Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.
A quorum being present the proceedings were opened with a devotion by the Chaplain as follows:
Beloved, hear words from the Gospel of St. Mark (1:14-15):
"Now after that John was put in prison,
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying,
'The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom
of God is at hand:
Repent ye, and believe the gospel'."
Let us pray.
O God our eternal Father, the Creator of the universe, the Sovereign of TIME and ETERNITY, the glory of whose face the Hebrew children called the "Shikeena" is hid beyond the vision of finite man, and who, on Maundy Thursday, in the long ago, shared the Last Supper with the disciples.
Help us to understand that the Kingdom of God in this world becomes a matter of our proper relationship to the King, which issues into a proper and right relationship with each other.
Enrich our relationship with Thee by faith that we may come into a richer relationship with our fellow creatures in love... service... and brotherhood.
Make us instruments of Your Redemptive Spirit.
Amen.
Senator GIESE made the point that a quorum was not present. It was ascertained that a quorum was not present.
Senator GIESE moved that a call of the Senate be made. The following Senators answered the call:
Bryan Courson Drummond Fielding Giese Gilbert Hayes Helmly Hinds Hinson Holland Land Leatherman Lee Lindsay Macaulay Martschink Matthews McConnell McGill McLeod Mitchell Moore Mullinax O'Dell Passailaigue Patterson Peeler Pope Rose Russell Saleeby Setzler Shealy Smith, J.V. Smith, N.W. Stilwell Thomas Waddell Williams Wilson
The Senate resumed.
The PRESIDENT called for Petitions, Memorials, Presentments of Grand Juries and such like papers.
April 11, 1990
Mr. President and Members of the Senate:
I am transmitting herewith an appointment for confirmation. This appointment is made with the "advice and consent of the Senate," and is, therefore, submitted for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Appointment, South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission, At-Large, with term to expire June 30, 1996:
Mr. David William Huffstetler, 605 Sherry Drive, Anderson, S.C. 29621 VICE Mr. Holmes Dreher
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
April 12, 1990
MEMORANDUM TO: Clerk of the Senate
Clerk of the House
RE: Transcripts of Hearings
In compliance with the provisions of Act 119 of 1975, it is respectfully requested that the following information be printed in the Journals of the Senate and the House.
Respectfully submitted,
Eugene C. Stoddard
Chairman
Pursuant to Act 119 of 1975, the Committee to Screen Candidates for Boards of Trustees of State Colleges and Universities was convened to consider the qualifications of candidates seeking to fill certain positions on boards of trustees of the state's colleges and universities. The Committee conducts such investigation of each candidate as it deems appropriate and reports its findings to the General Assembly prior to the election. It is not the function of the Committee to recommend one candidate over another or to suggest to the individual legislator for whom to vote. Our role is instead that of determining whether a candidate is qualified and under the statute our determination in that regard is not binding upon the General Assembly.
Ninety-three candidates who were under consideration at the time of the hearings are discussed in this report. Some candidates, including some who were present at the screenings and testified under oath, subsequently withdrew their candidacy. Their names will not appear except in the verbatim transcript and they are not included in the committee's findings of fact.
The candidates are:
THE CITADEL (Two seats, at-large,six year terms)
Marie D. Frazer
*Leonard C. Fulghum
James M. Leland, Jr.
David B. Summer, Jr.
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (Three seats, at-large, four year terms)
Melvin E. Barnette
Darra Williamson Cothran
R. Thomas Crawford
J.T. Day
William A. Hudson
Harold D. Kingsmore
William J. Neely, Jr.
John W. "Bill" Riser
Joseph D. Swann
WINTHROP COLLEGE (Three seats, at-large, six year terms)
Robert S. Bullard
Ernest B. Carnes
*Andrew Crane
Charles B. Hill
** Michael R. Huggins
Jennings K. Owens, Jr.
Jane C. Shuler
Caldwell Edgar Spencer
David A. White
S.C. STATE COLLEGE (One seat, at-large, six year term)
Samuel Alston
Fred Broughton
Joseph R. Douglas
Samuel F. Lyons
Roger D. Scott
THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (Three health professional seats--one each from 1st, 2nd and 3rd congressional districts; Three lay seats--one each from 4th, 5th, and 6th congressional districts, all four year terms; One lay seat--from 3rd congressional district to fill unexpired term ending in 1992)
Regular Term
*Harrison L. Peeples, MD (health prof., 1st)
*Thomas C. Rowland, Jr., MD (health prof., 2nd)
*Stanley C. Baker, Jr., MD (health prof., 3rd)
*Herbert C. Granger (lay seat, 4th)
*Robert C. Lake, Jr. (lay seat, 5th)
H. Theron Few (lay seat, 6th)
*Phillip D. Sasser (lay seat, 6th)
Unexpired Term
W. C. Lauderdale (lay seat, 3rd)
Jack F. McIntosh (lay seat, 3rd)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (Eight seats--one each from the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th judicial circuits, four year terms)
*Othniel H. Wienges, Jr. (1st)
A. S. Bahnmuller (3rd)
*Samuel A. Benson (3rd)
Elizabeth B. Scruggs (3rd)
Francis T. Buraczynski (5th)
Vincent J. Degenhart, MD (5th)
*William C. Hubbard (5th)
Miriam T. Mitchell (5th)
Eric L. Robinson (5th)
*Louis C. Sossamon (7th)
Donald A. Bailey (9th)
*R. Markley Dennis, Sr. (9th)
*Michael J. Mungo (11th)
*C. Edward Floyd, MD (12th)
Eugene C. Covington, Jr. (13th)
Mack Whittle, Jr. (13th)
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (Six seats--one from each congressional district; Two seats--at large, all four year terms)
*Dr. Gordan B. Stine (1st)
*Joe E. Berry, Jr. (2nd)
# Charles B. Douglas (2nd)
*Thomas W. Weeks (3rd)
*Robert S. Small (4th)
*F. Creighton McMaster (5th)
*James David Watson (6th)
*Alton E. Jones (At Large Seat 13)
Rose D. Stuart (At Large Seat 13)
Chadbourne Bolles, Jr. (At Large Seat 15)
John F. Clark, III (At Large Seat 15)
A. R. Johnston, Jr. (At Large Seat 15)
Robert F. Livingston (At Large Seat 15)
Lawrence E. McNair, Sr. (At Large Seat 15)
FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE (Six seats--one from each congressional district; Two seats--at large, all four year terms)
***Howard G. Lundy, Jr. (1st)
*Earl E. McLeod, Jr. (2nd)
*Gail Ness Richardson (3rd)
***Ellen Carter Watson (4th)
*Edward S. Ervin III (5th)
*Peter D. Hyman (6th)
Rebecca A. Pittman (6th)
Lu Ann Chandler Brannigan (At Large Seat 13)
Dianne H. Brown (At Large Seat 13)
# Terry Brown (At Large Seat 13)
*Allard A. Allston (At Large Seat 15)
M. Glenn Odom (At Large Seat 15)
LANDER COLLEGE (Six seats--one from each congressional district; Two seats--at large, all four year terms; one seat from 4th congressional district to fill unexpired term ending in 1992)
Regular Term
*Thomas L. Hansen (1st)
Bobby M. Bowers (2nd)
James L. Telfer (2nd)
Timothy R. Walker (2nd)
*Martha W. Barnette (3rd)
*Martha S. Whitener (4th)
*Jack H. Boger (5th)
*Dr. Glenn Lawhon (6th)
Estelle Murray Mauldin (At Large Seat 13)
# Michael A. Nashleanas (At Large Seat 13)
Elaine M. Smith (At Large Seat 13)
George R. Starnes III (At Large Seat 13)
B.A. Wentz (At Large Seat 13)
*John E. Johnston (At Large Seat 15)
Unexpired Term
J. W. Gregory (4th)
* INCUMBENT
** NO RECOMMENDATION FOR LACK OF APPEARANCE
# UNFAVORABLE REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME WE WILL COMMENCE. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU ALL STAND AND OUR COURT REPORTER WILL SWEAR YOU IN IN BLANK.
(ALL THOSE PRESENT AS CANDIDATES FOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE DULY SWORN).
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MR. MARTIN?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE UNOPPOSED, I WOULD MOVE THAT THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES THAT ARE HERE FOR SCREENING BE WAIVED.
SENATOR GIESE: I SECOND.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED THAT THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES FOR SCREENING BE WAIVED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY "AYE".
(ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS RESPOND AFFIRMATIVELY).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OPPOSED, "NO".
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THE "AYES" HAVE IT. LET'S SEE, OUR UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES, DR. PEEPLES, DR. ROWLAND AND DR. BAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND?
(THE AFOREMENTIONED CANDIDATES RISE).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NICE TO HAVE HAD YOU BEFORE US AND YOU ARE COMMENDED FOR BEING SO LUCKY. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
(THE AFOREMENTIONED CANDIDATES EXIT HEARING ROOM).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: FIRST WE WILL START WITH THE CITADEL CANDIDATES. MARIE D. FRAZER?
(MARIE D. FRAZER, CANDIDATE FOR THE CITADEL SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD:
Q. RAISE THAT MIKE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, MA'AM. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS, MS. FRAZER. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR, NONE THAT I KNOW OF.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I'M AN APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT BUT IN A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOULD POSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
Q. WITHOUT COUNSEL, I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD, MA'AM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A CONFLICT. IF WE LEARN THAT IT IS, WE'LL ADVISE YOU OF SUCH.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR WILSON: I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR WILSON.
Q. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STATEMENT YOU PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED US. IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (T0 MS. FRAZER) THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. LEONARD FULGHUM?
(LEONARD C. FULGHUM, CANDIDATE FOR THE CITADEL SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. FULGHUM, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, MR. CHAIRMAN.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
Q. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU SERVED ON THE CITADEL BOARD?
A. SIR, I'M JUST COMPLETING MY FIRST TERM AS A LEGISLATIVE APPOINTEE WHICH IS A SIX YEAR TERM. THEN I WAS OFF A YEAR AND THEN PRIOR TO THAT, I SERVED AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I AM NOW COMPLETING MY FIRST TERM AS A LEGISLATIVE APPOINTEE, THOUGH.
Q. HOW MANY YEARS IS THE APPOINTMENT?
A. IT'S A TOTAL OF SIX, SO I WAS ON FOR SIX, OFF FOR ONE AND THEN BACK FOR SIX.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. FULGHUM) THANK YOU, SIR. MR. JAMES M. LELAND, JR.?
(JAMES M. LELAND, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE CITADEL SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. LELAND, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. LELAND) THANK YOU, SIR. MR. DAVID B. SUMMER, JR.?
(DAVID B. SUMMER, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE CITADEL SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
Q. MR. SUMMER, YOU HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUME AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOT ONLY WHILE AT THE CITADEL, BUT AFTER. IF YOU COULD, JUST IN A FEW BRIEF WORDS, TELL ME OF YOUR INTEREST IN BEING ON THE BOARD.
A. WELL, SENATOR, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT ANY SUCCESS THAT I'VE HAD IN LIFE IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EDUCATION I RECEIVED AT THE CITADEL. I ALSO SEE THAT SCHOOL RIGHT NOW AS BEING, I CONSIDER, AT THE THRESHOLD OF GAINING NATIONAL RECOGNITION ACADEMICALLY. I'D VERY MUCH LIKE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND HELP THE CITADEL ACHIEVE WHAT I THINK EVENTUALLY WILL BE NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE.
Q. WHAT YEAR DID YOU GRADUATE?
A. I FINISHED IN 1981.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. SUMMER) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT COMPLETES THE CITADEL CANDIDATES, THE FOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE TWO SEATS. MR. HURTEAU WITHDREW ON THE 5TH OF THE MONTH. IF YOU DESIRE, YOU MAY LEAVE AT THIS TIME, THOSE CITADEL CANDIDATES.
(CITADEL CANDIDATES EXIT HEARING ROOM).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THE ELECTION IS TENTATIVELY SET FOR THE 18TH, NOW, OF NEXT MONTH. CLEMSON UNIVERSITY IS NEXT. FIRST WE HAVE MR. MELVIN E. BARNETTE.
(MELVIN E. BARNETTE, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. BARNETTE, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT THAT I KNOW OF, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. BARNETTE) THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE MS. DARRA COTHRAN.
(DARRA WILLIAMSON COTHRAN, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. COTHRAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I AM AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE RICHLAND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO RESIGN IN THE EVENT I AM ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Q. I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING.
A. ALL RIGHT, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
Q. YOU'D PROBABLY BE HAPPY TO RESIGN.
A. THAT IS A DANGEROUS JOB.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH.
Q. JUST FOR INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED AT SOME POINT ABOUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP ON THAT SPECIFIC PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE UNIVERSITY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT ABOUT THAT?
A. THE GENTLEMAN WHO TALKED TO MR. STODDARD HAS ALSO TALKED TO ME, AND CALLED ME FOUR TIMES YESTERDAY AND HAS DECIDED THAT HE THINKS I WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE. HE APPARENTLY ATTEMPTED TO CALL MS. TURNIPSEED.
Q. WELL, I JUST FELT LIKE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.
A. CERTAINLY, I AGREE COMPLETELY, AND I DID SEND A LETTER IN CLARIFYING THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
SENATOR GIESE: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. I ATTENDED THAT MEETING AND I WOULD CERTAINLY SAY THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT MS. COTHRAN DID THAT WASN'T TO HAVE BEEN EXPECTED, CERTAINLY, OF A MEMBER OF THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE, AND I WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY SAY THAT I THINK THAT SHE SHOULDN'T IN ANY WAY BE PENALIZED FOR EXERCISING THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WAS ENTRUSTED TO HER.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BUT THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT IN WRITING AND IT'S ON ITS WAY. THANK YOU, MS. COTHRAN.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: LET ME ASK THIS ONE QUESTION. SHE SAID THAT IF ELECTED, SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO RESIGN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
Q. BUT WILL YOU RESIGN?
A. ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT QUESTION.
Q. FINE.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
Q. ONE OTHER QUESTION. WOULD YOU TELL ME WHY YOU HAVE OFFERED FOR THE BOARD?
A. I THINK I EXPRESSED IN MY STATEMENT WHICH I PRESENTED AS PREPARED TESTIMONY THAT CLEMSON IS BECOMING A UNIVERSITY WITH INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. WE HAVE RECEIVED MORE GRANT MONEY IN THE PAST YEAR THAN IN THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS. WE ARE ALSO ENTERING A GLOBAL SOCIETY. I HAVE ACHIEVED A LOT IN MY LIFETIME, AND THOSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BACK TO CLEMSON SOME OF THE HERITAGE, AND THE EDUCATION AND THE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WHICH IT HAS GIVEN ME. AND I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. THE FACULTY, THE STUDENTS AND THE ALUMNI NEED TO BE REPRESENTED, NO MATTER WHAT SEX, WHAT RELIGION OR WHAT RACE. AND I HOPE THAT I COULD SERVE MY UNIVERSITY THE WAY IT HAS SERVED ME.
Q. DO YOU THINK YOUR PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE UNIQUE?
A. I WOULD HOPE SO. WE ALL LIKE TO CONSIDER OURSELVES A BIT UNIQUE. I'M AN ATTORNEY; WE DO NOT HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON THE BOARD. I'M ALSO A BANKER, AND I HOPE THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, AS WELL AS BEING A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER OF CLEMSON, AS OPPOSED TO BEING A SON OF CLEMSON, WOULD GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT WHICH WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE UNIVERSITY AS WE MOVE INTO A NEW DECADE AND INTO THE GLOBAL SOCIETY.
Q. DO WE HAVE ROUGHLY 30 OR 40% OF CLEMSON YOUNG LADIES -- IS THERE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF FEMALES?
A. NO, SIR, AND 44% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION ARE WOMEN, BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, A WOMAN ON THE BOARD.
Q. THANK YOU.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. THOMAS CRAWFORD?
(R. THOMAS CRAWFORD, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. CRAWFORD, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: GENTLEMEN AND LADY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH?
Q. I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS INFORMATION. WE'VE ALL RECEIVED LETTERS FROM EACH OF YOU WHO ARE RUNNING, BUT IS THERE ANY COMMENT THAT YOU WOULD MAKE AS TO WHY -- WHY IS IT THAT YOU FEEL YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FOR TRUSTEE FOR CLEMSON UNIVERSITY?
A. I'M A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. I'VE BEEN HERE JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
Q. I REALIZE THAT.
A. I'M A BANKER, AND AS A BANKER I HAVE ALWAYS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND IN TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT IT HAS GIVEN TO ME. I DO EXPECT TO MAKE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA MY HOME. WE ENJOY IT HERE VERY MUCH. WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF THE NEED FOR TRUSTEES AT THE UNIVERSITY, I FELT THAT WAS A PLACE THAT I COULD SERVE EFFECTIVELY.
Q. VERY GOOD.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. CRAWFORD) THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE J. T. DAY.
(J. T. DAY, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. DAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN?
SENATOR SMITH: I JUST FEEL LIKE THESE POSITIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I REALIZE WE HAVE A LOT TO GO THROUGH, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE DIRECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS DETERMINED BY THE POLICIES SET BY THE TRUSTEES.
Q. AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU, MR. DAY, JUST WITH YOUR EXPERTISE HERE - I SEE YOU'RE A GRADUATE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING - WHAT DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU COULD ADD AS A DIMENSION TO THAT BOARD AND WHAT DIRECTION WOULD YOU BE SORT OF CONCENTRATING YOUR EFFORTS IN?
A. OKAY, I GOT MY DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING WHICH IS A FINE PROFESSION. I GOT MY LICENSE IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING. THE SHIPYARD I JUST RETIRED FROM IS THE LARGEST SINGLE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYER IN THIS STATE. IT'S INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR REACTORS. GUIDED MISSILES ARE THE MOST COMPLEX THINGS EVER BUILT BY MAN. IT'S MORE COMPLEX -- A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THE SPACE PROGRAM. WE'VE GOT THE SPACE PROGRAM ON A SUBMARINE. ANYHOW, WHEN I FIRST GOT STARTED ON A SHIPYARD, ADMIRAL RICKOVER, THE FATHER OF THE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE, SELECTED MYSELF AND FOUR OTHER GUYS WHO STARTED THAT NUCLEAR PROGRAM. MY THING WAS TO DEVELOP THE NUCLEAR REACTOR'S REFUELING CAPABILITY. I MEAN, A SUBMARINE'S NUCLEAR REACTOR HAD NEVER BEEN REFUELED AT A SHIPYARD. NOW, MY JOB WAS TO FIND OUT HOW TO REFUEL IT, DEVELOP THE FACILITIES, TRAIN THE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE ALL THE TECHNICAL DIRECTION TO DO THAT, AND I DID THAT. AFTER THE FIRST FOUR NUCLEAR SUBMARINES, THEN I WENT INTO THE -- I WAS THE NUCLEAR PRODUCTION MANAGER. I HAD 1500 NUCLEAR ARTISANS THAT WORKED FOR ME. THE SHIPYARD'S GOT 8,700 EMPLOYEES. NOW, YOU'RE TALKING A HIGH TECH TYPE INDUSTRY, NOW, THE THINGS WE DEAL WITH THERE. ANYHOW, I DID THAT FOR A FEW YEARS, WORKING ON THE PRODUCTION SIDE. AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING WHICH IS -- HE PROVIDES A BROAD OVERSIGHT, AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE OPERATION AS THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SHIPYARD COMMANDER. I'VE DEALT WITH THE HIGHEST OFFICIALS IN THE NAVY, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, YOUR UNDERSECRETARIES. I DEALT VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, OUR TWO SENATORS AND OUR SIX CONGRESSMEN, ON A DAILY BASIS ALMOST. IN ADDITION TO THAT, MY JOB HERE, DOING THESE THINGS, PROFESSIONALLY, NOW, I'VE WORKED PROFESSIONALLY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. I WAS ON THE BOARD THERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THEIR GRADUATE SCHOOL. THE SAME THING WITH THE CITADEL. I'M ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE CITADEL FOR THEIR GRADUATE SCHOOL, BOARD OF VISITORS AT CLEMSON. PRESENTLY I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT CLEMSON AND AM ON THE CITADEL CIVIL ENGINEERING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I'VE WORKED WITH -- I WAS ON COMMITTEE WITH ALL THE EDUCATIONAL AREAS THERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY, THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, THE CITADEL, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, BAPTIST COLLEGE AND THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. A NATIONAL OFFICE -- GOING BACK TO MY CAREER, I WAS THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAL CIVILIAN MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION. THESE ARE THE SENIOR CIVILIANS, NOW, THAT RUN THESE HUGE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES FOR THE NAVY, THE NAVAL SHIPYARDS, NAVAL AIR RE-WORK FACILITIES.
Q. JUST LET ME ASK THIS. WITH ALL OF THIS BACKGROUND, WHICH IS CERTAINLY IMPRESSIVE, DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT WOULD BENEFIT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY IN SOME PARTICULAR WAY?
A. IT CERTAINLY WOULD. IT WOULD BENEFIT ANYBODY.
Q. ALL RIGHT.
Q. WOULD YOU TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF OUTSIDE RESPONSIBILITIES YOU WOULD HAVE? ARE YOU RETIRED?
A. JUST RETIRED JUST RECENTLY.
Q. ARE YOU PLANNING SOME OTHER FORM OF ENTERPRISE?
A. WELL, RIGHT NOW I'M PLANNING ON BEING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT CLEMSON, BUT, ANYHOW, WITH MY BACKGROUND WHICH I JUST WENT OVER ROUGHLY WITH YOU HERE - AND YOU'VE GOT A COPY OF IT IN FRONT OF YOU - A LOT OF CONSULTANTS -- WELL, NOT A LOT, BUT SEVERAL HAVE OFFERED ME DOING CONSULTANT WORK AND I'M SURE I'LL BE DOING THAT AS SOON AS MY WIFE GETS OFF MY BACK AND LETS ME RETIRE, AS SOON AS I TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. BUT I WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE DOING SOME CONSULTING WITH THE MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING TYPE -- THAT AREA. I'M ONLY 55 YEARS OLD, SO I'VE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
Q. I WOULD ASSUME, THEN, THAT THAT WOULD KEEP YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE HIGH TECH AND THE DEMANDS AND SOME OF THE RESULTS OF YOUR ENGINEERING COLLEAGUES.
A. THAT'S RIGHT. ANOTHER THING, THIS RAMP PROJECT WHICH I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE DEALT WITH, THE RAPID ACQUISITION OF MANUFACTURED PARTS, WITH DR. HENDERSON -- DR. HENDERSON, AND MYSELF, AND THE NAVY, AND SENATOR THURMOND, AND SENATOR HOLLINGS AND THE GOVERNOR -- I WAS IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITH THE RAMP PROJECT WHICH IS HIGH TECHNOLOGY MAKING SMALL, HARD-TO-GET PARTS FOR THE NAVY. OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS FOR THE ENTIRE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, SO I'M STILL REALLY CLOSE TO THAT.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. DAY) THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE MR. WILLIAM HUDSON.
(WILLIAM A. HUDSON, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. HUDSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: LADY AND GENTLEMEN, ANY QUESTIONS? SENATOR GIESE?
Q. WELL, I REMEMBER YOU VERY UNPLEASANTLY, MR. HUDSON.
A. THE GOOD GUYS WON LAST NIGHT, COACH.
Q. AS A TACKLE, YOU USED TO WRECK OUR PLAYS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WHEN I WAS COACHING THERE, AND I'VE FOLLOWED YOUR CAREER. IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN AN OUTSTANDING ONE. WHAT WOULD YOUR REASON BE FOR WANTING TO SERVE ON THE CLEMSON BOARD?
A. I THINK AS THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE BOYS, FOUR ATTENDED CLEMSON, MY SON, MY DAUGHTER -- I THINK THAT PROVES OUR INVOLVEMENT AND LOVE FOR CLEMSON. AS THE FOUNDER OF A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST, I THINK I'VE LEARNED THE VALUE OF A QUALITY EDUCATION. AND FOR THOSE REASONS AND WHAT I THINK I CAN LEND TO THE UNIVERSITY -- I THINK THE GOAL OF THE BOARD IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY PERSONNEL AND SOUND BUSINESS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY FUNDS AND TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE. I'D LIKE TO SEE CLEMSON PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION AND STAY AFFORDABLE FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STATE.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH?
Q. MR. HUDSON, I NOTICE YOU HAVE A B.S. IN EDUCATION. DID YOU -- HAVE YOU BEEN IDENTIFIED -- THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OF COURSE, IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF CLEMSON IN PROVIDING US WITH TEACHERS FOR OUR SCHOOLS. HAVE YOU HAD SOME ASSOCIATION IN PROMOTING OR WORKING WITH SCHOOLS?
A. NONE. IN THE EARLY DAYS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW THE COACHING/TEACHING PROFESSION, AND AFTER GETTING INTO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS I SEEMED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. I AM PRESENTLY---
Q. WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, THOUGH, YOU'VE HAD YOUR OWN COMING THROUGH, AS I SEE?
A. RIGHT.
Q. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KEEP ASKING BECAUSE AS A TRUSTEE OF CLEMSON, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT IF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS WE SAY IT IS, THEN ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE CONSTANTLY NEED TO LOOK AT AND UPGRADE IS THAT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. HUDSON) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: HAROLD D. KINGSMORE?
(HAROLD D. KINGSMORE, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. KINGSMORE, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: I'M ASKING THE SAME QUESTION.
Q. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL YOU WOULD CONTRIBUTE AND WHY IT IS THAT YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FOR THIS BOARD.
A. WELL, FORTUNATELY AND THANKS TO CLEMSON IN MANY WAYS FOR MY EDUCATION, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOUR MAJOR COMPANIES, TWO OF WHICH ARE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, WITH AS MANY AS 20,000 EMPLOYEES IN ONE COMPANY. ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN BUDGETING, STRATEGIC PLANNING, COST REDUCTIONS, MANUFACTURING, MARKETING AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT CERTAINLY A STRONG BUSINESS BACKGROUND COULD BE APPLICABLE TO THE EDUCATION PROCESS AS WELL, AND I THINK WE COULD CERTAINLY BRING THAT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I, TOO, HAVE A CLEMSON FAMILY. I HAVE TWO SONS WHO GRADUATED THERE, AND ONE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND A WIFE WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE AN HONORARY DEGREE FROM THERE. BUT I SERVE ON THE SIRRINE FOUNDATION AT CLEMSON. I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTE OF TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. AND WHILE SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID I'M THE TEXTILE CANDIDATE, I'M REALLY NOT. I'M OUT OF THE TEXTILE BUSINESS, BUT THERE'S NO DENYING THAT TEXTILES PLAY A MAJOR PART IN EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH 54% OF OUR JOBS AND TAXPAYERS. CLEMSON PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE EDUCATION OF TEXTILE PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY OUR FUTURE IN TEXTILES TO A LARGE EXTENT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY.
Q. I'D LIKE TO ASK WHY DO YOU THINK WE HAVE THIS CONCENTRATION OF TEXTILE INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
A. WELL, I CAN TESTIFY FIRST HAND TO THAT. MY GRANDFATHER WAS OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND HE WAS A BOUNTY HUNTER OF SORTS. AND WHEN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY STARTED AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IN THE SOUTH, MOVING FROM THE INDUSTRIAL NORTHEAST, ALL OF THESE PLANTS WERE BEGINNING TO LOCATE IN WHAT THEY CALL THE SANDHILLS. THEY MIGRATED HERE PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF LABOR. AND HAVING NINE SONS AND TWO DAUGHTERS, HE HAD ELEVEN PEOPLE WHO WERE INSTANTANEOUS PEOPLE READY TO GO TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HE GOT A BOUNTY ON THOSE AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE HE COULD BRING IN. AND WE HAD A CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE WHO SETTLED IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE CLIMATE WAS RIGHT. NO DOUBT, AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THE COTTON PRODUCTION WAS A BIG FACTOR IN THIS STATE. SO FROM A COTTON MARKETING STANDPOINT TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, WE HAD PORTS THAT WE COULD IMPORT/EXPORT EVEN BACK IN THOSE DAYS, CHARLESTON AND NEARBY SAVANNAH. SO THERE WERE A LOT OF STRATEGIC REASONS THAT THE INDUSTRY MIGRATED TO THIS STATE.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. KINGSMORE) THANK YOU, SIR. THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS MR. THOMAS LAVENDER, JR.
(MR. LAVENDER FAILS TO APPEAR).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. BARRETT S. LAWRIMORE?
(BARRETT S. LAWRIMORE, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NONE.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR GIESE: YES.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
Q. SOUTH CAROLINA WAS AN AGRICULTURAL, AGRARIAN STATE. I GUESS THAT'S DIMINISHED QUITE MARKEDLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WOULD YOU TELL US WHY YOU THINK THAT'S HAPPENED?
