I posted something about the issue of the presence or the absence of the cross in the Wren Chapel, discussed somewhat tendentiously in this Inside Higher Ed piece, over at the underutilized Knippenblog. If college presidents respond to pressure in this way, is it any wonder that students are hard to educate about religion? (To be clear for those who don’t know me: when university authorities "sensitively" respond to pressure from one group, they shouldn’t be surprised if others join the party. This isn’t inclusive, but ultimately insulating. What’s more, to the extent that liberal education involves inducting students into a tradition of conversation, university authorities simply encourage everyone to find his or her own conversation stopper.)
I live in Williamsburg, and he is afraid of offending Muslims and Jews in a public building and has hidden the Cross in a closet and it can be requested to be taken out by any group. In the past, it could be removed if there was a group who held an event and did not want it. He’s taking a lot of flak from Christian residents and alumni and despite a few protestations doesn’t really seem to care if they are offended. As you italicized, the idea of taking a Cross from a Chapel is beyond absurd. Of course, he has the overwhelming support of the faculty who are screaming "separation of church and state."
On a personal note, this guy is a 60s radical who likes to go around in shorts, a golf shirt (always untucked), and sandals. He is the "new," cool college president who likes to interrupt dinner at nice restaurants to rap with co-eds and give everyone homeboy handshakes.