Carlos Dunlap, Gators star defensive end, looks sad, resigned, and a little pathetic in a mug shot taken early Tuesday morning after police arrested him on one count of DUI.
His car sat idle through several traffic light cycles, and police say he appeared to be asleep when they approached.
Gators coach Urban Meyer, calling Dunlap’s actions “stunning,” announced that he will not play in this Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game.
This “very poor decision,” as Meyer described it, is all the more unfortunate given the string of UF notables recently arrested on DUI charges.
On Nov. 19, UF Homecoming Queen Kristen Gillis was pulled over at 2 a.m. after running two red lights. She was charged with DUI. Just four days later, an inebriated UF psychiatrist, Marcus Anderson, drove onto a sidewalk and hit a law student, attempting to flee the scene afterward. He was charged with driving drunk and failing to stop after hitting a pedestrian.
DUI charges may be nothing new for students or faculty, but three front-page incidents in two weeks is a problem.
We love our party school notoriety, but we love our academic distinctions, too — not to mention the safety of pedestrians and drivers.
Drunken drivers place all of these things in jeopardy, and ultimately, prominent figures like Dunlap and Gillis bear more responsibility than your average drunk, whether they think it’s fair or not.
Try to consider everything you and your fellow students stand to lose next time you get behind the wheel — whether you’re front-page material or not.
But especially if you are.
