Mr. Ellis contemplates life in America with “Crazy Conservatives”. Leaves me to wonder, why is it that Progressives appear to embrace only their “Unilateral Equal Justice System”?

His lack of the needed talents to be a successful university president is obvious from his manner of leaving. Like corporate executives, academic managers are generally hired to serve at the pleasure of their board, and can be non-renewed or flat out fired if the board loses confidence in them. A financial parachute – think severance package – is generally part of this understanding. The guy goes quietly, and takes the check if his contract isn’t renewed. The university doesn’t bad mouth him, and doesn’t go out of its way to publicize why he’s being let go, so his chances of getting another administrative position are better. With any luck, an administrator learns from such an unsuccessful experience, and does a better job in his next place of employment. Nichol did just the opposite by trying to claim the severance package was ‘hush money’ or a bribe. It was inappropriate, and it demonstrates clearly how unsuited he is for an administrative position. His behavior also shows that he learned nothing from his previous experience at CU and UNC.

Nichol was no martyr for free speech, either. The experience at W&M appears to be like many universities: Speech codes and star chamber courts to enforce them; hostility toward some religions, and acceptance of others. His unequal treatment of differing political and philosophical perspectives upset some of the W&M stakeholders, and they took their complaints to the board, who acted on them. Not much different from the situation at Harvard. A controversial president offended a group that had enough political pull on the board to get him removed. Nothing new, or terribly unusual.

Uh, no it isn’t and no I’m not. If it’s a situation I know about only from reading the higher-ed press, I usually figure I don’t have any special insight into it. But I can say that the sex workers’ show has been something of a Wingnut Outrage Generator on other campuses.

Nichol’s farewell email, together with the accounts of his management style, suggests that although Outer Wingnuttia (e.g., La Malkin) did indeed hound him for the usual culture-war reasons, he also lacked some key political skills. In that respect, I wonder whether the campaign against him wasn’t—at least for some very dedicated wingnuts—karmic payback for the downfall of their hero among bull-in-china-shop college presidents, Larry Summers.

Daily Press: Nichol’s Farewell: http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-ed_nichol_edit_0213feb13,0,7332211.story

Virginia Gazette: End of an Error: http://www.kkbruno.com/Feb%2013.%202008%20Gazette%20editorial%20End%20of%20an%20Error.jpg

Flat Hat: Nichol Lied, the Dream Died: http://www.flathatnews.com/opinions/1588/with-released-e-mail-nichol-supporters-feel-lost

Daily Press: http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-ed_nichol_edit_0213feb13,0,7332211.story

Virginia Gazette: End of an Error : http://www.kkbruno.com/Feb%2013.%202008%20Gazette%20editorial%20End%20of%20an%20Error.jpg

Flat Hat: Nichol lied, the Dream Died: http://www.flathatnews.com/opinions/1588/with-released-e-mail-nichol-supporters-feel-lost

The most helpful thing about the Critical Mass article is the links; ignore the commentary if you want.

I’ve now provided a link.

Critical Mass has some useful detail also.