Cross debate costs William and Mary $12 million donation
Posted: March 1st, 2007, 9:06 am
11:44 AM EST on Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Associated Press
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) -- A long-time donor to the College of William and Mary will withhold a $12 million pledge to the public university because the school removed a cross from a campus chapel.
School spokesman Mike Connolly says the donation was pledged to the campaign fund before Gene Nichol became the university's president. Connolly says it was revoked because the donor disagreed with Nichol's decision last fall to remove the brass cross from permanent display on the altar at Wren Chapel.
The donor was not identified.
Nichol calls the loss of the donation "a serious setback to the college."
Nichol decided the cross should be displayed only during appropriate religious services or when someone using the chapel requested it. He said he wanted the chapel to be welcoming for students of all faiths.
The 18-inch brass cross had been displayed on the altar since about 1940.
Nichol recently created a committee of clergy, professors, students and alumni to study the Wren Chapel's use. It will make a recommendation to the Board of Visitors in mid-April.