Why the Hurry?

Standing in the Blue Room of the Wren Building last Friday, watching as the W&M Board of Visitors took an historic vote in an historic room in an historic building, I was moved by the power of the moment.

Standing in the Great Hall a few minutes later, as the painted faces of King William and Queen Mary peered down upon all of us gathered for Taylor Reveley’s swearing in as 27th President of The College of William and Mary in Virginia, I was moved by the singular nature of his path to power.

From what little I’ve seen in the past six months since the BOV pulled Reveley from his office at the Law School to fill the void left by Gene Nichol as he skulked out of town and out of his job, Reveley is an even-tempered, even-handed, cautious, financially-savvy man with a proven record of solid leadership.

The BOV called him “interim”. He himself said he was not interested in a permanent placement, but that can be attributed to sensible politics; no one in that position would be silly enough to take a Caesar-like stand at such a moment or even later. Evidence of his good sense, I say.

And then suddenly in the past week or so, the BOV made a quick effort to ask around campus if Reveley was acceptable, if Reveley was palatable to the students, the faculty and staff. I assume they asked alumni via the WMAA.

On Friday, after a week of “nothing’s been decided yet” blather from Rector Michael Powell, the BOV met for a special session, supposedly to make a decision. While they were behind closed doors, I sat in the room where lunch was being prepared – and the champagne was on ice.

Champagne? For a decision that hasn’t been made yet? And what about the preparations for the swearing-in ceremony, and the reservation of the Blue Room with Louise Kale, Director of the Historic Campus?  These things were clearly arranged for well in advance of the special meeting “to make the decision”. These things were in evidence while the BOV was behind closed doors, doing who-knows-what for about an hour. They had obviously already made the decision before Friday.

And that’s my beef. Not that Reveley is now fully installed as President for three years, but that the BOV is once again lacking in candor and transparency with the College community as a whole. You can’t say you haven’t decided—which Powell did say—when the physical evidence is to the contrary and abundantly on display for the public to see.

You can’t come in and say – as Powell did in his opening remarks before the closed door session—that the College needs a president with full executive powers  because of some “immediate need” and a “clear and present danger” hovering over its head and not explain what that means.

It was clear from the BOV’s actions and words this past week that Reveley had to be installed and had to be installed NOW.  Powell never explained why this event had to happen so fast and with special circumstances. The BOV’s regularly scheduled quarterly meeting will be September 26-7.

Reveley’s installation couldn’t wait three more weeks? What’s up with that?

Something’s going on, and there has to be money involved. I admit to having limited understanding of what power an interim president lacks that only a fully-installed president can wield.  Whatever it is, it’s a big factor in the choices the BOV is making. How much you wanna bet there will be an announcement shortly of some big donation? Say 10 million, perhaps?

I wish the BOV would learn that honesty and transparency are the best policies; that bungling, awkward management is, well, bungling and awkward and does a great disservice to the College and its reputation.

The BOV has also said they will conduct a full, national search for President in three years – at the end of Reveley’s contract. I just hope they get on the honesty and transparency train before they start.

Published in The Virginia Gazette September 10, 2008