New book examines power struggle at UGA

Athens — A new book scheduled to be released Tuesday in Atlanta paints a not-so-favorable picture of University of Georgia President Michael Adams and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

“Behind the Hedges: Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia,” written by the late Rich Whitt, a former Pulitzer Prize winner, examines the internal power struggle between Adams and athletics director Vince Dooley and how the controversy resulted in the split between the Board of Regents and the UGA Foundation.

By all accounts, Adams is made out to be the bad guy.

Adams has not read the book and declined to comment, university spokesman Tom Jackson said.

“The book is old news. It’s rehashing issues long since resolved,” Jackson said.

Dooley has read the book, but declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday.

“Adams doesn’t come out looking too good, but everybody looks complicit,” said Suzanne La Rosa, publisher of NewSouth Books of Montgomery.

“As a publisher I wanted a balanced account of the story and this is a solid work by Rich Whitt. What I love about it most is it’s not pointing fingers. It shows a collective failure on the part of the educational system and everyone is implicated, including the governor of the state of Georgia.”

A news conference to discuss the book will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, La Rosa said.

A limited number of copies will be available. Stores will offer the book starting April 6; it’s available online.