Waxing on Higher Learning

“God our Father hear our voices, listen to our cry. Bless the college of our fathers let her never die.” - An interesting line from William and Mary’s Alma Mater song...especially now...wow...I am watching the local news tonight and I see the unbelievable report on William and Mary's decision to host the "Sex Worker's Art Show." As you can imagine, this is more than a bit controversial and I am just wondering why such a prestigious university that has been attended by people like James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson, would allow such degradation? According to the President of the College:
"The First Amendment and the defining traditions of openness that sustain universities are hallmarks of academic inquiry and freedom. It is the speech we disdain that often puts these principles to the test. The College of William & Mary will not knowingly and intentionally violate the constitutional rights of its students. Censorship has no place at a great university."-Gene Nichol, President of William and Mary
So anything goes at William and Mary? Even a historic cross in a chapel? Apparently a cross in a chapel was more disdainful than the President of William and Mary could stand.
When Mr. Nichol ordered the cross removed from Wren Chapel last year, he came under a firestorm of criticism from many, including alumni. His explanation was a bit confusing:
"It is precisely because the Wren Chapel touches the best in us—the brightened lamp, the extended hand, the opened door, the call of character, the charge of faith, the test of courage—that it is essential it belong to everyone. There is no alternate Wren Chapel, no analogous venue, no substitute space. Nor could there be. The Wren is no mere museum or artifact. It touches every student who enrolls at the College. It defines us. And it must define us all."
By define us all I guess that means all but Christians....it seems that Mr. Nichol is concerned about protecting students from the "offensive" symbol of Christianity but sees no need to protect students from the obvious offense and destructive results of sexual exploitation...
(The cross has since been put back in the chapel but not on the altar. The cross is now displayed in a glass case, explaining that William and Mary was established by the Anglican Church.)
In his statement about removing the cross from Wren Chapel, Mr. Nichol spoke of:
"The call of character, the charge of faith, the test of courage"....hmmm.
William and Mary gave its first honorary degree to Benjamin Franklin.
The college has also awarded honorary degrees to prestigious men in our nation's history such as Woodrow Wilson,Calvin Coolidge,Franklin Roosevelt,Harry S Truman, Dwight D Eisenhower... I wonder if the next honorary degree will be awarded to a President or a stripper? What courage! What character! How prestigious! "Higher" Learning?
"God our Father hear our voices, listen to our cry!"
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25