Leader of Evansville school had blood-alcohol level of 0.14 and has pleaded guilty

By Jeremy Herb
Posted: July 4, 2008

The president of the University of Evansville was arrested for driving while intoxicated Wednesday evening.

Stephen Jennings, who has been president since 2001 at the dry campus, was driving with a blood-alcohol content nearly twice the level at which a driver is considered intoxicated, according to a probable cause affidavit posted online by the Evansville Courier and Press.

Jennings said in a statement released by the university that he has enrolled in Vanderburgh County’s Drug and Alcohol Deferral Service program.

“I have obviously made a very serious mistake, and I apologize to the campus community and the community at large,” Jennings said in the statement. “I will take every necessary action to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Jennings pleaded guilty to two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated Thursday morning via video from the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to court records. He was allowed to enter the deferral program because it was his first offense.

If Jennings successfully completes the program, the charges against him will be dismissed.

The university’s board of trustees expressed support for Jennings in statement issued Thursday.

“The board feels he has done a wonderful job for this university and this community,” board Chairman Niel Ellerbrook said in the statement, “and it is our intention to do whatever is needed to help Steve.”

Jennings was spotted by police driving east on Lloyd Expressway in Evansville at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, weaving between lanes, driving into the median and nearly hitting construction barrels, the affidavit said.

Police stopped his 2006 white Toyota Avalon and “immediately smelled a very strong odor of alcohol beverages,” the affidavit said. Officers said he had “bloodshot and glassy eyes,” and his speech was slurred.

After failing field sobriety tests, police said, Jennings registered a 0.14 BAC level on a preliminary breath test.

At first, Jennings told police he had not been drinking; but after failing field sobriety tests, he said he had two beers, the affidavit said.

Jennings refused to take a certified chemical test after being booked at the Vanderburgh County Jail, the affidavit said. Because of his refusal, Jennings’ license will be suspended for one year, according to the court record.

His next court appearance will be Aug. 22.

Jennings has been president of three other universities since 1983: Oklahoma City University; Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa; and the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo., according to the University of Evansville Web site.

The University of Evansville is a private university affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university, which has 2,647 students, has a policy that bars the sale, possession or consumption of alcohol on campus, according to the Web site.

Source: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS02/807040424