The public: “We want the truth.” The UW trustees: “Sorry, but you can’t handle the truth.”

“Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play, where never is heard, a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.”

It isn’t Wyoming’s official song. It belongs to Kansas. But, it is Wyoming’s creed, central to the state’s wont to cover up the bad stuff, moving on without resolution, leaving not a cloud in the sky.

Take the unexplained firing of Laurie Nichols. That’s a big deal. After all, Dr. Nichols was the first woman to have ever been named University of Wyoming president. She took the helm in 2016, during some of the toughest days of severe budget cuts. She led the University through those dark days and guided faculty, students, and staff through the completion of a five-year strategic plan for the school.

Dr. Nichols provided leadership to increase the enrollment of Native Americans in the wake of a very public incident leading that community to doubt whether Reservation students were welcome at UW.

At the end of those delicate processes, all participants walked away with the feeling they had been heard and respected and the UW president was given high marks across the campus.

Nonetheless, she was unceremoniously fired in 2019, during the “Year of the Woman” in the so-called Equality State, for reasons the Board of Trustees keep secret.

Not for lack of trying, the media has been unable to pry the reasons for Dr. Nichols’ dismissal from the mouths of the trustees. The Cheyenne and Laramie newspapers and others courageously prove the critical importance of a free press by being alone in going to the courts to learn the truth.

Most campus observers say Nichols was doing a good job, the only complaints made in truth-stifling back room confabs. One day, the trustees decided in secret to fire Nichols. They dispatched a select few to Arizona, where the blissfully unaware UW president was vacationing, to tell her she had become a part of UW’s history.

Some would say, “That’s not how we do things in Wyoming.” They would be wrong.

In many states, legislators would demand answers. Hearings would be held. The Governor who appoints the trustees would voice concerns. Faculty and students would have held vigils and marches. Answers would be demanded. It’s no small thing to fire the first female president of the state’s only university without some explanation. It’s a scene reminiscent of “A Few Good Men.”

The UW trustees: “You want answers?

The media: I think we’re entitled to them.”

The UW trustees: You want answers?”

The public: “We want the truth.”

The UW trustees: “Sorry, but you can’t handle the truth.”

So, this scene fades to black. Dr. Nichols found another job. She’s been named interim president at Black Hills State University. She will depart Wyoming for South Dakota, leaving behind the Equality State for a state whose motto is “Under God the people rule.” The irony abounds.

The only woman to serve as UW president will be gone, without any of us plebes knowing why. The Governor, state legislators, and other public officials happily ignore the truth, while celebrating “the Year of the Woman” as this tawdry matter goes to seed. 

Home, home on the range.

Maybe Colonel Jessup had it right. We can’t handle the truth. Jesus said the truth will set us free. It appears many Wyoming people would rather not be set free. Not everyone reveres freedom enough to risk demanding the truth. The truth is filled with discouraging words that cause clouds to form over the heads of those who would rather you not know it.

Alas, unless the courts intervene, never will be heard another discouraging word.  The political mess was quietly cleaned up, evidence of the explosion erased. It’s safe once again for the deer and the antelope to come out to play. The people of Wyoming will continue to have their home on the range, where never is heard, a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.