5:37 pm PST, Feb 7, Taylor Beaumont, New York
2007

Alum

# 2,253:

7:45 am PST, Jan 26, Victoria Mary Stong / Community Activist, New York
Not applicable, but I find it very important to respect all religions.

No.

# 2,252:

7:37 am PST, Dec 19, June Strickland Henderson MD, Virginia
1968

parent of alum and physician at W&M Student Health Center for 32 years

# 2,251:

11:36 pm PST, Dec 7, Kunal Bhatia, Virginia
2009

current student

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