and quality of applicants. The problem became so severe that Healy decided to close the school in 1987, and it graduated its final class in 1990. One contentious issue during Healy's presidency was the sale of the university's radio station, WGTB, to the University of the District of Columbia for $1. Prior to Healy's term, the station, though owned by the university, had been effectively operated by people unaffiliated with the university, who broadcast content that was deemed offensive by Georgetown's board of directors and the Federal Communications Commission. As a result, the FCC was considering denying the renewal of WGTB's license. With the board's authorization, Healy sold the license in 1979, despite protests of students and the faculty senate. Though a lifelong Democrat who offered prayers at party meetings and frequently criticized President Ronald Reagan, Healy was criticized by the left. Adhering to Catholic doctrine, he refused official university recognition and subsidization of a gay student group, which prompted a lawsuit. After seven years of litigation, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruled that the group must receive the same material benefits as other students groups, but that the university could not be compelled to give it official endorsement. Contrary to the wishes of the Archdiocese of Washington, Healy declined to appeal the case to the U.S Supreme Court, stating that he desired to "pull the community back together." Healy's tenure as president came to an end in 1989, and he was succeeded by Leo J. O'Donavan. New York Public Library In February 1989, Healy resigned as president of Georgetown to become the president of the New York Public Library. A gregarious personality, he was recruited to the position in part because of his success in lobbying while at Georgetown. Succeeding the popular Vartan Gregorian, Healy's appointment generated controversy. Some prominent writers, such as Gay Talese and Joseph Heller, opposed his appointment to head the library, alleging that a Catholic priest could not commit to upholding free expression, while Craig Davidson, the executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said Healy's involvement in the lawsuit concerning gay student groups at Georgetown should preclude him from holding the office. Others, such as the chancellor of CUNY, Joseph S. Murphy, argued these critics were motivated by anti-Catholicism. Healy himself stated that he opposed censorship and that he was not bound by any ecclesiastical authority in his capacity