Mar 7th, 5:55 PM

An update! My God!

Well, guys, Wrengate would like to apologize for our silence in the last two weeks. We've had three cases of the flu/strep and one pretty serious injury, on top of exams upon exams and papers. That accounts for part of our silence. The rest of our silence stems from the comparative quiet on campus regarding our issue. Either way, sorry guys.

It is with great regret that I report that the Faculty's vote of 'No Confidence' failed. It looks like a significant portion of the faculty was positively swayed by the BOV's meeting on the 22nd. I admit that I myself found parts of their spiel quite convincing.


I'd like to talk about a conversation I had with Rector Michael Powell after the small-group-session. During the group-session, A.B. made a comment to the two BOV members (Mme Ukrop and Rector Powell) concerning their relationships between students, faculty, alumni, and the BOV. Powell had said that Nichol damaged the relationship between himself and the BOV, between himself and the alumni. A.B.'s response is that the BOV had accordingly damaged their relationship with the students and faculty, to much applause. My conversation with Rector Powell relates to this discussion. I went up to him and explained that I could not shake his hand because I was getting over the flu. Then, after forgetting what I was going to say, I managed to get out my opinion that it's imperative that the BOV repairs the relationship between the students and faculty and itself. To do this, it would be best to find ways to honor Nichol's legacy. Certainly continuing his programs is an essential part of that, but there's a less tangible way of doing so which is also important. In the selection of the next President, it would be prudent, I told Powell, to make their primary search criterion that the candidate resembled Gene Nichol. To this, Powell replied, "Sure, as long as he's a better administrator...!" I allowed that one to slide, and he and I went on to discuss other facets of the non-renewal.

At the time, it seemed like a helpful suggestion, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed crucial to the whole affair. If the BOV's decision truly was administrative and not ideological, as they said, then they can easily prove that by hiring another president with a similar ideology (but, as he said, with better administrative skills). If they hire another person with that ideology (for whom the search will be difficult, considering that no one in his or her right mind would consider the job now, particularly if he or she had a similar ideology ), then we the students and faculty should treat that as a sign of good faith and honesty. If the person they hire has a different ideology, then we do have a problem. This, I feel, is entirely reasonable and, as I said, crucial. However, Reveley is set to hold the position for a year or two more, and I'm not under the impression that the BOV is currently working on the hiring process at all. If we are to see this play out, it will happen in two years or more time from now. What we may need is a litmus test of Reveley, although that thought is a little disconcerting, I admit.

Not a sermon, just a thought.

--A

Feb 26th, 9:45 AM

Here's a New York Times Opinion piece about the search for a new President in Colorado that I received in an e-mail. It's worth reading, if you have a spare moment (which we at Wrengateblog.com really really don't.)

--A

Feb 25th, 12:40 - If any of you are still interested, the replace Powell site is now up and running.

--M.E.

Here are some more pictures from Friday's rally. Courtesy of and love from J.S.

















Here is some of the copious amount of video taken on Friday by J.S.
Chanting protestors rallying before the BoV arrives at the UC
"What do we want?"
Interview with a reporter at the rally
Interview with M.H. during the rally
Interview with N.F.
Interview with J.G.
Interview with D.B.

After you enjoy those, we'll be putting up the video taken later on Friday.

--M.E.

Feb 24th, 3:50PM

Hey there. The wrengateblog staff would like to apologize for our recent radio silence. We're recovering from our various illnesses (1 flu, 1 strep, at least) and we've had an injury (it's going to be fine). We'll put up the TONS of video and photos we have from Friday along with some comments as soon as we are caught up and healthy. And we still intend to set up an RSS feed, I believe.

--M.E.

4:36

Wrengateblog.com is in, plugged in, and quite comfy in the second row at the student meeting. Expect good things from us.





Zach Pilchen and Valerie Hopkins meet Suzanne Matthews





Student Assembly President Zach Pilchen



Michael Powell and Suzanne Matthews.

