University chief blames DUI on Bloody Marys

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The president of Davenport University has pleaded guilty to a first-time drunken-driving charge and refusing to take a breath test during his arrest.

Randolph Flechsig, president of the school based in Grand Rapids, entered the plea Monday. He was not sentenced.

Grand Rapids police arrested him on the afternoon of Sept. 21. A blood sample obtained with a search warrant more than two hours after the arrest showed Flechsig, 51, had a blood-alcohol content of .09 percent, just above the legal limit of .08 percent.

Before his plea, the Grand Rapids Press newspaper reported university spokeswoman Chris Ervin has having said that Flechsig "believes his condition when arrested was the result of a diabetic reaction and blood tests will substantiate this."

But in court Monday, Flechsig revealed that he had been drinking "beer and some Bloody Marys" at home before his arrest.

Court records show that in exchange for the guilty plea, the city attorney was advising that Flechsig receive no jail time when sentenced.

Davenport University Randolph Flechsig

The judge delayed sentencing until Oct. 24 so as to review information that includes a letter from a motorist claiming that Flechsig was speeding in his Porsche and ran her vehicle off the road.

Flechsig, who in 2003 was named "College President of the Year" by the business honors society Alpha Beta Gamma, said he hopes to use his experience to educate students about the perils of drinking and driving.

The Grand Rapids Press said that Flechsig likely would be fined, and have his driver's license suspended for six months. A restricted license to drive to work could be issued after 30 days.

Davenport University has 13,000 students specializing in business. Flechsig makes more than $500,000 a year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

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