Dear Mr. Nichol,

I was deeply troubled when I read your December email to the William and Mary community recalling your fondness for the Wren Chapel Yule Log ceremony.

The Yule Log is offensive to me for the following reasons;

1. It is associated with ancient Norse religious observances to which I refuse conformity. Your hosting the Yule service at Wren only underscored the event’s religious significance.
2. The cutting of the Yule Log in Scandinavia, and other parts of the world, involves cutting green wood – a detriment to the environment. This maiming not only damages the plant from which the log is cut, but negatively impacts the shelter and nutrition of neighboring woodland creatures.
3. I feel silly for even having to mention this, but the burning of the log and other wood associated with the ceremony pollutes the air we and other creatures breathe. We share this planet, not only with other humans, but with all living organisms.
4. The word Yule reminds me of the late actor Yul Brynner – a bald man. When I see you endorsing the burning of the Yule Log, I feel as if you are implying it is no crime to burn bald men. Being bald myself, that scares me.

I respectfully request you cease endorsement of the Yule Log service; and ban William and Mary faculty, staff, and student body from resuming this barbaric and inhumane religious Wren Chapel observance.

I realize only I and a few others feel as I do; but seeing your swift action in removing the Cross from Wren Chapel, I discern you possess the boldness and fortitude to elevate the concerns of the minority above those of the majority, and implement appropriate corrective measures.