The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: News

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It's a book about backroom deals, money mismanagement and a supposed battle between athletics and academics. It's also a critical look at controversies that have surrounded the University and its president for more than 10 years.

"Behind the Hedges: Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia," a book by Rich Whitt that paints an unfavorable picture of University President Michael Adams, hits stores Monday.

Whitt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who covered state and local government at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before retiring in 2007, worked as a journalist for more than 30 years and was honored for his investigative reporting.

Though Whitt died of a heart attack in January, his words are highlighting controversies some students may have never heard about.

Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs, said the University has moved on from the issues discussed in the book.

"It's a retelling of one side of an old story - long since resolved," Jackson told The Red & Black in a phone interview Thursday. "The University has made great progress in the past decade under the leadership of President Adams."

In a March 26 e-mail obtained by The Red & Black from UGA Foundation Chairman Bill Young to Foundation trustees, Young said he was not informed the book was being written and was not contacted for comment.

"We continue to enjoy a very good relationship with the administration and will continue to focus on the foundation's primary mission, which is supporting and enhancing academics at the University of Georgia," Young wrote. "We will not let this book detract from that mission."

Young could not be reached for further comment Thursday.

Norman Fletcher, chairman of the Arch Foundation, wrote to trustees on March 27, explaining the University would not make "extensive comments" about the book.

"When UGA administrators originally were approached by the author, they declined to participate in interviews for the book after reaching the conclusion that the effort would not be objective," he wrote.

He expressed disappointment in someone "rehashing the issues."

"Both the Arch and UGA Foundations have the same goal - to look forward and do all we can to help the University advance academically and ultimately become the best state university it can be," he said. "I've talked with Young, we're looking ahead, and I regret that someone is bringing up stale news."

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