I’d go with “D” — but if that’s what they want to talk about, that’s what we’ll talk about . . .
Delegate Bob Brink
Floor Statement
February 7, 2008
“Mr. Speaker, like many members of this body, I’m a proud alumnus of the College of William And Mary. In my case, I graduated from the College’s Law School back in the Pleistocene Era. So I was alarmed this week to hear that my Alma Mater is a fallen woman. We learned that she has become, if you’ll excuse the expression, the butt of off-color jokes.
“It seems that the students of William and Mary sponsored something called a ‘Sex Workers Art Show’ which is touring the country. Now, here’s a news flash for you: You take thousands of college-age men and women, put them in a confined space like a college campus, and some of them actually have an interest in sex!
“And, like every good melodrama, this story of The Fallen Woman has a villain: the President of the College. It seems that he didn’t do enough to stop those young men and women from talking about sex. Off with his head!
“Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth, here are some of the things that are going on at the College of William and Mary:
* “Last year a record number of William and Mary students were named Fulbright Scholars.
* “This year, the College was named the fifth highest school of its size in the number of Peace Corps volunteers it produced.
* “Students contributed over 300,000 hours of volunteer community service.
* “And applications and enrollment are up. I guess those students and their families just didn’t get the memo that the College is such a den of iniquity.
“That’s what’s happening in the real world. The College of William and Mary is, and with our support it will remain, a center of excellence and a source of pride for all of the citizens of the Commonwealth.
“But enough of that – let’s go back to talking about sex. Now, apparently some members think that this Sex Workers Art Show is such a threat to the Commonwealth that it demands hands-on attention – if you’ll excuse the expression. Well, I’ve got good news for you.
“You may have missed the performance over in Williamsburg, but according to the group’s schedule, if you’re from Fairfax County you could have caught the Show at a little place up there called George Mason University. Even better, the Sex Workers Art Show is coming to Richmond this Friday. Yes, my friends, we’ve got trouble right here in River City. Now, the House may be in session over the weekend, so the concerned citizens among us can just amble down Broad Street – if you’ll excuse the expression — to do their fact finding mission.
“So — this exhibition is appearing in several places across the Commonwealth, including another public university. Why all the indignation about William and Mary? The answer is simple: the College of William and Mary has become the Right Wing Noise Machine’s latest target, and its President has become their latest candidate for Swiftboating.
“Unless I miss my bet, pretty soon we’ll see the next chapter in the Noise Machine’s playbook: the fundraising appeal. I’m certain this trumped-up outrage will be used to beg little old ladies to give money out of their hard-earned savings to line the pockets of some right wing group.
“Mr. Speaker, to hear some people tell it, you’d think the Sex Workers Art Show was the most awful thing that’s ever happened on a Virginia college campus. It’s not. This whole issue is a trivial distraction from the real challenges our colleges face. We’re stewards of Virginia’s world-class higher education system, and we need to address those challenges.
“We don’t need to spend our time slandering an institution that’s one of the Commonwealth’s crown jewels, bullying its dedicated leadership, and turning this body into the Decency Police. Above all, we don’t need to waste our time giving a bunch of aging legislators a chance to talk about sex. We have more important things to do.â€
As a very recent (January 2008!) W&M alumna and a resident of your district, I want to THANK YOU so much for your comments. I emailed Delegates Cole, Marshall, and Hugo today to tell them what I thought about the SWAS outcry and the fact that Richmond seems to want to babysit W&M.
I appreciate you saying what SO many students and alums have on our minds – enough already! I didn’t go to the SWAS any of the 3 years I could have, but I completely believe that college is the time to discuss unpopular or even (*gasp*) indecent subjects. One student event is no reason for certain delegates to call W&M a “joke.” Thank you so much for standing up for our great alma mater.
Christine Bobal
W&M Class of 2008 and Arlington resident
Artfully said. Well done.
Well said. I wish I could have seen it.
This is absolutely brilliant. My heartfelt thanks go out to Delegate Brink for saying what so many of us are thinking. The delegates trying to micro-manage W&M’s student affairs should be absolutely ashamed of themselves, and all of those standing up for the College’s rights to independent functioning should be very, very proud.
Callie Morris
Class of 2007
Del. Brink, I don’t know who you are, but as a fellow alumnus of the Marshall-Presley School of Law, I agree with you 100%. I sent a nasty note to the College today telling them they’ll never see another dime from me, and I also sent an email to Prof. Nichol and Prof. George telling them that we support their prinicpaled, ethical stand for free expression, the First Amendment and the Constitution of the United States. Well, you can do what you want to Gene Nichol, but we’re not going to sit here and listen to you bad mouth the United States of America. Gentleman!
While I empathize with people’s outrage and even exasperation with the topic, pledging to NOT contribute money anymore does nothing but hurt The College. Gene Nichol was told today his contract was not going to be renewed and resigned, and the campus is in an uproar. William & Mary needs all the support it can get to move forward in the same progressive spirit. PLEASE do not cut donations to the school. It will only undermine everything William & Mary stands for.
The College thanks you Mr. Brink!
In the halls of the GAB, some of our less enlightened colleagues snicker and boo when William & Mary is mentioned these days, but in the halls of our Alma Mater, students and faculty writhe in disgust at the mention of the House of Delegates. I’ll go ahead and pass this around to my friends, show them you’re not *all* evil.
-Antonio
Class of ’09
Rock on, Del. Brink.
Thank you for supporting both the First Amendment and the students who dared to do something so innovative. I have been a proud alumna of the College, but of late, I am not so proud to be a resident of the Commonwealth. Please keep up the fight, for William and Mary, and all universities that dare break from the Richmond-favored ideologies.
Marissa ’01
Hey, Bob — what’s the difference about the House of Delegates talking about the sex workers show and the U.S. House of Representatives talking about baseball pitcher Roger Clemens’ taking or not taking of steroids and/or other banned substances?
Tim Wise:
As a former staff member on the House committee that held the steroid hearings, I’m afraid I’d have to say, “Not much.”
RB