College Shorts

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William & Mary College dumped by cross donor

According to CNN, an unidentified longtime donor withdrew a $12 million donation pledge to William and Mary College after College President Gene Nichol decided to remove the cross from the campus chapel in October.

Critics of the cross' removal have argued that it served as more of a symbol of tradition and history than as an icon of the Christian faith. Still, Nichol felt that the cross deterred students of other faiths from worshipping or practicing in the chapel, according to CNN.

The college was founded in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II as an Anglican institution. Advocates for the cross' removal said that as a public college, the institution must observe the separation of church and state.

Though the cross has been removed, it has not been discarded. The artifact now resides in a sacristy adjacent to Wren Chapel.

In an e-mail statement on Feb. 27, Nichol wrote that the loss of the $12 million donation "represents a serious setback to the college. While I know it is intended to make a policy statement, ultimately it only hurts our students."

-CNN.com


Sorority reprimanded in eviction controversy

The Delta Zeta sorority chapter at DePauw University recently instructed 23 of its 35 members to leave the house forever in a controversial effort to improve its image within the student body, according to the New York Times. Sorority members who were told to leave included all the overweight, black, Korean and Vietnamese members of the house, while the 12 members who remained were described as slender and popular, according to the Times.

The overhaul of the Delta Zeta roster was a response to a psychology professor's study of impressions of sororities on campus. The survey revealed that the sisters of Delta Zeta were perceived as "socially awkward."

The controversial evictions have generated an intense response. Following the evictions, six of the 12 remaining members quit the sorority. In addition, students are protesting, alumni and parents have submitted letters to the college and faculty members have drafted a petition in protest, according to the Times.

In an effort to rectify the situation, national recruiters have assumed responsibility for the recruitment process of DePauw's chapter of Delta Zeta and are asking that the current members not take part.

-The New York Times


Brown investigates early relationship with slavery

A committee investigating the foundation of Brown University and its relationship with slavery has discovered that slave labor played a key role in the university's early history, according to CNN.

A report delivered by the recently formed Slavery and Justice Committee explained that slaves had built the school's oldest building, and that money used to found the university was obtained directly and indirectly from the slave trade, CNN reported. Furthermore, 30 former members of the governing corporation of the university were either owners or captains of slave ships.

"One of the clearest messages in the Slavery and Justice Report is that institutions of higher education must take a greater interest in the health of their local communities," Brown President Ruth J. Simmons told CNN.

In response to the findings, Brown has promised to raise $10 million for local public schools to ensure that children are educated about slavery. The university is also looking into creating an academic center on slavery and justice and improving its African Studies Department. Plans for a slavery memorial and more accurate revisions to the school's official history have begun.

-CNN.com