ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602090063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press
The president of the College of William and Mary can serve sherry at staff meetings in his office, but the gatherings probably should be moved elsewhere, Virginia's education chief said Thursday.
The opinion by Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro said there's no violation in serving alcohol at the weekly discussions that have been held by William and Mary President Timothy J. Sullivan since he took office in 1992.
``It's now back to the budget,'' Sullivan said in a prepared statement. He did not return phone calls.
Last year, the state internal auditor asked Sullivan to stop serving sherry at the Friday sessions after receiving anonymous complaints that cited a state policy prohibiting alcohol in the workplace.
Sullivan responded by moving the gatherings from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the end of the workdaycq - MB. He also said the college would make sure that no one went back to work after drinking.
Sgro said state policy prohibits ``unlawful or unauthorized'' use of alcohol at work. But she said Sullivan, as president of the college and host of the meetings where the sherry is served, has the necessary authority.
``In his role as president of the college, it is within Mr. Sullivan's discretion and judgment to determine those college activities which warrant an `authorized' use of alcohol,'' she said.
However, the secretary went on to say that Sullivan should use ``sound judgment and common sense'' in exercising his discretion.
``While I personally would suggest that this activity might best be held in the president's house or another facility not closely related to the work environment, it is clearly within the purview of the president to make that determination,'' she said.
Sullivan's statement didn't indicate whether he planned to change the location of the meetings.
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