The Reviews Are Mixed As College's Drama Wraps

After a three-year tenure marked by controversy and change, Gene R. Nichol resigned Tuesday as president of the College of William and Mary. (Photo by Steve Helber/AP)

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The problems really began at the symbolic heart of the campus, the 17th-century brick building that was the original home of the college. When Nichol decided to remove a cross from the chapel inside the Wren Building -- because the space was used for secular as well as religious events and, he said, he wanted it to be welcoming to all -- some alumni and students were furious.

Conservative Christians across the country took up the cause, and by the time a compromise was reached months later, Nichol was a favorite example of political correctness gone haywire.

Many faculty and students continued to support Nichol, admiring his outspoken advocacy of a diverse campus more reflective of Virginia today, his support for a scholarship program that covers the costs for students from low-income families and his friendly presence at everything from football games to Muslim Student Association events.

In summer 2005, when Nichol took over, there were 29 black faculty members, according to figures from the provost's office, and since then the school has hired 31 more. In the past two years, the number of students from families poor enough to qualify for Pell grants increased 20 percent.

He stepped up recruiting of students of color, said Earl Granger III, associate provost for enrollment, and the 5,700-person undergraduate population went from about 18 percent non-white up to 22 and 24 percent these past two years.

But the school lost a multimillion-dollar contribution over the Wren Building cross, and many of Nichol's critics say he misled people by announcing the successful completion of a fundraising campaign at a time when they say (and e-mails seemed to prove) he knew that the pledge had been revoked.

"That was unconscionable," alumna Karla Bruno said. "Why would anyone want a public liar as their president? At a school that has the oldest honor code in the country?"

Students and others jumped in, donating money to support Nichol and the school. The senior class raised nearly $130,000 this year, a record.

But students also invited a controversial performance to campus that brought more flak for Nichol when he declined to ban it because he didn't want to infringe on free speech. The "Sex Workers' Art Show" featured prostitutes and strippers performing and provoking discussion about their jobs. It was funded by students, but Nichol's critics were outraged.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Manassas) asked in a letter whether "turning the public property of the College into a bawdy house venue for pimps, prostitutes and dominatrix [was] part of his performance contract."

Nichol, who declined to be interviewed, saying his resignation letter spoke for itself, wrote that four decisions he made, including the scholarships and the push for greater diversity, had stoked a vicious campaign against him.