Behind the Hedges Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia [Paperback]

In Behind the Hedges, journalist Rich Whitt focused his investigative lens on recent events at the University of Georgia, and in so doing examined the bigger story of a sea change in how America supports its institutions of higher education. Through interviews with many key figures in a struggle for power at UGA over the last decade, Rich examines the controversial tenure of Michael Adams as UGA president, and how this controversy led to the unprecedented split between the Board of Regents and the UGA Foundation, with implications for the landscape of higher education funding nationwide. In Behind the Hedges, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rich Whitt shines much-needed light into the dark corners of a controversy that was too easily misunderstood from a distance. Imperial presidencies are never attractive and rarely successful over the long haul. Preoccupation with power, perks, and petty politics weakens the glue of trust necessary to bind highly educated, independent-minded scholars together with others in the common cause of excellence. And, if a university is lucky enough to have a Vince Dooley or a Mike Krzyzewski running athletics, there need be no trade-off between academic and athletic excellence. There is enough glory in Old Georgia for all. B.B.A. and Ph.D., University of Georgia; former president, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; former chancellor, Texas A&M University System
This authoritative tale of colorful characters thrashing about in a tangled web of compromised moral principles should be required reading for everyone in higher education. Behind the Hedges is a clear demonstration that within our universities, the highest ethical precepts should be the foundation of both good politics and effective leadership. Sheldon Hackney, historian; former provost, Princeton University; former president, the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane University; former chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities
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