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Cross Ban Could Cost $12 million(William & Mary)
worldnetdaily.com ^ | February 28, 2007 | staff

Posted on 02/28/2007 8:17:46 PM PST by kellynla

The decision by the president of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, whose chancellor is former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to remove a donated brass cross from the historic Wren Chapel may be costing the school a cool $12 million, according to a new report.

It was last fall when WND revealed that university administrator Melissa Engimann circulated an e-mail noting that the cross in Wren Chapel was going to be placed in permanent storage to make the chapel "less of a faith-specific space."

The school president, Gene Nichol, said he'd gotten a complaint about the cross, and although he has admitted he handled the situation incorrectly, he still hasn't restored the cross, despite the nearly 17,000 signatures on a petition assembled seeking that.

Now a report in the Hampton Roads, Va., Daily Press suggested that's going to be a costly position to maintain.

A letter the newspaper obtained reported that former Board of Visitors member James W. McGlothlin wrote to another former board member Feb. 16 that Nichol's decision was "unbelievable."

"This has been so disturbing to me that I have decided to withhold any future contributions to the College," he wrote in the letter, which documented that a "very large contribution was in the making" before President Tim Sullivan retired from William and Mary.

McGlothlin, of Bristol, Va., is a longtime donor to the school, but it couldn't be confirmed immediately whether he is the donor who rescinded a $12 million pledge to the school because of the controversy.

The newspaper said school officials confirmed this week they had been notified that particular donation should no longer be expected. The school declined to discuss individual donors.

McGlothlin had copied his letter, addressed to Linda Skladany, also a former member of the board, to the university's current board, the report said. She told the newspaper she was distressed by Nichol's arbitrary decision, and had signed the petition seeking its restoration.

The cross had been in the chapel for decades; the chapel has been on the campus of the second-oldest university in the U.S. for centuries. Nevertheless, Nichol ruled the cross, because of one written complaint, had to go. He later backtracked when thousands of names starting accumulating on the petition put together by students and alumni hoping to restore the cross.

Nichol, who has actively worked with American Civil Liberties Union chapters in North Carolina and Colorado, e-mailed the "college community" admitting he "acted too quickly and should have consulted more broadly" in the decision to remove the cross. To make up, he dictated, a plaque would be put up in the chapel and the cross would be put on the altar for extended hours on Sunday.

O'Connor, who became chancellor of the college after retiring from the Supreme Court has repeatedly failed to return calls from WND about the cross controversy.

As WND also reported only weeks ago, the college that was launched as a Christian institution of higher education packed out its auditorium with an explicit pornography show.

Some 400 people filled the university center's auditorium and another 300 had to be turned away, according to a report in the Virginia Gazette. The show included a 200-pound-plus performer named Dirty Martini who did a striptease, finishing her routine in only a G-string and pasties.

"It's just so out there and expressive," Josh Campbell, a member of Lamba Alliance, one of six student groups to sponsor the event, told the local paper. "It's hip, it's in your face, and it's exciting."

At least two professors objected to the show citing studies that pornography incites sexual violence. But Nichol issued a statement the next day defending it in the name of free expression.

"I don't like this kind of show and I don't like having it here," he said. "But it's not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."

Most of the money for the event came out of mandatory student fees collected by the college.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: williamandmary
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To: M. Espinola

Maybe this story is about North Korea, Saudi Arabia, or Iran?

nope, it's the good ol' U. S. of A.

Although the Communists have been making HUGE INROADS in our society for decades by indoctrinating our children in primary, secondary schools, colleges & universities thanks to our tax dollars.


21 posted on 02/28/2007 9:56:17 PM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: NormsRevenge

"how the hell was he ever hired?"

because those who are in charge of hiring have NO backbone and refuse to stand up for what is RIGHT---it is not a matter of being a Christian or any other Religion to do what is Right,it is a matter of backbone and whether a person will stand against EVIL and for the 'best interests of our youth' to protect everyone in our Nation for the future---however, as a Christian I know what is happening and how it will all come out (possibly very shortly as time goes)to the Glory of Jesus Christ and 'in the best interests' of all who believe in what is truly Right


22 posted on 02/28/2007 10:12:11 PM PST by cmotormac44
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To: kellynla
"Although the Communists have been making HUGE INROADS in our society for decades by indoctrinating our children in primary, secondary schools, colleges & universities thanks to our tax dollars."

That's correct. We have been taken over by the enemy within, an enemy with a communist agenda, who would sellout America in a split second.

23 posted on 02/28/2007 10:13:24 PM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
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To: cmotormac44

God Bless You and Thank you for your service to this country. Faith will see us thru the times ahead, as it has before.