A. WELL, IT'S THE CHANGE OF AGRICULTURE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. BEING A COUNTY AGENT, AN AGRICULTURAL AGENT AND RETIRED FROM THAT, I'VE ADDRESSED THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES. WE'RE STILL PRETTY GOOD. WE'VE LOST OUR -- YOU MENTIONED THE COTTON. COTTON WENT WEST, THE GRAINS WENT WEST, CATTLE WENT WEST, AND A LOT OF OUR AREAS ARE NOW GOING INTO URBANIZATION. WE'RE STILL IN THE AGRICULTURE BUSINESS BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WERE, BUT WE'LL STILL BE STRONG IN THAT.
Q. IS IT TRUE THAT 2% -- I'VE READ THIS. DO YOU KNOW THAT 2% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE ARE CONNECTED WITH AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE?
A. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT AS FAR AS PRODUCTION.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
Q. TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE P.S.A. PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A. I FEEL PRETTY STRONG ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT IS THE AREA THAT I WORKED IN. THE FACT IS THAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DEVELOP PEOPLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO HELP THEM CHANGE IN THEIR CHANGING LIVES THROUGH OUR AG/4-H ECONOMIC PROGRAMS.
Q. DO YOU SEE THAT MISSION CHANGING?
A. THE MISSION WILL BE THE SAME, BUT I SEE THE TRENDS AND THE WAY WE GO AS CHANGING. WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES, BUT BASICALLY THE MISSION WILL BE THERE.
Q. IS THE EXTENSION PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THAT 2% OF THE PEOPLE OR WITH MORE THAN THAT?
A. NO, THAT'S JUST ONE PHASE. THE PRODUCTION IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE EXTENSION DEALS WITH EVERYBODY. WE WORK WITH ALL THE PEOPLE. EVERYBODY THINKS, "WELL, YOU JUST WORK WITH THE FARMER". THAT'S NOT CORRECT. WE WORK WITH ALL THE CONSUMERS. WE WORK WITH EVERYONE. WE DO MORE WORK IN, FOR EXAMPLE, RICHLAND COUNTY AND CHARLESTON COUNTY AND IN THE URBAN AREAS. WE DO MORE WORK WITH THE URBAN PEOPLE THAN WE DO WITH THE AGRICULTURAL PEOPLE AS FAR AS ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND HELPING THEM WITH EDUCATION.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION OF MR. LAWRIMORE.
Q. THE REASON I'M ASKING YOU THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE P.S.A. WORK ACROSS THE COUNTY IS THE WORK THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT AND THE PEOPLE YOU HEAR FROM AS REPRESENTATIVES AND LEGISLATORS, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STANDS OF FOREST TO BE LOOKED AT, TIMBER.
A. RIGHT.
Q. THE EMPHASIS, I THINK, THAT'S BOTHERING ME RIGHT NOW WITH THE PROGRAM OF EXTENSION IS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH AVAILABLE AND SO LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE AMONG THE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IS THERE FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND MAKE USE OF. AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN AREA THAT I THINK YOU WOULD BE EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN PROMOTING.
A. IT IS. THAT'S ONE REASON I'D LIKE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE AGRICULTURE AND P.S.A GET MORE INVOLVED THAN THEY ARE.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. LAWRIMORE) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE HAVE MR. WILLIAM J. NEELEY, JR.
(WILLIAM J. NEELEY, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. GOOD MORNING, MR. NEELEY.
A. GOOD MORNING.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. THAT IS CORRECT.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. NEELEY WHY IT IS THAT HE IS OFFERING AND WHAT HE FEELS HE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BOARD.
Q. MR. NEELEY?
A. HOPEFULLY I CAN CONTRIBUTE A WHOLE LOT. I WAS BORN INTO A CLEMSON FAMILY. I'M A CLEMSON GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF '58. MY DAUGHTER ATTENDED CLEMSON. I WAS RAISED IN AN ORANGE AND PURPLE ROOM. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CLEMSON EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MOVED 19 TIMES IN MY LIFE. SINCE 1974 WHEN I RETURNED TO THIS STATE, I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE. I'VE SERVED ON THE NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL FOR TEN YEARS. I'VE SERVED TWO YEARS ON THE BOARD OF VISITORS. I WAS ON PRESIDENT ATCHLEY'S STATEWIDE SUPPORT GROUP. I'M ON PRESIDENT LENNON'S STATEWIDE SUPPORT GROUP. I'M COMMITTED TO CLEMSON; I'VE BEEN IN IPTAY FOR 43 CONTINUOUS YEARS. AND WHAT I FEEL I CAN CONTRIBUTE IS THROUGH MY BACKGROUND. HAVING WORKED FOR TWO LARGE CORPORATIONS, OWENS ILLINOIS AND INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, AND HAVING RUN PLANTS FOR THEM ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, I FEEL IT'S GIVEN ME A BACKGROUND THAT WILL GIVE ME EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE CLEMSON BOARD.
Q. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MAIN EMPHASIS, DO YOU THINK, THE BUSINESS BACKGROUND? IS THAT WHAT YOU'D BE LOOKING AT, THE MANAGERIAL SKILLS?
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. MR. NEELEY, YOU WERE ALSO AN OPPONENT FROM 1956 TO 1958.
A. YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
Q. WHAT POSITION DID YOU PLAY?
A. CENTER AND LINEBACK. WE WENT TWO WAYS BACK THEN.
Q. I REMEMBER. WHAT DID YOUR TEN YEARS ON THE NATIONAL ALUMNI COUNCIL DO FOR YOU INSOFAR AS PREPARING YOURSELF FOR THIS JOB?
A. IT TAUGHT ME WHAT CLEMSON REALLY NEEDS IN THE WAY OF INVOLVEMENT FROM ALUMNI AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS LONG RANGE WILL BE. DURING THE TEN YEARS THAT I SERVED, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WERE STARTED AND FOUNDED, SUCH AS THE BLACK ALUMNI COUNCIL WHICH INVOLVED MORE STUDENTS, THE MEDICAL SOCIETY FOR ALUMNI, THE CLUBS THAT HAD BEEN STARTED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WHERE EVERY COUNTY HAS STARTED -- WHERE THEY HAVE A DIRECTOR AND THEY HAVE A PRESIDENT TO GET MORE CLEMSON ALUMNI INVOLVED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CLEMSON.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. NEELEY) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. BILL RISER?
(JOHN W. RISER, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. GOOD MORNING, BILL.
A. GOOD MORNING.
Q. MR. RISER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
Q. MR. RISER, YOU'VE ACTUALLY SERVED ON THE FIRING LINE AS A COUNTY AGENT. IS THAT CORRECT?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF CLEMSON'S PROGRAM. COULD YOU TELL ME HOW YOU MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM?
A. YES, I WILL, SENATOR. I FEEL LIKE THE EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD OVER THE PAST 33 YEARS WITH THE EXTENSION SERVICE WILL REALLY HELP ME IN ASSISTING IN BOARD DECISIONS. AND, OF COURSE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND BEAUTIFICATION AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA NOW, AND I WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THAT IN RICHLAND COUNTY AS WELL AS AIKEN AND SALUDA COUNTIES. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE BEING IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE ARM OF CLEMSON DIRECTLY FOR 33 YEARS WOULD QUALIFY ME DIRECTLY FOR BEING A MEMBER AND THAT I COULD ADD SOMETHING TO THE BOARD.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. CLYBORNE?
Q. MR. RISER, WHAT TYPE -- UNDER "PRESENT OCCUPATION", YOU HAVE "CONSULTANT". WHAT TYPE CONSULTANT?
A. WELL, JUST HORTICULTURAL AND FARM CONSULTING, AGRICULTURAL CONSULTING.
Q. OKAY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NOW, SENATOR SMITH?
Q. I WANTED TO ASK YOU, SINCE I'VE HAD A CALL ASKING ABOUT THIS, THE TESTING CENTER, THE LAB AT PONTIAC -- WOULD YOU TELL ME, IS THAT IN USE NOW?
A. THE LIVESTOCK LABORATORY?
Q. YES.
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. AND HOW IS IT USED?
A. WELL, FARMERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE WILL BRING SICK ANIMALS AND SOMETIMES DEAD ANIMALS INTO THE LABORATORY SO THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING PROBLEMS BACK ON THEIR FARMS. JUST RECENTLY WE HAD -- I HEARD OF A CASE WHERE A FELLOW HAD LOST SOMETHING LIKE 35 CATTLE AND THE LABORATORY HELPED HIM STRAIGHTEN THE PROBLEM OUT. THIS IS WHY THAT LAB IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Q. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I HAD UNDERSTOOD.
SENATOR SMITH: AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, SOMEWHERE I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS THAT FOR 11 YEARS IT HASN'T HAD ANY UPDATING OF EQUIPMENT.
A. OH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOIL TESTING LABORATORY?
Q. NO, THE ANIMAL TESTING LAB.
A. OKAY, THAT'S POSSIBLE.
Q. AND THAT'S POULTRY AND EVERYTHING?
A. YES. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT STILL IN DOING A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO HELP FARMERS, AND ALSO HOMEOWNERS GO OUT THERE TO GET HELP IN ASSISTING WITH PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PETS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. JOSEPH SWANN?
(JOSEPH D. SWANN, CANDIDATE FOR THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
A. GOOD MORNING.
Q. YES, SIR, MR. SWANN. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SWANN? SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MR. SWANN, I'VE SAVED THIS QUESTION UNTIL THE LAST. IT'S BEEN VERY CONTROVERSIAL, THE IMPLANTING OF HORMONES IN MILK COWS TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION BY 20%. THEY WON'T ACCEPT OUR MEAT OR MILK, I GUESS, OVER IN EUROPE. THE COMMON MARKET OVER THERE MOVED AGAINST IT. THAT CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE -- SUPPOSE THAT CAME TO THE BOARD, THAT THIS WAS CAUSING A PROBLEM IN AGRICULTURE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION LIKE THAT?
A. WHY'D YOU SAVE THAT QUESTION FOR LAST? I THINK THE BOARD OF CLEMSON SHOULD PROVIDE GOALS AND MISSIONS AND WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TOWARD THE LONG-TERM GROWTH AND THE LONG-TERM GOALS FOR THE UNIVERSITY. WHEN A QUESTION LIKE THAT WOULD ARISE, I BELIEVE THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME IT WOULD BE UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL TO RESPOND IN WHATEVER APPROPRIATE WAY THE INFORMATION COULD BE RESEARCHED AND THEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THAT RESPONSE.
Q. THE REASON I TOSSED YOU THAT CURVE BALL -- THERE'S VERY IMPRESSIVE BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS OF SO MANY PEOPLE FROM CLEMSON, AND IT HAS A RELATIVELY SMALL BOARD OF ONLY SEVEN ELECTED PEOPLE, I BELIEVE, AND SEVEN APPOINTED. IT SEEMS TO ME DIVERSIFICATION IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS, IMPORTANT THINGS, IN BOARDS OF GLOBAL MISSION UNIVERSITIES I THINK CLEMSON FULFILLS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND WHAT WOULD YOU THINK YOUR PARTICULAR EXPERTISE WOULD HELP WITH THE BOARD? HOW WOULD THAT HELP THE BOARD?
A. WELL, I AM AN ENGINEERING GRADUATE AND I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF EXPERIENCES IN STARTING PLANTS AND RUNNING INDUSTRIAL PLANTS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE, LIKE MANY INDUSTRIES, HAVE GONE THROUGH THE GLOBAL COMPETITION AND RESTRUCTURING PHASES OF OUR BUSINESS. WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND NOW UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT IN THE SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS. SO I THINK THAT MY BACKGROUND IN ENGINEERING, MY EXPERIENCES IN BUSINESS AND THIS UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE IN GLOBAL COMPETITION WOULD LEND TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THINKING THAT CLEMSON NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS THEY GO INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.
Q. THANK YOU.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR.
Q. JUST ONE QUESTION, MR. SWANN. I KNOW OVER THE YEARS YOU'VE SEEN US ALL SORT OF STRUGGLE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY WITH UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS AS WELL AS POSTGRADUATE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY'S ROLE WITH REGARD TO THE STUDENTS' ACCESS TO THE UNIVERSITY, UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL, AND THE RESEARCH ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY?
A. I SERVE ON THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION BOARD AND I THINK RESEARCH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THE MAIN MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION. I THINK WE CAN NEVER FORGET THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT AS WE BECOME A STRONGER RESEARCH INSTITUTION, WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO PROFESSORS AND TO EXPERIENCES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION LEVEL.
Q. MR. SWANN, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED SOME OTHER CLEMSON TRUSTEE CANDIDATES, I GUESS, BUT SINCE YOU'RE LAST WE'RE GOING TO ALL JUMP ON YOU. WHEN DID IPTAY START? DO YOU KNOW?
A. WE HAD OUR CENTENNIAL TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS, SO I THINK IT'S -- NO, IT WAS 50 YEARS TWO YEARS AGO, SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN --
Q. '38?
A. '38, I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
Q. IT WAS TEN DOLLARS AT THE TIME, WASN'T IT?
A. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS TEN DOLLARS AT THE TIME.
Q. I HAD A BROTHER OVER THERE ABOUT '40 AND I KNOW HE THOUGHT THAT TEN DOLLARS WAS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. HE HAD TO SELL A BALE OF COTTON TO GET IT.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR.
SENATOR SMITH: WATCH THIS U.S.C. FELLOW.
SENATOR GIESE: THAT IS NOT WHAT THAT STANDS FOR. IT STANDS FOR, "I PLOW TEN ACRES YEARLY".
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. SWANN. THAT COMPLETES OUR TEN CLEMSON TRUSTEE CANDIDATES. WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE WHO DID NOT APPEAR, AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM WITH ANY OF HIS MATERIAL OR ANYTHING AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT HE IS NOT RUNNING, SO WE WILL TRY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM AND VERIFY THAT. YES, MA'AM, SENATOR SMITH?
SENATOR SMITH: I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN LOOKING AT THE POSITIONS OF ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT WERE HERE. (TO MS. TURNIPSEED) CAN YOU JUST VERY QUICKLY GO THROUGH AND TELL US WHAT AREAS -- I KNOW WE HAVE AN ENGINEER AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. WE HAD BUSINESS. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE ---
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE HAD AN ATTORNEY ALSO. NEXT WE GO TO WINTHROP COLLEGE. OUR FIRST CANDIDATE IS MR. ROBERT BULLARD.
(ROBERT S. BULLARD, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I'LL BE RETIRING FROM A PUBLIC POSITION ON JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
Q. I SEE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BULLARD?
SENATOR SMITH: LET ME CATCH UP WITH YOU. (REVIEWING DOCUMENTS).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: BEAR WITH US A MOMENT, MR. BULLARD.
A. SIR?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: I SAID BEAR WITH US A MOMENT.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST ASK ONE QUESTION IF I MAY.
Q. MR. BULLARD, I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE A MASTER'S OF EDUCATION DEGREE AND TEN YEARS AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER. IS EDUCATION YOUR EMPHASIS AND YOUR REASON FOR RUNNING SINCE WINTHROP HAS A REPUTATION FOR AN EDUCATIONAL EMPHASIS FOR TEACHERS?
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE THERE?
A. WELL, I THINK THAT I COULD CONTRIBUTE IN A POLICY -- FROM A POLICY ANGLE TOWARDS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS INTEREST IN MAINTAINING STANDARDS OR IMPROVING THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION ON AN UNDERGRADUATE AND A GRADUATE LEVEL.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. BULLARD. NEXT WE HAVE ERNEST B. CARNES.
(ERNEST B. CARNES, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. CARNES, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
SENATOR SMITH: (TO REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD) YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME.
Q. I THINK THE SENATOR WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY YOU WERE CALLED TO THIS POSITION.
SENATOR SMITH: I KNOW ABOUT HIS EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: GO AHEAD, SENATOR.
Q. DR. CARNES, YOU'VE HAD A VERY DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN EDUCATION AND YOU'VE GONE ALL THE WAY FROM THE AA TO A PH.D., WHICH IS CERTAINLY COMMENDABLE. HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WINTHROP BOARD?
A. WELL, I THINK MY EXPERIENCE AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND A PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GIVES ME A BROAD PERSPECTIVE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM. I HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE MATTER OF SCHOOL DROP-OUTS AND HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, PROBABLY AS MUCH AS ANYONE IN THE SOUTHEAST, AND HAVE A REAL CONCERN IN TERMS OF THE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM. I FEEL, IN TERMS OF BEING AWARE OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF REMEDIATION, THOSE WHO HAVE A LOW SELF-CONCEPT, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM IN TERMS OF HOW THESE STUDENTS WILL BE HELPED.
Q. DR. CARNES, WITH THE DROP-OUT RATE THAT I THINK IS JUST ALMOST INCONCEIVABLE -- IT'S SOMEWHERE NEAR 40%. I THINK THAT'S THE LATEST FIGURES I'VE READ. WOULD YOU COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK THAT -- DO WE PERHAPS NEED SOME CHANGE IN OUR TRAINING OF TEACHERS OR WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ANSWER IS?
A. I THINK WE DO NEED SOME CHANGES IN THE MATTER OF TRAINING OF TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF THEIR PRACTICE TEACHING EXPERIENCES. IT'S OFTEN IN THE CLASSROOM IN WHICH YOU HAVE THE NORMAL OR AVERAGE STUDENTS, WHEN THEY'RE EMPLOYED AND THEIR TRAINING FOR THE STUDENTS WHO COME FROM LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF SPECIAL REMEDIATION, OFTEN THEY'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE. THIS IS CURRENTLY NOT INCORPORATED INTO VERY MANY OF THOSE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS. I'VE ALSO HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MATTER OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND I FEEL THAT I COULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION IN THIS AREA.
Q. THANK YOU.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
SENATOR SMITH: I COULDN'T PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY ON THIS EDUCATION ISSUE.
Q. DR. CARNES, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND THEN I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.
A. SURELY.
Q. WHEN I FINISHED SCHOOL, SOUTH CAROLINA WAS KNOWN, AND WINTHROP, FOR ITS TEACHERS, AND WE COMPETED WITH THEM FROM NORTH CAROLINA, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DREADED THE MOST WAS TO TRY TO APPLY FOR A JOB AND GO FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH A TEACHER FROM WINTHROP. THEY WERE HIGHLY TRAINED, WELL RESPECTED, AND THEY WERE COMPETITION FOR ALL SURROUNDING STATES. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THAT AND HAVING CHAIRED THE TEACHERS STANDARDS COMMITTEE A FEW YEARS AGO, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, IT WAS SORT OF TOUGH COMING THROUGH THERE. BUT I FEEL LIKE YOUR EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION -- CAN YOU TELL ME VERY BRIEFLY WHAT YOU THINK AND DO YOU FEEL THAT WINTHROP COLLEGE CAN RETURN TO ITS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR TRAINING TEACHERS AND ARE WE ON THE WAY TO GETTING THERE?
A. YES, I THINK WE CAN AND I DO THINK THAT WE'RE ON OUR WAY. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED RELATIVE TO THE MATTER OF TEACHERS BEING REQUIRED TO PASS CERTAIN EXAMINATIONS AND ALL -- I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY ATTRACTING PERSONS WHO ARE BETTER QUALIFIED TO BECOME ---
Q. WILL YOU PUSH FOR THAT?
A. OH, YES. THAT'S BEEN MY BACKGROUND.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NEXT WE HAVE MR. ANDREW CRANE.
(ANDREW CRANE, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. GOOD MORNING, MR. CRANE.
A. GOOD MORNING.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MR. CRANE, YOU HAVE AN UNUSUAL BACKGROUND IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR, AND I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN EDUCATING THE MULTI-HANDICAPPED, THE BLIND AND DEAF. WOULD YOU JUST TALK TO US A BIT ABOUT HOW YOU THINK EDUCATING THE HANDICAPPED FITS IN WITH THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL PROCESS? RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT DOING MUCH OF A JOB, IN MY OPINION.
A. THE FOUNDATION THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN FOUNDING SUPPORTS THE CEDAR SPRINGS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, BLIND AND MULTI-HANDICAPPED IN SPARTANBURG. I AM A PRODUCT OF POLIO, HAD POLIO IN THE '50'S. I LATER WENT ON TO LETTER IN FOUR SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, IN A SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL. I BELIEVE THAT COUPLED WITH THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND, OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA CAN MAKE AVAILABLE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SPECIALIZED EDUCATION THAT CAN ALLOW THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME TAX PAYING CITIZENS AND REPAY THE STATE THE EDUCATION WE AFFORD THEM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. CRANE.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT, MR. JASON L. ELLISON.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I JUST ASK -- MR. CRANE DOESN'T NEED TO COME BACK WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING THERE A MINUTE.
Q. BUT I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND, AND THAT WAS YOUR INTEREST IN THE ARTS. AND I JUST ATTENDED A MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE YOU HAD THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS.
A. RIGHT.
Q. HOW DO YOU FEEL -- WINTHROP IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS ARTS DEPARTMENT AND ALL, AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP PROMOTE THAT?
A. THE ARTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN FACT HAS BEEN AN OVERLOOKED AREA OF EMPHASIS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOME OF OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS THAT NEEDS TO BE CREATED IN OUR PUBLIC COLLEGES AND IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL -- I DON'T THINK WE ARE DOING THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY. WINTHROP IS IN A VERY UNIQUE POSITION TO BE ADJACENT TO CHARLOTTE. WE ARE THE LEADING EDGE -- WE BELIEVE AT WINTHROP THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT DOOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NOT THE BACK DOOR. WITH WINTHROP BEING ADJACENT TO THE CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT SURROUND CHARLOTTE, WE BELIEVE THAT WINTHROP, WITH YOUR SUPPORT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, CAN DO AN EVEN BETTER JOB OF ENHANCING ART INTERESTED STUDENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Q. SINCE YOU ATTRACTED MY NIECE TO COME BACK FROM BEING A DIETICIAN INTO ART, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
A. ONE COMMENT I DID WANT TO MAKE -- YOU TOUCHED ON IT, IN FACT. THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AS YOU ALL KNOW, JUST GRANTED WINTHROP THE $500,000 GRANT FOR ENHANCING TEACHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA. WE'RE VERY PLEASED AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN SPEND THAT MONEY VERY WISELY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. ELLISON IS NOT PRESENT. MR. JOHN A. GILL?
(JOHN A. GILL, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. GILL, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: I OUGHT NOT TO LET YOU DOWN.
Q. I SEE THAT YOU HAVE DEALT A GREAT DEAL WITH INSURANCE. HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT BACKGROUND IS GOING TO BE OF ASSISTANCE ON THE BOARD?
A. WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION?
Q. INSURANCE, ISN'T THAT IT? HAVE I GOT THE WRONG ---
A. YES, THAT'S A PART OF MY GAME. THE ONLY THING IN THAT REGARD WOULD BE THAT I OPENED MY OWN BUSINESS 29-1/2 YEARS AGO AND I THINK THREE DECADES OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE WOULD HELP ANY BOARD.
Q. SURE. IS THERE A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS, THOUGH, YOU HAVE FOR SEEKING THIS BOARD?
A. I GREW UP LOOKING AT WINTHROP COLLEGE. MY GRANDFATHER SERVED ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. MY MOTHER GRADUATED THERE IN 1919, MY WIFE IN '54, MY DAUGHTER IN '84. I'VE BEEN TO EVERYTHING FROM GIRLS' SOFTBALL GAMES TO HIGHBROW MUSIC WHERE I WENT TO SLEEP.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. GILL)
THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE MR. CHARLES HILL.
(CHARLES B. HILL, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. HILL, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: I FEEL LIKE, MR. CHAIRMAN, I KEEP TAKING UP YOUR TIME, BUT I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
Q. I SEE HERE YOUR BACKGROUND IS PRINCIPAL OF BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL, AND AT WITHROP, THEN, CERTAINLY EDUCATION WOULD BE ONE OF YOUR POINTS OF GREAT INTEREST, I'M SURE, AND TEACHERS.
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH WINTHROP WITH REGARD TO THE TEACHERS THAT YOU'VE HIRED IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT?
A. ONLY IN HIRING TEACHERS, YES, MA'AM.
Q. AND HAVE YOU EVER MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THEM ON HOW THEY MIGHT IMPROVE THE TEACHER QUALITY THAT PERHAPS YOU HAVE FOUND AVAILABLE FOR HIRING?
A. I HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND ANYTHING TO THE SCHOOL ITSELF, NO, MA'AM, ONLY IN DISCUSSING WITH THE TEACHERS -- IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
Q. FROM YOUR TEACHERS DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT YOU WOULD HOPE TO IMPROVE UPON IN THE TEACHER TRAINING AT WINTHROP?
A. YES, MA'AM. WINTHROP HAS THE TEACHER CADET PROGRAM WHICH IS A VERY STRONG PROGRAM. WE NEED TO ATTRACT OUR BRIGHTER STUDENTS TO STAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO GO INTO EDUCATION. THE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM, I THINK, NEEDS SOMETHING. NORMALLY A TEACHER IS PLACED WITH A MASTER TEACHER, WALKS INTO A CONTROLLED SITUATION, AND THEN WHEN THEY GO INTO THE REAL CLASSROOM, IT CAN BE A SHOCK TO THEM. THEY NEED TO LEARN MANAGEMENT SKILLS EARLY IN THEIR TEACHING CAREER.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MY IMPRESSION OF ONE OF THE BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EDUCATION THIRTY YEARS AGO AND TODAY IS DISCIPLINE IN THE SCHOOLS. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE. IT WAS MUCH TOUGHER THIRTY YEARS AGO, AND APPARENTLY NOW IT'S MORE PERMISSIVE. WHAT'S YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS DISCIPLINE?
A. I THINK A LOT OF THAT GOES BACK TO THE FAMILY SITUATION. THE PARENTS ARE MORE PERMISSIVE TODAY AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE IS. I THINK IN THE CLASSROOM WE NEED TO SET STANDARDS, AND LET THE YOUNG PEOPLE HELP YOU MAKE THOSE STANDARDS FOR THE CLASSROOM AND THEN STICK TO THEM.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: REPRESENTATIVE CLYBORNE HAS A QUESTION.
Q. YES, SIR, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. I SEE THAT NORTH GREENVILLE JUNIOR COLLEGE AND FURMAN UNIVERSITY -- OF COURSE, I'M FROM GREENVILLE. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU UP THERE, WANT YOU TO STAY UP THERE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU -- THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LOT OF CONTROVERSY TODAY IN EDUCATION IN TERMS OF WHETHER TEACHERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO MAJOR IN EDUCATION OR TO MAJOR IN THE AREAS OF STUDY AND HAVE MORE EMPHASIS IN, LIKE, IF THEY WERE GOING TO TEACH GOVERNMENT OR THEY WERE GOING TO TEACH ENGLISH, THAT SORT OF THING. WHAT'S YOUR FEELINGS ON THAT?
A. I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON THAT. I THINK THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO LEARN TEACHING TECHNIQUES WHICH WOULD BE EMPLOYED IN YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND METHODS COURSES. THEY NEED THIS, HOWEVER, I SEE PEOPLE WHO THINK COULD BE EXCELLENT TEACHERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING. BUT DEFINITELY SUBJECT MATTER, CONTENT, IS ESSENTIAL.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. HILL) THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MR. MICHAEL HUGGINS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. HUGGINS?
MS. TURNIPSEED: OH, HE'S THE ONE WHO GOT BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY AND SAID HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WELL, I IMAGINE IF HE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT. NEXT WE GO, THEN, TO JOEL MCMANUS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: JENNINGS K. OWENS, JR.?
(JENNINGS K. OWENS, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD:
Q. MR. OWENS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I'VE RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF VISITORS FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY WHICH I DO NOT THINK WOULD CONFLICT. SHOULD IT CONFLICT, I WOULD BE WILLING TO -- I WOULD RESIGN IF ELECTED TO THIS POSITION. LET ME JUST SAY UNFORTUNATELY I THINK I WROTE MINE IN LONGHAND.
SENATOR SMITH: (TO MR. OWENS) I WAS TRYING TO FIND IT.
A. BEING A PHYSICIAN, I THINK I DID UNJUSTLY SEND THAT, AND I'VE HAD TYPED OUT A VITAE IN CASE ANYBODY MIGHT LIKE TO REVIEW IT.
SENATOR SMITH: OKAY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM?
SENATOR SMITH: I WAS TRYING TO CATCH UP, HERE. (SENATOR REVIEWING NOTES).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: GO RIGHT AHEAD, SENATOR.
Q. I NOTICE WITH YOUR BACKGROUND IN MEDICINE -- WHAT IS YOUR PARTICULAR EMPHASIS AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DIRECTION?
