I'm angry about this shit!

Below I am posting a response e-mail from Del Hugo. All I can say is that the response infuriates me to the point of crippling me. Crippling in the sense that I am at a lost of how to respond to it and I have no clue what other actions I can take to combat things said such as in the press release. I also read an article about controversial events that took place at VCU pertaining the Sex Worker's Art Show in a Lynchburg newspaper that helped to fuel my feelings about all this shit! I think the thing that angers me the most is that it is not the controversial events themselves that affects our learning environment it are the alumni, BOV, and even the General Assembly's negative responses to these actions that may be compromising OUR (the current students') learning environment. I am all about free speech, so they can keep their opinions and share them how they want, but it is how they are acting on these opinions. Nothing upsets me more than people who try to push or enforce their view or values on others. I don't want them to change their views. They can be against the removal of the cross and the "Sex show" as they call it all they want. First of all, I did attend the show last year and actually didn't enjoy it all that much. I am glad I went because I got to see what it was all about. It is NOT a "sex show." It is a way for these sex industry workers to use their experiences in a legal way. It also reminds attendees that these are people, too. After all, aren't we suppose to love the sinner but not the sin??? With or without the show, the sex industry exists and it involves real people. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that actual money paid to the state in the form of taxes was not used to support the Sex Worker's Art Show. If you really want to get nit-picky, I suppose tax money might have been used to pay for the energy that was used to light the auditorium during the event. Using this logic, one could argue that the paths shouldn't be lit when underage drunk people walk on them because this is supporting those who participate in illegal activities. In response to the bias reporting, if anyone was unclear about the specifics and this concerned them, why not ask? Why resort to the ridiculous ad in the Flat Hat? The ad which was suppose to protest the bias reporting system was only used to attack President Nichol. Too much blame is falling on President Nichol, when his job description does not include censoring. I actually commend him for not simply listening to one side but trying to weigh both sides of an issue and make a decision to the best of his ability based on all sides and knowledge surrounding the issue. That is what a president should do! I may be a bit attacking in this blog to those who don't share my views, but this is not a public statement like the press release below. I also prefaced what I had to say with the fact that I am angry. Of course some of my statements may not be entirely rational. If I were to make a more official public statement or a response to this, I will get my facts straight and I will present my thoughts in a more formal matter. Again, I just don't know what to do next.

Dear Ms. Sitterley:

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me about William and Mary and Gene Nichol. I always enjoy hearing from William and Mary students, and am certain that although we may not see eye to eye on this issue, that we share a common resolve to seek that which will best preserve William and Mary's legacy of greatness.

On Tuesday, I shared my concern for my alma mater on the House Floor, and noted that due to several recent events, my hope is that President Nichol will not seek another term. Later in session, Delegate Cole (R-Spotsylvania), House Chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee, announced that he recently invited four William and Mary Board of Visitors Appointees to attend a confirmation hearing in Richmond.

Delegate Cole held the confirmation hearing for the William and Mary Board Appointees on February 7. I am including a copy of Delegate Cole's opening statement at the hearing as I believe it will better explain the reasoning behind the confirmation hearing. The concern with Nichol is due to a number of factors, not solely in reference to the recent event permitted on campus which showcased illegal activity.

Thank you for stating your position on this very important issue, and please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future.

Regards,

Tim Hugo

W&M ~ Class of 1986

Delegate Timothy D. Hugo
Virginia's Fortieth District
District: 703.968.4101
Fax: 703.569.6727
Richmond: 804.698.1040
DelTHugo@house.state.va.us

Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia House of Delegates

RICHMOND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2008
Contact: Karen Stuber
Phone: (804) 698-1088

Statement by House P&E Chairman Mark Cole
-- on Confirmation Hearing of College of William and Mary Board Appointees --

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Mark L. Cole, Chairman of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, today began the committee's confirmation hearing with the four appointments to the College of William and Mary's Board of Visitors with the following opening statement:

"Good morning. Thank you all for being here.

"The interest and motivation of this committee in holding this hearing today is straightforward and clear. We all want to do what's in the best interest of one of our Commonwealth's most treasured – and our Nation's second oldest – institution of higher learning, The College of William and Mary in Virginia.

"I appreciate the four appointees of the Governor making time in their busy schedules to join us – John Gerdelman, Henry Wolf, Anita Poston and Kathy Hornsby. This committee commends your willingness and desire to participate in public service by agreeing to serve on William and Mary's governing board.

"As Board of Visitor members, each of you is charged with the duty of providing oversight and leadership at what has been, for more than 300 years, one of the most renowned and respected academic institutions anywhere. Over the years, many accolades and considerable notoriety have been achieved by distinguished students, faculty, administrators and alumni. Likewise, we all want future opportunities for greatness to continue to be sought after and seized, not squandered or left unfulfilled.

"By statute, the General Assembly has delegated management and operations of Virginia's public colleges and universities to governing boards.

"To do your job most effectively, we believe a board must focus its attention and effort on matters of broad and central importance to the continued successful operation of the institution. I also believe, along with every member of this committee I suspect, that boards which micro-manage their institutions will not have sufficient time to attend to the overarching policy matters that are the heart of their responsibilities.

"As part of our constitutional role of providing oversight and approval of appointments by a governor to Virginia's higher education governing boards, we have asked Ms. Hornsby, Ms. Poston, Mr. Gerdelman and Mr. Wolf to be here today. Three of you are being re-appointed and one appointed for the first time.

"In your role as trustees of the second oldest university in the United States, and a treasure of the Commonwealth of Virginia's higher education system, you have a trust granted to you by the taxpayers. In our role evaluating both your performance, and your suitability, as trustees, we appreciate that at times you have to evaluate and balance competing values and concerns. But it will help us immensely in carrying out our duties to understand how you make these judgments.

"I acknowledge upfront that it is unusual, but not unprecedented, for this Committee to invite gubernatorial appointees for questioning.

"In the case of William and Mary, however, we believe that a set of recent events warrant a more thorough review of those who are charged with ensuring that one of the jewels of Virginia higher education is well protected.

"First, we are all familiar with the events that transpired at the end of 2006 and the start of 2007 with respect to President Nichol's decision to remove a century old cross from the Wren Chapel at the College. Among other things, this controversy led to the largest revocation of a monetary gift in the College's 315-year history. I am aware that a former member of the Board of Visitors has commented to some that this controversy constituted the most significant disruption in his decades-long association with the College.

"Second, we read just this week about the 3rd Annual Sex Worker Show at the College held on campus using taxpayer dollars. We also have seen some public statements by various College officials as to how we are to think about the show's presence on campus.

"And third, we are well aware of a bias reporting system that the school's administration created on campus that originally permitted the anonymous reporting of potentially offending speech to college officials and the possible investigation of anyone who violated the school's effective speech code. In addition to concerns about the chilling effect on campus speech, we are manifestly unclear on who controls whatever data is generated, however untrue, about those who violate the bias policy, who has access to it and, what right potential employers of graduates have to demand this information from the College in the future.

"Quite frankly, members of this committee – and many more in the House – are not sure what to make of all of these and other events and how they advance the teaching, research and public service mission of William and Mary.

"We also would like to understand more about what you believe are the central areas of concern and attention occupying your attention and efforts – from overseeing the president and the mission of the institution, to setting goals and priorities, developing budgets, and safeguarding the academic integrity of the institution.

"With that, I will begin the questioning period by making a few general inquiries of the nominees."