According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Mary Washington president, William J. Frawley was placed on paid leave April 12 after being arrested and charged with two counts of driving under the influence. The university, located in Fredericksburg, Va. appointed Richard Hurley as its acting president.
p. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Frawley was involved in a wreck somewhere in Northern Virginia in early April. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the first incident occurred Tuesday, Apr. 10 in Fairfax County, Va. Frawley was involved in a serious accident that overturned and totaled his car.
On the following day, official university statements said that a driver called police on Apr. 11 to report reckless driving.
p. According to the Times-Dispatch, Frawley was stopped in his driveway that afternoon. The arresting officer said that Frawley “appeared disoriented” and the front right tire of his vehicle was missing. When arrested, he was charged with driving under the influence and refusal of a breathalyzer test. After the arrest, he was taken to Mary Washington Hospital.
p. In a statement released on the university’s website, Frawley told the public that he had been released from the hospital Monday, April 9 after being examined for injuries and correction of a heart disorder. He stressed that the drunk driving arrests were “unusual” and “totally out of character.”
p. “I deeply apologize […] for any difficulties caused for the institution, the Board of Visitors or for the people and friends of UMW,” he said in the statement.
p. He also asked that the privacy of his family be respected in this time and thanked the university for its support.
p. J. William Poole, the university BOV’s rector, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he did not know whether the board would be able to solve everything prior to the university’s May 12 graduation.
p. “I really can’t predict that,” Poole told the Times-Dispatch. “I just don’t know.”
p. In a later statement, Poole thanked the Mary Washington community for their patience and hoped to have a decision sometime in the next week.
p. “We recognize the intense interest of the entire university community for more information, and we are grateful for the community’s patience,” his statement said.
p. Hurley, the acting president, is currently the Vice President for Administration, Finance and Legislative Affairs. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Hurley will be able to keep his position after the matter is resolved.