W&M situation is not as bad as student portrayed

Bill Watson
Published: February 19, 2008

Miss Jackson's letter of Feb. 15 titled "Nichol's forced resignation is not appreciated" is short on fact and long on melodrama.

The situation at William & Mary is unfortunate, but it is hardly the way she presents it. The circumstances are far more complex than just saying it's a bunch of mean old guys acting like tyrants.

Gene Nichol's contract as president of the college was not renewed, but he was not forced to resign. He chose to do so. There's a big difference.

The entire campus is not rallying and striking, as Miss Jackson's letter says. About 10 percent of the students are doing so.

That 10 percent is disrupting life for the other 90 percent, with no regard for the rights or feelings of those not in tune with their cause. There are no riots, just a ruining of the college community experience for everyone.

If you really want to know what is happening at William & Mary, there are many resources that are much more factual and reasoned and much less emotional and self-important than Miss Jackson's letter. Try some of those and make a truly informed decision about the controversy.