UGA editor resigns after alcohol-fueled visit with Nathan Deal, Sonny Perdue
Note to journalism students: Ernest Hemingway lied. Boozing came after the work. Not during.
The editor-in-chief of the University of Georgia’s campus newspaper has resigned after being ejected from the president’s box – and a visit with Gov.-elect Nathan Deal and Gov. Sonny Perdue — during Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech.
Alcohol was said to be involved. Neither Perdue nor Deal are drinkers.
In an article posted in The Red and Black, the daily newspaper, editor Daniel Burnett said he had been at a tailgate party before his visit to the prestigious booth of UGA President Michael Adams:
“It’s my understanding his behavior was disruptive enough to the point he was asked to leave,” said Meg Amstutz, executive assistant to the president.
Burnett told The Red & Black he responded, “Yeah, that’s fine,” before walking out of the box without further confrontation.
“I think someone smelled the vodka,” Burnett said Monday. “I was talking to people, I don’t believe I was being disruptive. But they have the right to escort anybody out. I don’t have a problem with that.”
A spokesman for Perdue described the governor’s encounter with the student editor as “friendly and very brief.” A Deal representative said the governor-elect noticed nothing strange.
“[Burnett] asked to take a picture with Nathan, and Nathan did that. That was Nathan’s only interaction with him,” spokesman Brian Robinson said Monday. “Whatever happened that led him to be asked to leave, did not happen in front of Nathan.”
***
While we’re on the topic of UGA and strong drink, the Athens Banner-Herald reports the following:
Former University of Georgia athletic director Damon Evans is scheduled to be arraigned on a driving under the influence charge at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Atlanta Municipal Court, according to the Atlanta Solicitor’s Office.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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168 comments Add your comment
packing my bags....
November 29th, 2010
5:08 pm
neither Perdue or Deal are drinkers? no wonder this state is going to hell in a handbasket…… uptight morons.
Greg
November 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Trust me guys, Vodka smells….ask my ex
asa
November 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
WHAT WOULD LEWIS THINK HE WOULD SURELY FROWN ON ANYONE NOT HAVING A DRINK BEFORE GA/TECH MAYBE TIME FOR ADAMS TO GO
More2It
November 29th, 2010
5:12 pm
If it was just a little *ooopsie* I doubt there’d be a resignation.
This is bigger than that. You don’t just give up your job because you’re busted for taking a nip or two.
And as far as *smelling vodka* on the editor, heck your clothes can absorb that alcohol stench just from walking through campus. He may not have had even a single drink.
DrunkenDawg
November 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
Knowing U[sic]GA, he probably was asked to leave due to an absence of alcohol. The provision reads that “students must maintain a BAC of at least 0.06 on a continuous basis, unless a football game is being played in which the threshold is set at 0.30″.
Damon Evans
November 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
At least I got me some pink panties …… what color briefs does sonny wear?
ok
November 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
uh…apparently some people here have never been around someone who has had quite a bit of vodka…VERY easy to smell.
Their article made it sound like he knew he was going to this, so why on earth did he think drinking before going to meet with such figures would be a good idea?
….oh wait I forgot what school we were talking about.
jdawg34
November 29th, 2010
5:20 pm
Dadgum not a football player…..guess this will be blamed on CMR also, oh well, good luck in the Red and Black business, it will haunt you like we do our players….way to go Adams, another story on the AJC….
jerry
November 29th, 2010
5:21 pm
A new course is in the works. “The Proper Way To Get Drunk And Disorderly At UGA.”
Na
November 29th, 2010
5:24 pm
Deal and Perdue do not drink———– only a drunk would find fault in that.
Bozydeco
November 29th, 2010
5:26 pm
Color me surprised.
RGB
November 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Another crazy journalist.
rod
November 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
And this is news because?
Dr. K EDD
November 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
If you are going to meet the Governors, good idea to do it sober….otherwise they’ll steal your wallet!
