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UMW fires Frawley

The BOV unanimously voted today to terminate William J. Frawley as UMW president effective immediately.

Date published: 4/30/2007

University of Mary Washington officials have fired President William Frawley.

The decision was announced this afternoon, after a nearly five-hour Board of Visitors meeting.

The board announced it had fired Frawley “with cause,” but did not elaborate other than to say recent events have reflected badly on the university.

"It's been very difficult," said BOV Rector Bill Poole. "This was a major decision and you don't do that lightly."

When asked why it took so long for a final decision, Poole said "we wanted to be as fair as we can ...we didn't want to rush to judgement."

Frawley was notified of the decision today through his attorney.

Frawley's status has been uncertain in the wake of two driving under the influence charges earlier this month.

He was charged with DUI in Fairfax County April 10 and in Fredericksburg the next day.

He flipped his car in Fairfax, police said, and left Inova Fairfax Hospital the morning of April 11 against medical advice. He was taken to Mary Washington Hospital after his Fredericksburg arrest and released five days later, officials said.

He faces court appearances in May and July.

Frawley was put on paid leave earlier this month. Rick Hurley, a vice president at UMW, is serving as acting president.

Frawley was inaugurated last year as the seventh president at UMW. VIDEO: Click here to see video from Frawley's inauguration.

The Board of Visitors voted last spring to hire Frawley for a term of five years.

PDF: Click here to read Frawley's entire contract, including details on his salary and terms for terminating the contract.

"We had three very strong candidates," then UMW Rector Mona Albertine said at the time, "but he had the overwhelming support of the board."

Frawley replaced outgoing president William Anderson, who led the public university in Fredericksburg for 23 years.

Frawley holds a doctorate in linguistics from Northwestern University and a master's in linguistics from Louisiana State University. He earned his bachelor's in English from Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University.


The following statement was issued this evening by the UMW Board of Visitors:

STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON BOARD OF VISITORS

April 30, 2007

After a great deal of deliberation and in recognition of our obligations to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Visitors of the University of Mary Washington has decided that it is in the best interests of the University and the University community that this Board terminate Dr. William J. Frawley from his employment with the University, for cause, effective immediately.



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Date published: 4/30/2007


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very sad (posted by theobc , Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)   
obviously this man has a problem. perhaps these events well be a turning point for him and he will be able to get whatever help he needs to turn his life around. p.s. perhaps now is not the time to kick a man when he is down.

? (posted by Aidia , Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)   
Maybe he was being Hazed by the lady's basketball team! They should make him write an essay about it as his punishment =D

Terminated by terms of the contract he signed (posted by Mary_White , Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)   
Dr,. Frawley signed an employment contract with the BOV and Foundation; he was terminated by the terms of this contract due to his behavior. Refusing to take a Breathalyzer, while a brilliant defensive legal maneuver, still begs the question--why not take it? His behavior reflected poorly upon the University and he was terminated "with cause" by a unanimous vote. The contract is available to read on-line. Personally, I am pleased the BOV decided to uphold the standards for everyone.

To Diceratops and With Cause (posted by MWC_Alum , Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)   
I'm sorry that your experience with President Anderson was not as positive as mine. I think he was a great man and was personally helpful to me. To With Cause, thank your for your post---it states it plain and simple. I am not that up on the law, I admit, but I like the way you explained it because regardless of the law, it was a violation, actually TWO violations of the contract, end of story. Thank you for the way you put it as it takes the legality out of it and puts logic in.

MaryWashAlumni clearing my statements (posted by MWC_Alum , Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)   
To Diceratops and ferraridriver, I do feel sorry for the man; I said that. But that doesn't mean he gets a free pass. Maybe if he had one DUI they could let it go, but two in 24 hours? Clearly he cannot put UMW first in that circumstance. He has a problem and needs it to come first. I'm sorry he lost his job, but those are the breaks. Accountability is key and this whole world is losing it everywhere I turn and I'm tired of it. I am proud of the way the Board handled it.

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