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UGA Panel to Get Adams Report

By KELLY SIMMONS
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

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ATHENS -- The University of Georgia Foundation's executive committee will meet today to hear the findings of a three-month review of UGA President Michael Adams' use of foundation money.

Lawyers and accountants who have reviewed the foundation's records will present their findings to the 10-member committee during a closed-door meeting, said Jack Rooker, chairman of the foundation's board of trustees. None of the findings will be disclosed to the public before the committee meets with the full board on Oct. 24, he said.

The meeting comes just four days after Adams reimbursed the foundation $10,000 for a commencement reception he threw at his university home in 2002 when his son David graduated from law school.

Adams denied that he had misused foundation money for the event, but said in a letter to Rooker that he wanted to "avoid any appearance of impropriety with regard to use of Foundation funds."

Rooker responded by letter to Adams on Monday, calling the president "a man of complete integrity," and offering a personal donation of $10,000 to the president's discretionary fund "for use in hosting events as you see fit."

Rooker said the contribution was in appreciation of the work Adams and his wife, Mary, have done for UGA. "He gave $10,000. I'm giving another $10,000," Rooker said. "I'm showing support."

The review was initiated by a small group of trustees in July, a month after Adams announced he would not extend Athletics Director Vince Dooley's contract beyond June 30, 2004. The trustees who called for the review deny that it is connected with the Dooley decision.

Among the spending decisions under review are the use of a chartered plane by Adams' office to carry UGA administrators to the inauguration of President Bush and Adams' role in the university's agreement to purchase land for a study-abroad program in Costa Rica.