The president and governing board at the College of William and Mary have parted ways in an unusually public split with a deeply partisan undercurrent. Gene R. Nichol says that the Board of Visitors forced him out for defending free speech and diversity on the campus, and that he turned down a generous severance package to go quietly. Board members blame weaknesses in Mr. Nichol's management abilities for his resignation, which came two days after the board informed him that his contract would not be renewed. (The three-year contract was set to expire in June.) Reactions to the departure varied. Hundreds of students and faculty members held a candlelight vigil outside Mr. Nichol's home hours after his resignation was announced. Meanwhile, some alumni and conservative commentators praised the board's action. Mr. Nichol announced his immediate resignation in a remarkably blunt letter sent campuswide and to alumni on February 12. He says he was forced out for several decisions he made during his two and a half years at the public college in Williamsburg, Virginia. He cited his move in 2006 to remove a cross from permanent display in the college's chapel and, more recently, to allow an art show featuring sex workers to visit the campus.