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.”

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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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