I don't know what our Founding Fathers would think of what has become of those early institutions that this nation established to provide a means of educating the populace in a moral manner, but I have a feeling a blue word or two would be mixed in with their remarks. ;-)


24 posted on 02/28/2007 10:20:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......)
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To: kellynla
I'm not a religious person. That stated, I have never been offended by religious symbols. Most people embrace one religious faith or another and I respect that. I would never think of telling anyone that they were "wrong".

Why can't Moslems pay attention to their symbols and ignore those which do not apply to them?

I do take issue with those who, in their foaming sermons, urge their followers to kill people like me.

And probably most of you.

25 posted on 02/28/2007 10:43:45 PM PST by Octar
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To: kellynla

Once again the cross gets the boot.Ithink our forefathers are turning over in their graves.


26 posted on 03/01/2007 12:00:17 AM PST by screaming eagle2 (No matter what you call it,a pre-owned vehicle is still a USED CAR!)
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"But Nichol issued a statement the next day defending it in the name of free expression"


Funny how a cross cant be considered an example of "free expression" yet pornography can ....



27 posted on 03/01/2007 12:57:26 AM PST by wodinoneeye
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To: kellynla
Prsident Gene Nichol has turned the College of William & Mary into an object of jokes and contempt that no doubt will have an impact on the quality of applicants. Among others, Garner ridiculed Nichol and the school in one of his cartoons.

More than one donor is withholding money - Gene R. Nichol has done considerable damage to the college and will continue to do it as long as he remains at the school. His actions will not be forgotten.

The Washington Times also carried this story ("Donor withholds $12 million over chapel cross dispute," March 1, 2007, p. B1).

28 posted on 03/01/2007 5:53:54 AM PST by Dante3
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To: wodinoneeye

Gene Nichols is full of nonsense. For those incredibly stupid comments alone he should be fired, not to mention the financial damage he has caused to William and Mary. The school is becoming a joke.


29 posted on 03/01/2007 6:50:59 AM PST by Dante3
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To: screaming eagle2

Well, James Cameron notwithstanding, at least the One who died on the cross isn't turning over in His grave.


30 posted on 03/01/2007 7:09:44 AM PST by ShasheMac
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To: NormsRevenge
Good question. Gene Nichol is costing the College of William and Mary a huge amount and has single handedly turned the school into an object of jokes. Possibly those with the power to hire and fire have an agenda. Or maybe just kickbacks were involved.

I can imagine Gene Nichol starting to tremble at the sight of a cross.

31 posted on 03/01/2007 8:25:05 AM PST by Dante3
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To: ShasheMac

Well, James Cameron notwithstanding, at least the One who died on the cross isn't turning over in His grave.

What a wonderful expression of faith!!!


32 posted on 03/01/2007 8:38:41 AM PST by buck61
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To: kellynla

This article was in our local news here in East Tn. yesterday.

I am glad it has made it to all Americans for reading.
Bet you want find it in the MSM anytime soon.

12 mill, that's a good chunk of change for a small college.
Bet it gets some attention when William And Mary go to pay their bills.

Liberalism at its best.


33 posted on 03/01/2007 8:45:46 AM PST by buck61
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To: buck61

BUMP


34 posted on 03/01/2007 8:59:17 AM PST by Dante3
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To: kellynla
To make up, he dictated, a plaque would be put up in the chapel and the cross would be put on the altar for extended hours on Sunday.

The President and member of the Anti-American CLU, is so used to getting his way, Hell will freeze over before he relents on the cross.

35 posted on 03/01/2007 9:03:36 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (¡El proletariado del mundo, une! - Xuygo Chavez)
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To: VeniVidiVici

It is obvious that President Nichol has issues with this symbol. The cross does seem to frighten him or bring out his hatred from it.


36 posted on 03/01/2007 9:31:58 AM PST by Dante3
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To: SoCalPol

Thanks for the *PING*


37 posted on 03/01/2007 10:41:38 AM PST by Fudd Fan (It is what it is. Unless, of course, it isn't.)
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To: kellynla

An ACLU chancellor, and a retired leftie Supreme Court "Justice" work to destroy an historic, Christianity-based private college. It's disgusting, and should be fought tooth and nail by students and alumni.


38 posted on 03/01/2007 10:49:32 AM PST by teawithmisswilliams (Basta, already!)
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To: Junior_G

They just look at the pointy end as the back, and the fat end on the other side as the front. (Looking from South Carolina to North Carolina and saying "South!") Bear in mind, a stint in the Boy Scouts would help with compass reading.....moral or otherwise.

Paul


39 posted on 03/01/2007 12:39:51 PM PST by spacewarp (Gun control is a tight cluster grouping in the chest and one in the forehead.)
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To: teawithmisswilliams

Absolutely.


40 posted on 03/01/2007 2:26:11 PM PST by Dante3
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