On February 11, 2022, The College of William & Mary plans to host governor Glenn Youngkin for Charter Day, and grant him an honorary degree. By doing so, William & Mary is honoring an individual that actively undermines the community of values they claim to stand for. We as a student body cannot allow this to happen. 

To use the money generated by the student body to sponsor, platform and support an individual who demeans the existence of many in our community is completely unacceptable. Do not use student money to subsidize bigotry. 

When we grant honorary degrees to individuals, we are ultimately sending a message of endorsement and approval; Glenn Youngkin does not deserve the endorsement of this community. From constantly attacking and banning the practice of teaching accurate history in schools, to threatening reproductive rights, to removing crucial public health protections in the midst of a pandemic, Glenn Youngkin antagonizes William & Mary's supposed commitment to "uphold[] the dignity of all members of the community" (William & Mary's website, “Statement on Diversity,” 2006).

This is further shown by the results of the College’s DEI report published earlier this year. The report found that “the history of Williamsburg and William & Mary continue[s] to negatively impact the experience of employees and students. Some participants described the community as unwelcoming to POC and LGBTQ+.” Additionally, the report found that W&M’s “collaborative, collegial, close knit, values-driven culture is not experienced consistently across difference[s], with more People Of Color lacking a feeling of inclusion (more experience of hostility, disrespect, exclusion, than their White colleagues).”

As a result of these alarming findings in the report, the College claims that they will now commit to “[c]reating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement to advance the university’s core values throughout the community.” The Willam & Mary administration is already failing to uphold this commitment. Students from historically-marginalized groups cannot feel respected or included when the administration consistently awards honorary degrees to individuals who seek to further their oppression.

While the College of William & Mary must first not grant an honorary degree to Youngkin, this is merely a symptom of a broader issue. William & Mary has historically, without thought to the individual's values or systems of oppression they uphold, granted honorary degrees to new governors of Virginia and other powerful individuals. This practice sends a clear message to the student body and greater community; power alone is sufficient to be honored by the College. 

We therefore demand that the College of William & Mary end this practice of arbitrarily awarding degrees, particularly to those who actively go against the College’s supposed mission of “treat[ing] one another with mutual respect, recognizing and upholding each person's inherent dignity and worth” (William & Mary’s website, “Diversity at W&M”). Instead, honorary degrees must be reserved for individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to William & Mary’s stated values of belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect and service. (William & Mary’s Statement of Values).

Lastly, we demand that William & Mary reaffirm their commitment to amplifying and centering the lived experiences of historically-marginalized groups and acknowledging how systems of oppression continue to exist today. In doing so, William & Mary must also revoke the honorary degrees granted to bigoted individuals who contradict this commitment. Beyond that, William & Mary must also take accountability for how their plan to promote Youngkin on Charter Day actively went against this commitment. 

William & Mary must hear from us. It is not power that earns a degree; values do.