Our Crumbling Civilization: William, Mary And Sex Edition

What would William & Mary's most famous alums -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler -- think if they knew the school they attended was using public funds for pubic (no typo there) events?

A recent "sex workers" art show at the College of William & Mary is prompting more questions about President Gene R. Nichol's leadership of the 314-year-old public university.

Mr. Nichol allowed the "Sex Workers' Art Show" to stop at William & Mary last week as part of its national tour. The event included male and female strippers, escorts and prostitutes in various states of undress expressing their feelings on subjects ranging from their jobs to global politics. (WashTimes)

Is what an escort thinks about the war in Iraq now considered meaningful education? Is watching hookers sit around wearing (or not wearing) who knows what the sort of learning activity taxpayers had in mind when the nation's second-oldest college went on the public dole back in 1906?

Nichols justified his position on the sex show as you would expect:

"I don't like this kind of show, and I don't like having it here," Mr. Nichol told the Williamsburg-based Virginia Gazette. "But it is not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."

Of course, he's not telling the truth. The open door is extended to liberal and secular programs; questions are raised only about conservative or religious ... make that Christian ... programs. In fact, another controversial move by Nichol did just that:

The criticism against Mr. Nichol began in October when he removed a cross from the school's Wren Chapel to make it more open to people of all faiths.

Mr. Nichol said he removed the cross because potential students and their families viewing the chapel on campus tours immediately departed and because a Jewish student required to participate in a program in the chapel vowed never to return. ...

Before Mr. Nichol's decision about the cross, it was always on display but could be removed by request. Now it can be returned by request.

What did Nichol do to the cross? He censored it! He cancelled its performance, which had been continuous since Williamsburg's historic Bruton Parish loaned it to the college in 1940.

One hypersensitive and bigoted Jewish student raising a stink is not exactly a big-time controversy, but it was enough to get Nichol jumping up and ripping down the cross, an action since approved (Natch!) by the faculty and student assemblies.

One alum, Karla Bruno, who has decided to withhold financial support from the college until sensibilities are re-established, put it nicely:

"Where's the line? There's got to be a line somewhere. He's making a judgment call about the cross, but he refuses to make a judgment call about this depraved event that was going on at the University Center."

Crumbling Civilization Update: Wren Chapel Cross

An acceptable alternative title for this post is "Cross-hating money-loving academics behaving stupidly," because that's exactly what the "compromise" solution to William & Mary U's cross problem is: Academics finding a pathetically inept compromise to something that shouldn't be a problem to begin with.

Background: As I posted earlier, the prez of Wm & Mary, Gene Nichol (that's him in the photo), fell apart when one Jewish student complained about the cross atop the college's Wren Chapel. The college was founded by the Anglican Church, so this shouldn't have come as a surprise to the hypersensitive Jew; nonetheless, the religion of the academic left is "thou shalt not offend," so Nichol ordered the cross down ... thus offending many, many more.

Among those most offended: Alums with money who announced that Wm & Mary could forget their gifts -- including one for $12 million -- until the cross was put back.

Yesterday, the mighty minds of academia proudly announced their "compromise solution" to the problem. WashTimes:

The 14-member committee, co-chaired by religion professor James Livingston and law professor Alan Meese, issued its unanimous recommendation earlier than its deadline of the Board of Visitors meeting next month.

The 18-inch brass cross will be returned for permanent display in a glass case at the chapel "in a prominent, readily visible place," the recommendation states.

The committee calls for a plaque explaining the 313-year-old public school's Anglican heritage and connection to Williamsburg's historic Bruton Parish, which donated the cross in 1940.

The recommendation, billed as a compromise, stipulates that the chapel "be available to house sacred objects of any religious tradition for use of worship and devotion by members of the college community."

It took 14 academics to come up with this?! I wonder how many it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

The cross used to stand proudly atop the chapel, proclaiming Christ's glory under God for all to see. Now it is relegated to a glass case inside the chapel, as if it were a quaint relic of older times and not the proud symbol of a mighty and righteous religion.

The professors are cowering under the blanket of multiculturalism while the chapel was built, and the cross donated, as a proclamation of one religion. Their "solution" sullies the spirit of the gift, the cross and the faith of the school's founders.

Those of other religions need not take offense. They know they are in a country that is predominently Christian, one that allows their freedom of religion with great commitment and long history. They need not be afraid, embarrassed or intimidated.

Some, like the pathetic student who initiated this battle, will want to pick a fight. If they do, we should fight back with honor, decency and deep conviction -- but from Nichols and his faculty, there is only cowering and snivelling and grubbing for money.