Gene R. Nichol
Encyclopedia
Gene Ray Nichol, Jr. was the twenty-sixth president of The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
, United States
. He succeeded Timothy J. Sullivan
and officially served from July 1, 2005 to February 12, 2008. It was the shortest tenure for a William & Mary president since the Civil War
. During each year of his presidency, however, the College continued to break its own application records. The 2007–08 school year—Nichol's last as president—topped 11,500.
Nichol spent his prep years at Bishop Lynch High School
in Dallas, Texas
(Class of 1969). He then attended Oklahoma State University (Class of 1973), where he received a philosophy
degree and participated on the varsity football
team (although he never played in a varsity game). He received his law degree from the University of Texas
(Class of 1976), graduating Order of the Coif
. He then became the dean of the University of Colorado School of Law
from 1988 to 1995 as well as dean
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Law
from 1999 to 2005.
He previously worked at William & Mary as Cutler Professor of Constitutional Law
and director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law
from 1985 to 1988. His other positions have included teaching law in the undergraduate and law schools of the University of Colorado
, the University of Florida
, the University of Exeter
, the University of Oxford
, and West Virginia University
.
Nichol made a bid for the United States Senate
representing the state of Colorado
in 1996
with the Democratic Party, but was defeated in the primary
. He also made a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives and was again defeated.
As president of The College of William & Mary, Nichol was forced by the NCAA to drop the College's feathers from its logo after a lengthy appeals process. The College was allowed to retain the team name of "Tribe." While several schools, including the University of North Dakota
and the University of Illinois
have been forced to abandon their mascots, others, such as the University of Utah
and Florida State University
, who have standing relationships and friendly histories with the tribes represented by their mascots, were allowed to keep their Native American-based logos. The College administration disputed the NCAA decision, but ultimately agreed to the restrictions.
ended his first year as president in controversy. He explained that a cross in the chapel of a public university made some students of other religious traditions feel unwelcome in a place considered by the community to be an important part of campus.
Under the new policy, the cross would be displayed only in the chapel during Christian
religious services, or upon request, in an effort to make the space more welcoming to groups of mixed faith. After complaints were made, Nichol amended the policy so that the cross would be displayed on Sundays, and other Christian days of observance.
Nichol became the target of criticism from a number of alumni, students, and benefactors for changing this policy. Nichol stated that he had received "several complaints," from students and parents because the College frequently holds student organization meetings in the Chapel.
Due to this decision, alumnus James McGlothlin revoked $12 million he had planned on giving to the College's capital campaign.
Stories had surfaced that Nichol knew of the revoked donation before he announced that the Fund for William and Mary met its $500 million fundraising goal. McGlothlin's rescinding of the pledge pushed the fundraising back under $500 million, and he had revealed to former President Timothy J. Sullivan
in an e-mail that he would take back the pledge. In response, Sullivan wrote:
Nichol denied knowing about the revoked pledge before the announcement that the fundraising goal had been reached. The College initially refused to release the e-mail between Nichol and Sullivan, but capitulated to several FOIA
requests. The e-mail read:
After months of controversy, which saw conservative commentators and national conservative political figures speak against the decision, Nichol established a presidential committee to explore the issue. Comprising students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the committee was charged with examining the "role of religion in a public university" in general, and at William & Mary in particular. The committee focused its efforts toward resolving the Wren Cross controversy.
On March 6, 2007, William & Mary announced that the committee had recommended that the cross be returned to Wren Chapel as an artifact displayed in a glass case, with a plaque explaining the College's Anglican heritage and historical connection to Bruton Parish Church. Nichol and the Board of Visitors agreed to the recommendation in a press conference. In addition, the chapel sacristy
would continue to be available to store religious symbols of any faith, which may be brought into the chapel as appropriate.
and the defining traditions of openness that sustain universities are hallmarks of academic inquiry and freedom. It is the speech we disdain that often puts these principles to the test. The College of William & Mary will not knowingly and intentionally violate the constitutional rights of its students. Censorship has no place at a great university." Nichol's allowance of the Sex Workers' Art Show to perform on the campus garnered mixed reactions among both the general public and the College student body.
– Yorktown
) feared that the College, as a state symbol, may have "tarnished its legacy." Pogge mailed Nichol a letter that asked him to stop the show. She also requested a city police presence to determine if a state obscenity statute was broken.
