RICHMOND--
The House Privileges and Elections Committee yesterday undertook the unusual step of quizzing four members of the William & Mary board of visitors, although some members of the committee called the questioning "inappropriate."Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, the committee chairman, called to Richmond the four board of visitors members--Kathyn Hornsby, John Gerdelman, Anita Poston and Henry Wolf--whose appointments or reappointments must be approved today by the legislature.
He said he wanted to give lawmakers a chance to question them in the wake of a controversial decision by college President Gene Nichol this week to allow a "Sex Workers' Art Show" on the campus.
That came after Nichol last year sparked an outcry by removing a cross from the school's Wren Chapel.
"I acknowledge upfront that this is unusual, but not unprecedented, for this committee to invite for questioning gubernatorial appointees," Cole said in a speech opening the meeting. "In the case of William & Mary in particular, we believe that a set of recent events warrant a more thorough review of those who are charged with its oversight."
The four board of visitors members yesterday gave diplomatic answers to the delegates' questions, describing a board that has the integrity and national standing of William & Mary very much to heart, but which is focused on guiding the college's principles and policies rather than interfering in the day-to-day operations.
"We're not there to run the college," Gerdelman said.
Delegates focused early questions on college matters unrelated to the controversies, such as the percentage of out-of-state admissions, and the way the college spends state money.
But questioning soon turned to the sex workers' show.
"It was in the news and it was embarrassing," said Del. Terrie Suit, R-Virginia Beach.
She asked the board members whether they would promise to reject any budget that includes funding for the show next year.
Wolf replied that the students themselves decide how to spend the student activity fees that are paid for the purpose of bringing entertainment acts to the college.
"The board of visitors doesn't specifically approve a particular program," he said.
When Suit asked again, Wolf said that the board will review its policies, but made no further promises.
The question itself angered some committee members.
"I've never known such an extraordinary session," said Del. Jim Scott, D-Merrifield. "I'm very uncomfortable with our suggestion to the board of visitors that they should be somehow interfering with the university leadership," Scott said.
Other delegates, though, said they just wanted to make sure the board members understand the importance of maintaining the college's dignity, and to express their concern that Nichol was harming the school's reputation with a misguided emphasis on political correctness.
"There's nothing wrong with values," said Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. "There's nothing wrong with remembering where we came from."
Delegates also urged the board members to give serious thought to continuing Nichol's employment as president.
Cole said continuing controversies like the cross and sex workers' show could "undermine" the willingness of taxpayers to keep funding the college. He said the board has a "duty to step in and assert itself.
"I really don't want to be compelled to have hearings like this in the future," he said.
Later yesterday, the issue of whether the board members should have been questioned at all surfaced on the House floor.
Del. Bob Marshall, R-Manassass, decried allowing "pimps, prostitutes and dominatrixes to perform their show, or whatever you call it," and said he has serious concerns about why the board hasn't exercised more oversight over Nichol.
Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax, praised the board members as being sharp and clearly dedicated to William & Mary, but said he thought the legislature should make a practice of interviewing appointees for all college boards of visitors.
But Del. Bob Brink, D-Arlington, criticized the legislature's involvement in the sex workers' show tiff, pointing out that the same show has been performed at George Mason University and is scheduled to go on at Virginia Commonwealth University, and no one has made a controversy out of those performances.
"Some people think this sex workers art show is such a threat that it needs hands-on attention, if you'll partdon the expression," Brink said. "Why all the indignation about William & Mary? The College of William & Mary has become the right wing noise machine's latest target and their president has become the [target] of swift-boating. This whole issue is a trivial distraction from the real issues our colleges face."
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com