William & Mary returns chapel cross
Administrators at the College of William & Mary, responding to months of harsh criticism from alumni, today ordered the immediate return of a cross to the school’s Wren Chapel.
    Alumni angered by the removal of the cross in October threatened to withhold millions of dollars of donations — including one $12 million gift.
    College President Gene Nichol announced the decision at 4:30 p.m. at a press conference with the co-chairs of a special presidential committee charged with studying the role of religion at public universities.
    ”This has been a challenging task for the committee, but it has produced a compromise that allows for permanent display of the cross in the chapel, while remaining welcoming to all,” Mr. Nichol said. “I fully embrace it.”
I’m just so tickled that he embraces this decision! That $500 million+, that was donated last year, is the result of thousands of alumni donating their money, not to mention the 100’s of hours that were devoted to fundraising. Schools depend on the generosity of the alumni and ticking them off is never a good idea!
March 8, 2007 - 10:39 PM on March 8th, 2007
Wow- it appears the president of the college “did what he thought was best for the college”.
March 9, 2007 - 08:06 AM on March 9th, 2007
I wonder though, will this $12 million donor be happy? I mean, instead of being properly placed on the alter (it’s historic placement), it’s now been moved off to the side and shut in a glass case.
March 9, 2007 - 08:19 AM on March 9th, 2007
I hope the President of W&M gets tossed like he wanted to toss that Cross.
I doubt the donor will reconsider, and I don’t think he should.