It's always interesting to see when faculty members decide to suspend regular teaching operations, either canceling class because of some compelling conflicting event or devoting class time to discussion of material far afield from the syllabus or subject of the course. It's also always intriguing to notice when deans lead the way.

Here's an email sent to the William & Mary faculty by Dean Carl Strikwerda, in the wake of the Board of Visitors' decision not to renew President Nichol's contract:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Strikwerda"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:34 PM
Subject: [fas-d] Classes in Arts & Sciences on Wednesday and Thursday

Dear Colleagues:

I know that the news we received this morning from President Nichol about his decision to resign was deeply saddening for many of you, as it was for me. President Nichol was a passionate advocate for the values of liberal arts education, diversity, and free inquiry. I respected him as a leader and as a friend. I will miss him greatly. I would be dishonest if I did not also say that I am also very concerned about the future of William and Mary. In this difficult time, and in the months ahead, all of us will need to re-dedicate ourselves to the values that we hold dear in order that William and Mary continues to be the vibrant educational institution and strong campus community that it is.

I can also say that I am committed to doing whatever I can to help Provost Feiss, Interim President Taylor Reveley, and Rector Powell maintain our strengths as a college and an intellectual community.

A number of faculty members have indicated that they plan to not meet classes on Wednesday and Thursday in protest of the decision of the Board of Visitors. This is a difficult time for students and faculty. All of us have to deal with our emotions and our need to share our opinions in the way that we judge best. As it happens, I will be meeting with my students in my class tomorrow morning, but neither I nor my co-instructor will lecture. We will explain the situation on campus to the our students and ask them to share their thoughts, feelings, and questions. I trust that each of you will make the appropriate decision for yourself about whether or not to hold regular classes or allow your students to discuss the situation with you and their classmates.

I realize that the situation on campus may continue to raise questions, some of them troubling ones, for you and your students or some time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns that you wish to share. More than ever, I appreciate all the good work that you do as teachers, scholars, scientists, artists, and academic leaders. Together with our excellent students, you make the College of William and Mary a community of which I am still proud to be a part.

Best,
Carl J. Strikwerda
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
College of William and Mary
P.O. 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Phone 757-221-2470
Fax 757-221-2464
cstrik@wm.edu
Campus Location: 134 Ewell Hall
Jamestown Road

What do you make of Dean Strikwerda's decision to send this email to the faculty? What are we to make of his decision to devote his own class time to the therapeutic endeavor of helping students express their thoughts and feelings about the change in College leadership? What about his tacit endorsement of those faculty members who decided to cancel classes on two consecutive days so that they could register a protest to the Board?

Comments are open.