A. WHERE WINTHROP IS CONCERNED?
Q. YES.
A. I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PRIMARY INTEREST IN EDUCATION AND IN SERVICE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN WINTHROP COLLEGE, MY FATHER HAVING BEEN BORN IN ROCK HILL, AND VISITED THERE ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS. I DO FEEL THAT THE BIG -- THERE ARE TWO REASONS THAT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THIS. ONE, I THINK THAT EDUCATION IS OBVIOUSLY THE ANSWER TO OUR FUTURE. WINTHROP, ALTHOUGH NOW A GREAT UNIVERSITY, HAS NOT EVER BEEN ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM ITS REPUTATION AS A TRAINING PLACE FOR TEACHERS, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. I DO NOT FEEL THAT SOUTH CAROLINA CAN HAVE A UNIVERSITY STRONG IN EVERYTHING. I THINK UNIVERSITIES SHOULD CONCENTRATE IN CERTAIN FIELDS, AND WITHOUT DEMEANING THEIR OTHER PROGRAMS WINTHROP HAS, I THINK THEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON TEACHING AND I THINK THEY ARE THE BEST SCHOOL FOR TEACHER TRAINING, PARTICULARLY IN THE POSTGRADUATE FIELD. NOW, IN THE POSTGRADUATE FIELD TODAY, IN TEACHING, JUST AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A STRONG POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM. I REPRESENT -- I DON'T REPRESENT, I'M FROM A SMALL RURAL COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA NORTH AND EAST OF THE PEE DEE RIVER, AND WE ARE IN MANY WAYS ISOLATED. AT THE SAME TIME WE DO NEED HELP IN ADDITIONAL TRAINING OF OUR TEACHERS. I WAS MOST IMPRESSED RECENTLY WITH SOME OF THE POSTGRADUATE COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WINTHROP WAS WILLING TO BRING TO THE PEE DEE. THEY DID IT, THEY DID IT WELL, AND SINCE THEY DID IT SO WELL, I'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT.
Q. AND THAT WAS THE RECERTIFICATION PROGRAM?
A. NO, MA'AM, THAT WAS NOT ONLY RECERTIFICATION, THIS WAS WORKING TOWARDS A MASTER'S AND THINGS OF THAT TYPE.
Q. VERY GOOD.
A. THAT WAS THE SPECTACULAR PART, AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED.
Q. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: COULD I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, DOCTOR?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. WHAT YEAR DID YOU DO THIS MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK IN ANGUILLA, HAITI, NICARAGUA AND LIBYA.
A. WELL, MY FIRST INTEREST IN THE WORK WAS, OF COURSE, SERVING IN VIETNAM WITH "PROJECT VIETNAM" AS A VOLUNTEER PHYSICIAN TAKING CARE OF THE CIVILIAN INJURED. IN HAITI -- LET ME SEE, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEARS. I WAS IN ANGUILLA IN THE LATE '60'S. I WAS IN HAITI IN THE EARLY '70'S, I THINK, AND IN NICARAGUA RIGHT BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. IN FACT, I'VE BEEN IN TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN WHICH REVOLUTIONS FOLLOWED. I DON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT HAPPENED.
SENATOR SMITH: I THINK WE HAVE A REVOLUTIONARY HERE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO DR. OWENS) DID THEY CALL YOU THE INSTIGATOR?
A. I DENY IT.
Q. I FOUND THIS RATHER IMPRESSIVE. THAT'S WHY I ASKED.
A. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NEXT WE HAVE JANE C. SHULER.
(JANE C. SHULER, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
A. GOOD MORNING.
Q. YES, MA'AM, MS. SHULER. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD
PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE LADY?
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR.
Q. IT'S THE USUAL QUESTION, BUT WHY, MS. SHULER, DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR POSITION OF HONOR AND HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE?
A. I HAVE AN INTEREST BECAUSE I AM A WINTHROP ALUMNUS, I AM A WINTHROP TEACHER. I AM A PRODUCT OF TWO STATE SCHOOLS. I JUST FINISHED MY MASTER'S IN EDUCATION FROM SOUTH CAROLINA STATE. I ALSO HAVE THREE TEENAGERS THAT I HAVE HELPED TO RAISE AND EDUCATE, AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT. I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE WINTHROP COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. I'VE SERVED FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN EVERY ASPECT OF WINTHROP COLLEGE VOLUNTEER SERVICE. I'VE BEEN ON THE FOUNDATION. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE. I FEEL LIKE MY EXPERIENCES IN EDUCATION AS A TEACHER AND JUST BEING A STUDENT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF HAVE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT WHAT I THINK A GOOD COLLEGE SHOULD BE. I KNOW WINTHROP IS A GOOD COLLEGE. IT'S GIVEN ME AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION. IT'S GIVEN ME THE BACKGROUND TO DO THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE. ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ABOUT WINTHROP COLLEGE THAT I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF, NOT ONLY THE TEACHER EDUCATION CENTER, BUT THE NEW SCHOOL FOR PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO ATTENDED GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL LAST YEAR AND WHO'S ALREADY ATTENDED DANCE CLASSES AT WINTHROP COLLEGE. SHE HAS JUST BEEN ACCEPTED AT WINTHROP COLLEGE. SO I THINK THAT'S AN ASPECT, AS MR. CRANE SAID, OF WINTHROP COLLEGE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PROMOTE BECAUSE SOUTH CAROLINA CAN REALLY USE WINTHROP COLLEGE IN THAT AREA, NOT ONLY JUST ITS TEACHER TRAINING.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MS. SHULER) THANK YOU, MA'AM.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: CALDWELL EDGAR SPENCER?
(CALDWELL EDGAR SPENCER, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. SPENCER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: LET ME CHECK MY NOTES.
Q. I NOTE WHERE YOU ARE A TOWN COUNCILMAN AT PRESENT.
A. THAT IS CORRECT, ARCADIA LAKES.
Q. THE GREAT METROPOLIS OF ARCADIA LAKES?
A. SENATOR GIESE LOOKS OUT FOR US OVER THERE.
SENATOR WILSON: (TO MR. SPENCER) IT MAY BE SMALL, BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
Q. YOU INTEND TO FOREGO THAT POSITION IF YOU'RE ELECTED, I ASSUME?
A. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL, SIR, THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT SINCE WE HAVE A NONPARTISAN ROLE. IF, INDEED, THAT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE THE CASE, I WOULD RESIGN.
Q. I SEE YOU'RE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.
A. YES, SIR. I'M FULLY EMPLOYED THERE.
Q. FULLY EMPLOYED?
A. YES.
SENATOR GIESE: THAT'S NOT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IS IT, MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NO, THE TOWN COUNCIL IS WHAT BOTHERED ME.
SENATOR MACAULAY: MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: HE'S AGREEABLE TO RELINQUISHING HIS ---
Q. WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS DUAL OFFICE HOLDING?
A. THAT IS CORRECT, YES, SIR, IF THAT PROVES TO BE THE CASE.
Q. MR. SPENCER, IS THAT A PAID POSITION YOU NOW HAVE?
A. YES, SIR, THERE IS A SMALL SALARY THAT GOES WITH IT.
Q. WOULD YOU TELL US HOW LARGE OR HOW SMALL?
A. FOR ARCADIA LAKES?
Q. YES, SIR.
A. IT'S $80 PER MONTH.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A. IT FALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RANGE OF ALL MUNICIPALITIES OF THAT SIZE.
Q. MR. SPENCER, WE JUST APPROVED A $37,000 ARCADIA LAKES ROAD.
A. YES, YOU HAVE. THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO ADD, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ASKED. MY PARTICULAR INTEREST IN WINTHROP WOULD BE THE EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON THERE. I HAVE PARTICULAR INTEREST IN LEARNING DISABILITIES AND WOULD WANT TO SEE THAT WINTHROP AGAIN COMES INTO THE FOREFRONT OF THAT ACTIVITY. THE OTHER INTEREST I HAVE IS GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS, AND I THINK IF IT'S TRUE THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE NEW FLORIDA IN TERMS OF LAND DEVELOPMENT AND RETIREES MOVING HERE, THEN WHEREVER THEY CONGREGATE IN HIGH RISES AND RETIREMENT VILLAGES, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SERVICES, AND WHERE THERE ARE SERVICES THERE WILL HAVE TO BE TRAINING AND STAFF. SO I THINK WINTHROP, THROUGH ITS INNOVATION AND RESPONSIVENESS, CAN BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THAT AREA AS WELL.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. SPENCER) THANK YOU SO MUCH.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS MR. DAVID WHITE.
(DAVID A. WHITE, CANDIDATE FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. WHITE, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NONE.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR. MY TERM ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS JUST EXPIRED, SO I NO LONGER HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR GIESE: YES.
Q. MR. WHITE, COULD YOU TELL ME WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD?
A. SENATOR GIESE, I'VE LIVED IN ROCK HILL FOR ABOUT THIRTY YEARS. DURING ALL THAT TIME I'VE BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE AFFAIRS OF WINTHROP. IT HAS MEANT A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO OUR FAMILY AND TO ME. I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF SEVEN DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS OR ACTING PRESIDENTS IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME. I'VE KNOWN EACH ONE OF THEM PERSONALLY. I'VE ATTENDED EVENTS IN THEIR HOMES. I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO FACULTY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS THERE. AND SO I WANT TO SERVE WINTHROP BECAUSE OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO OUR STATE AND TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION WHAT DO I THINK I CAN CONTRIBUTE. AS I LISTENED TO ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES, I WAS SORT OF TERRIFIED ABOUT THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SAY ANYTHING MEANINGFUL. I THINK THAT MY BEST ANSWER IS I PRESUME TO THINK I HAVE A CERTAIN, ALMOST UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH WINTHROP AS I HAVE OVER THESE THIRTY YEARS. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND NOT JUST AS A STUDENT WOULD, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT. THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE THAT WINTHROP IS A PART OF THE VERY DYNAMIC METROPOLITAN CHARLOTTE AREA. OF COURSE, WE ARE A PART OF THAT AREA. WE ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE BUSINESS, CULTURAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THAT AREA. I THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE TO SEE WINTHROP IN ITS PROPER ROLE IN THAT AREA AND ITS SERVICE TO THE WHOLE STATE. I THINK I HAVE A PROPER PERSPECTIVE ON WINTHROP'S POSITION IN THE WHOLE SCHEME OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I HAVE ATTENDED THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ANDERSON AND I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT BODY WHEN YOU CAME THERE, SENATOR, AND I HAVE A FEEL FOR CLEMSON, HAVING GROWN UP IN THE SHADOW OF CLEMSON. AND I JUST THINK THAT I HAVE A FAIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLES OF THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN OUR STATE AND HOW WINTHROP FITS INTO THAT SCHEME OF THINGS. SO I THINK I HAVE A CERTAIN OVERVIEW ABOUT WINTHROP'S ROLE THAT I HOPE WILL BE HELPFUL. FINALLY, IT IS MY PROFESSION AND MY BUSINESS TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS AND TO ADVISE BUSINESS PERSONS AND ESPECIALLY BOARDS OF CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES. I AM INVOLVED WITH A GOOD MANY. I ADVISE SEVERAL BANKS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN SKILLS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF KNOWING WHAT A BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO DO AND HOW A BOARD MEMBER SHOULD RELATE TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION. I THINK I HAVE A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. THOSE ARE THE MAIN REASONS I CAN CITE.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NO FURTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. WHITE. WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES IN THE WINTHROP RACE WHO HAVE WITHDRAWN, MR. ALAN G. RASH AND MR. MERRITT WILSON. NEXT WE GO TO ---
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
SENATOR SMITH: ONE THING, IF MS. TURNIPSEED WILL, AND I THINK IT WOULD HELP -- OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE, WHEN THIS IS OVER WITH, LET'S JUST PREPARE ONE SHEET WITH JUST THEIR BACKGROUNDS IN ENGINEERING OR AN ATTORNEY OR WHAT THEIR -- WHERE THEY ARE, SO THAT WILL HELP SOMEWHAT IN LOOKING AT OVERALL, THE WHOLE PERSPECTIVE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE APPEARING HERE TODAY. I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPEARING AND WANT TO SERVE. AND I'M JUST MOST GRATEFUL TO EACH ONE OF YOU AND WOULD LIKE TO LOOK BACK AT THAT.
REPRESENATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM. MS. TURNIPSEED, WILL YOU DO THAT FOR US?
MS. TURNIPSEED: I SURE WILL.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: S.C. STATE COLLEGE, MR. SAM ALSTON?
(SAMUEL ALSTON, CANDIDATE FOR THE S.C. STATE COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. ALSTON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NONE, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NONE, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN? REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
Q. YOUR CURRENT POSITION, MR. ALSTON, IS PRINCIPAL OF THE LATTA HIGH SCHOOL?
A. YES, SIR.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM?
Q. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, MR. ALSTON, WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST IN SERVING AT STATE AS ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS? WHAT WOULD BE YOUR EMPHASIS?
A. IF IT WASN'T FOR SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE, I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY. I WAS EDUCATED THERE, MY WIFE IS PURSUING COURSES THERE NOW. MY YOUNGEST SON IS ENROLLED AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE. I WANT TO GIVE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE SOMETHING BACK FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONTINUE TO GROW IN A POSITIVE FASHION AND SERVE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS IN PREPARING TO GO INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AND MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE AHEAD.
Q. ARE YOU A REGULAR VISITOR TO THAT CAMPUS? HAVE YOU BEEN ON THAT CAMPUS AND DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING AROUND, SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON?
A. I'M PURSUING MY DOCTORAL DEGREE MA'AM, PURSUING CHAPTER 2 OF MY DISSERTATION.
Q. YOU'RE MOVING AROUND PRETTY WELL, THEN.
A. YES, MA'AM, I CERTAINLY AM.
Q. I JUST THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO ASSUME OR RUN FOR POSITIONS, TO HAVE SOME AWARENESS OF THE CAMPUS AND THE STUDENT BODY AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME CONTACT THERE, SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
A. IN FACT, I'M GOING THERE AS SOON AS I'M DISMISSED FROM HERE.
Q. WELL, GOOD LUCK.
A. YES, MA'AM.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES?
SENATOR GIESE: I'D LIKE TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
Q. I NOTICE YOUR HOME ADDRESS IS ORANGEBURG AND YOU WORK IN LATTA. THAT'S QUITE A DISTANCE APART.
A. YES, SIR. THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE I COULD FIND AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION. THE COMPETITION IS VERY STIFF IN ORANGEBURG. THERE ARE A LOT OF ADMINISTRATORS THERE. SO -- THAT'S A TWO HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTE RIDE FROM ORANGEBURG TO LATTA. I COMMUTE ON THE WEEKENDS. I GO UP MONDAY MORNINGS AND COME BACK FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
Q. MR. ALSTON, WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN THE SITUATION AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE? THERE'S BEEN SOME TURMOIL OVER SOME YEARS. WHAT IS YOUR FEELING THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS?
A. TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU, MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS -- I THINK THAT IT'S LIKE A SHIP WITHOUT A RUDDER, NO DIRECTION, AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. ANY TIME THERE'S ANYTHING NEGATIVE, WE SHOULD CLEAN UP BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND PRESENT A POSITIVE IMAGE, ONE VOICE SPEAKING FOR EVERYBODY, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE STATE. AND I JUST THINK IT WAS POORLY HANDLED. IN FACT, THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I SUBMITTED MY NAME TO THIS COMMITTEE, TO HELP THEM CLEAN IT UP.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. ALSTON) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. FRED BROUGHTON?
(FRED BROUGHTON, CANDIDATE FOR THE S. C. STATE COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. GOOD MORNING, SIR.
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
Q. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION, MR. BROUGHTON. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS IN THE GOVERNANCE OF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?
A. I THINK THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS TO FORMULATE POLICIES, AND HIRE AN ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THEM AND ALSO TO GIVE THE HIRED ADMINISTRATOR WHATEVER ASSISTANCE HE OR SHE MAY NEED TO CARRY OUT THOSE DUTIES. IN THE EVENT THEY'RE NOT CARRIED OUT, THE NEXT STEP -- YOU FIND OUT WHY THEY WEREN'T CARRIED OUT. IF THE ADMINISTRATOR NEEDS HELP, THEN WE TRY TO HELP THEM. IF NOT, IF HE'S UNABLE TO -- FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY'RE NOT DONE, THE BOARD HAS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE THINGS THAT GET DONE AND DO NOT GET DONE. SO I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO STATE A POLICY MAKING POSITION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANYTHING FURTHER?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN?
Q. I NOTICE THAT YOU ARE THE OWNER OF EDISTO UNIFORM CENTER AND YOU SERVICE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE. WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WERE YOU TO GET IT?
A. THAT WAS HANDLED THROUGH THE STATE PURCHASING -- THAT WAS AN OPEN BID. WE SUBMITTED A BID THROUGH THE STATE PURCHASING AGENCY, AND I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THAT TO BE A CONFLICT, SIR.
Q. YOU WOULD?
A. I WOULD NOT SINCE IT WAS HANDLED THROUGH THE BIDDING ---
Q. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR TRANSACTION.
A. OH.
Q. I MEAN IF YOU WERE TO GET ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD YOU STILL SERVICE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE?
A. (CANDIDATE PAUSING).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. BROUGHTON) WOULD YOU STILL SEEK THE CONTRACT?
A. NO, SIR. IN FACT, I DIDN'T SEEK THAT ONE. WE WERE JUST MAILED AN INVITATION TO BID AND WE JUST SUBMITTED IT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
SENATOR MACAULAY: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SIR.
Q. I'M JUST CURIOUS. HOW MANY UNIFORM SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ORANGEBURG AREA TO SERVICE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE IF YOU DID NOT?
A. WE HAVE THE ONLY UNIFORM SHOP IN TOWN, HOWEVER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STORES THAT CARRY SOME UNIFORMS AND THERE ARE ABOUT SIX COMPETITORS CLOSE TO TOWN.
Q. I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT UNIFORMS IF YOU ---
A. NO, IT'S A REAL COMPETITIVE BUSINESS.
Q. GOOD, GOOD.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. BROUGHTON) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: JOSEPH R. DOUGLAS?
(JOSEPH R. DOUGLAS, CANDIDATE FOR THE S.C. STATE COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: YES, SIR. I WAS JUST WAITING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE DID.
Q. BUT I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOUR OCCUPATION AND BACKGROUND, AND YOU'RE A GRADUATE OF STATE ALSO?
A. AND I'M RETIRED.
Q. AND YOU'RE RETIRED. I KNOW YOU'VE HAD, CERTAINLY, A LOT OF CHURCH RELATED WORK AND ALL, BUT WOULD YOU TELL ME WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO OFFER FOR THE STATE BOARD AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE?
A. I CAME OUT OF INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION AND SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE, AND WITH THAT BACKGROUND IT AFFORDED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FOR TRAINING, THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IN ELECTRONICS AND THAT TYPE THING. AND ALSO MY BACKGROUND IN LABOR PROBLEMS IN COLLEGE HELPED ME BECOME A NATIONAL LABOR REPRESENTATIVE FOR A VERY LARGE UNION IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. IT ALSO HELPED ME TO BECOME A MANAGEMENT ADVOCATE FOR MANAGEMENT IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. I'VE DEALT WITH ARBITRATORS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR MANAGEMENT, AND I HAVE DEALT WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE AS A NEGOTIATOR ON THREE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND I THINK THIS BACKGROUND MIGHT BE NEW TO THE BOARD, ALTHOUGH I DID SOME EDUCATION IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. I HELPED START THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CENTER THROUGHOUT THE NATION. BUT MOST OF ALL, I BRING WITH ME A BACKGROUND FROM A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY. I HAVE A BUSINESS BACKGROUND. I HAVE DONE EVERY PHASE OF EVERY JOB IN THE POSTAL SERVICE IN ALL AREAS. THAT'S LABOR RELATIONS, FINANCE, POSTMASTER, MANAGER OF SUPPORT SERVICES. AS MANAGER OF SUPPORT SERVICES, I WAS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND HALF OF NORTH CAROLINA. WE, IN MY DEPARTMENT WHICH I WAS HEAD OF, DID ALL THE PROCUREMENT AND ALL THE MATERIAL MANAGEMENT, ALL THE FORECASTING OF EQUIPMENT.
Q. LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. ONE OF THE THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT WE'RE WORKING ON SO HARD -- AND THERE'S SO MUCH ATTENTION CALLED TO IT - IS THAT WE NEED OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEREVER THEY ARE, TO BE COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND HOPEFULLY GOING ON TO SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TRAINING. CAN YOU TELL ME, LIKE ON THE BOARD OF STATE, WHERE YOUR STUDENT POPULATION DEPENDS ON THOSE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO GET TO YOU, IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED YOUNG PEOPLE COMING INTO HIGHER EDUCATION?
A. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TO BECOME WHAT I WOULD CALL A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. IN THE LOWER PART OF THE COUNTRY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVERY ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT GRADUATES FROM THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS LOOK AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BECAUSE, SEE, THEY COULD COMMUTE THERE AND BECAUSE, IF THEIR FAMILIES ARE POOR, THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPENSE OF PAYING ROOM AND BOARD. THEY COULD COME ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THAT WOULD BE ALL OF THEM. I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BRING IN MINORITY STUDENTS.
Q. IS THAT AN EMPHASIS WITH YOU?
A. IT VERY MUCH IS, YES.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES?
Q. ONE QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR BACKGROUND THAT YOU HAVE A DIVERSE BACKGROUND. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF A STRONG BOARD THAT WOULD, I'LL USE THE WORDS, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND ARGUE IN FAVOR OF A BOARD THAT WILL LOOK AT A SITUATION AND BE AGGRESSIVE IN SOLVING IT?
A. I'M SMILING BECAUSE MY LAST TWO MANAGERS THAT I WORKED FOR LOOKED AT ME AS BEING A VERY STRONG MANAGER, AND THAT'S BEEN MY BACKGROUND. ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT GET INTO THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL, AS FAR AS POLICY IS CONCERNED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BE VERY STRONG IN THAT AREA AND BE VERY STRONG IN THE OVERSIGHT AREA.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. DOUGLAS) THANK YOU, SIR. THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS MR. SAMUEL F. LYONS.
(SAMUEL F. LYONS, CANDIDATE FOR THE S. C. STATE COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. LYONS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. LYONS?
SENATOR SMITH: WE'RE JUST DETERMINED THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHY THEY'RE HERE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR, I THINK WE OUGHT TO CROSS-EXAMINE THEM THOROUGHLY.
Q. I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT, AS WE ALL DO, AND WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHY YOU OFFERED. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE AS A TRUSTEE AT STATE?
A. I STARTED GETTING INTERESTED, SENATOR, IN SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE THROUGH DR. MACEO NANCE WHO I SERVED ON ANOTHER BOARD WITH FOR MANY YEARS. THEN LATER ON THAT WAS REINFORCED WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION ON WHICH I SERVED FOR SIX YEARS AND WAS VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THREE YEARS. I CHAIRED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AGAINST ALL THE STATE AGENCIES FOR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS REGARDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. AND LOCALLY I HELPED ESTABLISH THE SEA ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE CORPORATION. I HELPED MAYOR RILEY SAVE THE FEDDER CLINIC FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY DOWN IN OUR AREA, AS ONE OF YOUR PEERS HERE WOULD RECOGNIZE. AND I'VE -- IN ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT I'VE SERVED ON, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN WHICH I HAVE SERVED -- I HAVE EXCELLED IN EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE EVER UNDERTAKEN. I WORK WITH A C.P.A. FIRM WHO AUDITED SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. I HAVE SOME INPUT INTO SOME OF THEIR PROBLEMS DOWN THERE. THEY NEED TO TOUGHEN UP THEIR ADMINISTRATION. THEY NEED TO TOUGHEN UP THEIR STAFF AND FACULTY TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HIGH TECH MOVEMENT THAT WE'RE GETTING INTO. AND IT'S NO LONGER THE IN THING FOR US TO SAY THAT A BLACK HAS A SHEEPSKIN AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE HIM ON SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN. WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON STRETCHING OUR PEOPLE OUT SO THEY CAN EXCEL, WHETHER THEY'RE BLACK OR WHITE. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DO IT THAN ANY OTHER BLACK SCHOOL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SENATOR?
Q. YES.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. LYONS. THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS ROGER D. SCOTT.
(ROGER D. SCOTT, CANDIDATE FOR THE S. C. STATE COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. WOULD YOU TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOU ARE SEEKING THIS POSITION?
A. YES, SIR, SENATOR. WHEN I FIRST READ ABOUT ---
Q. LET ME CORRECT YOU. I'M A REPRESENTATIVE.
A. REPRESENTATIVE, SORRY, SIR. WHEN I FIRST READ THAT NO ONE HAD APPLIED FOR THE VACANCY THAT WAS COMING UP, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED. AND I KNEW THAT I HAD AN OBLIGATION TO THE SCHOOL. WHEN I WENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA STATE IN 1972, I WENT THERE SORT OF UNDER PROTEST AGAINST MY FAMILY. I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, BUT MY FAMILY SAID, "YOU REALLY NEED TO GO", AND "WHY DON'T YOU GO AND TRY IT FOR A YEAR?". AND WHEN I GOT DOWN THERE, I FOUND SOME VERY DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS DOWN THERE WHO WANTED TO SEE YOU EXCEL AND THAT INSPIRED ME. AND SO I STAYED FOR FOUR YEARS AND I CAME OUT OF THERE IN FOUR YEARS.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR?
Q. PERHAPS THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, BUT YOU HAVE HERE LISTED TWO AFFIDAVITS FROM A JOHN A. BEARDEN, CLERK OF COURT, AND IT SAYS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD ANY GENERAL SESSIONS JUDGMENTS FILED AGAINST YOU. DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT DIDN'T REACH THE GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS? I DON'T MEAN TO EMBARRASS YOU, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR.
SENATOR WILSON: BEING FROM LEXINGTON COUNTY AND BEING ABLE TO INTERPRET WHAT OUR CLERK OF COURT MEANT, WHAT IT MEANT WAS THAT THESE ARE ONES FILED WITH THE CLERK OF COURT AT THE COURTHOUSE AS OPPOSED TO ANY JUDGMENT FILED IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT. BUT THIS CERTAINLY IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE HEARING TODAY AND CLEARLY INDICATES HE HAS A CLEAR RECORD.
SENATOR GIESE: THANK YOU.
SENATOR WILSON: WE ARE SO PRECISE IN LEXINGTON COUNTY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE NEVER SEEK ANY JUDGMENTS FROM THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT BECAUSE, LORD, THERE ARE SO MANY MAGISTRATES IN THE STATE THAT WE'D HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH.
SENATOR WILSON: WE HAVE A VERY PRECISE AND ARTICULATE CLERK OF COURT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: AND ANY JUDGMENT FROM A MAGISTRATE'S COURT WOULD BE ALMOST MINUTE IN TODAY'S CONSIDERATION OF MONETARY VALUES.
A. JUST TO PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE, SENATOR, NO, THERE ARE NO JUDGMENTS IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
Q. THANK YOU.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
Q. I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENT THAT YOUR PARENTS MORE OR LESS INSISTED THAT YOU TRY SCHOOL FOR A YEAR, AND YOU WERE SUCCESSFUL AND COMPLETED YOUR FOUR YEARS, WHICH I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING. HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE, DO YOU WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHURCH OR IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THEM ALSO NOT TO GIVE UP SOMETIMES OR AS TO THE VALUE OF AN EDUCATION, WHAT IT HAS MEANT TO YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS?
A. NO, MA'AM, I CAN'T SAY THAT I DO THAT IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN I WAS IN THE RESERVES SERVING IN A UNIT IN AIKEN, I DID IT THERE. THERE WE DEALT WITH A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, AND I COUNSELED A LOT OF FOLKS ON WHY -- WELL, I ASKED THEM THE QUESTION, "WHY DON'T YOU GO TO COLLEGE?", "WHY DON'T YOU GIVE A SCHOOL A TRY?", REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS. I FEEL THAT YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, HOWEVER, ARE MISSING A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I TALK TO MY WIFE ABOUT THIS QUITE OFTEN. MY WIFE WAS -- WELL, SHE DID NOT ATTEND COLLEGE AND I ENCOURAGE HER. I'M TRYING TO GET HER TO GO BACK NOW -- SO I HAVEN'T ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
Q. THE MOST WONDERFUL THING ABOUT EDUCATION IS REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU BREAK IT OFF, YOU CAN GO BACK. BUT MY MAIN EMPHASIS TO YOU IS -- AS A LEADERSHIP PERSON AND ROLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS FAR AS ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN PROCEED TO SOMETHING HIGHER, AND I DO HOPE YOU'LL DO THAT BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THAT IN YOUR ---
A. YES, MA'AM.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
SENATOR WILSON: I'D LIKE TO ALSO COMMEND MR. SCOTT ON HIS VERY CANDID TESTIMONY BEFORE US TODAY, AND ALSO I CAN TELL HIS VERY SINCERE DESIRE TO SERVE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROVIDING THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. SCOTT) THANK YOU, SIR. THAT COMPLETES THE CANDIDATES FOR S. C. STATE. ALBERT L. JONES HAS WITHDRAWN. NEXT WE GO TO THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY LAY SEATS. MR. THERON FEW?
(H. THERON FEW, CANDIDATE FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA LAY SEAT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. FEW, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN? SENATOR GIESE?
Q. IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION TO BE A LAY PERSON ON A BOARD OF MEDICAL PEOPLE. WHAT PROMPTED YOU?
