CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III says school leaders plan to speak with Gov. Bob McDonnell about passing a law requiring police departments to notify universities when a student is arrested.
Had the University of Virginia known that murder suspect George Huguely was arrested in Lexington, the student probably would have been told to meet with the dean of students office, school spokeswoman Carol Wood said.
Huguely might have faced mandatory substance-abuse counseling or referral to a U.Va. judiciary committee, she said.
Currently, some police departments call the university as a courtesy, but it is not mandatory.
"Strikes me as odd," Casteen said, "that the law does not require that kind of notification."
Top U.Va. officials said yesterday that they were unaware of Huguely's arrest in late 2008 in which he reportedly threatened the life of a Lexington police patrolwoman.
He pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk in public and resisting arrest. He received a suspended 60-day sentence, was fined $100, and had to perform community service and attend a substance-abuse program.
"Nothing was reported to me," said Craig Littlepage, U.Va.'s athletics director. Littlepage said U.Va. men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia also never was made aware of Huguely's arrest.
Dean of Students Allen Groves noted that Huguely never was reported to his office as a disciplinary problem and Love did not report any physical abuse or other concerns about Huguely to the university.
Casteen added that there is widespread concern at U.Va. about violence against women.
"We're going to press very hard that women who have been victims of abuse . . . will be more rigorously encouraged to report quickly and to the right person," he said.
The Washington Post reported yesterday that eight of the 41 players on the roster of the men's lacrosse team, including Huguely, have been charged with alcohol-related offenses during their careers at the school.
Some of the players were found not guilty; six were convicted or pleaded guilty. One served two days in jail with 88 suspended.
Asked at a news conference last night whether he was concerned about the charges, Littlepage said each of those incidents has been handled appropriately.
"I'm assured that those incidents that were brought into our pipeline were handled in a manner consistent with what our longstanding policies have been," he said.
U.Va.'s student-athletes are required to undergo random drug testing. Littlepage declined to say if Huguely ever failed a drug test, citing privacy rules.
At the news conference, Littlepage was asked how U.Va. made its decision for the men's and women's teams to play in the upcoming NCAA lacrosse tournaments. Littlepage said it was the consensus of the team members and their coaches.
Brian McNeill is a staff writer at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville.
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