Governor supports cutting off UGA's fund-raising group

<p>Gov. Sonny Perdue said Wednesday he supports the state Board of Regents' decision to end the University of Georgia's relationship with the fund-raising group that oversees the school's private contributions and academic scholarships.</p><p>"I believe this was a responsible action aimed at preserving the academic integrity of our flagship university as well as the University system as a whole. It is evident to me that the Regents felt that they had exhausted all other means of reconciling a situation that had become untenable," he said in a statement.</p><p>University President Michael Adams notified the UGA Foundation Tuesday that the school was severing ties with the not-for-profit cooperation that manages the endowment that supports UGA's academic programs, raises money and handles assets of nearly $400 million for the benefit of the university system's flagship school.</p><p>"I regret that such action has become necessary," Adams wrote in a letter to foundation chairwoman Lynda Courts.</p><p>The action came after more than a year of friction between the foundation and Adams after Adams decided not to extend athletic director Vince Dooley's contract.</p><p>Regent Joe Wooten said the Regents, foundation leaders and Adams will meet within the next couple of weeks to discuss how to assemble a replacement foundation. The setup is expected to be similar to the current organization, which could disband after it gets 90 days notice.</p><p>He hinted that some current foundation trustees could be members of the new organization.</p><p>"I don't think that the fact that someone is on the UGA Foundation now would be an absolute bar to them serving on a new foundation," said Wooten, who handled interview requests Wednesday because Chancellor Tom Meredith was traveling.</p><p>Wooten said the regents will work with the foundation to make sure scholarships, money for faculty travel and endowments and other financial obligations continue smoothly and seamlessly.</p><p>The regents considered other options and sought input from Adams and foundation trustees about the lack of cooperation between the foundation and UGA before deciding "we needed to take this step to put the unrest and dissension at an end," Wooten said.</p><p>"It's been about a year that we've had fairly, fairly constant turmoil," he said.</p><p>Last October, the foundation issued an audit that found wrongdoing with the foundation and Adams. Some of the foundation's members also made an unsuccessful attempt to take a "no confidence" vote for Adams.</p><p>But the regents, who oversee the state's 34 public colleges and universities, supported Adams. The foundation also considered cutting the amount it contributes to Adams' salary.</p><p>The foundation was meeting in Sea Island Wednesday for a previously planned three-day retreat.</p><p>Sen. Zell Miller, a former Georgia governor who graduated and taught at UGA, said he also agreed with the regents' decision to break UGA's ties with the foundation, which had some members openly criticizing Adams.</p><p>"They are right. It has gone on too long and needed to be brought to a conclusion," he said. "The future of the University of Georgia is more important than any individual or group of individuals and I believe that the Board of Regents has taken the right position."</p><p>As to the impact on contributions to UGA, that's "absolutely a concern," Wooten said. "But we thought about this long and hard and finally decided that our primary concern was the long-term well-being of UGA. The new foundation will be stronger."</p><p>___</p><p>AP Political Writer Dick Pettys in Atlanta contributed to this report.</p>