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dailypress.com/news/local/williamsburg/dp-now-nicholout.f12,0,6662055.story
dailypress.com
Gene Nichol is out
William and Mary president, faced with ouster, resigns
BY MIKE HOLTZCLAW
757-928-6479
9:53 AM EST, February 12, 2008
WILLIAMSBURG
Embattled College of William and Mary president Gene Nichol informed staff members this morning that he is resigning effective immediately. He said he came to this decision after being informed that the college would not renew his contract.
In an e-mail sent out to staff members, he wrote: “I was informed by the Rector on Sunday, after our Charter Day celebrations, that my contract will not be renewed in July. Appropriately, serving the College in the wake of such a decision is beyond my imagining. Accordingly, I have advised the Rector, and announce today, effective immediately, my resignation as president of the College of William & Mary. I return to the faculty of the school of law to resume teaching and writing.”
Nichol, who became president of the college on July 1, 2005, became the focus of a controversy that became a national talking point later that year over the placement of a historic cross in the campus’ Wren Chapel. Because the chapel is non-denominational, Nichol removed the cross from permanent display, but made it available for use in Christian services or for any group that requested it.
Nichol survived the firestorm of criticism that followed, but he apparently will not keep his job after acceding to students’ wishes for the campus to host a controversial sex workers’ art show earlier this year.