A. WELL, I THINK IT STARTED WITH THE ARTICLE IN THE STATE PAPER ON JANUARY 10TH. AND SOMEONE PUT IT SUCCINCTLY, "IF NOT ME, WHO? IF NOT NOW, WHEN?", BECAUSE I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED, AND I WANTED TO EXPOSE TO YOU MYSELF TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT I COULD FILL THAT OPPORTUNITY.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR -- I CAN'T FIND YOUR RESUME HERE. WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?
A. MY BACKGROUND IS NINE YEARS IN A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING POSITION. I SPENT ELEVEN YEARS IN THE METHODIST MINISTRY, AND THEN I RETURNED TO PRIVATE LIFE, AND AM NOW CONTROLLER OF A COMPANY CALLED INTERNATIONAL KNIFE & SAW IN FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA AND HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION SINCE 1981.
SENATOR SMITH: WHILE WE'RE LOOKING, MR. CHAIRMAN, TRYING TO FIND WHERE HE IS ---
Q. WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE -- WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, WHAT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY BOARD AND WHAT'S YOUR MAIN EMPHASIS OR REASON FOR OFFERING YOUR SERVICES?
A. I'M AN ACCOUNTANT BY TRADE AND I THINK AN AUDITOR BY SPIRIT, IF I MAY PUT IT THAT WAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY IN ANY ENDEAVOR, BE IT PRIVATE OR PUBLIC. IF I COULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE AREA OF COST CONTROLS AND HOW DO WE SPEND THE MONEY THAT IS INVESTED IN THESE INSTITUTIONS. ARE WE GETTING THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT? BECAUSE IF I MAY USE THIS EXAMPLE -- IN A PRIVATE BUSINESS SUCH AS THE ONE WHERE I'M A PART OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE ANSWER TO A CLOSELY HELD GROUP OF OWNERS AND ADMITTEDLY THE BOTTOM LINE DOES MATTER. AND ONLY YESTERDAY I FINISHED MY FINAL BOTTOM LINE FOR 1989, AND I SIT AND I ASK MYSELF QUESTIONS, "WHY DID WE DO THIS IN THE AREA OF SALES AND WHY DID OUR COSTS GO UP IN THESE AREAS?", BECAUSE THESE ARE MANAGEMENT TOOLS THAT WE ACCOUNTANTS PROVIDE TO GET AT THE HEART OF PROBLEMS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND, QUITE INTERESTINGLY, IS THAT SOMETIMES WE DO NOT GO TO THE SOURCE AND WE DO NOT GET FACTS. WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS TOO OFTEN BASED ON AN OPINION AND WHAT WE READ IN THE NEWSPAPERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACCOUNTABILITY BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE FOREFRONT OF THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEES IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION, AND I BELIEVE THAT BEING AN OUTSIDER, NOT BEING A DOCTOR, BUT BEING IN BUSINESS AND HAVING TO RESPOND TO MANAGERS, THE MANAGEMENT IN MY BUSINESS, THAT I COULD, IF YOU WILL, PLAY THE ROLE OF DEVIL'S ADVOCATE THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED SOMETIMES. WE DON'T SEE THINGS WHEN WE'RE NEAR THEM AS OFTEN AS WE DO WHEN WE GO INTO A NEW SITUATION. AND I THINK IN THE BOARDS OF UNIVERSITIES, THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT BALANCE THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT. WHETHER I'M THE PERSON OR NOT IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE.
Q. MR. FEW, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST REFRESHING WORDS I'VE HEARD IN YEARS IN THAT STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE. I SERVE ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE. I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE PROPOSE A REDUCTION IN F.T.E.'S, FULL TIME EQUIVALENCIES. IT'S ALWAYS, "WE NEED 2,000 OR 2500 MORE EMPLOYEES FOR THE STATE", BUT NEVER ONCE HAS SOMEONE PROPOSED A REDUCTION IN F.T.E. AND THE POINT YOU'VE JUST MADE ABOUT SOMEONE PLAYING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE -- I THINK SO OFTEN PEOPLE DON'T CHOOSE TO PLAY THAT POSITION BECAUSE IT'S NOT POLITICALLY POPULAR AND YOU DON'T GET REELECTED --
A. THAT'S TRUE.
Q. SOMETIMES IF YOU RIPPLE THE WATERS. SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT CANDID STATEMENT.
A. THANK YOU.
SENATOR SMITH: ONE MORE QUESTION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
Q. SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT ALL OF US ARE GRAPPLING CONSTANTLY WITH HEALTH CARE COSTS, THE HIGH COST OF INSURANCE. THAT IS, I THINK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT DAILY. BUT AS AN ACCOUNTANT, AS SOMEONE WITH THE TYPE OF BACKGROUND THAT YOU HAVE, IS THAT THE TYPE OF THING THAT YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PINPOINT AND INFLUENCE MAYBE SOME CHANGES IN POLICY OR THE WAY WE HANDLE SOME OF THE COST SHIFTING AND THIS TYPE OF THING WHICH ALSO ESCALATES HEALTH CARE COSTS?
A. AS I TRIED TO STATE IN MY LETTER OF INTENT ---
Q. THAT'S WHAT I WAS READING.
A. WHERE DO YOU GET AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM OF STOPPING THIS EVER INCREASING FLOW OF COSTS BECAUSE, AS A BUSINESS -- THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR COMPANY SAT IN FRONT OF MY DESK JUST LAST WEEK AND ASKED ME ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS WITHIN OUR PARTICULAR DIVISION BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS OF OUR COMPANY. AND OF COURSE I GAVE HIM THE GOOD NEWS FIRST, THAT OUR WORKMEN'S COMP INSURANCE IS GOING TO GO DOWN 15% STARTING THIS YEAR. THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. BUT THEN HE ASKED ME THE QUESTION THAT CONCERNED ME THE MOST, "WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE?" AND I SAID TO HIM, "JIM, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT PAYING MY HEALTH CARE BILL, BUT IF WE AS A COMPANY START CHARGING THE EMPLOYEES FOR DEPENDENT HEALTH CARE", WHICH WE'VE NEVER DONE IN THE 12 YEARS I'VE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY, "THAT IS GOING TO BE AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN PAY FOR THESE EMPLOYEES". AND I SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN". AND OUR LITTLE COMPANY IS GOING TO HAVE A MINIMUM HEALTH CARE COST OF OVER $850,000 IF WE HAVE A GOOD YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE - I STARTED WITH A CARRIER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO - WHAT WE CALL A MINIMUM PREMIUM PLAN, IN THE HOPES THAT IF YOU HAVE A GOOD YEAR ON CLAIMS, THAT YOU GET THE RETURN AND NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. RIGHT NOW WE PROJECT THAT TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES' COSTS ALONG WITH THE DEPENDENT COVERAGE, IT'S GOING TO COST US IN EXCESS OF $4,000 PER YEAR IN THE 1990 BUDGET YEAR, $4,000 PER EMPLOYEE. IT IS OF CONCERN TO ALL OF US. NOW, MAY I ADD ONE COMMENT? I DON'T KNOW IF THE MANAGEMENT FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY WOULD SEE IT AS A PROBLEM THAT THEY SHOULD ADDRESS. I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT AS WILL ROGERS SAID ABOUT THE WEATHER, WE ALL TALK ABOUT IT, BUT NOT VERY MANY OF US DO VERY MUCH ABOUT IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD DO, TO BE HONEST, BUT MAYBE, AS I ILLUSTRATED, NEW WAYS OF APPROACHING HEALTH CARE, NEW THOUGHTS, NEW INPUT. IN MANAGEMENT WE HAVE THREE WAYS TO MAKE THE BOTTOM LINE. THE FIRST WAY IS WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING. THE FIRST DOLLAR WE EVER MAKE AT HANACO IS WHEN WE BUY SOMETHING, SO WE'RE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN OUR PURCHASING, TERRIBLY AGGRESSIVE. AND I LEARNED THAT FROM A GERMAN. I HOPE I DON'T OFFEND ANYONE, BUT GERMANS ARE BASICALLY AGGRESSIVE IN EVERYTHING THEY DO AND THEY'RE GOOD MANAGERS. BUT I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THAT MAN. HE'S NOW PRESIDENT OF OUR COMPANY. THE SECOND ONE IS WHETHER YOU RAISE YOUR PRICE OR NOT, AND I CONSIDER THIS THE WORST ALTERNATIVE OF ALL. BUT THE THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW YOU PRODUCE MORE WITH LESS, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN PRIVATE BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO PRODUCE MORE WITH LESS BECAUSE, AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID FROM ORANGEBURG ABOUT COMPETITION, HE'S GOT TO COME UP WITH A GOOD BID FOR THE UNIFORM SERVICE TO STATE OR SOMEBODY'S GOING TO UNDERCUT HIM. AND SO PRODUCTIVITY IS THE KEY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY PRODUCTIVITY SHOULDN'T BE A GOAL IN GOVERNMENT AND IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AS WELL AS IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. FEW) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: PHILLIP D. SASSER?
(PHILLIP D. SASSER, CANDIDATE FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA LAY SEAT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. SASSER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. I DO NOT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'VE SERVED ON THIS BOARD FOR A PERIOD OF EIGHT YEARS, AND TO THIS DAY I HAVE A PERFECT ATTENDANCE RECORD AND I FEEL THAT I'LL CERTAINLY BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THE FUTURE.
Q. THANK YOU, MR. SASSER. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I DO NOT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SASSER?
SENATOR SMITH: I HAVEN'T FOUND HIM YET.
SENATOR GIESE: HE'S RIGHT AT THE BACK, HERE (INDICATING DOCUMENTS). MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR?
Q. SEVERAL YEARS AGO -- QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, A SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE AND WE NOW HAVE TWO MEDICAL SCHOOLS. THE OUTCOME, WE THOUGHT, WAS GOING TO BE A PRODUCTION OF MORE PHYSICIANS, MORE DOCTORS, HOPEFULLY WITH MANY OF THEM STAYING IN THE STATE. AS I'VE LOOKED AT THE LAST COUPLE OF BUDGETS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN CHARLESTON HAS REDUCED ITS INTAKE AND OUTPUT WHEN IT COMES TO PHYSICIANS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED IT, BUT THE END RESULT HAS BEEN THAT WE ONLY HAVE TEN OR TWENTY MORE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THIS STATE TODAY THAN WE HAD BACK WHEN THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY DOWN IN CHARLESTON WAS PRODUCING ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT THE COST HAS GONE UP ABOUT 50 MILLION DOLLARS. NOW, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT ABOUT PRODUCING MORE WITH LESS AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM OF INCREASING COSTS?
A. OF COURSE, SENATOR, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT I JUST DON'T SIMPLY KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO IS. I THINK THAT WITH THE PROBLEM OF SKY ROCKETING COSTS, I THINK THAT IS SIMPLY THE COST THAT WE MUST BEAR TO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE, IF YOU WILL, IN PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS. LET ME SAY THIS, THAT I WENT ON THE BOARD OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SOME EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AT THAT TIME WAS TO HIRE AN ADMINISTRATOR. WE HIRED, OF COURSE, DR. JIM EDWARDS WHO WE FEEL IS MOST QUALIFIED AS AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH HIS EXPERIENCE, WITH HIS KNOW-HOW, WITH HIS MEDICAL BACKGROUND, WITH HIS POLITICAL EXPERTISE WITH HIS LEADERSHIP. AND THINK THAT FROM THAT TIME WE HAVE, OF COURSE, WITNESSED UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH FROM THE STANDPOINT OF FACILITIES AND ATTRACTING THE TYPE OF PERSONNEL THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH THAT AN INSTITUTION SUCH AS THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, I THINK, IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE BY ALL OF US, ALL THE CITIZENS. AND WE HAVE PROVIDED ON THAT CAMPUS OF OUR INSTITUTE A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. WE ARE GETTING READY TO CONSTRUCT THE HOLLINGS CANCER INSTITUTE. ALL THESE THINGS, SENATOR, I'M GLAD TO SAY, AND SORRY TO SAY, TOO, IN THE SAME WORDS OR GROUP OF WORDS, ARE VERY COSTLY. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE BROUGHT ON BOARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER MEDICAL SCHOOLS OR INSTITUTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR. IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. AND WE'VE BROUGHT ON BOARD A NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE. WE FEEL THAT OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH, DR. PETER FISSINGER, WHO WAS THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AIDS INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, TO LEAD US IN OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM IS CERTAINLY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL. I'M NOT TRYING TO EVADE YOUR QUESTION, SENATOR. I'M SIMPLY SAYING THAT THESE COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF INSTITUTION AND THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP WE NEED.
Q. ONE OTHER QUESTION, AND THAT IS WHAT WAS THE BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT -- AND YOU, AS A LAY PERSON, I THINK ARE THE KEY TO WHAT THE BOARD'S REACTION MIGHT BE BECAUSE I THINK YOU REFLECT WHAT THE MAN ON THE STREET, THE LAY PEOPLE'S APPROACH MIGHT BE. WHAT WAS THE BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CREATION OF THE FOUNDATION THAT -- FOR INSTANCE, YOU MAY BE PAYING A FACULTY MEMBER A SALARY OF $100,000, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE INCOME FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON ON THE FACULTY IS ABOUT 2-1/4, $225,000, BECAUSE MONEY IS PAID INTO A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, AND THEN THEY CAN DRAW ON THAT MONEY WHICH CAN EFFECT AN INCREASE IN THEIR INCOME. THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE FACT THAT THE HEAD OF THE PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT WAS TAKING ABOUT $700,000 OUT OF THIS FOUNDATION. WHAT WAS THE BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CREATION OF THIS WAY TO GET ADDED INCOME FOR THE FACULTY?
A. WELL, WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT. WE HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE JUST HAVE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH INCENTIVE FOR THESE FOLKS WHO ARE TEACHING IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND WHO ARE OPERATING IN CLINICS AND THAT SORT OF THING -- HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ENOUGH INCOME SO THAT THEY WON'T BE LEAVING US AND GOING BACK TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
Q. IS THAT THE REASONING, HOW THAT WAS RATIONALIZED?
A. YES, SIR, VERY DEFINITELY. WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THAT I KNOW OF THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: JUST ONE, IF I MAY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR SMITH.
Q. MR. SASSER, I NOTED THAT YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY AND HAVE, I'M SURE, CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL, BUT ARE YOU THE ONLY ATTORNEY ON THAT BOARD SERVING PRESENTLY?
A. NO, MA'AM.
SENATOR WILSON: BOB LAKE IS ON THAT BOARD, TOO.
A. YES, FORMER SENATOR LAKE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, SENATOR MCLEOD IS ALSO ON OUR BOARD.
Q. OKAY.
A. LET ME SAY THIS, IF I MAY, ABOUT THAT. WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR THIS BOARD, I DID IT BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE BOARD OF A MAJOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, BUT MY CONNECTION WITH THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IS QUITE VAST. MY FATHER GRADUATED FROM THERE. I HAVE THREE BROTHERS, ALL OF WHICH GRADUATED FROM THERE AND ARE DOCTORS. LET ME SAY THAT I'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED SERVING ON THIS BOARD FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IN ITSELF FOR ME. BUT SO FAR AS LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD, WE HAVE BOTH IN-HOUSE COUNSEL AND EXTERNAL COUNSEL, BUT I THINK THAT THESE LAWYERS APPRECIATE THE TWO CENTS WORTH, IF YOU WILL, THAT THE LAWYERS THAT SERVE ON THE BOARD CAN GIVE THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.
Q. THAT'S REALLY WHY I WAS ASKING.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR WILSON?
Q. KNOWING THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY ATTORNEY, JOE GOOD, I'M SURE HE APPRECIATES YOUR INPUT ANYTIME.
A. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT CHOICE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. SASSER.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE HAVE MR. W. C. LAUDERDALE.
(W. C. LAUDERDALE, CANDIDATE FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA LAY SEAT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
SENATOR WILSON: (TO MR. LAUDERDALE) I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, AS A GRADUATE OF WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA DOING SO WELL. AND ALSO, AS A PRODUCT OF YOUR CHURCH EXTENSION, I AM NOW A MEMBER OF THE A.R.P.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MR. LAUDERDALE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE M.U.S.C. BOARD?
A. SENATOR, WITH THE LITTLE BIT OF WISDOM THAT I HAVE COLLECTED THROUGH THE YEARS, I'VE COME TO SEE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE SERVICE OF INDIVIDUALS. ALL OF YOU HERE HAVE THAT SAME APPROACH IN MANY WAYS OR YOU WOULD NOT HAVE OFFERED YOURSELVES TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY THAT YOU ARE SERVING. I THINK WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD, ALSO, IN HAVING WORKED FOR AN INSTITUTION IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE WAY, HAVING SERVED ON SEVERAL BOARDS AND COUNCILS, THAT I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIVISION OF LABOR, IF YOU PLEASE, IN TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION, AND I FEEL I HAVE THAT ALSO TO CONTRIBUTE.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS, THEN, IS THE SEAT THAT DR. EZELL HAD. IS THAT THE ONE?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT'S CORRECT. THIS IS FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM, TWO YEARS.
SENATOR SMITH: I'VE GOT YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. LAUDERDALE) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE HEAR FROM MR. JACK MCINTOSH.
(JACK F. MCINTOSH, CANDIDATE FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA LAY SEAT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. MCINTOSH, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: JUST A MINUTE.
Q. BRIEFLY, COULD YOU TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION, MR. MCINTOSH?
A. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME. ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS, MR. HARRISON, SUGGESTED THAT I MIGHT BE OF SOME SERVICE IN THIS, AND I WAS VERY HONORED THAT HE WOULD MENTION THIS TO ME. AND WHEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK THAT I CAN BE OF SERVICE. I'VE HAD 30 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE ON ONE SCHOOL BOARD. I'VE SERVED OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS. FOR YEARS I'VE SERVED IN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SERVICE POSITIONS, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A NECESSARY PART OF WHAT WE DO. I HAVE SERVED ON THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I WAS CHAIRMAN WHEN YOU PASSED THE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT. I WAS INVOLVED IN MY WAY IN THAT ACT, AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT CONTRIBUTION AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT.
Q. WE BOTH DO.
A. YES, SIR. WHEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT, FIRST OF ALL, I WAS A CHARLESTONIAN AND I'D LOVE TO GET BACK TO CHARLESTON. THAT'S NOT WHY I CAME IN. AND THEY DON'T HAVE A BASKETBALL TEAM, SO I'M NOT INTERESTED IN TICKETS. I WANT TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD. MY SON IS IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM. I TALK WITH HIM A LOT. HE CHOSE TO GO INTO ACADEMICS, AND I ASKED HIM WHY AND HE TOLD ME WHY, AND I SHARE HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR THAT CALLING. I THINK THAT THE EFFORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY, PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SHOULD TRANSLATE INTO IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE ADDRESSING OF THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I RECENTLY HELPED FORM THE ALTZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. I DID FUND RAISING. I YEARS AGO CHARTERED THE RETARDED CHILDREN'S ASSOCIATION AND HELPED FORMULATE SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT WERE LATER ADOPTED BY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAME A PART OF THAT. I THINK THAT IN MY 30 YEARS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ROOM, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DEALING WITH PROBLEMS THAT AROSE IN WASHINGTON AND I HAVE DEALT WITH PROBLEMS THAT AROSE OUT OF ATLANTA THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HOW PUBLIC BOARDS ARE RUN, HOW THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND SO FORTH. I THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCE IN THESE AREAS WOULD BE HELPFUL. I'M A TEAM PERSON. I CAN HANDLE THE BACK ROW; I CAN HANDLE THE FRONT ROW. IF THE SITUATION ARISES WHERE I NEED TO OR AM OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PROMINENT ROLE, I'LL TAKE IT. IF IT IS NECESSARY THAT MY ROLE BE IN THE BACK ROW, I'LL SIT BACK THERE AND SERVE FROM THERE. BUT I WOULD BE REAL HONORED TO BE ELECTED.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Q. I NOTICE THAT YOU ARE FROM ANDERSON.
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU KNOW MR. HARRY FINLAY?
A. YES, SIR. HE'S A BANKER. I KNOW ALL THE BANKERS. I'VE SENT FOUR CHILDREN THROUGH COLLEGE AND I KNOW THEM WELL.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. MCINTOSH.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT COMPLETES OUR CANDIDATES FOR THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE A CANDIDATE THAT WE NORMALLY WOULD HEAR TOMORROW FOR THE U.S.C. BOARD WHO HAS QUITE A CONFLICT. HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN COURT TOMORROW, AND HE HAS REQUESTED THAT WE HEAR HIM TODAY AND HE IS HERE. IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE WILL HERE FROM MR. ---
SENATOR SMITH: WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP ANYBODY FROM APPEARING IN COURT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: I HAVE ASSUMED THAT. MR. WILLIAM HUBBARD, U.S.C. CANDIDATE?
(WILLIAM HUBBARD, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WHAT CIRCUIT IS THAT, MR. HUBBARD?
A. FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, RICHLAND AND KERSHAW COUNTIES. I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE COMMITTEE ALLOWING ME TO APPEAR OUT OF ORDER.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: FIRST LET ME SWEAR YOU IN. I DON'T THINK YOU WERE HERE EARLIER.
(MR. HUBBARD IS DULY SWORN BY REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: GO AHEAD. I'M TRYING TO READ THIS (INDICATING DOCUMENTS).
Q. WHILE SHE'S TRYING TO GET HER QUESTIONS IN ORDER, COULD YOU TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION ON THE BOARD?
A. WELL, I DEVELOPED A PARTICULAR LOVE FOR THE UNIVERSITY AS A STUDENT THERE IN THE EARLY '70'S. I ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY ON AN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP AND I WAS A SOLOMON BLATT CAROLINA SCHOLAR. AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD I FELT A SPECIAL OBLIGATION TO TRY TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY, AS IT GAVE ME A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. THAT FEELING HAS GROWN. I THINK THE UNIVERSITY SERVES A VITAL MISSION FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND I'M JUST ONE OF THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT LIKES TO BE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD. AND I HAVE A PARTICULAR AFFINITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD PLACE THAT I MIGHT MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SENATOR WILSON: MR CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
SENATOR WILSON: WHILE THE QUESTIONS ARE BEING PREPARED, I WANTED TO COMMEND MR. HUBBARD. I WANTED TO COMMEND MR. HUBBARD IN THAT I HAD A CONSTITUENT WHO HAD A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHERE THEY WERE ENROLLED IN A LANGUAGE COURSE THAT WAS CANCELED AS THEY WALKED INTO CLASS. AND I BROUGHT THIS TO HIS ATTENTION AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW MY CONSTITUENT APPRECIATES, THAT HE LOOKED INTO THE MATTER AND DETERMINED AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. AND IT PREVENTED A CRISIS IN THE LIVES OF THIS STUDENT AND THIS FAMILY. AND MR. HUBBARD IMMEDIATELY LOOKED INTO IT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT HE TOOK TO DETERMINE WHAT COULD BE DONE.
A. THANK YOU, SIR. THAT WAS A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION AND I ASSURE YOU THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT IT INVOLVED THE CANCELLATION OF SOME FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN THE FUNDING WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
SENATOR WILSON: (TO MR. HUBBARD) WELL, I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY YOU'VE SHOWN.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
Q. MR. HUBBARD, I REMEMBER HOW INTENSELY YOU RAN FOR THE SEAT THE FIRST TIME AND, OF COURSE, I SUPPORTED YOU.
A. YES, SIR, THANK YOU.
Q. I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE YOU MISSED SINCE BEING ON THE BOARD?
A. I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE MISSED ANY, BUT I MAY HAVE MISSED ONE. I WAS TRYING TO RECOLLECT BACK WHEN THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ANOTHER CANDIDATE. I MAY HAVE LEFT ONE MEETING EARLY TO CATCH A FLIGHT THAT I HAD TO, TO GO OUT OF TOWN ON, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE ACTUALLY MISSED ALL OF ANY MEETING.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: YES, SIR, I HAVE ONE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WHILE WE'VE GOT HIM, WE'D BETTER CROSS-EXAMINE HIM.
Q. MR. HUBBARD, I CERTAINLY COMMEND YOU, IN THE TIMES THAT I HAVE TALKED WITH YOU, IN YOUR INTEREST AND IT SEEMS TO BE VERY GENUINE WITH REGARD TO THE UNIVERSITY -- AND YOUR FAMILY AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING ACROSS THIS STATE TO HELP, IN VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OTHERS. BUT WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU ABOUT RIGHT HERE IS ONE THING THAT HAS CAUGHT MY INTEREST, PROMOTING HIGHER ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN YOUR UNIVERSITY. AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS THERE ON HOW YOU MIGHT ACCOMPLISH THAT?
A. WELL, OF COURSE, HIGHER ACADEMIC STANDARDS BEGIN AT THE KINDERGARTEN LEVEL, AND THE STATE OBVIOUSLY HAS TO LOOK FIRST AT TRYING TO BUILD THAT BASE IN TERMS OF KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. WE HAVE TO JUST GET A BETTER BANG FOR OUR BUCK IN ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE TYPE OF EDUCATION THAT THESE CHILDREN NEED. I PERSONALLY WOULD BE INCLINED AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CONCERN GIVEN TO THE TEACHING ASPECT OF WHAT FACULTY MEMBERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION EMPHASIZE. I THINK IT'S NOT A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PROBLEM, BUT IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM NOW. WE HAVE SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH THAT I THINK SOMETIMES WE DON'T GIVE THE PROPER FOCUS TO TEACHING. RESEARCH IS A FINE THING AND WE NEED IT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CARRY KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. IF WE EVER LOSE SIGHT THAT WE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST A TEACHING INSTITUTION, I THINK ACADEMIC STANDARDS WILL CERTAINLY SUFFER. OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO RECRUIT STUDENTS WITH HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS WOULD MAKE FOR A BETTER INSTITUTION AND CERTAINLY RAISE THE LEVEL OF ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
Q. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND THE REASON I WAS LEADING UP TO THAT, IS DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES, AND THESE ARE COURSES THAT WE USED TO CALL SUBFRESHMAN COURSES AND THEY'RE COURSES THAT MANY TIMES YOUNG PEOPLE COMING IN FROM SMALLER SCHOOLS OR WHATEVER BACKGROUND HAVE DIFFICULTY THAT FIRST YEAR OR SO JUST GETTING THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND. ARE YOU AWARE THAT COLLEGE CREDIT WAS BEING GIVEN AT TIMES FOR DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES?
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. AND WHEN DID YOU BECOME AWARE OF THAT?
A. PROBABLY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
Q. AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN AN EMPHASIS TO CORRECT THAT?
A. WELL, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO PHASE OUT UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PROVIDING REMEDIAL COURSES. I THINK, PERHAPS UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A NEED FOR SUCH COURSES, BUT I THINK AS SOON AS WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF COURSES AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE.
Q. THE REASON I WAS ASKING THAT IS BECAUSE I'M CERTAIN THAT THE 100 COURSES - NOT 101 - THAT YOU PROBABLY WILL ALWAYS NEED SOME, BUT I THINK THAT IN FAIRNESS TO THE STUDENTS, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCLIMATE TO A LARGE CAMPUS LIKE THAT, SOMEWHERE THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN EMPHASIS ON GIVING THEM HELP AT SOME STAGE BEFORE YOU GET THEM IN CLASSES WHERE THEY'RE EARNING COLLEGE CREDITS BECAUSE IT JUST MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT.
A. I AGREE WITH YOU.
Q. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
A. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S GOOD ADVICE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. HUBBARD IS ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, SO I'VE FOLLOWED HIM VERY, VERY CAREFULLY DURING HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS ON THE BOARD.
Q. I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, MR. HUBBARD, WHAT ROLE YOU THINK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLAYS IN THE BUDGET CRUNCH SITUATION THAT APPARENTLY YOU'RE FACING EVERY YEAR? AND THIS YEAR MAY BE ONE OF THE WORST YEARS. WHAT PLANS DOES THE BOARD FORMULATE OR DOES IT LOOK TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR, LET'S SAY, REDUCING SOMETHING -- AS I TOLD SOMEONE EARLIER, WE'VE NEVER HEARD, ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, ANYONE SAY, "WE'D LIKE TO REDUCE M.F.E.'S". IT'S ALWAYS GROW, GROW, GROW. AND WHAT POSITION DOES THE BOARD TAKE ON CONTINGENCY PLANS OR WHEN THE REAL FINANCIAL PROBLEMS HIT THE UNIVERSITY?