And here's one of Reveley

3:00

Okay, now transcribing from Chesapeake A. Gonna do so until my battery dies. Only half an hour in right now.

Okay I'm cutting out now to see if I can get a place in line downstairs for the students' meeting.

I've just decided I'll give you brief quotes, and will in this way keep my hands from falling off whilst trying to keep up. And I apologize that I can't attribute any of the quotes except to BOV or Faculty, because I don't really recognize the sound of any of the BOV's voices. (But if I hear a faculty voice I recognize..etc.etc.) Remember, you can listen to it here by clicking "listen now" on the left. (Aah! WCWM 90.9 is going through some technical difficulties. Not sure how much of this I'll be able to get down for you) --A

Here's your very own faculty, lining up to meet with the BOV at 2:30.




I'll try to capture as much of this meeting as I can, but man do my hands hurt. Personally, I can't wait for the keen, penetrating minds for which WM Faculty are known to put the BOV to the test.

Here are some pics from the 12:30PM rally here (Feb 22)





















Video will be up when we can get it uploaded

Feb 22 1:35

The BOV meeting with the staff is now being aired live over WCWM 90.9. I'll try to keep you posted as to what the discussion is. You can listen to it here by clicking "listen now" on the left. Keep yourself in touch!


So right now they're discussing the outside consulting group which gathered information about Gene's popular appeal.

"I understand the board is explaining the contract was not renewed due to his management style......Now I'm very concerned that the campus reputation has been harmed. Now I'm concerned he lost his job due to the Wren Cross or the SWAS....I'm wondering what you can do to help heal this problem and explain to the world what's going on here." Powell's Response: "Management style is important... The leader, before he makes a big decision, a big change, he consults with his board... that's management style, that's a big thing. And so, yes, you say style like it's clothes, but it's not that simple....we swore an oath to do the best we can for the college...that's what we're struggling for... Yes this place is gonna be better and better and we're gonna see to it." Another BOV member on same topic: "there are aspects of the General Assembly that are reprehensible."

"I work in grounds and um, one of the things I've seen coming out of these most recent events and what I've read in the newspaper is that people are beginning to look more closely into what is behind the college of wm, and what sort of foundation it has, and what sort of heritage it will have in the future... I'm thankful you made yourself available today. So I'm hoping that this will actually interest people enough to ask questions and to become involved so that the next 100 years of the college will be better....I was wondering what is the difference between the BOV and when a corporation has a Board of Trustees. Maybe that would be some sort of didactic information...-" Response: "If you can use the word 'didactic' you're a heck of a lot smarter than me....I had a 500 verbal. ... The classic form of western governance is that...there's always a governing board...whose principle responsibility is to set the policy and direction of the school. We audit...we set tuition for our students, we interface with the governor on behalf of the students....Boards are under huge pressure to make sure they're conducting that oversight responsibility thoroughly or that they're being held responsible for it. The last two years have put pressure on boards to [increase] their oversight."

"We act as a Board, we take responsibility as a Board, but we are 17 individual people who love the College...All we want is what is best for the community."

"I wonder...one of the key issues seems to be about student self governance and rights... That hasn't been talked about a lot in this whole thing...we've heard about freedom of expression. Where do you guys stand...on the student right to self-governance?" Response:"I think we would want our students to be the principle ones to determine how those fees are spent....There are some issues, constitutional in nature... Even when the students do whatever they want, there are aspects of how that works that have to be looked at in a legal matter....it became clear that there is no action for the President or the Board [to govern the student activities, i.e. SWAS]. I've gotten in a little trouble in our statement of supporting it...from our perspective it was ...this is something we have to understand better and look into. it was principally constructed around, 'these students are wise responsible adults who have a right....if you disagree with it, you disagree with it but I thought it was their decision to make.'"