Statewide, the Virginia House of Delegates
(specifically the Privileges and Elections Committee) effectively "threatened" the Board of Visitors' appointees if they refused to fire Nichol over the surrounding controversies during his tenure, culminating with the Sex Workers' Art Show. Nichol’s permission to allow a cabaret-style burlesque show on campus also offended many of the College’s more conservative alumni, which resulted in some loss of endowment.
. Matt Marvin, a UNC Law School spokesperson, said that all of the controversy surrounding Nichol did not alarm them and that they welcomed him back to the university.
In his resignation letter, Nichol claimed that the Board of Visitors had offered him money to stay silent on the reason he was fired, freedom of speech. He also claimed members of the Board of Visitors had been threatened by legislators if they did not order his resignation, and that the Virginia
government was unhappy with his efforts to diversify the student body and faculty. Nichol claimed that he was offered "substantial economic incentives" to not mention this as well. The Board of Visitors denied these claims. W. Taylor Reveley, III, then dean of the law school
, was named as the interim
president of the College after Nichol's resignation. On September 5, 2008, Reveley officially succeeded Nichol as president when he was hired for a full three-year term.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He succeeded Timothy J. Sullivan
Timothy J. Sullivan
Timothy Jackson Sullivan was the twenty-fifth president of The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States.-College years:...
and officially served from July 1, 2005 to February 12, 2008. It was the shortest tenure for a William & Mary president since the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. During each year of his presidency, however, the College continued to break its own application records. The 2007–08 school year—Nichol's last as president—topped 11,500.
Nichol spent his prep years at Bishop Lynch High School
Bishop Lynch High School
Bishop Lynch High School is a co-educational Catholic high school founded by the Dominican Order in east Dallas, Texas . It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. It opened in 1963 with 365 students and now has over 1,000 students. In keeping with its Dominican tradition, the school...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
(Class of 1969). He then attended Oklahoma State University (Class of 1973), where he received a philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
degree and participated on the varsity football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team (although he never played in a varsity game). He received his law degree from the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
(Class of 1976), graduating Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
. He then became the dean of the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
from 1988 to 1995 as well as dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
from 1999 to 2005.
He previously worked at William & Mary as Cutler Professor of Constitutional Law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
and director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law
Institute of Bill of Rights Law
The Institute of Bill of Rights Law , founded in 1982, is a renowned center for the study of constitutional law. It is located at the William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
from 1985 to 1988. His other positions have included teaching law in the undergraduate and law schools of the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
.
Nichol made a bid for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
representing the state of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1996
United States Senate elections, 1996
The 1996 elections to the United States Senate coincided with the 1996 presidential election, in which Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore were reelected President and Vice President of the United States, respectively....
with the Democratic Party, but was defeated in the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. He also made a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives and was again defeated.
Athletic logo and the NCAA
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
and the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
have been forced to abandon their mascots, others, such as the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, who have standing relationships and friendly histories with the tribes represented by their mascots, were allowed to keep their Native American-based logos. The College administration disputed the NCAA decision, but ultimately agreed to the restrictions.
Gateway William & Mary program
One of the first initiatives Gene Nichol undertook as president was the "Gateway William & Mary" program. It is a financial aid program that is "[d]esigned for women and men whose academic promise exceeds their economic means, the program will provide a combination of institutional, state and federal grants for low- and middle-income students who have the desire to attend a world-class university without incurring debt."Wren Cross controversy
Nichol's October 2006 decision to change a long-standing university policy by removing a cross from permanent display on the altar of the Chapel in the Wren BuildingWren Building
The Wren Building is the signature building of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Along with the Brafferton and President's House, these buildings form the College's Historic Campus....
ended his first year as president in controversy. He explained that a cross in the chapel of a public university made some students of other religious traditions feel unwelcome in a place considered by the community to be an important part of campus.
Under the new policy, the cross would be displayed only in the chapel during Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religious services, or upon request, in an effort to make the space more welcoming to groups of mixed faith. After complaints were made, Nichol amended the policy so that the cross would be displayed on Sundays, and other Christian days of observance.
Nichol became the target of criticism from a number of alumni, students, and benefactors for changing this policy. Nichol stated that he had received "several complaints," from students and parents because the College frequently holds student organization meetings in the Chapel.
Due to this decision, alumnus James McGlothlin revoked $12 million he had planned on giving to the College's capital campaign.
