Georgia U President Quits Amid Athletic Controversy

University of Georgia President Fred Davison resigned today amid controversy over a $2.5-million jury award to an instructor who said she was fired for complaining about special treatment of athletes.

Davison, who has held his job since 1967, will leave the university July 1.

He announced his decision to his staff early this morning and then left the campus, officials said.

“He made the decision last night,” said Jane Kidd, spokeswoman for the university.

Davison met with Ralph Beaird, dean of the university law school, and other close associates Wednesday night to draft his letter of resignation.

One of the vice presidents Davison met with this morning was Virginia Trotter, one of two university officials a former professor charged with firing her after she complained about special treatment for athletes.

Jan Kemp, a former English coordinator for the remedial program, won a $2.57 million award against the university, Trotter and remedial program director Leroy Ervin in U.S. District Court last month. The jury ruled the firing violated her constitutional right of freedom of speech.

The University System Board of Regents met for nearly three hours Wednesday before deciding not to renew Davison’s contract pending the outcome of an investigation of the remedial program. The board reappointed all other university presidents in the state system.

Davison has told friends he felt he could no longer function effectively because of the regents’ refusal to grant him a new contract.