An alumnus of College of William & Mary has lost his lawsuit (brought pro se) challenging the new policy put in place by the school's President and Board of Visitors regarding the display of a cross in the Wren Chapel on campus. The cross is now displayed in a glass case along with a plaque explaining the state school's Anglican roots. This follows an initial controversial decision to display it only when requested by a group using the chapel and on Sundays. In Leach v. Nichol, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38763 (ED VA, May 29, 2007), the court held that plaintiff lacked standing. His only allegation of actual injury was that he "suffered pain and weeping" after the initial decision to remove the cross.
The court held further that even if plaintiff had standing, he did not demonstrate any violation of his First Amendment rights: "The Wren Chapel remains open for worship, the cross may be displayed on the altar at the request of the Chapel's users, and nothing forbids the plaintiff from bringing a cross or a Bible of his own into the Chapel for use in exercising his religion."
