Franchot Goes Old School

Comptroller Peter Franchot went "Old School" on Towson University President Maravene Loeschke during a Wednesday meeting.

Literally.

Before calling for the resignation of Loeschke, the comptroller gave the Towson University president a political tongue lashing in absentia.

Then Franchot, the Amherst graduate, dropped in a pop culture reference comparing her to the Dean Gordon "Cheese" Pritchard, head of the fictional Harrison University in the movie "Old School."

Pritchard, played by Jeremy Piven, lies and schemes and connives to thwart a group of middle-age men who attempt to start their own fraternity.

In this case, Franchot was worked up over how Loeschke choose to tell students she was eliminating the men's baseball and soccer programs.

"At a moment that demanded true statesmanship, Dr. Loeschke instead adopted the tone and tactic of Dean Pritchard," Franchot said referring to the Towson University president's use of police officers when notifying students that their teams were being eliminated.

"The victim in this instance isn't "Frank the Tank" but a group of boys who brought great honor to Towson through their character and athletic prowess," Franchot said.

A spokeswoman for Loeschke did not directly react to the movie comparison.

"It's disappointing that Comptroller Franchot doesn't recognize that leaders must make tough decisions—and in this case one that addresses federal compliance and fiscal responsibility," Marina Cooper, deputy chief of staff to Loeschke, wrote in an email.