(06-23-2017 08:24 AM)hktribefan Wrote:  I was a student when the feathers were yanked and we were told that the decision was made to not fight it since during any lawsuits the ability to host certain events and participate in some things would be jeopardized; a.k.a. would not be fair to the current athletes.

Just for posterity's sake, I dug up the reasoning provided in Gene Nichol's email to the W&M community. He highlighted 3 reasons that W&M didn't fight the ruling.

From my point of view, his second point of the resources was the most compelling reason to not fight. I understand (and to a large extent agree) with the idea that we should've fought this. But I can only imagine the expense that we'd have faced.

All that said, I miss the feathers and kind of wish we had fought this.

Full article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/rawfish...thers.html


First, failing to adhere to the NCAA logo ruling would raise the substantial possibility that William & Mary athletes would be foreclosed from competing at the level their attainments and preparations merit. Two years ago, for example, we hosted a thrilling semifinal national championship football game against James Madison University. At present, we are barred from welcoming such a competition to Williamsburg – in football or any other sport. I believe it is our obligation to open doors of opportunity and challenge for our students, not to close them. I will not make our athletes pay for our broader disagreements with a governing association. We have also consulted with our coaches and student athletic advisory council on the matter. They are of the same mind.

Second, given the well-known challenges that this and other universities face -- in assuring access to world-class education, in supporting the research and teaching efforts of our faculties, and in financing and constructing twenty-first-century laboratories and facilities -- I am loath to divert further energies and resources to an expensive and perhaps multi-faceted lawsuit over an athletic logo. Governing requires the setting of priorities. And our fiercest challenges reside at the core of our mission. I know, of course, that more than one member of our understandably disgruntled community would likely be willing to help finance litigation against the NCAA. Those dollars are better spent in scholarship programs.

Third, the College of William & Mary is one of the most remarkable universities in the world. It was a national treasure even before there was a nation to treasure it. I am unwilling to allow it to become the symbol and lodestar for a prolonged struggle over Native American imagery that will likely be miscast and misunderstood -- to the detriment of the institution. Our challenge is greatness. Our defining purpose is rooted in the highest ideals of human progress, achievement, service, and dignity. Those are the hallmarks of the College of William & Mary. They will remain so.