A. SENATOR, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR TO MY HEART AND I'M FRANKLY GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. IN THE PAST I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR AND THE 59TH MINUTE WITH REQUESTS. BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL SOMETIME THE EARLY PART OF JUNE WHAT YOUR BUDGET WILL BE FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THERE'S ALL THIS SCRAMBLING AROUND TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. THAT HAS PRESENTED THE BOARD OFTEN, IN MY JUDGMENT, WITH NOT ENOUGH TIME TO WEIGH PRIORITIES AND MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT COST BENEFIT -- TO MAKE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT OR WHAT AREAS TO BE CUT. I AM CHAIRING WHAT IS NOW AN AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FISCAL POLICY WHICH, BY THIS FALL, WE HOPE TO HAVE IN THE BY-LAWS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MAKE THAT A PERMANENT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THAT I HAVE SOUGHT INFORMATION FROM OUR FIRST MEETING AS TO THE STATUS OF THE BUDGET BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STRONGLY URGED, AND THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE HAS UNANIMOUSLY URGED, THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP US APPRISED OF WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, TO GIVE US SOME HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THOSE HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS WAS REPORTED IN THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AS INDICATING THAT WE WERE GOING TO RAISE TUITION $500. SO THERE'S SOME RISK WHEN YOU START TALKING HYPOTHETICALLY ABOUT WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN. BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO TRY TO GET A FEEL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW MANY DOLLARS WE'LL HAVE. AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION ASKS US TO VOTE ALL OR NOTHING ON A TUITION INCREASE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "WELL, IF WE RAISE IT $100, WHERE WILL THIS TAKE US?". "IF WE DON'T RAISE IT AT ALL, WHERE WILL WE BE?". "IF WE CUT TUITION, WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO CUT?". ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS, I THINK, NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN PRIORITIES OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE PRIORITIES THAT I HAVE AS CHAIRMAN, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS HAND IN HAND WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND ARE NOT BROUGHT IN SIMPLY TO RUBBER STAMP A RECOMMENDATION AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
Q. I THINK THAT'S GREAT, BUT TELL ME WHAT HAS THE BOARD DONE TO -- YOU KNOW, WHEN AN INDUSTRY GETS INTO SOME PROBLEM FINANCIALLY, YOU SEE THEM SLIMMING DOWN, CUTTING BACK AND SO ON. WHAT STUDIES -- OR ARE THERE ANY STUDIES BEING UNDERTAKEN TO LOOK AT A SITUATION OF SLIMMING DOWN?
A. LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. THOSE STUDIES ARE UNDERTAKEN. AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD, ON WHICH I ALSO SERVE, WE HAD A REPORT, SAW THE REPORT OF EVERY NEW PROGRAM THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED, EVERY NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND ALSO TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT COSTING ANY MORE THAN THEY HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR. AND WE WERE PLEASED TO FIND OUT THAT, IN FACT, MANY OF THE PROGRAMS WERE NOT COSTING WHAT THE PROJECTIONS WERE. AND WE'RE IN A POINT IN THE APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS, AT THE LAST MEETING, WHERE IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF OUR COMMITTEE THAT FROM NOW ON, WHEN BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A NEW PROGRAM, WHICH YOU HAVE TO DO IF THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD -- YOU CAN'T SIMPLY STOP YOUR CURRICULUM BECAUSE TIMES CHANGE, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN LOOK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PROGRAMS CAN BE ELIMINATED. AND SO IN ADDITION, NOW, TO ASKING AT EVERY JUNCTURE WHERE WE'RE ASKED TO APPROVE NEW PROGRAMS, "HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?", WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING, "WHAT CAN WE CUT?". AND THAT'S GOING TO BECOME A STANDARD INQUIRY, I THINK, BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Q. I UNDERSTAND THAT $125 OF EACH STUDENT'S TUITION GOES TO SOME KIND OF BUILDING OR RENOVATION FUND, AND I WONDERED IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT INTO HOW THAT $125 -- BECAUSE THAT SUPPORTS BONDS FOR BUILDING AND RENOVATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT INTO THAT PARTICULAR $125 OF THE STUDENT'S TUITION?
A. AS TO WHERE -- THE ONE INPUT THAT THE BOARD HAS HAD IN TERMS OF HOUSING FUNDS, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS ---
Q. SPECIFICALLY I WAS SPEAKING OF -- YOU JUST HAD A TWO MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION OF -- WAS IT DRAYTON HALL?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. AND I THINK THEY RENOVATED THE OLD GYMNASIUM, THE ONE THAT USED TO BE USED AS A GYMNASIUM, FOR SOME 3-1/2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A THEATER-IN-THE-ROUND?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO $120,000 IN THE P.E. DEPARTMENT WHERE THE STAFF HAS BEEN HALVED, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD OFFICE SPACE. WHAT INPUT DO YOU HAVE IN THAT?
A. I HAVE A MORE LIMITED INPUT INTO THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS BECAUSE I DON'T SERVE ON THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE. THAT INVOLVES A BOND ISSUE. THOSE MATTERS DO COME BEFORE THE FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT GOES TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION. BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL ALLOCATION OF DOLLARS FOR RENOVATIONS, THE PARTICULAR COMMITTEES THAT I SERVE ON DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH INVOLVED ---
Q. BUT THE WHOLE BOARD DOES?
A. BUT THE WHOLE BOARD DOES APPROVE ANY FUNDING OF NEW DOLLARS FOR THAT PROGRAM. ONE THING THAT THE BOARD HAS DONE, JUST BY WAY OF ADDITION, IS WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT HOUSING FUNDS ARE USED FOR RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE HAVING TO BUILD NEW DORMS AND NEW FACILITIES IF WE CAN ROUTINELY MAINTAIN THOSE DORMS IN A BETTER POSTURE AND HOPEFULLY SAVE A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LONG HAUL.
SENATOR MACAULAY: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SIR, SENATOR MACAULAY?
Q. MR. HUBBARD, YOU'RE THE SECOND -- NOT THE SECOND, BUT I REMEMBER WE HAD THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE WHO WAS AN INCUMBENT. MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM RICHLAND, AND, I THINK, YOUR SENATOR, ASKED HIM ABOUT THE COST OF EDUCATING MEDICAL STUDENTS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT ONE IS EDUCATED CHEAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY HERE, AT SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA, AS COMPARED TO THE ONE IN CHARLESTON. I THOUGHT MAYBE MY COLLEAGUE WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH YOU ON WHY THAT MIGHT BE, BUT SINCE HE DIDN'T, I MIGHT ASK YOU -- YOU SAY THAT WE NEED TO GET A BETTER BANG FOR OUR BUCK. AS FAR AS EDUCATING OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS, WOULDN'T WE GET A BETTER BANG FOR OUR BUCK IF WE CONCENTRATED ON ONE PLACE RATHER THAN SPREADING OUT ACROSS THE STATE?
A. I'M NOT GOING TO GET TRAPPED ON THIS ONE, SENATOR.
Q. IT'S NO TRAP. WE HAVE A VERY CAPABLE ATTORNEY RIGHT HERE. IT'S JUST THAT THAT WAS ASKED OF ANOTHER ATTORNEY MEMBER OF THE -- I THINK THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT, TOO, BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE.
A. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FUNDING OR HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE IN DEPTH ABOUT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. I DO KNOW THAT WE WORK VERY HARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO TRY TO WORK OUT ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN, OF COURSE, EDUCATE MEDICAL STUDENTS AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THE WAY THAT WE ARE KIND OF CONSTANTLY IN A STRUGGLE WITH RICHLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ABOUT THE FUNDING OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS INDICATES THAT WE ARE NOT JUST TRYING TO THROW MONEY AT THE EDUCATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS.
Q. THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION. SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD DO BETTER WITHOUT DUPLICATION OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS THAT NOT CORRECT?
A. (WITNESS PAUSING).
Q. OR IS THAT TOO HARD A QUESTION?
A. WELL, I THINK IF IT IS IN FACT DUPLICATION, THEN -- I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S DUPLICATION. I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MEDICAL SCHOOL. I THINK IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE WAS A ROLE FOR THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL TO PLAY TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S DOING A GOOD JOB OF FULFILLING THAT ROLE. I THINK THE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL HERE ARE PERFORMING VERY WELL ON THEIR TESTS, THE QUALITY OF THE STUDENTS IS EXCELLENT, AND THOSE STUDENTS THAT I'VE MET I THINK WILL MAKE EXCELLENT ADDITIONS TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE STAYING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Q. ARE YOU SUGGESTING THEY COULDN'T GET INTO THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA?
A. NO, SIR, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THEY COULDN'T GET IN. I JUST THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAL SCHOOL.
Q. I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT LIGHT, BALANCED.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR WILSON?
Q. IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT DIFFERENT FOUNDATIONS AND THE INTERMIXING OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS. WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THE DISCLOSURE OF THE FUNDS AND IN THE FUTURE HOW THEY WOULD BE ADMINISTERED?
A. I THINK THAT FOUNDATIONS SHOULD DISCLOSE EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE EXCEPT THE NAMES OF DONORS WHO MAY, FOR REASONS OF NEGOTIATING SUMS, WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. THEIR NAMES SHOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED. SO ANY NAMES OF TARGETED, POTENTIAL DONORS AND ANY NAMES OF DONORS WHO DO NOT WISH TO BE NAMED PUBLICLY -- OTHER THAN THAT EXCEPTION, I THINK THE RECORDS OF THE FOUNDATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY OPEN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE WISH YOU LUCK IN COURT TOMORROW, MR. HUBBARD.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT COMPLETES ALL THAT APPEARED. WHAT DOES THE COMMITTEE -- WE MEET AGAIN AT 9:00 TOMORROW. WHAT TIME DOES THE SENATE GO IN TOMORROW?
SENATOR GIESE: USUALLY 11:00. TODAY WE'RE STARTING AT 12:00.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WHAT?
SENATOR GIESE: WE'RE STARTING AT 12:00 TODAY IN DEFERENCE TO THIS MEETING.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: IT'S NICE TO HAVE ALL OF YOU PRESENT THIS MORNING. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO ARE PRESENT. THE OTHERS WILL BE COMING IN LATER. REPRESENTATIVE CLYBORNE, REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN, SENATOR SMITH, NELL SMITH, AND, OF COURSE, I'M GENE STODDARD. WE HAVE QUITE AN AGENDA TODAY AND OUR TIME IS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BE AS THOROUGH AS WE CAN WITH EACH CANDIDATE AND GET RID OF YOU IN A HURRY. FIRST WE HAVE THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES. I'M GOING TO ASK MS. TURNIPSEED TO READ THE LIST. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AS YOUR NAME IS READ?
MS. TURNIPSEED: MR. HERBERT GRANGER, MR. OTHNIEL WIENGES, MR. LOUIS SOSSAMON. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE COULDN'T COME.
SENATOR SMITH: ARE THESE THE UNOPPOSED?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
MS. TURNIPSEED: UNOPPOSED INCUMBENTS. MR. MICHAEL J. MUNGO, C. EDWARD FLOYD, DR. GORDON STINE, THOMAS WEEKS, ROBERT SMALL, CREIGHTON MCMASTER, JAMES DAVID WATSON, HOWARD LUNDY, EARL MCLEOD, GAIL RICHARDSON, EDWARD ERVIN, THOMAS HANSEN, MARTHA BARNETTE, MARTHA WHITENER, JACK BOGER, DR. GLENN LAWHON, JOHN JOHNSTON. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE UNOPPOSED INCUMBENTS. HAVE I MISSED ANYBODY?
(NO RESPONSE).
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM, SENATOR SMITH?
SENATOR SMITH: ONE OF THE THINGS -- (TO CANDIDATES) I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT ASKED THAT YOU COME, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF YOU -- FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A RESPONSIBLE POSITION IN THE LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT YOU PLAY ACROSS THIS STATE. AND I THINK FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ALSO TO TELL YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING, AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UNOPPOSED IS CERTAINLY A COMPLIMENT TO EACH ONE OF YOU. AND I FELT LIKE THAT IF YOU FELT STRONGLY ENOUGH THAT YOU WOULD OFFER TO SERVE, THAT WE CERTAINLY SHOULD GIVE YOU THE COURTESY OF BEING ABLE TO THANK YOU, AND TO LOOK AT YOU AND TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR COMING UNOPPOSED -- I DO.
(SENATOR WILSON ENTERS HEARING ROOM).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SENATOR SMITH. SENATOR WILSON HAS JUST JOINED US.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THESE CANDIDATES ARE UNOPPOSED AND IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME, I WOULD MOVE THAT FORMAL SCREENING BE WAIVED.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN MOVES, SINCE THE CANDIDATES ARE UNOPPOSED, IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME THAT WE WAIVE THE SCREENING OF THESE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES. IS THERE A SECOND?
SENATOR WILSON: SECOND.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR WILSON SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY "AYE".
(COMMITTEE MEMBERS RESPOND AFFIRMATIVELY).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OPPOSED, "NO".
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THE "AYES" HAVE IT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. (UNOPPOSED INCUMBENT CANDIDATES EXIT HEARING ROOM).
(SENATOR MACAULAY ENTERS HEARING ROOM).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: I WOULD ASK ALL CANDIDATES TO PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND WE'RE GOING TO SWEAR YOU IN IN BLANK IF THE RECORDING CLERK WILL PLEASE DO THAT.
(ALL CANDIDATES ARE DULY SWORN).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: FIRST WE HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA CANDIDATES, BUT WE HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN, A CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AT-LARGE SEAT, WHO SAYS HE HAS A PLANE TO CATCH AND ASKS THAT WE BEAR WITH HIM AND HEAR HIM FIRST, SO THE COMMITTEE WILL GO AHEAD -- WILL MR. LAWRENCE MCNAIR PLEASE COME FORWARD?
(LAWRENCE E. MCNAIR, CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. MCNAIR, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. MR. MCNAIR, WOULD YOU TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOU DESIRE THIS POSITION?
A. PRIMARILY BECAUSE I'M, FIRST OF ALL, INTERESTED CERTAINLY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND -- I KNOW THAT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IS ON A REAL GROWTH PROGRAM, THAT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IS IN A GROWTH PROGRAM, A BUILDING PROGRAM. PRIMARILY I FEEL THAT I CAN BE OF HELP TO THEM IN THE REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ENDEAVORING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
Q. WHAT'S YOUR OCCUPATION, MR. MCNAIR?
A. I'M A BROKER IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. MCNAIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THE CANDIDATES MAY BE FREE TO GO AFTER THEY'RE QUESTIONED. WE WILL NOW TAKE UP THE AGENDA IN ITS ORDER. OUR FIRST CANDIDATE IS A. S. BAHNMULLER. I SUPPOSE MY PRONUNCIATION IS CORRECT.
MS. TURNIPSEED: HE'S THE ONE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE, WHO'S -- THERE'S A LETTER FROM HIS DOCTOR THAT HE'S BEEN OUT WITH BACK SURGERY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, HE'S JUST HAD SURGERY, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GENTLEMAN LATER. NEXT, THEN, IS SAM BENSON.
(SAMUEL A. BENSON, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. BENSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. MR. BENSON, COULD YOU TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOU'RE SEEKING THIS POSITION?
A. WELL, I'VE ENJOYED SERVING ON THE UNIVERSITY BOARD FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. PRIOR TO THAT TIME, I'VE HAD A LOT OF MY INTERESTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE GROWTH OF THE UNIVERSITY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR SMITH.
SENATOR SMITH: ARE YOU JUST LOOKING AT ME BECAUSE I KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS? BECAUSE I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE UNIVERSITY, AND CERTAINLY WE ALL ARE.
Q. WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU IS WHAT IS YOUR PARTICULAR AREA OF EMPHASIS AS YOU SERVE ON THIS BOARD AND WHAT THINGS, VERY BRIEFLY, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU CONTRIBUTE IN LEADING THE DIRECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY?
A. WELL, MY BACKGROUND IS IN ACCOUNTING. I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING IN THE SCHOOL AREA, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT THE COLLEGE AREA, BUT IN OTHER AREAS. IN MY BUSINESS, PROFESSIONALLY, I HAVE A LARGE KNOWLEDGE, A BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. I ALSO HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SERVE ON THE UNIVERSITY BOARD AND SERVE ON SEVERAL COMMITTEES, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE THAT SERVICE.
Q. WHAT COMMITTEES DO YOU SERVE ON?
A. WELL, AT THE MOMENT I'M ON THE MEDICAL AFFAIRS AND THE COLLEGIATE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEES.
(SENATOR GIESE ENTERS HEARING ROOM).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR MACAULAY?
Q. MR. BENSON, I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS, AND ITEM 12, WHERE IT SAYS "RECEIVED INCOME FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA", YOU SAY WAS NOT APPLICABLE. YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY SORT OF PER DIEM OR ANYTHING FROM THE UNIVERSITY?
A. I WAS IN ERROR IN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION. I DO RECEIVE A PER DIEM ON EACH ATTENDANCE OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS.
Q. I WAS JUST CURIOUS. I DIDN'T KNOW. THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING REPORTED THERE?
A. YES, SIR.
MS. TURNIPSEED: SENATOR MACAULAY, THE ECONOMIC STATEMENT, IF YOU READ THE LITTLE, FINE PRINT ON THE BACK ---
SENATOR MACAULAY: I NEVER DO.
MS. TURNIPSEED: MOST PEOPLE DON'T. IT SAYS THAT THE LISTING OF PER DIEM AND RETURN OF PAYMENT FOR MILEAGE AND THAT KIND OF THING IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE LISTED, SO SOME PEOPLE DID LIST IT AND SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T.
SENATOR MACAULAY: WELL, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING BECAUSE I HAD NOTICED THAT ON SOME OF THE RETURNS, THEY HAD IT. I DIDN'T KNOW. THANK YOU.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR WILSON?
Q. A CONCERN THAT I'VE HAD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME HAS BEEN A FAILURE BY VARIOUS FOUNDATIONS RELATED TO THE UNIVERSITY TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THAT AS AN INCUMBENT?
A. WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION THAT THAT INFORMATION BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC AND I SUPPORT THAT POSITION.
Q. AND SO THE -- I'M NOT NECESSARILY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHO CONTRIBUTED, BUT I AM INTERESTED IN DISCLOSURE OF EXPENDITURES, WHICH I FEEL THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW, AND THAT WOULD BE YOUR POSITION, TOO?
A. IT WOULD.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SIR, SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MR. BENSON, WE'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND SOME OTHER YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCING THE UNIVERSITY -- WELL, ALL OF OUR HIGHER EDUCATION. I WONDER WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE CONCERNING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES GETTING INTO SOME KIND OF ADVANCED PLANNING SO THAT IN CASE THE FUNDING DOESN'T COME UP TO EXPECTATIONS, YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO SET POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVE PLANS OR CONTINGENCY PLANS IF THE FUNDING DOESN'T MEET THE ORIGINAL REQUEST.
A. SENATOR, WE HAVE -- OUR CHAIRMAN HAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA AND I FEEL THAT THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
Q. IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT -- I KNOW IT'S UNFORTUNATE WHEN THE GAMECOCK CAME OUT WITH THAT $500 INCREASE, WHICH I THINK WAS REALLY NOT WARRANTED AT ALL BECAUSE IT WAS CONJECTURAL DURING THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, BUT TUITION INCREASES JUST AREN'T THE ONLY ANSWER TO NOT ENOUGH FUNDING. AND I JUST WONDERED IF THE BOARD -- YOU SAY THERE HAS BEEN A COMMITTEE APPOINTED, AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE?
A. YES, SIR, A FISCAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN?
Q. MR. BENSON, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR EIGHT YEARS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. I DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND ASK WHETHER OR NOT YOU KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS WHO GRADUATE OR LEAVE THE SCHOOL WITH AT LEAST A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AFTER FOUR YEARS?
A. I'M SORRY, I DO NOT. PERHAPS I SHOULD, BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE PERCENTAGE. I KNOW THAT IN OUR -- WE HAVE JUST HIRED A NEW COACH AND HIS EMPHASIS IS ON THAT PARTICULAR MATTER OF GRADUATION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. BENSON. OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS ELIZABETH SCRUGGS.
(ELIZABETH B. SCRUGGS, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. SCRUGGS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR. I HAVE THE VAPORS THIS MORNING, BUT I EXPECT TO GET RID OF THOSE IN A DAY OR TWO.
Q. YOU HAVE OUR SYMPATHY, MA'AM. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO. I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS IN KINGSTREE, BUT I COULD SEE NO CONFLICT THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICT BUT NOT WITH THE UNIVERSITY.
Q. ZONING MATTERS ALWAYS HAVE CONFLICT, YES, MA'AM.
A. I'VE BEEN ON IT SO LONG, I KNOW THAT NOW.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME -- SENATOR MACAULAY, I ASK YOUR LEGAL ADVICE. WOULD THAT BE A CONFLICT OR NOT?
SENATOR MACAULAY: THE ZONING BOARD?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES.
SENATOR MACAULAY: I WOULD THINK SO. THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS AN OFFICE CREATED BY STATUTE, AND ---
Q. WOULD YOU CONSIDER RESIGNING FROM THE ZONING BOARD?
A. I HAVE ALREADY TOLD MY CITY OFFICIALS THAT SHOULD I BE SO FORTUNATE AS TO BE ELECTED, THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY RESIGN.
Q. YES, MA'AM. COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION, MS. SCRUGGS?
A. I'M AN EDUCATOR. I WAS 20 YEARS A SECRETARY AND A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR, PART OF THAT TIME FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEN I WENT BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY AND GOT MY DEGREE AND BEGAN TEACHING. AND IN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD I GOT MY MASTER'S AND WENT INTO COUNSELING, AND MOST OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN AIMED TOWARD BETTER ACCESS AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION. I FEEL THAT MY BACKGROUND HAS QUALIFIED ME VERY WELL FOR THIS SERVICE. I STILL WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DO CONTRACT PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING FOR THEM, BUT THAT IS A CONTROLLED SCHEDULE AND IT WOULD NOT INTERFERE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MS. SCRUGGS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MS. SCRUGGS) THANK YOU, MA'AM.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAITED SO I WOULDN'T BE THE ONLY ONE UP HERE ASKING QUESTIONS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ALL RIGHT, SENATOR.
Q. MS. SCRUGGS, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. I NOTICE YOU SAY "ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION" AND THAT CERTAINLY IS -- TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO ALL EDUCATION, BUT AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO AND HOW -- WHAT THINGS DIFFERENTLY WOULD YOU DO OR WHAT NEW FOCUS WOULD YOU TAKE IN GETTING BETTER ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION?
A. WELL, SENATOR SMITH, I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE GONE ON ABOUT DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS. I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE AND I AM WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
Q. I NOTICE THAT YOU'RE A GAMECOCK CLUB DIRECTOR. DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE A COUNTY CHAIRMAN?
A. NO. I'M JUST A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
Q. OF THE COUNTY BOARD?
A. OF THE COUNTY BOARD, YES.
Q. DOES YOUR INTEREST EMBRACE ALL SPORTS OR DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?
A. I HAVE A FAVORITE, BUT I KEEP UP WITH MOST OF THEM. I'VE GOTTEN INTERESTED IN SOCCER RECENTLY. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO ENGLAND, I HAVE COME HOME WITH MORE OF AN INTEREST IN SOCCER THAN BEFORE, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ROWDIES THAT THEY HAVE IN ENGLAND. I GOT ON A TRAIN WITH A GROUP OF THEM ONCE COMING FROM DOVER - I HAD BEEN OVER TO BELGIUM - AND IT WAS ROWDY.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MS. SCRUGGS.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OUR NEXT CANDIDATE FOR THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IS FRANCIS BURACZYNSKI.
(FRANCIS T. BURACZYNSKI, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO. I'M SLIGHTLY HARD OF HEARING, BUT I WEAR A HEARING AID AND IT'S NO MAJOR PROBLEM.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD BE ABLE TO.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO.
Q. COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU'RE SEEKING THIS POSITION?
A. YES. EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, I'M CONCERNED THE WAY THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING, I.E., U.S.C. HAS A PLAN THAT IT WISHES TO BE ONE OF THE TOP TEN UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD BY THE YEAR 2001, BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A REAL PLAN IN REGARDS TO THAT. IT REACHES FOR VERY SPECTACULAR THINGS, I.E., OUR MOVIETONE NEWS. THAT WAS A MARVELOUS THING FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO GET, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S SITTING IN VAULTS OUT AT FORT JACKSON ROTTING BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING USED. U.S.C. HAS MORE PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE ON STAFF THAN ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY, BUT IT STILL FEELS A NEED TO GO OUTSIDE AND HIRE CONSULTING FIRMS TO TELL ITS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HOW TO MARKET ITSELF. THIS SEEMS VERY ODD. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS NOT A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND THAT IT'S ATTEMPTING TO GROW, BUT IT'S NOT GROWING IN A REASONABLE MANNER, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER I WOULD HOPE THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
Q. MR. BURACZYNSKI, I KNOW THEY'RE USING SOME OF THE FILM BECAUSE I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THE OTHER DAY WHERE 4,000 FEET HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE BACK END OF A TRUCK, SOME RATHER PRICELESS STUFF.
A. YES, THEY'RE USING PARTS OF IT, BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE TAKING FILM FROM THE '30'S AND '40'S AND CONVERTING IT OVER. THERE'S FILM THAT GOES BACK TO ABOUT 1895 IN THAT COLLECTION WHICH IS IRREPLACEABLE, TOTALLY IRREPLACABLE, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE WITH IT BECAUSE IT HAS NO "MARKETABLE VALUE", THOUGH FOR A STUDENT OF HIGHER LEARNING IT HAS EXTREME VALUE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS VINCENT DEGENHART.
(DR. DEGENHART FAILS TO APPEAR).
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. DEGENHART?
SENATOR WILSON: THAT'S DR. DEGENHART.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WELL, DOCTOR. HE DOESN'T ANSWER TO EITHER ONE.
SENATOR WILSON: HE'S A VERY PROMINENT PHYSICIAN HERE IN COLUMBIA.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE HEARD MR. HUBBARD YESTERDAY. OUR NEXT CANDIDATE WILL BE MIRIAM T. MITCHELL.
(MIRIAM T. MITCHELL, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. MITCHELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. WOULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. I'M INTERESTED IN THE STANDARDS, THE POLICY AND THE STATE OF ART OBJECTIVES THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS. ALSO I'M A GRADUATE OF U.S.C. I'M NOW MAJORING IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT U.S.C., AND I'VE SEEN HOW, I THINK, THE UNIVERSITY HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS AND I FEEL I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF ITS FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.
REPRESENTATIVE CLYBORNE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. CLYBORNE?
Q. MS. MITCHELL, YOU SAY HERE, "I AM CONCERNED WITH SEEING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT U.S.C. MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM A PRACTICAL VIEWPOINT". WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT EXACTLY?
A. FISCALLY.
Q. AS IN DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS?
A. TUITION INCREASES AND HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE FINANCIAL STANDARDS AT THE UNIVERSITY BETTER.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MS. MITCHELL, I WONDER IF YOU WOULD EXPOUND JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE ROLE YOU THINK YOU'D PLAY AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES?
A. SURE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE STRONG MANAGEMENT SKILLS. I WOULD DEFINITELY BRING A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT, NEW ENERGY. I HAVE STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND I WOULD DEFINITELY BRING, I THINK, A LITTLE MORE SENSITIVITY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ERIC L. ROBINSON?
(ERIC L. ROBINSON, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. ROBINSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. WOULD YOU, LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES, TELL US BRIEFLY WHY YOU'RE SEEKING THIS POSITION?
A. YES, SIR. I'M SEEKING IT BECAUSE I'M A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. DURING THE FOUR YEARS I WAS THERE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CAMPUS RANGING FROM THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, I AM AN EDUCATOR. I WORK AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST IN COLUMBIA. I'M ABLE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE TWELFTH GRADE AND SHOW AN INTEREST IN THE EDUCATION OF THIS STATE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FURTHER THAT AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH SOME OF THESE STUDENTS AS THEY GO TO COLLEGE IN THIS STATE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SENATOR GIESE?
Q. MR. ROBINSON, I WONDER IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU MAY HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BECAUSE OF YOUR RECENT EXPOSURE TO THE FIRING LINE OF EDUCATION?
A. YES, SIR, I DO. AS YOU SAID, EDUCATION IS CONSTANTLY IN THE FIRING LINE, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO TRUE IN HIGHER EDUCATION. I DO THINK THAT BEING NEAR AND WORKING WITH PARENTS AND SEEING SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION -- I THINK THOSE CONCERNS CARRY OVER TO HIGHER EDUCATION. I ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM IN MY DISTRICT, AND THOSE ARE KIDS AND PARENTS WHO ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS THROUGH COLLEGES RANGING FROM IVY LEAGUE TO ANY LEVEL THAT YOU SEE. AND I THINK THERE'S A NEED TO TRY TO KEEP SOME OF THE BETTER STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IN THE STATE.
Q. LET ME PURSUE THAT ONE STEP FURTHER, AND THAT IS YOU, AS A RECENT STUDENT, A RELATIVELY RECENT STUDENT -- CAN YOU GIVE US A PERCEPTION OF THE STUDENT BODY'S IDEA OF HOW THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKS OR FUNCTIONS?
A. YES, SIR. I BELIEVE THAT A NUMBER OF THE STUDENTS ARE UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHERE THEIR MONEY GOES TO. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN STUDENTS PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR TUITION, AND IT'S UNDERGRADUATES I'M SPEAKING OF PRIMARILY RIGHT NOW, AND SEE GRADUATE STUDENTS TEACHING THEIR COURSES FOR THEM, I THINK THEY'RE CONCERNED TO SEE SOMEONE THAT'S A YEAR OUT OF UNDERGRADUATE THAT'S ABLE TO TEACH COURSES TO THEM. I ALSO SEE CONCERN WITH STUDENTS THAT PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ARE ABLE TO TAKE COURSES THAT ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SIGNING UP AND BUYING A BOOK AND A SELF-PACED COURSE WHERE THEY READ CHAPTERS AND COME IN AND TAKE THE TESTS. AND THAT'S THEIR COURSE, WHICH SHOULD REALLY COST YOU NO MORE THAN THE $25 OR $30 THAT THE BOOK COSTS YOU.
