2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Vice president of SGA leaves office
Gibbons resigns after DUI arrest
MANDI WOODRUFF & CAROLYN CRIST
Issue date: 8/16/07 Section: News
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SGA Vice President Alison Gibbons resigned on Aug. 2 after police booked her for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Athens-Clarke County Police arrested Gibbons on July 21 at 2 a.m. after she entered Washington Avenue going the wrong way on the one-way street, according to the police report.
The following was taken from the ACC police report:
Police stopped Gibbons after she attempted to turn her 2005 Toyota 4-Runner to face the correct flow of traffic.
Gibbons was "glassy-eyed" and "unsteady on her feet," when she consented to a field sobriety test at the scene. She told the officer she drank one beer that evening. Gibbons' 0.174 blood alcohol content was more than double the legal limit of 0.08.
She was handcuffed and transported to the ACC Sheriff's Office where she was charged with DUI, underage possession of alcohol and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
Gibbons was released on bond after two hours in police custody, according to ACC Capt. Erik Pozen.
SGA President Katy Bowers said she thought Gibbons' decision to resign rather than allow her arrest to reflect negatively upon those she represented as vice president of the SGA was admirable.
"It was better for the student body," Bowers said. "We are lucky to have someone like her."
Bowers said she was confident that SGA's performance will not be hindered by Gibbons' resignation.
"We've been dealing with this over the summer, and we're ready to go," said Bowers.
Efforts to reach Gibbons were unsuccessful.
According to SGA's constitution, the president pro tempore will serve as vice president following Gibbons' resignation. Sara Andrzejewski, a third
year student from Lawrenceville, will become the permanent vice president pending a vote by SGA senators on Aug. 18.
Bowers said the decision to vote early ensures SGA will not lose time in working for the students.
Despite the circumstances of her appointment, Andrzejewski said she is prepared to assume responsibility as vice president of the student government.
"I'm really excited to fill the position," she said.
Andrzejewski formerly served as a senator for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Meanwhile, Gibbons, a junior from Irmo, S.C., could face probation and an alcohol program.
According to the University Judiciary Web site, a first time offender's case is brought before University Judiciary with the possibility of probation for the current semester and the two following, as well as mandatory alcohol awareness class. If multiple offenses exists then suspension is a probability.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Mable
posted 8/16/07 @ 1:07 PM EST
Who amongst us aint driv drunk from time to time? She aint no different from the rest of yall. Tell it like it is! Let he amongst yall without sin cast the first stone!
MC
posted 8/16/07 @ 11:44 PM EST
Mable, what should they have done then, let her drive on and get killed and kill other people?
Assuming she's guilty as charged, this wasn't a party stunt. (Continued…)
eric
posted 8/17/07 @ 12:17 PM EST
MC, you're correct. I don't believe, as mable does, that everyone has driven drunk. It is a senseless act that is irresponsible and reprehensible. Putting others' lives in danger like that, not to mention your own, is downright stupid. (Continued…)
SGA Member
posted 8/17/07 @ 7:13 PM EST
Eric,
Did you stop to think that maybe the Red & Black had not published earlier because they just found out? Reading about it in this article was the first time many active SGA members had heard of the story. (Continued…)
Loyal SGA Member
posted 8/18/07 @ 12:31 PM EST
SGA Member,
I seriously doubt that SGA was trying to cover this up. President Bowers made her statement for everyone to read. If the R&B didn't find out about this until weeks later, then they are at fault for shoddy reporting, though I doubt that this is the case, either. (Continued…)
SGA Member
posted 8/18/07 @ 1:56 PM EST
Where could one find this statement that President Bowers supposedly made?
eric
posted 8/19/07 @ 3:34 PM EST
With the zeal that the R&B uses in its reporting and researching for the Crime Watch on campus and around Athens, I seriously doubt they didn't know what was going on. (Continued…)
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