Informer of Record on Campus

Philosophy professors strike back - Page five Interview with WMPD Chief - Page seven Volume 3 An independent The Virginia publication at the College Issue 8 of William and Mary. February 13, 2008 The common sense paper Established 2005 Informer of record on campus. www.VAInformer.com College files BOV fails to act on Nichol for trademark No decision on contract made, president’s future still unknown on banned Steven Nelson feathers Features Editor An air of suspense accompanied reporters, students and Michelle Ju & others who waited outside a closed session of the Board of Joe Luppino-Esposito Visitors on Friday. The closed session, occurring in Blow Hall, Asst. Features Editor & Editor in Chief was the last of this round of meetings, which spanned February 6-8. The session was closed to the public due to the discussion Despite the College administration’s of personnel matters, an exemption contained within Virginia refusal to challenge the NCAA’s ruling Freedom of Information Act laws. against the athletic logo, The Virginia Many on both sides of the debate on President Gene Informer has learned that William and Nichol’s future at the College anticipated an announcement Mary is now attempting to trademark Friday, following the closed session. This anticipation proved the image of our two feathers, despite unfounded, though, as no verdict was rendered for or against disavowing them in the past and leaving Mr. Nichol’s renewal. them off the new Last semester, BOV Rector Michael Powell announced a logo revealed last comprehensive and public review of Mr. Nichol’s presidency, semester. with a decision to be announced this semester on whether Mr. Records with Nichol will be renewed for another term. His current term the United expires in June. States Patent and Meanwhile, pro- and anti-Nichol individuals have been Trademark Office ratcheting up their efforts. On Thursday, February 7, indicate that on four BOV members who are up for confirmation—John June 26, 2007, Gerdelman, Kathy Hornsby, Anita Poston and Henry Wolf— over eight months were summoned to Richmond by lawmakers skeptical of Mr. after President Nichol’s governance of the College. Hours later, a pro-Nichol Gene Nichol declared to the College rally attracted hundreds of supporters outside of a board dinner community that further action against at the Muscarelle Museum on campus. the NCAA’s ruling would not be Lawmakers in Richmond questioned the four BOV members pursued, the College filed for for a on a range of recent controversies at the College, including registered trademark of only the image the Wren cross, the Bias Reporting System, a lost $12 million of the two feathers, independent of the donation and a performance of the Sex Workers’ Art Show. Blake Lucas already-registered full logo. The night before the four BOV members were called to In the e-mail from October 10, 2006, Richmond, BOV member Kathy Hornsby was unexpectedly State of the College President Nichol stated that he did not present at a meeting of the board’s executive committee, The full report: page 10 want the College “to become the symbol presumably to be advised by other members as to how to and lodestar for a prolonged struggle respond to lawmakers’ questions. state lawmakers, including upset William and Mary graduate over Native American imagery that will Appointees made by the governor to the Board of Visitors Delegate Timothy Hugo (R-Fairfax). Mr. Hugo proclaimed on likely be miscast and misunderstood— are typically approved by the Virginia legislature without much to the detriment of the institution.” skepticism. In light of Mr. Nichol’s public review, however, NO DECISION FROM BOV Now, the College has put in a request board members up for approval face increased scrutiny by many continued on page ten to the federal government to protect its rights to the two feathers once eschewed by the administration. According to Director of University Sex Workers’ Art Show goes on amid Relations Michael Connolly, “The College intends to hold on to the feathers trademark for the time being. controversy and protests It remains a registered trademark of Jennifer Souers its double performance on February 4. Several students decided the College. As a result, any person or Staff Writer to express their displeasure with the show during a protest held any group wishing to use it still must get on the night of the event. Whatever their reason – religious or permission from the College.” Though The Sex Workers’ Art Show has drawn high levels of otherwise – students who were against the show shared the a the feathers are currently being phased attention and criticism in the past few weeks, culminating with common goal: to make their voices heard. out of athletic logos, they are still “in The protest movement that established itself outside the use for such non-athletic purposes as doors of the University Center, the venue for the show, was clothing.” The College still wants