Q. LET ME PURSUE THAT JUST A BIT. YOU MENTIONED GRADUATE STUDENTS TEACHING COURSES. IS THAT, IN YOUR OPINION -- IN THE COURSE WORK THAT YOU TOOK, IS THAT FAIRLY PREVALENT?
A. YES, SIR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GRADUATE STUDENTS THAT ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH UNDERGRADUATE COURSES OF DIFFERENT LEVELS. YOU CANNOT TEACH THE FIRST YEAR, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE FIRST YEAR THAT YOU'RE A GRADUATE STUDENT, BUT AFTER THAT, YOU ARE ABLE TO TEACH COURSES THAT RANGE FROM ENTRY LEVEL COURSES UP TO SOME HIGHER LEVEL UNDERGRADUATE COURSES, YES, SIR. AND I SEE A CONCERN WITH THAT, ALSO.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH?
Q. MR. ROBINSON, PURSUING ONE OTHER THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD, YOU MENTIONED CONVEYING THE THOUGHTS OF PARENTS WITH REGARD TO THEIR CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC TEACHING. IF YOU HAD TO LIST SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU THINK YOU HEAR PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WITH REGARD -- OR YOUNG PEOPLE YOUR AGE AS TO -- IF YOU WERE ON THE BOARD AND YOU WERE CONVEYING A THOUGHT TO THAT BOARD AS TO THE SENTIMENT OUT THERE THAT PARENTS HAVE, PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
A. TO BE HONEST, THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM SOME PARENTS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, TEND TO REFLECT A LOT OF TIMES ON THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE TROUBLE THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT GETS INTO, THAT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE UNIVERSITY. AND IF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS SUCH A HIGH PROFILE PROGRAM, IF THEY HAVE A BLACK EYE, THAT TENDS TO BLACKEN THE EYE OF A NUMBER OF THE ACADEMIC PORTIONS OF THE CAMPUS. I BELIEVE THEIR CONCERN IS ALSO FINANCIAL CONCERN. I KNOW THAT THE INTEREST IN THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES BEING ABLE TO TRANSFER THROUGH NOW, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO TAKE THOSE COURSES WHICH COST LESS MONEY, I THINK IS A ROUTE THAT A LOT OF PARENTS WILL START SEEKING, ALSO.
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN, MIGHT I CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT ALL FIVE OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE JUST APPEARED ARE FROM SENATE DISTRICT 22, GIVING YOU AN IDEA OF THE QUALITY WE HAVE?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT PUTS YOU ON THE SPOT IN TWO YEARS, DOESN'T IT, SENATOR? (TO MR. ROBINSON) THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE THE NINTH CIRCUIT, MR. DONALD BAILEY.
(DONALD A. BAILEY, CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. BAILEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OR INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. MR. BAILEY, COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US, VERY BRIEFLY, WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. VERY BRIEFLY, SIR, I HAVE A TREMENDOUS LOVE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AS A GRADUATE OF 1971 AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS OVER AT THE UNIVERSITY. I HAVE LEARNED THE DIRECTION THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING. AND I AM A BUSINESSMAN, HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS THE PAST 18 YEARS, AND I'VE DEVELOPED A SENSE OF KNOWING WHEN TO SAY YES AND WHEN TO SAY NO, AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED MORE OF AT THE UNIVERSITY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR GIESE?
Q. WOULD YOU, MR. BAILEY, PLEASE TELL US OF YOUR OTHER INVOLVEMENT AND HOW YOU FEEL YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH OTHER BOARDS OF THE UNIVERSITY HAS HELPED YOU PREPARE FOR, LET'S SAY, THE JOB YOU'RE SEEKING?
A. SENATOR, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET VERY CLOSE TO A LOT OF THE ALUMNI, A LOT OF THE STUDENTS, CITIZENS OF THIS STATE, AND I THINK THAT I HAVE AN AWARENESS OF PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING AND PEOPLE'S DESIRES AND WANTS FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY. AND MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ENABLED ME TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES LAST YEAR AND GIVES ME AN INSIGHT INTO THE DIRECTION THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING.
Q. YOU SERVED ON THE BOARD LAST YEAR?
A. AS PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, I WAS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH?
Q. SINCE YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN OUT, AND YOU HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE, AND YOU HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND CERTAINLY HAVE WORKED ACTIVELY IN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, IF YOU HAD TO LIST SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT YOU THINK THE PEOPLE, THE ALUMNI, THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE FEEL VERY POSITIVELY ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND WANTED TO CONVEY SOME THOUGHTS, WHAT SEVERAL THOUGHTS WOULD YOU CONVEY OR WOULD YOU TAKE BACK TO THE BOARD AS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, "THIS IS HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS UNIVERSITY", OR MAYBE CHANGES THAT THEY MIGHT WISH TO SEE?
A. PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING, AS YOU KNOW, SENATOR, AND THE PERCEPTION THAT WE SOMETIMES HAVE, AS SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, IS A BLACK EYE. AND I CERTAINLY SEE THAT AS WELL IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE. TUITION AND THE COST OF EDUCATION IS OBVIOUSLY OF HIGH CONCERN. IF I MAY -- SENATOR GIESE, I THINK, ASKED THE QUESTION EARLIER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE, AND I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO EXAMINE. I THINK THAT THROUGH FUND RAISING -- TUITION INCREASES ARE NOT THE ANSWER. I THINK REDUCTION IN EXPENSES AND EXPENDITURES IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONCERN OURSELVES WITH IN LOOKING INTO.
(REPRESENTATIVE MCABEE ENTERS THE HEARING ROOM).
SENATOR GIESE: ONE OTHER QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SIR.
Q. YOU WERE A PARTICIPANT ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, AS I RECALL. IS THAT CORRECT?
A. THAT'S CORRECT.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS ABOUT THE ATHLETIC SITUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY AT THE PRESENT TIME?
A. I FEEL IT'S A VERY POSITIVE SITUATION AT THE PRESENT TIME, SENATOR. WE'VE ALL SUFFERED THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES IN THE LAST DECADE, AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES OVER THERE RIGHT NOW.
Q. DO YOU THINK THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO LIMIT THE CONTRACTS -- AND I KNOW WE HAVE A BILL BEFORE THE SENATE TO LIMIT FOOTBALL CONTRACTS. DO YOU THINK POSITIVE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THOSE ILLS?
A. I HAVE SOME PERSONAL FEELINGS ON LONGEVITY CONTRACTS AT THE UNIVERSITY, SPECIFICALLY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT THOSE CONTRACTS. I KNOW THE ARGUMENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RECRUITING, BUT WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN STUNG, AS YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF TIMES IN RECENT YEARS WITH CONTRACT PROBLEMS AND I THINK THAT WHILE ATHLETICS IS IMPORTANT TO THE UNIVERSITY AND THE STATE, I THINK WE NEED TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THESE CONTRACTS.
Q. I THINK I'M THE ONLY FOOTBALL COACH THAT HASN'T SUED THE UNIVERSITY IN THE LAST 30 YEARS -- EX-FOOTBALL COACH, I SHOULD SAY. BUT TELL ME WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT GRADUATION RATES, ET CETERA.
A. WELL, I THINK MR. MARTIN ASKED THAT QUESTION EARLIER, AND, MR. MARTIN, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE MYSELF. I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER SCHOOL WE HAVE IN THE UPPER PART OF THE STATE, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NO -- I SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING THEM DOWN. BUT IT'S IMPROVED. I READ RECENTLY, I THINK IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THAT THE G.P.A.'S AND G.P.R.'S AT THE UNIVERSITY HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR SINCE MR. DIXON AND THE NEW STAFF HAVE BEEN IN PLACE. I LOOK FOR THAT TO INCREASE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES?
SENATOR WILSON: I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE THAT I LEFT JUST AS MR. BAILEY BEGAN, AND HE'S A FORMER NEIGHBOR OF MINE, SO I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO HEAR HIS APPEARANCE. BUT I WENT TO CONTACT DR. DEGENHART WHO HAS NOT APPEARED, AND I LEARNED FROM HIS OFFICE THAT HE'S ON VACATION AND OUT OF TOWN. AND HE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE NOTICE, SO I'VE LEFT A MESSAGE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MS. TURNIPSEED.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE'LL ACCOMMODATE THE GENTLEMAN LATER.
SENATOR WILSON: FINE, THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SENATOR. MARKLEY DENNIS, SR.?
(R. MARKLEY DENNIS, SR., CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. DENNIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION OR OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I DO NOT, SIR.
Q. MR. DENNIS, COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU'RE SEEKING THIS POSITION?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THE RECORD REFLECTS THAT I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 32 YEARS, SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED PRIOR TO MY COMING TO THE PODIUM, I WAS ON THE BOARD DURING A LOT OF THEM. I DO REGARD IT AS A PRIVILEGE, BUT I ALSO HAVE TRIED TO REGARD IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME CONTRIBUTION TO HIGHER EDUCATION. I HAVE A DEEP-SEATED BELIEF THAT HIGHER EDUCATION -- NOT JUST HIGHER EDUCATION, BECAUSE IT HAS TO INTERFACE WITH KINDERGARTEN, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. BUT THIS IS THE ANSWER TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. I'VE JUST BEEN VERY MUCH INTERESTED AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. I DO REALIZE THAT I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE OVER THE YEARS, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY TENURE OF OFFICE THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING THINGS THAT HAVE BEGUN TO COME INTO FRUITION OR COME INTO PLACE, AND I WOULD JUST VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THERE AND TO MAKE MY CONTRIBUTION TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MIGHT IN THE FURTHERANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR GIESE?
Q. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION, MR. DENNIS, ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION YOU'VE MADE TO THE BOARD, AND YOUR LONGEVITY THERE INDICATES THAT THE GROWTH OF THE INSTITUTION, I'M SURE, HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CONDUCT OF THE BOARD AND THE POLICIES THAT THEY'VE SET. WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK THE CHANGES -- JUST TWO OR THREE OF THE LARGER CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE ACTIVITY OF THE BOARD IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
A. SENATOR, I FEEL THAT OVER THE PAST TIME -- I DON'T SAY THIS CRITICALLY OF ANYBODY. VERY FRANKLY, WHEN I FIRST WENT ON THE BOARD IT WAS NOT VERY ACTIVE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS. I DIDN'T SEE -- AND I'M AFRAID I SAT THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SITUATION. BUT IN RECENT YEARS AND MORE PARTICULARLY, I'D SAY, IN THE LAST TEN TO TWELVE YEARS, THE BOARD HAS BECOME VERY ACTIVE. IT FUNCTIONS VERY, I THINK, EFFECTIVELY, CERTAINLY FAITHFULLY. IN LARGE MEASURE THROUGH ITS WORKING SUBCOMMITTEES, I THINK THE BOARD HAS BECOME MORE INFORMED AND REQUIRES THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP THEM MORE INFORMED. AND I THINK THEY THUSLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORMULATION OF POLICY. I HAPPEN TO BE ONE WHO HAS A PHILOSOPHY. I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD IS A POLICY CENTER AND NOT THE MANAGER. I THINK GUIDELINES SHOULD BE SET FOR ADMINISTRATION TO FOLLOW AND I THINK THIS BOARD HAS WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY IN THAT DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, I AM ALSO A BELIEVER THAT THERE SHOULD BE, CERTAINLY, COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE STUDENT BODY AND THE FACULTY. I THINK THAT'S GREATLY IMPROVED, PARTICULARLY IN RECENT YEARS, IN LARGE MEASURE BY THE FORMULATION OF THE FACULTY COMMITTEE AND THE STUDENT LIAISON COMMITTEE. I BELIEVE I'M JUST GOING ON TOO LONG, BUT ESSENTIALLY I'VE TRIED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
Q. I THINK THAT IS AN EXCELLENT ANSWER, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON THE BASIS OF WHAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED AND THAT IS YOU VERY CLEARLY STATED THE FACT THAT THE BOARD WAS A POLICY MAKING ORGANIZATION AND WOULDN'T ENTER INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOUR OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, IF YOU WILL. IT'S STATEWIDE AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND HIGHER EDUCATION, MANY OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO FUND, BUT DO YOU FEEL IT'S WITHIN THE PREROGATIVE OF POLICY MAKING, FOR INSTANCE, TO TELL THE ADMINISTRATION TO CUT BACK? I'M GOING TO GIVE THE EXAMPLE -- LET'S SUPPOSE WE HAVE A BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY AND IT'S IN SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEM. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY CUT BACK IS TO HAVE SOME REDUCTION, PERHAPS, IN FORCE, BUT THEY HAVE A STRATEGY TO MEET THE PROBLEM OF INADEQUATE FUNDING. IS IT WITHIN THE PREROGATIVE OF THE BOARD'S POLICY TO HAVE SOME CONTINGENCY PLANS OR SOME PLANS TO SUGGEST THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, OR IS THAT OVERSTEPPING YOUR BOUNDS?
A. NO, SIR, I THINK THAT SORT OF RECOMMENDATION -- NOW, ONCE POLICY IS SET, TRYING TO CHANGE COURSE WITHOUT CHANGING POLICY, I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THAT, SIR.
SENATOR, AS I JUST INDICATED TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROBLEM - HIGH SCHOOL, ANY LEVEL, AS YOU SAY - IS. IT'S JUST A CRUNCH. AT EVERY LEVEL IT'S A CRUNCH. ONE THING I THINK THAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN BE AWARE OF, AND I THINK IT'S ATTESTED TO BY THE FACT, AT LEAST IN CERTAIN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, I THINK -- THE STATE APPROPRIATIONS HAVE COME TO CONSTITUTE MORE THAN 45% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE UNIVERSITY. I THINK INDIVIDUAL GIVING HAS MOVED INTO THE RANGE OF $20 MILLION A YEAR. THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION HAS MOVED FROM SOMETHING IN THE RANGE OF A MILLION DOLLARS TO OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET, WHICH OUR BUDGET IS AROUND 371 MILLION, 45% OF THAT IS
STATE APPROPRIATIONS. TO ME, SENATOR, THAT INDICATES THAT THERE IS ACTIVITY REALIZING, RECOGNIZING AND DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH PUBLIC DOLLARS, NOT ENOUGH TAX DOLLARS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. THAT SORT OF ORGANIZATION, IT'S JUST NOT THERE. I THINK THE ANSWER IS ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, AND THIS I AM GREATLY IN FAVOR OF AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THAT.
Q. MR. DENNIS, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION IF I MIGHT. WHEN YOU FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD, WHO WAS PRESIDENT THEN?
A. DR. SUMWALT.
Q. THANK YOU, MR. DENNIS.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. MARTIN?
Q. MR. DENNIS, HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 32 YEARS, IS THERE A PARTICULAR CHARACTERIZATION THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO YOU AS OPPOSED TO OTHER REGULAR MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT SERVED THAT LONG, SUCH AS BEING AN ACTIVIST OR PACIFIST OR AGITATOR OR GOOD OLE' BOY OR ANY PARTICULAR THING THAT WOULD BE DISTINGUISHABLE TO YOU AS OPPOSED TO THE AVERAGE BOARD MEMBER? I ASSUME YOU ARE SOMEWHAT IN THE MINORITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE BOARD.
A. MR. MARTIN, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY, SIR.
Q. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR THING THAT YOU CAN, I GUESS, CLAIM CREDIT FOR THAT WOULD BE DISTINGUISHABLE OR OUTSTANDING AS OPPOSED TO ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS?
A. YOU MEAN IN GIVING CREDIT TO MYSELF?
Q. YES, SIR.
A. NO, SIR. NO, SIR, I THINK I'VE JUST TRIED TO WORK AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND I THINK FROM TIME TO TIME WE'VE BEEN BLESSED BY GOOD MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD AND I THINK THAT GOOD MEMBERSHIP HAS ELECTED SOME VERY ACTIVE AND VISIONARY, COMPETENT -- THERE ARE CERTAINLY MISTAKES MADE AND IN HINDSIGHT SOME JUDGMENTAL MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE, OF COURSE, BUT BY AND LARGE I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF A CONCERTED AND JOINT EFFORT.
Q. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR WILSON?
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN, A QUESTION I'VE HAD OF CONCERN IN THE PAST HAS BEEN REGARDING THE VARIOUS FOUNDATIONS RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY.
Q. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR POSITION ON RELEASING, NOT NECESSARILY CONTRIBUTORS' NAMES, BUT THE RECORDS OF THOSE FOUNDATIONS NOW?
A. I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW, BUT MORE, I THINK THAT THE UNIVERSITY FAMILY CERTAINLY HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE RELEASED AND BE PUBLIC INFORMATION.
Q. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. DENNIS.
A. YES, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE GO TO THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, MR. EUGENE COVINGTON, JR.
(EUGENE C. COVINGTON, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. COVINGTON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, COULD YOU TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. WELL, BRIEFLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I GUESS, I LOVE THE UNIVERSITY, AND I DO HAVE ANOTHER REASON, PROBABLY WHICH IS UNIQUE. I COULD NOT TALK THE INCUMBENT INTO RUNNING AGAIN. PAUL GOLDSMITH IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND I FELT LIKE HE WAS A GOOD MEMBER OF THE BOARD, GAVE THE BOARD INDEPENDENT THOUGHT, OBJECTIVITY. I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH THE GAMECOCK CLUB SINCE I LEFT CAROLINA THE SECOND TIME IN 1976. AND WHEN HE DIDN'T DECIDE TO RUN, I DECIDED TO OFFER, NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT I'M THE BEST, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD TRY TO BE THE BEST THAT I COULD BE, WHICH IS ALL I CAN DO FOR ANYONE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS, GENTLEMEN AND LADY?
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND MR. COVINGTON ON HIS VERY CANDID STATEMENT THAT WAS PLACED WITH US, AND SO I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT COACH GIESE CAN FIND HIS STATEMENT AND READ IT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SENATOR.
SENATOR MACAULAY, DID YOU ---
SENATOR MACAULAY: NO, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE HAVE MR. MACK WHITTLE, JR.
(MACK WHITTLE, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SEAT, THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. WHITTLE, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR, I DON'T.
Q. MR. WHITTLE, WOULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. I THINK THE FUNDING, BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL ISSUES ARE PROBABLY THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES FACING THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS MOST AGENCIES AND BOARDS IN THE STATE. AND I THINK MY BACKGROUND AS A BANKER WILL ALLOW ME TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AS MR. BAILEY HAS, BY VIRTUE OF BEING PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN 1984. I'M AWARE OF HOW THE BOARD FUNCTIONS AND THINK I COULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION.
Q. AT THAT TIME IN 1984, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT POSITION HAD A VOTE, DID IT?
A. I WORKED WITH SEVERAL OF THE SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS AT THE TIME TO SEE THAT THE PRESIDENTS OF THE VARIOUS ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS OF THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THE STATE WERE ALLOWED A MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
Q. THAT IS A VOTING POSITION NOW, ISN'T IT?
A. THAT'S CORRECT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
SENATOR GIESE: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SIR.
Q. I WONDER IF YOU'D TELL US JUST A BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAROLINA SCHOLARS PROGRAM?
A. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CAROLINA SCHOLARS, GOSH, FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. BASICALLY THE WAY THAT WORKS IS SELECT STUDENTS ARE PICKED BASED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN A RESPECTIVE JUDICIAL AREA, AND THEN ALUMNI ARE ASKED TO INTERVIEW THESE STUDENTS. AND THEY HAVE AN ALLOTTED NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND THEY, IN TURN, ISSUE THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GIVEN THROUGH THE U.S.C. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FROM FUNDS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP.
Q. IS THE S.A.T. SCORE -- IS THERE SOME CUT-OFF IN THERE THAT SAYS YOU EITHER ARE OR YOU AREN'T?
A. WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO MAGIC FORMULA THAT DETERMINES WHO'S ELIGIBLE AND WHO'S NOT ELIGIBLE. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS VERY ACTIVE IN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SCHOOL, WERE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT BODY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT MAY WEIGH IN FAVOR OF A REAL HIGH SET OF S.A.T. SCORES, BUT S.A.T. SCORES ARE A CONSIDERATION. I WOULD SAY THEY PROBABLY REPRESENT A THIRD. IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, BUT AT THE TIME IT REPRESENTED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CONSIDERATION. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES, DIVERSITY, OTHER INTERESTS, MUSICAL TALENTS OR OTHER TYPE TALENTS THAT WE FELT LIKE MIGHT BE OF BENEFIT TO THE UNIVERSITY ---
Q. I HEARD SOME RUMOR THAT THERE WAS A 1200 CUT-OFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IF THAT IS TRUE, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT A ONE-SHOT AFFAIR THAT'S A POWER TEST WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE REASONABLE.
A. ON THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS, THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. NOW, IF YOU'VE GOT 40 APPLICANTS AND YOU'VE GOT TWO SLOTS TO FILL, S.A.T. MAY BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU LOOK AT TO BEGIN TO CULL THROUGH THE LIST OF APPLICANTS THAT YOU HAVE JUST AS A MEANS OF TRYING TO NARROW IT DOWN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. WHITTLE. THAT COMPLETES THE U.S.C. CANDIDATES. WE MOVE NOW TO THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CANDIDATES, SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. JOE BERRY, IS HE HERE?
MS. TURNIPSEED: JOE BERRY? I'M SORRY, HE HAD A DENTAL APPOINTMENT, SO HE SAID HE WOULD BE LATE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. DOUGLAS, CHARLES DOUGLAS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE'LL GO AHEAD WITH THE AT-LARGE SEATS. SEAT #13, ALTON JONES?
(ALTON E. JONES, CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. JONES, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. WOULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. WELL, WE'RE IN THE -- I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE AT THE COLLEGE AND WE ARE COMPLETING AN R.F.P. NOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL 500 BED DORMITORY, 381 PARKING SPACES, A 600 SEAT CAFETERIA, PLUS WE'RE NEGOTIATING TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE AND CHANGE SOME PARTS OF THE CAMPUS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING AND THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN DEALING WITH THE HISTORICAL ELEMENTS OF CHARLESTON. I THINK THAT WE ARE TWO OR THREE YEARS AWAY FROM COMPLETING A JOB THAT WE STARTED BASICALLY WHEN DR. LIGHTSEY CAME ON CAMPUS IN '85.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND MY -- I'M LOST IN HERE, TRYING TO GET ALL THIS TOGETHER.
Q. I'M SORRY THAT I DO NOT KNOW. WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?
A. I'M IN THE MARINA DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. JONES.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ROSE STUART?
(ROSE D. STUART, CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. STUART, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. YES, SIR, I'D BE GLAD TO. I'VE HAD A LIFELONG INTEREST IN EDUCATION. I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND I'VE GOT A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION. I'VE ALSO GOT A LAW DEGREE. I HAVE TAUGHT SCHOOL. I HAVE WORKED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN THE EDUCATION DIVISION. I HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF PARTICIPATION WITH MY OWN CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND THEY ARE NOW IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON. OUR YOUNGER DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON. AS A PERSONAL INTEREST, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT THAT CHILD GOT THE BEST EDUCATION SHE COULD. ON ANOTHER INTEREST, THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN GRADUATE FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH AN EDUCATION THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OR BETTER THAN OTHER EDUCATIONS THAT CHILDREN RECEIVE IN OTHER STATES. I DISLIKE SEEING STUDENTS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE INTO OUR COLLEGES AND FILLING UP SPACES THAT OUR OWN CITIZENS' CHILDREN COULD TAKE, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENTS ATTENDING SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGES IF POSSIBLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THE CURRICULUM REMAINS AT A HIGH LEVEL SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ALUMNI COMPLAINING THAT THEIR DEGREE WHICH THEY HAD YEARS AGO HAS BEEN FILTERED DOWN AND THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. I WOULD BE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE ON ANY BOARD. AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIME TO DO SO. I HAVEN'T HAD THAT TIME OR OPPORTUNITY UNTIL NOW, BUT I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THIS BOARD. I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE UNDER PRESIDENT LIGHTSEY. HE'S MY OLD PROFESSOR AND I WOULD ENJOY THAT SORT OF THING. I THINK I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION AND IN LAW THAT WOULD ENABLE ME TO GIVE SOME EXPERTISE IN THESE AREAS TO THE BOARD THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN BEFORE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
SENATOR SMITH: IF I MAY ---
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: SENATOR SMITH.
Q. MS. STUART, IN LOOKING AT YOUR INFORMATION HERE, WOULD YOU SAY THAT SINCE THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IS ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS WHERE TEACHERS ARE TRAINED, IS THAT ONE OF YOUR AREAS OF GREAT INTEREST, THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS?
A. IT IS ONE OF MY AREAS OF INTEREST. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'VE JUST LOOKED INTO THE TEACHER LOAN PROGRAM WHEREBY STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE ABOUT $2800 THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR IF THEY HAVE A CERTAIN RATING ON THE S.A.T. AND IF THEIR G.P.R. AND THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADES ARE HIGH ENOUGH. THIS INCREASES IF THE STUDENT MAINTAINS GOOD GRADES, AND AT THE END THERE'S A PAYBACK IN A SHORTAGE AREA SUCH AS MATH AND IN THOSE COUNTIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT NEED TEACHERS, SAY THE LOW COUNTRY AREA, HORRY COUNTY, GEORGETOWN, SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES.
Q. VERY GOOD.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR?
SENATOR WILSON: I'D LIKE TO COMMEND MS. STUART ALSO ON HER STATEMENT. IT'S VERY WELL PRESENTED. THE BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS ARE VERY WELL PRESENTED, BOTH VERBALLY TODAY AND ALSO HER WRITTEN STATEMENT.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
LET'S GO TO SEAT #15, KEVIN S. BALTIMORE. MR. BALTIMORE?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: CHADBOURN BOLLES, JR.?
(CHADBOURN BOLLES, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. BOLLES, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
Q. BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION, MR. BOLLES.
A. I HAVE A DEGREE IN EDUCATION. I'M INTERESTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION. I'M INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT I HEARD ON THE RADIO THE OTHER DAY THAT JAPAN HAS MORE SCIENTISTS THAN THE UNITED STATES HAS TODAY, WHICH IS AN APPALLING FACT CONSIDERING OUR POPULATION. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THESE AREAS TO BRING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ALONG, TO GET THEM MORE INTERESTED IN SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS. WE'RE FALLING BEHIND OBVIOUSLY. THIS CAN BE DEMONSTRATED ALMOST DAILY, WITH THE JAPANESE MAKING TREMENDOUS ADVANCES IN THE WORLD. ALSO, I AM A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT. I'M AN INVESTMENT BANKER. I OWN MY OWN SECURITIES FIRM. I'M A MEMBER OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION, THE N.A.S.D., NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, AND ALSO, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AN ANCESTOR OF MINE, ABEL BOLLES, WAS A TEACHER AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND I BELIEVE HIS HOMES ARE STILL THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. BOLLES. JOHN F. CLARK, III?
(JOHN F. CLARK, III, CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. JUST VERY BRIEFLY, A FEW SHORT REASONS -- ONE IS I HAVE A LONG-TERM INTEREST IN HIGHER EDUCATION. I THINK MY FAMILY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SPEND HALF MY LIFE AS A STUDENT AND I -- BUT AS A STUDENT AND AS AN INSTRUCTOR, I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH A VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND I THINK THAT I CAN BRING MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO THE BOARD FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER COLLEGES. ANOTHER REASON I'M INTERESTED IS MY SON ATTENDED THERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I BECAME SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THE COLLEGE AT THAT TIME OR CERTAINLY MUCH MORE FAMILIAR THAN I HAD BEEN. AND I CAME TO FEEL THAT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IS SOMEWHAT OF A HIDDEN JEWEL, THAT IT'S A GOOD COLLEGE, IT'S A VERY GOOD COLLEGE NOW, AND I THINK IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME ONE OF THE BEST SMALL PUBLIC COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY. THE COMPARISON THAT I WOULD MAKE IS WITH THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA. AND I THINK THAT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER AND THE CITY OF CHARLESTON HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER, THAT THE POTENTIAL IN TERMS OF QUALITY IS VERY, VERY HIGH THERE. A THIRD POINT THAT'S INTERESTED ME IN THE AREA OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON HAS TO DO WITH FUNDING. IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC COLLEGES HAVE AMONG THE HIGHEST TUITIONS OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. I WAS -- AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE COME TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, "YOU'VE GOT TO INCREASE FUNDING BECAUSE OUR TUITION IS TOO HIGH". TUITION IS TOO HIGH. BUT I WAS IN A WORKSHOP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND LOOKING AT SOME STATISTICS, AND IT WAS -- ACCORDING TO THE FIGURES I SAW, THE TAXPAYERS SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION VERY WELL. ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, SOUTH CAROLINA WAS ABOUT 15TH IN THE COUNTRY IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER EDUCATION. AND, OF COURSE, THAT CONTRASTS WITH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY. AND WE'RE A VERY POOR STATE. I THINK 15TH IS A VERY HIGH RANKING. SO THEN THE QUESTION COMES, IF THE TUITION'S HIGH AND THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS HIGH, WHERE'S THE PROBLEM? AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WAS EVIDENT IN THE STATISTICS SIMPLY IS THAT COLLEGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN GENERAL ARE FAR, FAR BELOW -- NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN TERMS OF OUTSIDE MONEY THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUSHED VERY, VERY HARD AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND AT PUBLIC COLLEGES THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA. I THINK ANOTHER AREA THAT'S A SMALLER AREA BUT THAT SOMEONE TOUCHED ON EARLIER WITH REGARD TO THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS -- I THINK IN THE COLLEGES THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA THERE SHOULD BE A HIGHER DIFFERENTIAL IN TUITIONS BETWEEN IN-STATE STUDENTS AND OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS. I THINK THAT THE OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS ARE CLEARLY GETTING A VERY GOOD BARGAIN AND PARTLY, PERHAPS, AT THE TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE WHILE THE IN-STATE STUDENTS MAY BE SUFFERING A BURDEN THERE.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, SENATOR SMITH.
