Students: Punish Evans, but don't fire him

"Remember, when you drink and drive -- you lose."

These are the words of University of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans, broadcast every fall football Saturday to 90,000 fans prior to every game in Sanford Stadium.

But late Wednesday night, Evans was the one charged with drinking and driving.

He now joins the list of students and employees at UGA charged with DUI offenses -- something the university's administration has been trying to combat.

In a news conference Thursday evening, Evans offered an apology to the Bulldog Nation.

While there was no mention of a possible resignation, UGA President Michael Adams sent out a news release that stated, "I was notified of this matter while away on vacation and will reserve further action pending a full review by staff and legal counsel.”

But some students aren't so sure a DUI offense warrants a resignation or firing.

"I'd be very unhappy if he lost his job as athletic director because our overall success, especially with football, has been great under him," said Athens native and rising senior Sameer Vashisht.

But Vashisht still said he was "shocked and disappointed" with the news.

"I was surprised when I heard," said UGA rising senior Caleb King, who coincidentally has the same name as a UGA football player. "It's pretty hypocritical. Isn't he the guy who warns you to not drink and drive before every game?"

UGA has separate alcohol and drug policies for employees and students, and each has seen multiple changes over the past five years.

The biggest discrepancy is that employees are required to self-report any arrests, while students' arrests are often brought to the university's attention by police. Punishments, although subject to policies, are made on a case-by-case decision.

"While the student sanctions may be more explicit in terms of immediate consequences for defined offenses, there is a range of disciplinary actions available to supervisors, up to and including termination, to address conduct by employees of the University of Georgia," UGA spokesman Chuck Toney said.

As of September 2009, the latest employee misconduct policy states: "Employee misconduct related to alcohol or other drug abuse will not be tolerated. Violation of this policy will result in appropriate disciplinary sanctions, including but not limited to dismissal, demotion or suspension of employment and/or referral to the appropriate state agency for legal prosecution."

The last employee arrested for an alcohol-related offense was also involved in the Athletic Association. UGA's independent student newspaper The Red & Black reported assistant ticket manager Karen Melissa Warther was arrested for DUI and failure to maintain lane on March 28. According to UGA's athletic association Web site, Warther is still an employee of the university.

"I don't know if he should be fired, but he should definitely be reprimanded," King said. "He should be held to a higher standard than students."

Vashisht was even more forgiving. "[His arrest]  has started all of this Damon Evans bashing, and you know what? The guy made a mistake," he said.  "Even players are given multiple chances."

In April 2009, the university changed its alcohol policy for students, stating that they would no longer be suspended from school automatically for a second offense.

Though it doesn’t offer a “free pass” as Adams said, it does offer flexibility in how such cases are handled.

On June 21, UGA baseball player Brett DeLoach was arrested for several alcohol-related charges, including DUI.

In May 2008, right guard Clint Boling was arrested for a DUI charge and was subject to the same punishments as DeLoach.

As a university student, DeLoach is subject to the first alcohol offense policy, which states: "1st violation – For consumption, use, distribution, and possession of alcohol OR use, possession, distribution of other drugs – Alcohol and Other Drug awareness class and probation for twelve (12) months from the date of resolution."