<p>"RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- The University of Mary Washington fired its president Monday after he was charged with drunken driving twice within two days.</p>
<p>The board of the 5,000-student public liberal arts school in Williamsburg said in a brief news release that it was in the university's best interest that William J. Frawley, 53, be terminated, effective immediately.</p>
<p>Frawley, 53, was placed on paid leave April 12, a day after he was charged in Fredericksburg. He also was charged in Fairfax County with drunken driving.</p>
<p>Frawley flipped his car in Fairfax on April 10 and left a hospital the next morning against medical advice, police said. A warrant was issued charging him with drunken driving.</p>
<p>I wonder what the full story is. Has he had problems before? What's changed?</p>
<p>Poor Mary Washington--he really did come at a very important juncture in the history of the college, as it moves from college to university and ramps up its fundraising efforts. I hope this won't throw too big of a wrench into the works.</p>
<p>You know this is just tragic. I was discussing this with a friend who is a loyal Mary Washington graduate and we wondered about brain tumors, strokes, or other illnesses that might explain such aberrant behavior.</p>
<p>I suppose they would not have terminated him so abruptly if the explanation could have been attributed to "other" causes besides garden variety alcoholism but goodness..how does one make it past the screenings to get a Presidency at age 50 without anyone on a search committee having a clue you are an alcoholic. My only friend who recently completed rehab after thirty years of drinking looked a total fright by his mid40s..teeth falling out, skin and bones, obviously drunk in the middle of the day, career at severe risk. It just seems odd that no one at the University of DE or his other former college would have tipped anyone off if he was an abusive drinker.</p>
<p>The real question is . . . was he fired, or was he allowed to resign? Oh, never mind. I see it said he was "fired." Hmm . . . he would have been better off just "misrepresenting" his degrees, or something, instead of driving drunk.</p>
<p>He has only been there a little over a year-
I know that screenings sometimes seem cursory.
For instance when Seattle was hiring a superintendent a few years ago- we had three final candidates who made it past all the prescreenings by the executive search firm.
However, this search firm apparently just checked police records and read their resumes ( often things don't show up in recommendations).</p>
<p>When the community however, began googling the names, and found that they were * paid* to leave their previous positions or otherwise left "under a cloud", they dropped out , one by one, after their past hit the front page.
The district then decided to hire the interim superintendent as supe.</p>
<p>I think Frawley has more important issues to take care than running an institution of higher learning. The university and the commonwealth are better served by his firing.</p>
<p>What would you expect of someone whose best friend practically lives in a night club? I just hope his bongos weren't ejected from the vehicle.</p>
<p>I know a young man who got in trouble for drinking his freshman year at Mary Washington and ultimately transferred out. He regrouped and is happily married, a dad and gainfully employed. Hope the same can be said of the Pres. in a couple years, when's he's had time to mature. Thank god there's no age limit for 'youthful indiscretion'.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how does one make it past the screenings to get a Presidency at age 50 without anyone on a search committee having a clue you are an alcoholic
[/quote]
Alcoholism can come in a number of shapes and sizes. I've also seen alcoholics who look like they've been rode hard and put up wet by age 40. But I've also seen alcoholics who, somehow, look no worst for wear and have been able to avoid legal problems, etc. </p>
<p>If you were to attend your local community's AA meetings you would be amazed at the diversity you find there.</p>
<p>As a fledgling (sober) writer, I am amazed at what alcoholics manage to accomplish. Writers as well as others. And, remarkably, some people's physiques look no worse for the wear.</p>
<p>My only friend who recently completed rehab after thirty years of drinking looked a total fright by his mid40s..teeth falling out, skin and bones, obviously drunk in the middle of the day, career at severe risk</p>
<p>how did ya'll know my friend was a writer. Such a cliche but true. Clean and sober for a good while now..
I am sure Suna and Iderochi are correct re AA meetings having members who still have little obvious signs in their appearance.<br>
It is bad when wishful thinking includes..maybe a brain tumor? huh.</p>