Response: "I think there's a lot of criticism that we have caved to the legislators...To stand before the committee....that was trying to intimidate us was not something we relished. For the most part, some of them showed their complete misunderstanding about the way things are actually run. And it was sort of disappointing to be honest with you, you'd think they' dhave a little more of a clue. We were asked a variety of questions....I was never asked specifically about 'what are you going to do about Nichol' So they had no influence whatsoever. Did this have any influence about our decision to not renew Nichol? I would say 'no.' "

"They [politicians] just don't push us around."

"The greatest trick of a legislature is to see something happen and to take credit for it. Consider, they're trying to [unintelligible] on to something that was already happening....'cause they wanted to take credit for it."

"It's not the mission, it's the method. How do you lead change? How do you bring people along? What's the process with which you make change? ...Well I'm just saying if we know something [wren cross] is in its current state, we don't have to ask if it's the status quo..."

"I don't think anybody could expect perfection... [from a college president]....There are critical aspects of running the institution that cannot be sacrificed.... Sullivan had weaknesses, his predecessor had weaknesses, and his successor will have weaknesses. But that's not a job anyone would do well. The person has to be suited to the nature of the institution there. That's what we're focused on, and that's what we'll find."

"How President Nichol did not suit our university?" Response: "Alright. I think that in certain categories, he's the best I've ever seen. I've never seen a better visionary...Never seen someone so effective at reaching out to communities that have been ignored... If that were all we were testing, we wouldn't be here....But we had concerns about strategic/operational planning.....We had concerns about programs that were regularly announced but funding was not procured for them....You can't wake up and find out you have ann $85 million dollar bill for Gateway and other programs....We thought he wasn't on the road enough with donors....Donors, they're mysterious people to you, but they're people who love the college. It's easy to be critical of a fat cat...but if the top 25 donors walk away, you have a problem. A more serious problem than you think. If you're not building the next campaign, then it's a deficiency. We identified weaknesses in these areas...and we identified strength. We thought going forward we needed a 1 billion dollar endowment...and a person who--controversy is not a problem by itself, but how you manage it and get it under control-- All of us are saddened that for basically 9 months we've had to come to Williamsburg to discuss controversy....we spent too much time on these other things....What we have to care about is not the person, but the institution." Another BOV: "No one wanted Gene to succeed more than the BOV. We championed him. We worked hundreds and hundreds of hours to try to see to his success. Eventually we had to conclude is that the obstacles were too great."

Powell's closing remarks, "We have to do what we're doing now, and we're gonna do it again and again... the only direction we have available to us is to go forward....this school's reputation isn't in the hands of me alone or any president. I'm looking at 1/3rd of where it's reputation derives...We're stewards, we're not the heart and soul. That's staff, faculty, and students. If that reputation is preserved, it's 'cause you chose to preserve it. It's gonna be because kids get told, "You wanna be here!" I've seen plenty of controversies...we have a choice to make, we can give in to that reputation...or we can take it back. The whole world is watching if this community says, "Tribe."... Our action from this day forward is going to have a lot to do with how we're perceived in the US and in the world...Thank you for letting us talk to you.


That's all I can transcribe in real-time. Sorry. Best I could do. --A

1:16- While I wait for footage from the ongoing rally, here is yet another interesting article I found on our Google news feed (there's always something new!). It's a detailed timeline of Gene Nichol's presidency here from the Daily Press. I'll only link for now, as it's rather long, but maybe eventually I'll add it to the timeline page.

--M.E.

12:14- The meeting of the executive board is opened by Rector Powell.

Dean Reveley is now officially being appointed interim President "for a period of indefinite length," as the secretary reads the resolution. The proposal is adopted unanimously.

President Reveley is present and now gives a few remarks. "Continuity, healing, and signs of renewed progress" are his immediate goals. He wants to make "blindingly...pellucidly clear" that WM is moving into the 21st century and does believe that we are making progress.

The meeting is now closed, as of 12:19.

I will be returning to the UC now to help J.S. cover the rally, so you may count on this site rapidly becoming less text-heavy.

Photos courtesy of A.C. We apologize for the quality. We're unused to A.'s camera!
People gathering for the meeting
The secretary reads the resolution
Z.P. and V.H. talk to the board secretary after the meeting

--M.E.