to peaceful. William and Mary police were present throughout maintain control of its historic logo— the evening, keeping a close eye on both the protestors and not for long, though as the feathers are the large numbers of students attending the show. Local news also being phased out of non-athletic channels came and interviewed students protesting the show, paraphernalia, while the College is later broadcasting those stories at the top of the news hour. currently moving towards assimilating After being asked to move from the inside of the UC, its new, highly opposed logo. students stood behind barricades, posting signs criticizing the Our original logo, featuring both the show and quoting the Bible. “‘Flee from sexual immorality. All “WM” and the two feathers, has been other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who a registered trademark since June 4, sins sexually sins against his own body.’ I Corinthians 6:18” and 1991, and was unaffected by the change “WM is a College, not a strip club” were a few of the colorful made over the past two years. Because signs protestors posted. the full logo remains a trademark of About 30 members of the local community came, including FEATHERS Eileen Bartolozzi SWAS PROTESTS continued on page ten Face-off: Protesters lined up outside of the UC. continued on page two CONTENTS Want to get every issue of The Informer in the mail? News................................ 2 Inside campus bike E-mail [email protected] with your name and address, and we will send you an order form and your first Features............................ 6 theft issue FREE! Arts & Entertainment...... 11 Opinion............................ 14 Page 8 Page The Virginia February 13, 2008 News Informer Former Special Envoy Mitchell Reiss lectures on resolved Irish peace process Kristin Coyner of Mr. Reiss’ claims, arguing that peace- moral support for a peaceful Ireland. He and reconciliation effort is essential for Staff Writer seeking countries need partners in order to noted how Irish-American involvement a successful peace process in Northern reach their goals. Secret negotiations with was a crucial factor in the rejection of Sinn Ireland. He stated that, “No one party On Thursday January 31, former those who sought a forceful reunification Fein’s misuse of constructive ambiguity, should manipulate the historical narrative,” US Northern Ireland Special Envoy of Ireland, namely Irish Republican Army which had, for many years, allowed for maintaining that open reconciliation Mitchell Reiss spoke at the William and (IRA) leaders, were discussed to show the the misleading of other governments on allows for all wounds to be cauterized. Mary Marshall-Wythe School utilization of this principle. its true intentions. To the question as to whether the of Law, delivering a lecture Mr. Reiss also called for, “unity The second half of the speech concerned Northern Ireland peace process now entitled “The Northern Ireland among key stakeholders,” in the those principles useful for conflict stands out as a useful model for other Peace Process: How Pertinent process of conflict resolution. resolution which were not adequately conflicts, Mr. Reiss seemed hesitant, a Model for Other Conflicts?” Members of the Irish Republic applied. One such principle largely absent asserting that the case of Northern This event constitutes the first and the United Kingdom from the peace process was that tactics Ireland was “special” and that there are of Mr. Reiss’ public remarks needed to reach a common should adapt as changes occur. Mr. Reiss “few conflicts in the world like it.” The since his retirement from that University Relations strategy palatable to the majority noted how criminal behavior, rather than great American connection and long- post in February 2007. REISS of Northern Ireland’s citizens. terrorist acts, eventually became more of sustained investment of prominent Mr. Reiss joined the faculty Mr. Reiss invoked such treaties a danger. Out of 1998 Belfast Agreement, politicians cannot be imitated in more in 1999 and is now vice provost for as the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement and the IRA transitioned into using financial circumscribed conflicts. international affairs and a professor of the 1993 Downing Street Declaration in crimes and intimidation rather than Mr. Reiss fielded a number of questions law and government. His professional which joint Irish-British strategies were terrorism, while some Protestant groups from audience members in the concluding accomplishments include acting as made toward conflict resolution. moved toward drug dealing. Mr. Reiss portion of his speech, a great number of director of the Office of Policy Planning Understanding the limits and uses asserted that the British government was which stemmed from the content of his at the US Department of State from July of, “constructive ambiguity”—ie, using reluctant to adjust to this new security presentation.

Load more