Dawghater
November 29th, 2010
5:41 pm
What a shocker. A Ga fan drunk and obnoxious! Who knew
jbm
November 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
In the immortal words of Dean Wormer, fat, drunk and stupid is not way to go through life son!!!
Boses
November 29th, 2010
5:44 pm
Gotta grease those palms if you wanna stay.
Monglorp
November 29th, 2010
5:45 pm
“Neither Perdue nor Deal are drinkers”… Just one more reason I am glad I voted against them both!
brosa
November 29th, 2010
5:46 pm
I remember my first beer.
Cleo
November 29th, 2010
5:48 pm
They almost make it sounds like just the “smelling vodka” was somehow disruptive, it seems most people didn’t notice any “disruptive” behavior or they certainly never mention anything – was he being overly loud? was he stumbling into people? was he being rude?
You have to be careful with these Repub small town politicos, it’s okay to hide millions of dollars, create dummy organizations to channel tax funds, even cheat on your wife – but heaven forbid they smell alcohol on your breath.
Jim
November 29th, 2010
5:50 pm
Need to look a bit deeper here. This might have been payback for his treatment of the fraternity system earlier this fall.
http://www.redandblack.com/2010/11/08/duty-goes-beyond-just-the-front-page/
Dayum
November 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
I just want to know why the governor elect’s spokesperson calls him “Nathan.” I’m not fond of Mr. Deal, but he is the next governor of Georgia and deserves to be represented with a great deal more respect. For the record, I don’t like it when anyone calls the president “Obama” either. Like him or not, he’s still our president.
X GA X
November 29th, 2010
6:00 pm
WHAT? Georgia Alumni and FANS drink or getting drunk? NO WAY……..
I would drink too if graduating from G E O R G I A is all I had to brag about. Sorry Asses they are
SantasElf
November 29th, 2010
6:00 pm
Wondering what to get Burnett for Christmas? How about the mini alcohol breath tester from Bed Bath & Beyond for $14.99? It doesn’t replace judgment, but will tell you if you’ve had one too many for the president’s box. It’s the perfect holiday gift for erstwhile college paper editors, or really any student of a college with SEC football. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16793485&rfx_spread=8&rfx_page=8&rfx_pageid=8&rfx_passback=&rfx_catalogname=1&rfx_catalog=1&rfx_omni=0&rfx_OmniPageName=p8-9&rfx_OmniCatalogName=DecEvent2010&rfx_OmniClientID=UA-18685737-1
Jim
November 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
Who cares?
baby
November 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
“While we’re on the topic of of UGA”
Does anyone read this before the AJC posts this stuff? Their typos are insanely obvious. Good grief. Dunwoody, Smart people??? I think not
ike turner
November 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Unfortunately, most of my regrets involve alcohol…..
Richie_Rich86
November 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
why is this news worthy? People drink all the time? Why even post this?
CourtneyF
November 29th, 2010
6:32 pm
Damon, I told u not 2 get ‘dat boy a drink. He we’d go again. Where r my red panties?
Amanda
November 29th, 2010
6:43 pm
Why do they think this is a story!? He drank before a football game. SO WHAT?! That’s no reason to lose a job. Obviously if he became the editor of the paper he’s not some deadbeat.
dano
November 29th, 2010
6:44 pm
We call Governor Deal “Nathan” because thats his first name and he appreciates people who call him by his first name (in Gainesville).
JoeDawg115
November 29th, 2010
6:47 pm
Burnett wrote in August this year (http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/does-the-university-of-587208.html):
“Cheers, Bulldogs!
Being named the No. 1 party school in the country is an accomplishment I know many of my fellow UGA students and I are proud of. After all, we made personal sacrifices – to the porcelain god – that made this title possible. But to parents of incoming Bulldogs, and parents who see college applications to UGA in their children’s futures: Fear not.