Q. IN YOUR WRITTEN REMARKS I NOTICED SOMETHING I HAD NOT HEARD. IT MAY BE IN OTHER SCHOOLS, TOO, BUT IT'S VERY COMMENDABLE THAT YOU WERE A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL, A GROUP FORMED TO ENABLE THE SCHOOL TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM PARENTS AND OTHER CLOSE RELATIVES OF THE STUDENTS.
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. VERY BRIEFLY, IF YOU WOULD, JUST TELL ME ABOUT THAT. IT'S AN EXCELLENT WAY FOR THE COLLEGE, I THINK, TO REALLY HAVE INPUT FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GENERALLY PAYING THE BILLS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING THROUGH AND HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR COMPLETION OF THEIR EDUCATION AT THAT LEVEL.
A. YES, MA'AM. WHEN MY SON ENTERED THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IN 1985, THAT WAS THE YEAR THEY STARTED THAT UP AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT -- OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT BOARDS, AS YOU ALL ARE SCREENING TODAY, TO DO THE OVERSIGHT FOR THE COLLEGE. BUT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO, IN EFFECT, GET SOME INPUT FROM THE CONSTITUENTS. AND WE DO HAVE INPUT FROM THE STUDENTS AND WE HAVE STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS, BUT THEY SAID, "WE WANT SOME INPUT", BASICALLY FROM THE PARENTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT CALLING IT A PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY HAD, LIKE, SPOUSES OF OLDER STUDENTS THERE ON THE BOARD. BUT IT WAS A GROUP SET UP AND FORMED INTO COMMITTEES TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE STUDENT LIFE, POLICY, WHAT SHOULD BE THE POLICIES IN THE DORMS, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AREAS SUCH AS FUNDING, WHERE THE LONG RANGE PLANNING -- WHERE THE COLLEGE SHOULD BE HEADED AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
Q. IS IT STILL IN EFFECT?
A. (CANDIDATE PAUSING).
Q. IS IT STILL IN PLACE?
A. WELL, THE REASON I PAUSED ON THAT IS MY SON'S NO LONGER THERE, BUT I ASSUME IT IS, YES.
Q. OKAY, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT MR. A. R. JOHNSTON, JR.
(A. R. JOHNSTON, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. JOHNSTON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, PLEASE, SIR, TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I'M A GRADUATE OF WOFFORD COLLEGE AND MY INTEREST IN THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IS SPARKED BY THE FACT THAT MY SON ENTERED FOUR YEARS AGO AND THE SCHOOL HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON HIM. HE'S GRADUATING THIS YEAR AND GOING ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL. MY DAUGHTER WILL BE A FRESHMAN AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON NEXT YEAR. SO YOU MIGHT SAY I'VE GOT A VESTED INTEREST IN IT. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON WAS UNIQUE. IT IS A JEWEL, AND IT'S IN A GROWTH MODE WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM TO GROW. NOW, I HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS. I THINK THAT I COULD BRING SOMETHING TO THE BOARD BECAUSE THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF -- WELL, THERE ARE ACQUISITIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE DOWN THERE AND THAT'S BASICALLY MY INTEREST.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. JOHNSTON?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSTON. ROBERT F. LIVINGSTON?
(ROBERT F. LIVINGSTON, CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. LIVINGSTON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. FIRST OFF, I'M A GRADUATE OF THE CITADEL AND SPENT SEVERAL YEARS OF MY LIFE LIVING IN CHARLESTON, NOT ONLY AS A CADET AT THE CITADEL, BUT I WAS IN REAL ESTATE DOWN THERE BRIEFLY, FOR A TIME. I HAVE A WIDE-RANGING BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION AS A TEACHER. I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN FISCAL ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING DEGREES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND TRANSPORTATION. THE TRANSPORTATION DEGREE IS REALLY MORE LIKE A DEGREE IN URBAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M CURRENTLY PURSUING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND I FEEL THAT WITH MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, MY TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN URBAN PLANNING AND SO FORTH, THAT I COULD BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO BEING A BOARD MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. LIVINGSTON) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ELLIS MACDOUGALL? MR. MACDOUGALL?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE'LL NOW HEAR FROM MR. BERRY. JOE BERRY, I BELIEVE, HAS COME IN.
(JOE E. BERRY, JR., CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON SEAT, AT-LARGE, #3, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE, BUT I INFORMED MS. TURNIPSEED ---
Q. YES, SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMUNICATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. MR. BERRY, WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL US, EXPLAIN TO US BRIEFLY YOUR BURNING DESIRE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY ON THE BOARD?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SCREENING COMMITTEE, I HAVE BEEN ON WHAT WAS THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM ITS INCEPTION, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR MCNAIR IN 1969, UNTIL IT WAS DISBANDED AND THE THREE SCHOOLS THAT WE GOVERNED, LANDER, FRANCIS MARION AND THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, HAD THEIR OWN BOARDS, AND I WENT ON THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON BOARD. SINCE 1970 THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON HAS EXPERIENCED AN UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH. IN FACT, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IT'S GROWN 40% IN STUDENTS. I FEEL THAT MY EXPERIENCE ON THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND AS ITS CHAIRMAN FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE PRESENT TIME -- THAT I BRING TO IT EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUITY TO HELP IT IN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE, WHICH ARE GOOD PROBLEMS. BECAUSE OF OUR GROWTH WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ADDITIONAL FACULTY, DORMITORIES, CLASSROOMS AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES. I BELIEVE THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO HELP THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON GROW IN ITS ACADEMIC REPUTATION TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STATE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS? SENATOR WILSON?
Q. YOU WERE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD, YOU SAID, IN 1969?
A. YES.
Q. WHAT WAS THE ENROLLMENT AT THE COLLEGE?
A. 500.
Q. SO IT'S REALLY BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY, REMARKABLE GROWTH DURING YOUR TENURE.
A. YES, SIR.
Q. AND HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE NOW ENROLLED?
A. WELL, WE HAVE -- I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY.
Q. A ROUGH FIGURE WOULD DO.
A. IN THE FALL SEMESTER WE HAD 5,738 F.T.E. AND A 6,778 HEAD COUNT.
Q. YOU'VE REALLY SEEN GROWTH.
A. WE HAD 14% GROWTH LAST YEAR, WHICH IS, AS I SAY, A GOOD PROBLEM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. BERRY.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THAT CONCLUDES THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CANDIDATES. WE MOVE NOW TO FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE. OUR FIRST CONTESTED SEAT IS THE SIXTH DISTRICT. MR. PETER HYMAN?
(PETER D. HYMAN, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, SIXTH DISTRICT, #11, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, SENATOR SMITH AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ---
Q. MIGHT I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS FIRST, MR. HYMAN?
A. CERTAINLY.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. I WILL AND HAVE.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. I DO NOT.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I DO NOT.
Q. MR. HYMAN, COULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. YES, SIR. IF THE COMMITTEE PLEASE, MY RELATIONSHIP -- AND I HAVE PASSED UP A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF MY POSITION. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE GOES BACK TO ITS BEGINNING DAYS WHEN IT WAS A BRANCH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND THROUGH PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS WE RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING WHICH IS NOW STOKES HALL. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM 1960 TO 1970, AT WHICH TIME I WAS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORS OF THE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INITIALLY FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF THE THEN CREATED FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE, WHICH LATER WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND LANDER. I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE BOARD SINCE 1979. I AM CURRENTLY CHAIRMAN OF THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. ADDRESSING SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED WITH REFERENCE BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WITH THE CANDIDATES, WE HAVE MADE FISCAL PLANS IN THE EVENT THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES NOT APPROPRIATE WITHIN OUR APPARENT MEANS TO ADJUST OUR TUITION. AND THE REASON WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW IS THAT WE HAVE TO GET OUT OUR PUBLICATIONS SO THE PARENTS WILL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO OUR SCHOOL. SO WE HAVE ADOPTED A FORMULA THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE TO THE GENERAL BOARD AT OUR NEXT MEETING THAT WE INCREASE OUR TUITION BY $125 PER SEMESTER, PROVIDED THAT SHOULD THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJUST ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE COLLEGE BEYOND THE 86% LEVEL WHICH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAYS AND MEANS HAS SET, FOR EACH ONE PERCENT THAT THEY GO BEYOND THAT, WE REDUCE THE TUITION BY $15 SO THAT WE KEEP IT IN BALANCE. WE'RE A GROWING SCHOOL, BEGINNING IN 1970 WITH AROUND 900 STUDENTS AND TOPPING OUT LAST YEAR AT 4,015. WE HAVE PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME THAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE THAT ARE GROWING. WE ARE SITUATED ON 309 ACRES, OF WHICH ABOUT 100 ARE ACTIVELY IN USE. WE HAVE INADEQUATE DORMITORY SPACE AND HAVE BEEN MAKING PLANS AND ARE PROPOSING TO CREATE ADDITIONAL DORMITORIES WHEN FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. WE'RE RESTUDYING OUR FISCAL SITUATION AT THIS TIME WITH THE IDEA OF REFUNDING OUR BONDS TO REDUCE THE DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE AVAILABLE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THE DORMITORIES. I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COLLEGE SINCE COMING ON THE BOARD IN 1979 AND CONTINUE IN THAT CAPACITY NOW AS CHAIRMAN. I AM CURRENTLY SERVING AS CHAIRMAN. I BELIEVE THAT MY STEWARDSHIP IN THE PAST AND MY DESIRE TO FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE PEE DEE AREA AND SOUTH CAROLINA QUALIFY ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY IF YOU SHOULD SO SEE FIT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. HYMAN?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD ASK ONE, IF I MAY.
Q. YOU MENTIONED FOR YOUR FUTURE PLANNING DORMITORY SPACE. HOW MANY BOARDED STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE NOW?
A. ABOUT 750.
Q. 750?
A. YES, MA'AM.
Q. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT HIGH.
A. YES, MA'AM. WE STARTED OUT AS A COMMUTER COLLEGE AND THAT WAS OUR GENERAL IDEA WHEN WE PASSED THE LEGISLATION, BUT WE'VE GONE BEYOND THAT AND THE NEEDS OF THE PEE DEE AND THE STATE HAVE GONE BEYOND THAT. WE HAVE GRADUATED STUDENTS FROM 42 OF THE 46 COUNTIES, SEVERAL FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND PUERTO RICO. WE ARE BECOMING BETTER KNOWN AS A GOOD, STABLE, FOUR YEAR DEGREE GRANTING, COEDUCATIONAL COLLEGE.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. HYMAN.
A. THANK YOU, SIRS. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: REBECCA PITTMAN?
(REBECCA A. PITTMAN, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, SIXTH DISTRICT, #11, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. PITTMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR, I DON'T.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. BRIEFLY, WHY DO YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. WELL, LIKE MANY OF THE CANDIDATES HERE, I'M INTERESTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT ALSO WITH ME, SINCE I'M A NEW PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S A WAY OF BECOMING INVOLVED. I BELIEVE IN TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE AREA THAT YOU DO LIVE IN, AND I'M PHYSICALLY ESTRANGED FROM MY SCHOOL IN TEXAS AND SO IT'S NATURAL TO WANT TO TRANSFER SOME DEGREE OF LOYALTY AND INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM TO THE SCHOOL THAT'S IN MY COMMUNITY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE LADY?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN?
Q. I WOULD ASK -- AND I CERTAINLY COMMEND YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING FOR. BUT ANYHOW, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, SPECIFICALLY, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS SCHOOL AND THE PROGRESS THAT IT'S MADE? AND WHAT SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU WOULD MAKE AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR EMPHASIS AS A TRUSTEE?
A. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRESS THE SCHOOL HAS MADE. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS ATTENDING SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN COLUMBIA AND WE KIND OF, SORT OF HEARD ABOUT FRANCIS MARION. IT WAS IN THIS LITTLE PLACE CALLED FLORENCE ON THE WAY TO THE BEACH, AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE KNEW ABOUT FRANCIS MARION. SO IT'S MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE PAST FOURTEEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. AS FAR AS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCHOOL, IT'S, I GUESS, MAYBE A NEW VITALITY, SOME YOUTH. IN FACT, WHEN I HAD A MEETING ON CAMPUS, SOMEBODY STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION WITH ME AND WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE THERE. AND SO IT JUST KIND OF SEEMS NATURAL THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENT BODY, AS WELL AS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE FACULTY.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NOW WE GO TO THE AT-LARGE SEAT #13. LU ANN BRANNIGAN?
(LU ANN BRANNIGAN, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. BRANNIGAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, COULD YOU TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY REASONS FOR SEEKING THIS SEAT ARE MOSTLY EMOTIONAL. I STARTED FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE IN 1971, RECEIVED MY BACHELOR DEGREE IN 1977 AND MASTER'S IN EDUCATION IN 1982. I'VE TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR TEN YEARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THREE STATES, AND I'VE ALSO WORKED IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM SINCE THEN. I FEEL THAT FRANCIS MARION PROVIDED ME AND WOULD PROVIDE POOR, RURAL STUDENTS AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND START IN LIFE THAT SOME OF THEM WOULD NOT GET. THE PROFESSORS AND ADMINISTRATION OF FRANCIS MARION HELPED ME THROUGH SCHOOL AT TIMES WHEN I COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT FINANCIALLY. WHEN I GOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO, WHEN I LEFT AND WENT TO A LARGER SCHOOL, I DID GET LOST, AND RETURNED TO FRANCIS MARION AND FOUND MYSELF AGAIN AND MY VOCATION AGAIN. THEY'VE GIVEN ME A GREAT BACKGROUND, AND I FEEL VERY DEVOTED TO FRANCIS MARION, AND AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE I'M ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THEM AND I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO DO THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE LADY?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MS. BRANNIGAN) THANK YOU, MA'AM.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: DIANNE BROWN?
(DIANNE H. BROWN, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. BROWN, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. WOULD YOU BRIEFLY, MS. BROWN, TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. I AM ALSO A GRADUATE OF FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. I ALSO SEE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT AFFORDS THE PEOPLE OF MARION COUNTY AND THE PEE DEE AREA. WHEN I ATTENDED FRANCIS MARION I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE SOUTHEAST AND STILL DO. WHEN I ATTENDED FRANCIS MARION IT WAS BEGINNING TO GROW FROM A COMMUTER COLLEGE INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT MY PROFESSION NOW, IN HUMAN RESOURCE, WOULD ALLOW ME, THROUGH THE GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT OFFICE, TO TAKE THE GRADUATES OF FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE AND HOPEFULLY KEEP THEM IN THE PEE DEE AREA, MAINLY IN MARION AND FLORENCE, BUT KEEP THEM IN OUR STATE AS OPPOSED TO TAKING THOSE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND MOVING OUT, WHICH I SEE SO MUCH OF THAT HAPPENING NOW.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. BROWN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MS. BROWN) THANK YOU, MA'AM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: TERRY BROWN? TERRY BROWN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: CARROLL TAYLOR? CARROLL TAYLOR?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE GO DOWN TO SEAT #15. ALLARD ALLSTON?
(ALLARD A. ALLSTON, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. ALLSTON, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. I DO NOT, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOU PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. I WOULD.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NONE WHATSOEVER.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I HAVE NONE, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, SIR, IF YOU WOULD, INFORM US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I THINK THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY FIRST THAT PART OF THE REASON IS A SELFISH REASON. I WAS SERVING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE WHEN THE ORIGINAL BOARD FOR ALL THREE OF THE COLLEGES CAME INTO PLAY. I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS, HAVING BEEN MOVED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A CORE FOR THE STATE COLLEGES' BOARDS OF TRUSTEES. I'D LIKE TO FEEL THAT I'VE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM MEN LIKE JOE BERRY, AND MR. JOHNSTON AND PETER HYMAN WHOM YOU JUST HEARD A MOMENT AGO. I'D LIKE TO FEEL THAT THEY MAY HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM ME. I'D LIKE TO FEEL, TOO, THAT THE FACT THAT THE LADIES WHO JUST SPOKE AND SPOKE SO WELL OF THEIR EXPERIENCES AT FRANCIS MARION, IN MY OPINION, SPEAKS WELL FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO SERVE NOT ONLY FRANCIS MARION, BUT ALSO THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND LANDER. HAVING SERVED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING SERVED ON EVERY SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE SIX PRESIDENTS THAT THE THREE COLLEGES HAVE HAD, FRANCIS MARION, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND LANDER. IT'S MY FEELING THAT ALL OF THOSE COLLEGES HAVE PROSPERED LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MEN WHOM I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HELPING TO SELECT. AND THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE YOUNG LADIES WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE COLLEGE TELLS ME THAT ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SERVED WELL. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THOSE MEN. MOST OF THEM ARE SCATTERED NOW BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE SAW FIT TO SPLIT THE THREE COLLEGES. BUT I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE EXPERIENCE WHICH I HAVE HAD DURING ALL THOSE YEARS WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR IS CARRIED ON. DURING THOSE YEARS I HAVE SERVED, FOR 15 OF THOSE YEARS I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE. I'D LIKE TO FEEL THAT I PLAYED SOME LITTLE PART IN SEEING TO IT THAT AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE COLLEGES, LANDER AND FRANCIS MARION -- SAW TO IT THAT TUITIONS WERE KEPT TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE TWO OF THE LEAST EXPENSIVE COLLEGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND IN THE SOUTHEAST TO ATTEND. AND WE FEEL THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BUT CERTAINLY THE MEMBERS OF MY BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE, MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT. THOSE EXPERIENCES, I FEEL, MAKE IT VERY WORTHWHILE THAT I BE GIVEN AS MUCH CONSIDERATION AS POSSIBLE FOR CONTINUANCE ON THE PRESENT FRANCIS MARION BOARD.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. ALLSTON?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MR. MARTIN?
Q. ARE THERE ANY FEMALES ON THE BOARD?
A. SIR, THE BOARD IS NOW CONSTITUTED OF MORE FEMALES THAN EVER BEFORE. YES, THERE ARE A TOTAL -- MR. HYMAN WILL PERHAPS HELP ME. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT I FIND IT DIFFICULT, I FIND IT DIFFICULT. (TO MR. HYMAN) FIVE, ARE THERE? THERE ARE NOW FIVE FEMALES ON THE BOARD. SIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THAT BRINGS TO MIND THE FEELING THAT I HAVE THAT DILIGENCE ON COSTS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT A COLLEGE BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO FACE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT ALSO MINORITY IMAGE, BOTH FEMALE AND ETHNIC, WILL BE A VERY NECESSARY PART OF SEEING TO IT THAT PROGRESS IS CONTINUED. MINORITY STUDENTS AND MINORITY FACULTY ARE QUITE IMPORTANT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BECAUSE UNLESS THERE IS THE IMAGE TO LOOK UP TO, THERE CANNOT BE THE KIND OF THING THAT HAS ENABLED US TO CONTINUALLY RAISE THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF FRANCIS MARION, AND OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND AT LANDER. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR?
Q. YOU ANSWERED IT A LONG TIME AGO.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. ALLSTON) THANK YOU. GLENN ODOM?
(M. GLENN ODOM, CANDIDATE FOR THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #15, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. ODOM ---
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. YES, SIR. I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE FLORENCE COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION BOARD AND IF ELECTED TO THIS POSITION, WOULD RESIGN. IN ANSWERING, PERHAPS, THE OTHER QUESTION, THE PRIOR QUESTION, I ALSO CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE BOARD OF VISITORS AND I ASSUME I WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN FROM THAT, ALSO. I HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN TEACHING BUSINESS LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE, AND IF THAT IS A CONFLICT, I'D HAVE TO RESIGN FROM THAT. I ALSO SERVE ON THE FOUNDATION BOARD AT FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE AND IF THAT'S A CONFLICT, I WOULD RESIGN FROM THAT, ALSO.
Q. WOULD YOU BRIEFLY TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. AS A 1975 GRADUATE, I FEEL THAT FRANCIS MARION, IN COMING UP ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, DESERVES TO HAVE DESERVING GRADS ON ITS BOARD. I FEEL THAT I AM QUALIFIED TO SERVE FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE AND THE COMMUNITY SINCE I WAS ELECTED TO TWO TERMS OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, I'VE BEEN FOUR YEARS CONCURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF VISITORS, FOUR YEARS ON THE FOUNDATION BOARD, I'VE TAUGHT FOR EIGHT YEARS, I'VE BEEN A MONETARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ATHLETIC FUND AS WELL AS THE FOUNDATION FUND FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS. IN MY LOOKING AT THIS SITUATION, MY DESIRE IS THERE. THE ONLY SERVICE I HAVE NOT GIVEN TO FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE SINCE MY GRADUATION IS SERVING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. ODOM?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. ODOM) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. YES, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WE MOVE NOW TO LANDER COLLEGE, THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. BOBBY M. BOWERS?
SENATOR SMITH: ASK HIM TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF, MR. CHAIRMAN.
SENATOR WILSON: I THOUGHT IT WAS ROBERT BOWERS.
(BOBBY M. BOWERS, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, #3, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. BOWERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. MR. BOWERS, WOULD YOU BRIEFLY ENLIGHTEN THE COMMITTEE AS TO WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, LIKE SO MANY BEFORE ME, I AM A GRADUATE OF A SMALL COLLEGE. I GRADUATED FROM A LUTHERAN COLLEGE, NEWBERRY, IN 1962. I WAS KEENLY INTERESTED IN EDUCATION, HAVING SERVED AS A TEACHER AND AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN FOR SOME SEVEN YEARS IN PROBABLY ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, STILL, IN THE STATE, LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE. HAVING HELPED TO SHEPHERD THAT DISTRICT THROUGH SOME OF ITS TRYING TIMES ON BUILDING EXPANSIONS, ENROLLMENT EXPANSION AND MEETING FINANCIAL NEEDS, I FEEL LIKE I AM FAIRLY UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE IN SOME SERVICE OF EDUCATION. I DO HAVE AN INTEREST IN HIGHER EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY SINCE I'M PRESENTLY STARTING TO EDUCATE THE THIRD OF MY SIX CHILDREN IN AN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN THIS STATE. I ALSO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN GOVERNMENT STATISTICS AND IN THE FIELD OF DEMOGRAPHICS. I FEEL MY CONTRIBUTION CAN BE MADE WORKING WITH THE BOARD AND BRINGING IT A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, THAT OF A PROFESSIONAL STATISTICIAN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. BOWERS?
SENATOR SMITH: YES, SIR, I HAVE A QUESTION.
Q. I WOULD ASK YOU, LANDER BEING ONE OF THE LAST COLLEGES THAT WE TOOK INTO THE STATE SYSTEM, WHAT IS THE PRESENT ENROLLMENT? DO YOU KNOW?
A. I THINK IT'S ABOUT 2200. I THINK IT'S AROUND 2100 OR 2200.
Q. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MISSION OF THAT SCHOOL, LANDER COLLEGE?
A. I THINK LANDER COLLEGE BEING A SMALL COLLEGE -- AND LET ME SAY, SENATOR SMITH, BEING FROM A SMALL COLLEGE, THERE IS A LOT TO BE GAINED THERE. I THINK IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO GROW BUT TO KEEP ITS SMALL COLLEGE PERSPECTIVE, TO KEEP ITS SMALL COLLEGE ATMOSPHERE. IT IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THAT PART OF THE STATE THAT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED. AS I HEARD SOME OF THE OTHERS SAY, WE NEED TO KEEP THE TUITION AS LOW AS POSSIBLE SO THAT MANY STUDENTS, LIKE MYSELF WHEN I WENT TO NEWBERRY COLLEGE AND WORKED MY WAY THROUGH, CAN BE AFFORDED AN EDUCATION.
Q. WELL, IN FOLLOWING UP ON THAT -- AND I'M NOT SURE NOW WHETHER THEY ARE TRAINING TEACHERS. IS LANDER TRAINING TEACHERS? WHAT IS THEIR ---
A. IT IS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE AND I AM SURE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS DO GO INTO TEACHING, YES.
Q. I KNOW IT HAS A VERY RECOGNIZED ART DEPARTMENT.
A. YES, MA'AM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. BOWERS. JAMES L. TELFER?
(JAMES L. TELFER, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE.
Q. MR. TELFER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, SIR, INFORM US AS TO WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED PRIMARILY WITH INSTITUTIONS SIMILAR IN SIZE TO LANDER COLLEGE THROUGHOUT MOST OF MY CAREER, MOST RECENTLY AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF CAPITAL UNIVERSITY. I BELIEVE AS A RESULT OF THAT, I HAVE AN APPRECIATION AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT A SCHOOL SUCH AS LANDER COLLEGE HAS AND OF THE SPECIAL ROLE THAT IT CAN PLAY IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY BACKGROUND TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE POSITION THAT LANDER COLLEGE HAS AND TO HOPEFULLY GAIN GREATER RECOGNITION.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. TELFER?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. TELFER) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE HAVE TIMOTHY WALKER.
(TIMOTHY R. WALKER, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. WALKER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, SIR, INFORM US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I SEEK THIS POSITION, SIR, BECAUSE OF, IN GENERAL, MY INTEREST IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND, IN SPECIFIC, MY INTEREST IN LANDER COLLEGE. I'M A 1981 GRADUATE OF LANDER COLLEGE AND LIKE THE YOUNG LADY TOLD YOU BEFORE, SHE FEELS THAT FRANCIS MARION IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE SOUTHEAST. LANDER USED TO BE THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE SOUTHEAST, BUT THE SECRET GOT OUT. AS A RESULT, OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WE AT LANDER HAVE UNDERGONE DYNAMIC GROWTH AND WITH THAT GROWTH WE HAVE FACED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DORMITORY SPACE, PARKING SPACE AND CLASSROOM OVERCROWDING. I FEEL THAT WITH MY LEGAL BACKGROUND AND MY MANAGERIAL SKILLS, THAT ALTHOUGH I CANNOT PROVIDE CONCRETE ANSWERS AT THE MOMENT FOR THESE PROBLEMS, I CAN WORK DILIGENTLY AND AM QUALIFIED TO HELP FIND ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. WALKER?
SENATOR SMITH: I JUST HAVE ONE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: YES, MA'AM.
Q. HAVE YOU STAYED IN TOUCH WITH THE COLLEGE OVER THE YEARS? HAVE YOU BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN GOING BACK AND SORT OF SEEING WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE YOU GRADUATED IN ---
A. IN '81. I GRADUATED IN '81. YES, MA'AM, I GO BACK EVERY CHANCE I GET. GREENWOOD AND LANDER IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME. I'M A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE ALUMNI BOARD ASSOCIATION. THAT MEMBERSHIP HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO GO AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS. I SUPPORT THE COLLEGE AS MUCH AS I CAN FINANCIALLY, MORALLY, SPIRITUALLY, ANY WAY I CAN.
Q. VERY GOOD. YOU ARE A GOOD ALUMNUS, THEN.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: NEXT WE GO TO SEAT #13. ESTELLE MAULDIN?
(ESTELLE MURRAY MAULDIN, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. MAULDIN, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, I DO NOT.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, I CAN.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. I'M SURE I DON'T.