Feb 22, Noon-

A.C and I are waiting to enter the open BOV meeting. Expect updates as it progresses.

J.S. will be at the UC Rally, taking photos and videos which will be up later. We will also be at the 4:45 meeting.

12:09 - We have now been let into the meeting room. Several students are here, most of whom have been seen at various other events. A news crew is here as well, filming. One woman is knitting something red and soft in the corner.

--M.E.

Feb 21, 9:00PM

The weather for tomorrow is going to suck. They expect there to be something like a half inch of ice on the ground in the morning. Tomorrow will be COLD. That doesn't excuse you from the 12:30 rally, or the public BOV meetings. The weather has sucked for a large part of this movement, and we'll all have to work around it. See you tomorrow. --A

Feb 21, 5:00PM

I'm not exactly sure what's going on tonight, having been sick, but it looks like preparations are being made for the BOV tomorrow! Action WM is tabling at the UC tonight as well as flyering and making posters (at the Meridian, until 11). They're looking for help with all of that.

Also, make sure you know what's happening tomorrow! It was posted below, but the most important parts are:

Check out this facebook group for more information.

Get excited!

--M.E.

Feb 20, 11:04

I'm at the Tribe United open meeting right now. Various tidbits are being discussed, including but not limited to: The BOV's selection process, selecting the new president, Friday's rally, a mission statement, etc. Here are some pictures. --A

Feb 20, 4:38

I spent a good portion of my afternoon in the Special Collections section of Swem Archives. Initially, I was there to discuss archiving portions of this page with Swem for posterity. Eventually, the two Seans from Pursuit Of... and I started looking over Special Collections' documents from the history of campus protests at William and Mary. In particular, the folder I looked through was full of anti-war protest information, mostly from 1971. I looked for tips and ideas, but mostly I was overcome by the thought that in the 70s, students were much better at this than we are now. Keep working hard and being dedicated. We have a big tradition to live up to.

--A

Feb 20, 4:30

W.S., S.O., and R.W. have created a remarkable video of student and staff opinion about Gene Nichol. Watch it and spread it.

Feb 20, 3:44

I've just posted video from Thursday's faculty meeting, all of it courtesy of L.V.. Thanks, dude. You can see the video here

Feb 19, 11:41

I was just tipped off to this amazing website which calls for Powell's resignation and/or replacement. Unfortunately, it appears as though the site is not yet launched. Check back with it periodically to sign the petition, please!

--A

Feb 19, 8:30

Here's a picture from the Poster Makin' Party at the Meridian...where joint members of various groups started planning Friday's 12:30 Rally ("Hear the Thunder of Our Voices: Rally for Change!") outside the UC. The BOV will be passing through the main enterance to the UC sometime soon after that, and that's a great way to let them know what you think.



Feb 19, 6:53 PM

I have just posted Robert Blair's letter of resignation from the Board of Visitors on the letters portion of this site. Many of you know I have called for Michael Powell's resignation. Blair's, however, saddens me because he was in the minority that argued for Nichol's renewal. Still, a resignation is a powerful act, as we've all learned. If Blair comes on Friday, be sure to shake his hand and thank him for his hard work and dedication. Let's hope that people see his resignation and start to wonder why, and what caused it.

--A

Feb 19, 6:45 PM

Here's the BOV's schedule for its trip to Williamsburg.

Friday, February 22nd
12:00
Executive committee meeting in the board room, 3rd floor of Blow Hall (open to the public, but no public comment)
1:00
Board will meet with college staff in Commonwealth Auditorium
2:30
public meeting with faculty (UC Commonwealth)
4:45
public meeting with students (UC Commonwealth)
7:30
meetings are expected to conclude (UC Commonwealth)

Here's an article about the recent graffiti on campus. Tribe United's stance on the graffiti is that it seeks attention and should therefore not be photographed, etc. Unfortunately, we haven't yet gotten photo of the graffiti. What's shown in the news article, graffiti on concrete, that doesn't bother me too much. But the same graffiti was tagged on the doors of Wren, and that pisses me off to no end. There's activism, and then there's destruction. If anyone knows who is responsible for the graffiti, send me an e-mail. Anonymity guaranteed. We'll publicly shame those responsible.