Just because students’ blood-alcohol content levels may be increasing, it doesn’t mean the high educational standards in Athens are decreasing. Interest in attending UGA continues to rise, and admission is becoming more competitive than ever. As UGA students, we know that attending this university comes with responsibility and a commitment to the education offered here. We know it’s more than just intensely competitive games of beer pong and nights bar hopping on Broad Street.”
JoeDawg115
November 29th, 2010
6:50 pm
Better link: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:cXLpdv9mrWkJ:www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/does-the-university-of-587208.html+%22Daniel+Burnett+%22+georgia&cd=22&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
cs
November 29th, 2010
6:50 pm
i imagine nothing ruins a good cocaine buzz than some drunk coming around.
missmollie
November 29th, 2010
6:58 pm
What happened at the tailgate parties???
Monglorp
November 29th, 2010
7:00 pm
“Neither Perdue nor Deal are drinkers.” If that is true, now we know what is wrong with the state government. And there is no hope for the future either!
SAR
November 29th, 2010
7:01 pm
UGA GAME and alcohol was there? NO!!!! Sounds more like some AJC Tech fans just want to find a negative on the Monday after that annual BEAT DOWN!
Alabama Communist
November 29th, 2010
7:04 pm
More Breaking News On Druken Big Time Meeting with the Governors…………..
The Kid editor was beated by both Republican Governors as soon as the Liberal Communist UGA president left his presidental Booth. The editor kid was than stuff in the private stadium elevator and was send down to the UGA team football water boy who waterboard him in the team locker room while UGA team remain on the field battling a terrible Tech team, thus no witness to the alledged crime by Republicans was recorded. However, The editor kid did resign from the school paper claiming he had a conflict of interest since he has become a young Republican after the meeting with both governors…
GT Photographer
November 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
Coming from a former GT newspaper editor, this is hilarious and valuable ammunition. No wonder their newspaper (and Walmart merch) can brainwash so many fans. BTW, be sure to read this year’s edition of “To Hell with Georgia” Technique!
Ringleader
November 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
Tell us who the no shows were in the Presidents box. There were 18 seats empty and unused the entire game. Who did Prez Adams invite that stiffed him, that is what I would like to know. He probably had a short fuse over that and took out his frustrations.
Inman Park Boy
November 29th, 2010
7:17 pm
Live and learn young man.
Tom
November 29th, 2010
7:19 pm
Why would Sonny care? Burnett’s booze was probably distributed by Perdues’ old frat buddy Don Leeburn. You know….the alcohol-peddling, adulterous, non-degreed blowhard Sonny somehow thinks is fit for the Board of Regents.
UGA Retiree
November 29th, 2010
7:36 pm
Hey, at least the kid wasn’t trying to buy booze on Sunday.
Dawgtards ruin this state
November 29th, 2010
7:44 pm
History lesson – Drunk dawgtards are funny for a minute, but still dawgtards ruin this state! Your degree means nothing and your football factory is lame. It’s time for thUGA to get a new identity. You’ll never be an academic place and sports don’t seem to be your thing either (atleast winning at sports). Try drama!
BG
November 29th, 2010
7:59 pm
People drink at college football games? Who knew??
Damon Evans
November 29th, 2010
8:00 pm
I sent him there to find my red panties…..but Sonny would not let them go…..
Courtney Fuhrman
November 29th, 2010
8:04 pm
I’ve found them, Damon, they are at my place come, on over and bring Sonny with you…..Nathan, just left….
RLM
November 29th, 2010
8:11 pm
Why is the City of Athens and Clarke county allowing all these bars to serve to minors? They make big money off of students. Why are we not providing ids that can not be forged by students and illegal voters, or workers.
RLM
November 29th, 2010
8:12 pm
This is not funny that so many of these students are not getting the education that their parents are paying for. They are just wasting there chances to excel.
Black Jack in a Dixie cup
November 29th, 2010
8:14 pm
“Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way too go through life, son.”
No, but it wasn’t bad for five years.