College president of the year arrested for DUI


Randolph Flechsig, president of Davenport University in Michigan has pleaded guilty to a DUI and refusing to take a breath test during his arrest. Davenport was declared the 'College President of the Year' in 2003. While a spokesperson first denied alcohol was the culprit (as opposed to a diabetic complication), he now admits to multiple Bloody Marys. Of course, he can claim that unlike a college president in Iowa recently, he did not have a picture taken pouring a beer keg in the mouth of a student.

Flechsig was arrested in the afternoon of Sept. 21. Two hours after the arrest showed Flechsig, 51, had a blood-alcohol content of .09 percent. In fairness to Flechsig, this is just over the .08 line. It does not take much to reach .08 ' though it was probably a bit higher two hour earlier.

The biggest problem for Flechsig with the board should be the statement that his representative released after his arrest. The Grand Rapids Press newspaper reported university spokeswoman Chris Ervin as saying that Flechsig 'believes his condition when arrested was the result of a diabetic reaction and blood tests will substantiate this.'

However, on Monday, he pleaded guilty and admitted to 'beer and some Bloody Marys' at home before his arrest. The judge delayed sentencing until Oct. 24 so as to review information that includes a letter from a motorist claiming that Flechsig was speeding in his Porsche and ran her vehicle off the road.

The Grand Rapids Press said that Flechsig likely would be fined, and have his driver's license suspended for six months. A restricted license to drive to work could be issued after 30 days. Davenport University has 13,000 students specializing in business. Flechsig makes more than $500,000 a year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.



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