Stories had surfaced that Nichol knew of the revoked donation before he announced that the Fund for William and Mary met its $500 million fundraising goal. McGlothlin's rescinding of the pledge pushed the fundraising back under $500 million, and he had revealed to former President Timothy J. Sullivan
Timothy J. Sullivan
Timothy Jackson Sullivan was the twenty-fifth president of The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States.-College years:...
in an e-mail that he would take back the pledge. In response, Sullivan wrote:
Nichol denied knowing about the revoked pledge before the announcement that the fundraising goal had been reached. The College initially refused to release the e-mail between Nichol and Sullivan, but capitulated to several FOIA
Freedom of Information Act (United States)
The Freedom of Information Act is a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. The Act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure...
requests. The e-mail read:
After months of controversy, which saw conservative commentators and national conservative political figures speak against the decision, Nichol established a presidential committee to explore the issue. Comprising students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the committee was charged with examining the "role of religion in a public university" in general, and at William & Mary in particular. The committee focused its efforts toward resolving the Wren Cross controversy.
On March 6, 2007, William & Mary announced that the committee had recommended that the cross be returned to Wren Chapel as an artifact displayed in a glass case, with a plaque explaining the College's Anglican heritage and historical connection to Bruton Parish Church. Nichol and the Board of Visitors agreed to the recommendation in a press conference. In addition, the chapel sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
would continue to be available to store religious symbols of any faith, which may be brought into the chapel as appropriate.
Sex Workers' Art Show controversy
Additional controversy followed Nichol after allowing the Sex Workers' Art Show to proceed to campus on February 4, 2008. The tour visits college campuses and other venues across the country. While personally expressing his displeasure with the content of the student-funded show, Nichol felt censoring the performance would be inappropriate. He issued a statement saying, "The First AmendmentFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
and the defining traditions of openness that sustain universities are hallmarks of academic inquiry and freedom. It is the speech we disdain that often puts these principles to the test. The College of William & Mary will not knowingly and intentionally violate the constitutional rights of its students. Censorship has no place at a great university." Nichol's allowance of the Sex Workers' Art Show to perform on the campus garnered mixed reactions among both the general public and the College student body.
Public reaction
Local and state levels of government officials, though not directly affected by the decision, spoke against it. Delegate Brenda L. Pogge (RRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
– Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
) feared that the College, as a state symbol, may have "tarnished its legacy." Pogge mailed Nichol a letter that asked him to stop the show. She also requested a city police presence to determine if a state obscenity statute was broken.
Statewide, the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
(specifically the Privileges and Elections Committee) effectively "threatened" the Board of Visitors' appointees if they refused to fire Nichol over the surrounding controversies during his tenure, culminating with the Sex Workers' Art Show. Nichol’s permission to allow a cabaret-style burlesque show on campus also offended many of the College’s more conservative alumni, which resulted in some loss of endowment.
Student body reaction
The students at the College of William & Mary showed little opposition to the show. The Art Show's first appearance on campus in 2005 received little media attention, but the second visit in 2006 generated more interest from the students for the following year. Students who opposed the show's content often accepted its arrival on campus due to their support for freedom of speech. The tour performed two shows at William & Mary in 2008, both of which sold out quickly.Resignation
After the Board of Visitors decided not to renew his three-year contract, which was already set to expire on June 30, 2008, Nichol resigned on February 12. Several weeks after his resignation he returned to teach at the University of North Carolina School of LawUniversity of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
. Matt Marvin, a UNC Law School spokesperson, said that all of the controversy surrounding Nichol did not alarm them and that they welcomed him back to the university.
In his resignation letter, Nichol claimed that the Board of Visitors had offered him money to stay silent on the reason he was fired, freedom of speech. He also claimed members of the Board of Visitors had been threatened by legislators if they did not order his resignation, and that the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
government was unhappy with his efforts to diversify the student body and faculty. Nichol claimed that he was offered "substantial economic incentives" to not mention this as well. The Board of Visitors denied these claims. W. Taylor Reveley, III, then dean of the law school
Marshall-Wythe School of Law
William & Mary Law School, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the oldest law school in the United States. William & Mary Law School is a part of the College of William & Mary, the second oldest college in the United States. The Law School maintains an enrollment of about six hundred students...
, was named as the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
president of the College after Nichol's resignation. On September 5, 2008, Reveley officially succeeded Nichol as president when he was hired for a full three-year term.