Letter to the Editor:

M. Cleary ('78)-

Dear W&L Spectator,

President Dudley's message timing and unvarnished preference for revisionist history left me wondering if he thought we are either that ignorant or that docile. He has every reason to think we might be that docile after collecting a Board of Trustees that looks more like a rubber stamp than a backbone. He has every reason to believe we are that ignorant after surrounding himself with a stacked commission who had preconceived directions for this question to be answered.
We are neither, but there are a lot of alumni who will simply stop supporting this particular school when they see that this commission report is the latest in a string of dishonorable actions being taken by campus "leadership".

W&L used to take great pride in the high percentage of alumni who supported the effort to educate in that unique way - not unmindful of the past or the future. My guess is that W&L has seen its peak in alumni donation percentages, as it has seen its peak for emotional attachment to the university.

This president and this board of trustees has betrayed a trust and a commitment and I do not think that will be missed by the majority of alumni. There was a chance to do something courageous, something unique, something innovative and once again the "go alongs" bowed to political correctness and chose the easy route. That will have ramifications.