Poster Making Party! Tonight (Feb 19th) at 8 at the Meridian! Bring supplies if you have them!

An interview with Student Assembly President Zach Pilchen, courtesy J.S.

Some of you have asked for a more general time line of what has happened with President Nichol. I'm happy to say that A.C. and K.H. of wrengateblog.com drew one up for us, and here it is. Thanks guys!

Feb 19, 1:30PM

In a non-partisan coalition sort of manner, the Young Democrats, the College Republicans, and the Student Assembly are hosting Greg Lukianoff, who will be discussing the Constitutional precedents that govern college campuses. The lecture will take no stance on Nichol's resignation, and it seems like it will be extremely fascinating. The location and time are as of yet undetermined, but when I know, you'll know.

--A

Feb 19, 1:30PM

I just got some info from the Action Plan meeting you might like to see. These are the people you should get in contact with to get prepared for Thursday's/Friday's impending BOV meeting. Please find a way to help out in at least one of the following dimensions:


Banner and Posters
- point: Grace Sherman - e-mail

Logistics
- point: Annie Mosher - e-mail

Media
- point: William Jeffries - e-mail

Publicity
- point: Noelle Francois - e-mail

If you generally want to be involved but don't know where to plug in? Email Sean Walsh - e-mail

Pictures from Monday's Action Planning meeting, courtesy J.S





I just received this mission-statement from a member of Tribe United who wishes to remain anonymous due to employment peculiarities.

"Tribe United is committed to fostering an honest, positive, productive dialogue on the campus of the College of William and Mary. We seek to inform, involve and improve the voice of the students, faculty and staff as we work together to ensure the best possible future for William and Mary."
I should also point out in this e-mail that I am excited and interested in helping however I can, but my involvement with this group must remain in confidence for reasons related to my job. I appreciate your help with that, and look forward to combining our efforts toward a fruitful end.
--Anon. Member of TribeUnited.com

Here are the minutes from the Rally at 9 PM tonight (Feb 18) on the BOV's impending visit:

RALLY 9PM MINUTES

Purpose: In order to create a positive and constructive message, to present our reasonable desires and expectations of the Board of Visitors' meeting that will happen on Friday.

Who is our audience? Who are we sending our message to? target: Michael Powell, BOV, also greater student community?

explanation: There are few faculty members interviewed by the BOV. The BOV knows that the students and faculty support Nichol, but students and faculty are only 2 out of 11 voices that are listened to.

Possibly a question for BOV meeting, rather than rally. Too detailed for students who might not have prior knowledge.

    Two Big Banners:
  1. Lead By Example: Honesty, Integrity, Sincerity, Transparency
  2. An open community is a strong community.

Angry? Should we present a welcoming message when we're still pissed off?

Focus not just on Michael Powell, as there are other board members, and all of them are coming. A lot of campus sentiment is directed to Michael Powell (it's easy, he's the Rector) but we are bringing the entire board here.

Also: Who should be influencing our decisions?

Emphasizing positive aspects. Wear bright colors, smile for pictures.

Dressy classy, spirit wear.

No red armbands. Someone will bring yellow armbands? (Mary R. can bring them?)




Get excited. The BOV is practically upon us.

--A

Pursuit Of...'s prelim. database google group is now up. Check it out for the latest info.

We've just received word that the BOV will be here at the college on Thursday evening and all of Friday. They will first talk to the staff, then to the faculty, then to the students. They've expressed the desire to host the visit in PBK hall. If not, it will likely be held in the UC commonwealth.

If the Wrengate staff is better by then (one confirmed case of the flu on staff, one probable), we'll be there covering the whole thing.

--A