Q. INFORM US, MA'AM, AS TO WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I'M A 1937 GRADUATE OF LANDER COLLEGE AND IN LIVING IN THE TOWN WHERE LANDER IS LOCATED, I HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY INTERESTS IN EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AT LANDER. I THINK I HAVE SERVED IN JUST EVERY CAPACITY THAT IS AVAILABLE, PRESIDENT OF THE LANDER ALUMNI ASSOCIATION I THINK TWO TIMES. I'VE BEEN AN AREA CHAIRMAN. I'VE SERVED ALL THE OFFICES OF THE LANDER AFTERNOON CLUB. I WAS ASKED BY GOVERNOR MCNAIR TO SERVE ON THE LANDER STUDY COMMITTEE, AND THAT WAS WHEN I WAS FINDING, THROUGH THOSE YEARS, WHEN LANDER WAS HAVING SO MANY LEAN YEARS. IT NEEDED HELP, AND I SERVED AS AN OFFICER ON THIS STUDY COMMITTEE AND WE WERE ABLE, THANK GOODNESS, TO GET HELP, SO LANDER SURVIVED. AND I HAVE SEEN LANDER GROW FROM A SMALL COLLEGE, WHEN I WAS A STUDENT THERE, TO WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND I'M SIMPLY OVERWHELMED WITH IT ALL. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE WHAT THE STATE IS DOING FOR LANDER. I'M VERY PROUD OF IT. I'VE SERVED IN SO MANY OTHER CAPACITIES, I FEEL THAT I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO SERVE AS A PART OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LANDER COLLEGE. I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND LOVE AND A LOT OF OTHER AREAS THAT I CAN BE A GOOD TRUSTEE FOR THE COLLEGE.
Q. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, MS. MAULDIN.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WILLIE J. MORGAN? WILLIE MORGAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: MICHAEL A. NASHLEANAS? MR. NASHLEANAS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ELAINE M. SMITH?
(ELAINE M. SMITH, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MS. SMITH, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. BRIEFLY, MA'AM, TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD GIVE BACK SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US, AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME OTHER FOLKS HAVE SAID, I DON'T HAVE A CHILD IN COLLEGE, BUT MY MAIN REASON FOR WANTING TO GIVE BACK SOMETHING TO LANDER IS THEY GAVE A LOT TO ME. I WAS NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, AND I DID GO BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER I HAD BEEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS AND HAD A SMALL CHILD. I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE - I WAS A SINGLE PARENT AT THE TIME - AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE WHAT I CONSIDER VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MY CAREER, AND ULTIMATELY STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS. AND I JUST FEEL THAT, HAVING DONE THOSE THINGS, THAT I HAVE SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND CAN HELP MAKE DECISIONS -- AND SOME INITIATIVE AND ENERGY AND, REALLY, A BASIC, DOWN-HOME DESIRE TO HELP LANDER. I WANT TO SEE LANDER CONTINUE TO GROW. I THINK THEY'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. I'VE ALSO BEEN JUST AMAZED TO WATCH THE GROWTH SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE, AND IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG AGO THAT I GRADUATED. BUT THEY HAVE JUST GROWN TREMENDOUSLY AND I WANT TO SEE THEM CONTINUE TO ATTRACT AND KEEP GOOD STUDENTS. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE MAKING REAL STRIDES IN THE CURRICULUM AND UPGRADING THAT AND THE STANDARDS. THE G.P.R. AND THE ENTRANCE STANDARDS AS WELL AS THE STANDARDS FOR REMAINING IN LANDER AND FOR GRADUATION ARE VERY, VERY HIGH. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE BACK SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MS. SMITH) THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: GEORGE R. STARNES, III?
(GEORGE R. STARNES, III, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. STARNES, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. SIR, WOULD YOU TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION, BRIEFLY, PLEASE, SIR?
A. YES, SIR. I AM A 1981 GRADUATE OF LANDER COLLEGE AND, AS MOST OF YOU ALL KNOW, LANDER BECAME A STATE SUPPORTED SCHOOL IN THE EARLY '70'S. SINCE THE EARLY '70'S, LANDER HAS UNDERGONE REMARKABLE GROWTH. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE AT LANDER COLLEGE, BEING THERE FOUR YEARS DURING THE LATE '70'S AND EARLY '80'S, AND WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY SHARE IN A LOT OF THIS GROWTH AND THE NEW BUILDINGS AND THE NEW FACILITIES THAT HAVE GONE ON. SINCE GRADUATION I HAVE KEPT MY TIES TO LANDER VERY, VERY CLOSELY. I HAVE ALSO BEEN A FINANCIAL SUPPORTER, HAVE SET UP AN ENDOWMENT AT LANDER, BUT HAVE ALSO STAYED IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL, AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE SCHOOL, AND WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BACK TO THE SCHOOL SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION WHICH HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO ME IN BY BUSINESS. AND I NOW FEEL THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN MY CAREER, I HAVE THE TIME AND THE ENERGY TO SPEND IN THAT AREA AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO THAT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. STARNES?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. STARNES) THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: B. A. WENTZ?
(B. A. WENTZ, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, AT-LARGE, #13, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. MR. WENTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOU PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. SIR, COULD YOU BRIEFLY INFORM US AS TO WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION?
A. WELL, YES, SIR, BASICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS AVAILABLE. THERE WAS AN OPENING, AND I LOOKED AT MY CREDENTIALS AND I SAID, "WELL, MAYBE I CAN SERVE THE STATE IN THAT CAPACITY", AND THAT'S THE REASON. I THINK I HAVE THE BACKGROUND THAT WOULD SERVE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE DO, TOO.
Q. YES, SIR.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE GENTLEMAN?
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. WENTZ) THANK YOU, SIR. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL HERE FOR COMING.
MS. TURNIPSEED: THERE'S ONE OTHER. HE'S UNOPPOSED, BUT HE'S NOT AN INCUMBENT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: WELL, I THOUGHT WE DISMISSED THE UNOPPOSED.
MS. TURNIPSEED: WELL, HE'S NOT AN INCUMBENT.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: COME FORWARD, MR. GREGORY, PLEASE.
(J. W. GREGORY, CANDIDATE FOR THE LANDER COLLEGE SEAT, FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, APPROACHES THE COMMITTEE).
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. MR. GREGORY, YOU'RE SEEKING SEAT #8 AND ARE UNOPPOSED. BRIEFLY, SIR, TELL US WHY YOU SEEK THIS POSITION.
A. TO SERVE IN THE INTERESTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND ENROLLMENT OF MINORITY STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE. I FEEL THAT I CAN BE OF A LITTLE HELP THERE IN THAT I MEET AND GREET A LOT OF KIDS IN MY WORK.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. GREGORY?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I'VE GOT ONE.
Q. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION THAT'S GREATER THAN OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY?
A. NO.
Q. YOU DON'T?
A. OF COURSE NOT.
Q. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY IN ITHACA, NEW YORK?
A. NO.
Q. YOU HAVEN'T?
A. YES, OF COURSE, I'VE HEARD OF IT.
Q. I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: (TO MR. GREGORY) THANK YOU, SIR. THAT CONCLUDES THE APPEARANCES FOR TODAY. WE WILL, THEN, ASSIMILATE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED AND TALK TO THE MEMBERS AS TO WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT APPEAR.
SENATOR WILSON: I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU AND MS. TURNIPSEED, MAYBE, TO ARRANGE A FURTHER HEARING FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, FOR ILLNESS OR BEING OUT OF THE COUNTRY OR VACATIONING --
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: I APPRECIATE THAT, SENATOR, AND WE WILL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM WITHIN TEN DAYS.
SENATOR WILSON: THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE STODDARD: THANK YOU, SIR. THERE BEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
(WHEREUPON, THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED AT 11:00 A.M.).
THE CHAIRMAN: THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. I'M GOING TO READ OUT THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE UNOPPOSED AND ASK THAT YOU STAND AND REMAIN STANDING, PLEASE. ROBERT C. LAKE, JR., OTHNIEL H. WIENGES, JR., LOUIS C. SOSSAMON, DR. GORDAN B. STINE, THOMAS W. WEEKS, ROBERT S. SMALL, F. CREIGHTON MCMASTER, HOWARD G. LUNDY, JR., ELLEN CARTER WATSON. (ALL PRESENT STOOD)
THE CHAIRMAN: WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU GENTLEMEN COMING HERE TODAY. DO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SENATOR SMITH: IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT TO HAVE THEM STAND THERE TO DO A THIRD DEGREE, ESPECIALLY THESE.
THE CHAIRMAN: HAVE MERCY. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU GENTLEMEN COMING AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE REALIZE THAT IT'S VERY MONETARILY REWARDING BUT STILL WE THANK YOU. WE THINK YOU ARE DOING A GOOD SERVICE, MEN OF YOUR CALIBER OFFERING FOR AND RECEIVING THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE YOU DESIRE TO RENDER SOMETHING TO THE COMMITTEE. WE WOULD DISMISS YOU AT THIS TIME.
SENATOR SMITH: BUT WE DID WANT TO SEE YOU. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE YOU.
THE CHAIRMAN: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT YOU.
SENATOR SMITH: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THE CHAIRMAN: OFF THE RECORD.
THE CHAIRMAN: NOW FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT QUITE SO LUCKY OPPOSITION-WISE, FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. BAHNMULLER.
MR. BAHNMULLER: YES, SIR.
THE CHAIRMAN: IF YOU CARE TO, YOU CAN JUST SIT RIGHT THERE.
MR. BAHNMULLER: I AM OKAY.
THE CHAIRMAN: ALL RIGHT, SIR, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK YOU, PLEASE, SIR. FIRST, THOUGH, WE NEED TO SWEAR YOU IN.
(A. S. BAHNMULLER, CANDIDATE FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS DULY SWORN BY THE COURT REPORTER.)
Q. SIR, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BAHNMULLER? THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WERE HERE AT THE LAST MEETING KNOW THAT MR. BAHNMULLER HAD JUST HAD BACK SURGERY AND WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND.
A. I MIGHT ADD THAT I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL OUT FROM BACK SURGERY FOR FOUR WEEKS AS OF YESTERDAY AND I AM DOING VERY WELL. WHEN I LEFT, THE DOCTOR SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. I AM SUPPOSED TO GO BACK ON THE 9TH OF APRIL. I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO INHIBIT ME IN ANY WAY PHYSICALLY BEING A BOARD MEMBER.
THE CHAIRMAN: ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BAHNMULLER?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN.
Q. I WOULD CONTINUE TO ASK IS THERE A VERY SPECIAL REASON THAT YOU ARE OFFERING FOR THE BOARD AND IS THERE SOMETHING YOU ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN?
A. I GRADUATED TWICE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHICH IS IN MY TESTIMONY ON THAT. IN ADDITION, I TAUGHT THERE IN THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL WHILE I WAS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME, GRADUATED TWO OF MY SONS; ONE OF WHICH IS "DRIVING MR. ART," AND BOTH GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING TO DO SOMETHING TO MAYBE HELP THE UNIVERSITY BECOME A GREATER UNIVERSITY AND A BETTER UNIVERSITY. I HAVE BEEN ON MANY BOARDS, IF YOU HAVE READ MY WORK RESUME.
Q. YES.
A. AND ALL I ASK THE SCREENING COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO DO IS JUDGE ME ON WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, NOT WHAT I TELL YOU I AM GOING TO DO BUT WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS IN THE UNIVERSITY THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.
Q. SPECIFICALLY?
A. I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE EDUCATIONAL PART, AS WELL. I AM NOT SO SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE SCHOLARS IN THE STATE. I THINK SOME OF OUR SCHOLARS ARE GETTING AWAY FROM US, GOING TO OTHER STATES. IF THEY GO TO OTHER STATES, THEN THEY HAVE TIES UP THERE, GET MARRIED UP THERE, AND STAY UP THERE. I BELIEVE WE'RE LOSING SOME OF OUR BRAIN POWER. I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THAT. I DON'T LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS WE GET IN THE NEWSPAPER. SEEMS LIKE EVERY SIX MONTHS WE ARE IN THE NEWSPAPER, AT LEAST IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE OR SIX YEARS. I WANT TO SEE LESS IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT ADVERSE THINGS. I WANT TO SEE MORE GOOD THINGS JUST LIKE WE WERE VOTED FOR AND PROCLAIMED AS NUMBER ONE IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND THAT IS A GREAT PLUS. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS I LIKE TO SEE AND I AM JUST HOPING THAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING BETTER DECISIONS OVER THERE THAN HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
SENATOR SMITH: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE CHAIRMAN: ANYTHING FURTHER?
THE CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU, SIR.
A. THANK YOU, SIR.
THE CHAIRMAN: DR. DEGENHART.
DR. DEGENHART: YES, SIR.
(WHEREUPON, VINCENT J. DEGENHART, M.D., CANDIDATE FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS DULY SWORN BY THE COURT REPORTER.)
Q. DOCTOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. NO, SIR, I DON'T.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
THE CHAIRMAN: ANY QUESTIONS OF THE DOCTOR?
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU JUST LOOK AT ME AND JUST GRIN.
THE CHAIRMAN: YOU KNOW I COULD ASK THE QUESTIONS BUT I WOULD RATHER SOME OF THE MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES.
SENATOR SMITH: YES, I DO HAVE ONE.
Q. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT READING OVER YOUR STATEMENT, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A VERY IMPRESSIVE ONE, OF THE THINGS YOU SAID YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT OUR STATE STILL HAS SOME PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION AND YOU ALSO CONTINUE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN UNACCEPTABLE ILLITERACY RATE AND YOU EVEN MENTION THE FACT THAT DURING THE HUGO SITUATION WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW--YOU AS A CANDIDATE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HELP THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION?
A. I THINK THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO REDEDICATE ITSELF IN EDUCATION, THAT IT WILL LEAD IN A PROGRAM AND NOT JUST IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS, PH.D. PROGRAMS, MEDICAL PROGRAMS, BUT ON THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL AND MORE INSTITUTING OF PILOT PROGRAMS SUCH AS IN THE LOW COUNTRY OR WHATEVER OUR HIGHEST AREAS OF ILLITERACY ARE, IN GETTING PEOPLE TO READ AND WRITE SO THAT THEY CAN SIGN A FEMA APPLICATION. AND IT'S NOT ONLY AN EMBARRASSMENT BUT THESE PEOPLE CAN SOMEHOW PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES THEMSELVES AND ADD TO OUR SOCIETY AND NOT BE A DEBT ON SOCIETY. SO I THINK THE UNIVERSITY CAN AND SHOULD BE A LEADER IN EDUCATION IN NOT JUST GRADUATE LEVEL BUT ON THE PRIMARY LEVEL. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS CAN'T READ. I WANT TO SEE THE UNIVERSITY BE A LEADER IN STARTING SOME PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE IN READING AND WRITING SO THAT THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
Q. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
A. THAT'S CORRECT.
SENATOR SMITH: I THANK YOU.
THE CHAIRMAN: ANYTHING FURTHER?
THE CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
A. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CHAIRMAN: NEXT WE HAVE THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CANDIDATE FOR SEAT NUMBER 15, ELLIS C. MACDOUGALL.
MR. MACDOUGALL: MR. CHAIRMAN.
(WHEREUPON, ELLIS C. MACDOUGALL, CANDIDATE FOR SEAT NO. 15 OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, WAS DULY SWORN BY THE COURT REPORTER.)
Q. MR. MACDOUGALL, DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEMS THAT THE SCREENING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM SERVING ON THE BOARD IN A FULL CAPACITY?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. CONSIDERING YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
A. YES, SIR.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTS, PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, THAT PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD?
A. I DO NOT, SIR.
Q. DO YOU NOW HOLD ANY PUBLIC POSITION OF HONOR OR TRUST THAT, IF ELECTED TO THE BOARD, WOULD CAUSE YOU TO VIOLATE THE DUAL OFFICE HOLDING CLAUSES OF THE CONSTITUTION?
A. NO, SIR.
Q. COULD YOU STATE BRIEFLY WHY YOU ARE SEEKING THIS POSITION, MR. MACDOUGALL?
A. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I HAVE BEEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE 1952. THIS STATE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD TO ME DURING MY 10 YEARS AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. HERE I HAD AN INSTITUTION NAMED AFTER ME. I GUESS MOST PEOPLE GET HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES BUT I GOT A PRISON NAMED AFTER ME WHICH IS APPROPRIATE IN MY CAREER. I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN BORN AND RAISED HERE. I'M NOW RETIRED FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND I FELT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK. IN TRYING TO DETERMINE THAT, I LOOKED AT THE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND FELT THAT I COULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION IN THE POST THAT I HAVE APPLIED FOR.
THE CHAIRMAN: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? (NONE INDICATED.)
Q. WHO FOLLOWED YOU IN CHARGE OF OUR PRISONS?
A. BILL LEEKE.
Q. THAT'S RIGHT.
A. BILL WAS MY ASSISTANT.
Q. BILL'S BROTHER USED TO BE MY DENTIST.
A. HE USED TO BE MY DENTIST.
Q. WERE Y'ALL IN THE SAME AREA?
A. YES. WHEN I CAME TO SOUTH CAROLINA, I CAME TO SPARTANBURG AND THEN FLORENCE BOYS SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS. H.D. WAS MY DENTIST. I REMEMBER DRY SOCKETS VERY WELL.
MR. MACDOUGALL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE CHAIRMAN: YES, THANK YOU, MR. MACDOUGALL.
REP. MARTIN: HAS EVERYONE ELSE BEEN INTERVIEWED ?
MRS. TURNIPSEED: THERE ARE SEVERAL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE NOT SENT IN ANY INFORMATION PAST THEIR LETTER OF INTENT. IN ALL RESPECTS IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE IT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED US OF THAT FACT.
REP. MARTIN: I MOVE THAT THESE PEOPLE BE DECLARED NON-CANDIDATES FOR LACK OF COMPLETION OF PROCESS.
SENATOR SMITH: I SECOND IT.
THE CHAIRMAN: WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. MARTIN, SECONDED BY SENATOR SMITH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE CHAIRMAN: UNANIMOUS.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, IS IT IN ORDER TO ASK A QUESTION HERE WITH REGARD TO THE COMMITTEE? I WAS INTERESTED IN SOMETHING. WHEN I WAS ASKED--AND AN ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN ON JUST THE HEARINGS AND HOW WE CONDUCT THESE HEARINGS--AND I HAD ESPECIALLY POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT I APPRECIATED THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT MRS. TURNIPSEED AND THE STAFF HAVE PUT IN TO TRY TO GET ALL OF THIS TOGETHER--I DON'T THINK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, BUT THE POINT I AM ASKING IS COULD THE MEMBERSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE, THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE, WHAT--IS THERE A WAY THAT DURING THE INTERIM AT SOME TIME, OR HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO PERHAPS MAKE THIS PROCESS A LITTLE MORE MEANINGFUL WITH REGARD TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE SCREENED FOR THESE VARIOUS POSITIONS. IS IT PERFUNCTORY OR IS IT REALLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT AND EITHER DO ONE OR TWO THINGS, MAKE THE DECISION IT WILL BE PAPERWORK SUBMISSION WHEN THE COMMITTEE MEETS; OR DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME--SHOULD WE DIVIDE OR ENLARGE THE COMMITTEE OR DIVIDE IN GROUPS TO LISTEN TO CANDIDATES AND SCREEN THEM? I'M ASKING NOT AS CRITICISM OF THE COMMITTEE BUT FOR THE FUNCTION WHICH IT PERFORMS, WHICH IT IS IMPORTANT BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING A GREAT DEAL.
THE CHAIRMAN: HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20, SENATOR. I RECOMMEND WE MEET MORE WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE NUMBER TO BE HEARD FROM AND IF WE MET MORE AND DIDN'T TRY TO COVER SO MANY CANDIDATES IN ONE MEETING, WE COULD PROBABLY DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER OR AT LEAST INTERVIEW THEM A LITTLE BETTER. LET'S GO OFF THE RECORD.
THE CHAIRMAN: LET'S GO BACK ON THE RECORD. WE HAVE SOME OTHER CANDIDATES HERE.
MRS. TURNIPSEED: MR. LUNDY AND MRS. WATSON: MR. LUNDY HAS COMPLETED ALL HIS INFORMATION AND CALLED THIS MORNING TO SAY HE HAD GOTTEN HIS LETTER TODAY. THE ZIP CODE WAS TRANSPOSED. HE WAS VERY APOLOGETIC FOR NOT BEING HERE. MRS. WATSON, AS YOU KNOW, HAS A HUSBAND WHO IS QUITE ILL, BUT HAS CORRESPONDED AND CALLED AND SHOWN HER INTEREST OVER THE WHOLE PERIOD OF TIME. MICHAEL HUGGINS WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE WINTHROP COLLEGE BOARD WHO HAD ALL HIS INFORMATION IN BUT COULD NOT COME IN BECAUSE OF THE GALL BLADDER ATTACK AND HIS HOSPITALIZATION. THE DIFFERENCE I SEE AS A STAFF PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THESE CANDIDATES IS THAT THE ONES YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY VOTED ON ARE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COMPLETE THEIR PAPERWORK, DID NOT COMMUNICATE A FURTHER INTEREST, DIDN'T RESPOND TO ANY LETTERS, DID NOT CALL, WRITE, APPEAR, OR ANYTHING ELSE. THESE PEOPLE, ON THE OTHERHAND, COMPLETED ALL THEIR PAPERWORK AND COMMUNICATED ABOUT THE REASON WHY THEY COULDN'T COME IN, TRYING TO WORK OUT A SCHEDULE; SO, THEY CERTAINLY SHOWED THEIR INTEREST AND, AS I SAID, COMPLETED ALL THEIR PAPERWORK AND DID ALL THE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
REP. MARTIN: IF THE SUGGESTION OR FEELING IS THAT YOU GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE CONSIDERATION, THEN COULD WE NOT SAY BY THEIR NAME "DID NOT APPEAR AT HEARING," SOMETHING LIKE THAT? DO YOU SAY "NO RECOMMENDATION"? WHAT DO YOU USUALLY SAY?
THE CHAIRMAN: "THE COMMITTEE TAKES NO ACTION."
REP. MARTIN: AND THEN PUT "DID NOT APPEAR."
THE CHAIRMAN: BECAUSE OF LACK OF AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
REP. MARTIN: IF YOU WANT TO TREAT THEM---
THE CHAIRMAN: I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT. OF COURSE, IT'S UP TO THE COMMITTEE.
SENATOR GIESE: I THINK JUST VERY SIMPLY "NO RECOMMENDATION," PARENTHESES, OR PARENTHETICALLY, "NO APPEARANCE."
REP. MARTIN: WE COULD USE "FAVORABLE" OR "UNFAVORABLE." EVERYBODY WHO PASSED, "FAVORABLE." THOSE WHO WE DON'T PASS, "UNFAVORABLE."
REP. MARTIN: I WOULD SO MOVE.
THE CHAIRMAN: WHAT IS THE MOTION NOW?
REP. MARTIN: I WOULD MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT CONSIST OF FAVORABLE; UNFAVORABLE; NO REPORT, FAILURE TO APPEAR AT HEARING.
THE CHAIRMAN: YOU ARE MOVING THAT WE FIND---
REP. MARTIN: MOVING THAT THE COMMITTEE---
REP. MARTIN: ---FINDS FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE--FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE AND NO REPORT FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR.
THE CHAIRMAN: MR. MARTIN MOVES THAT THE COMMITTEE HAVE FINDINGS OF FAVORABLE, AND UNFAVORABLE, NO RECOMMENDATION DUE TO LACK OF APPEARANCE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE CHAIRMAN: THE AYES HAVE IT.
SENATOR SMITH: MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE MORE THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THIS ON THE RECORD BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS CONCERNED ME. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS COMMITTEE ENDORSE A MOTION THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE REFRAIN FROM PLEDGING TO CANDIDATES FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES BOARDS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN SCREENED BY THIS COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE MY--MY MOTION IS THAT THE COMMITTEE ENDORSE THAT PRINCIPLE.
THE CHAIRMAN: AS CHAIRMAN I HAD ASSUMED THAT WAS, OF COURSE, THE CASE BUT YOU MAKE THAT MOTION OR DO I HEAR A SECOND?
REP. MARTIN: SECOND.
THE CHAIRMAN: SENATOR SMITH MOVES THAT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS REFRAIN FROM PLEDGING UNTIL SCREENING IS COMPLETED ON THE CANDIDATES. MR. MARTIN SECONDS THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE CHAIRMAN: THE AYES HAVE IT.
SENATOR WILSON: MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE CHAIRMAN: YES.
SENATOR WILSON: DO WE SEND NOTICES--I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO, BUT DO WE SEND THEM BY CERTIFIED MAIL? DO WE KNOW THAT THEY RECEIVED THE NOTICE TO REPORT?
MRS. TURNIPSEED: WE DON'T SEND IT BY REGISTERED MAIL.
SENATOR WILSON: SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS "FAILURE TO APPEAR" IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE STATE, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOME RECORD THAT THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED NOTICE.
THE CHAIRMAN: SENATOR WILSON, YOU SAID "LACK OF APPEARANCE" AS OPPOSED TO "FAILURE TO APPEAR"; THAT DOESN'T SEEM AS HARSH AS "FAILURE TO APPEAR."
SENATOR WILSON: IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD SAY THEY WERE LACKING TO APPEAR RATHER THAN FAILING TO APPEAR, IF WE CAN'T PROVE THAT THEY RECEIVED NOTICE TO COME.
THE CHAIRMAN: POSSIBLY WE EXPECT A LITTLE TOO MUCH. THEY HAVE BEEN CORRESPONDED WITH TWICE THAT THERE IS A MAKE-UP. NONE OF THE LETTERS WERE RETURNED. WE ARE ASSUMING THEY WERE DELIVERED BUT IN THE FUTURE--I THINK YOU HAVE A VALID POINT--IN THE FUTURE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE MONIES FOR SUCH PUT IN. IN THE FUTURE I GUESS WE SHOULD SEND LETTERS CERTIFIED WITH RETURN REQUESTED.
SENATOR WILSON: I WOULD URGE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW I GET MAIL AT MY HOME AND MY CHILDREN GET IT AND SO I FEEL THAT THAT CAN OCCUR TO OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.
THE CHAIRMAN: IT POSSIBLY COULD.
SENATOR WILSON: I MUCH PREFER THAT PEOPLE USE MY MAILING ADDRESS BUT THEY INSIST ON NOT DOING THAT ON OCCASION AND THAT COULD HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE.
SENATOR GIESE: IT'S SEMANTICAL, BUT RATHER THAN USE FAILURE TO APPEAR WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WILLFUL, USE LACK OF APPEARANCE.
THE CHAIRMAN: "LACK" SOUNDS BETTER.
SENATOR WILSON: IT DOES.
SENATOR GIESE: USE "LACK" RATHER THAN "FAILURE."
SENATOR WILSON: THESE ARE PEOPLE OF HIGH INTEGRITY AND THAT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE THAT THEY DELIBERATELY DID NOT APPEAR.
THE CHAIRMAN: POSSIBLY NEVER FAILED ANYTHING IN THEIR LIFE.
SENATOR WILSON: CORRECT.
THE CHAIRMAN: "LACK OF APPEARANCE." ANYTHING ELSE? THAT KIND OF WINDS IT UP.
SENATOR GIESE: I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN.
THE CHAIRMAN: THE AYES HAVE IT.
(WHEREUPON, THE HEARING WAS CONCLUDED AT 9:59 A.M.)
This Committee has investigated each of the candidates, has conducted three days of public hearings, and has duly considered the legal qualifications of each of the applicants. Based thereon, the Committee makes an unfavorable report on Charles B. Douglas, Terry Brown and Michael A. Nashleanas. All the candidates making personal appearance before the Committee, as noted earlier, are reported favorable and found qualified as candidates for election to the boards of trustees of the state's colleges and universities. The Committee reports without recommendation for lack of appearance at the hearings the following: Michael R. Huggins, Howard G. Lundy, Jr., and Ellen Carter Watson.
Respectfully submitted,
Rep. Eugene C. Stoddard, Chairman
/s/ Senator Alex Macaulay, Vice-Chair.
/s/ Rep. Daniel E. Martin, Jr., Sec.
/s/ Senator Warren K. Giese
/s/ Senator Nell W. Smith
/s/ Senator Addison G. "Joe" Wilson
/s/ Rep. H. Howell Clyborne, Jr.
/s/ Rep. Jennings G. McAbee
(On motion of Senator MACAULAY, ordered printed in the Journal.)
The following were received and referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Document No. 1254
Promulgated By Workers' Compensation Commission
Workers' Compensation
Received by Lt. Governor April 12, 1990
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
120 day expiration date August 10, 1990
Document No. 1265
Promulgated By Board of Nursing
Definition of Terms Applying to Private Nursing Practice for Registered Nurses
Received by Lt. Governor April 12, 1990
Referred to Senate Committee on Medical Affairs
120 day expiration date August 10, 1990
Senator RUSSELL introduced Dr. L.A. Heavin of Spartanburg, Doctor of the Day.
Senator McLEOD requested and was granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.
On motion of Senator MOORE, Senator LOURIE was granted a leave of absence for today.
Columbia, S.C., April 12, 1990
Mr. President and Senators:
The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has overridden the veto by the Governor on (R. 466) S. 1323 by a vote of 6 to 0:
(R466) S. 1323 -- Senator Land: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 375 OF 1947, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CLARENDON HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO IS THE CHIEF OF THE MEDICAL STAFF OF THE CLARENDON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SHALL HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House
Received as information.
Columbia, S.C., April 12, 1990
Mr. President and Senators:
The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it has adopted the report of the Committee of Conference on the following Bill and the report having been adopted by both Houses, has ordered the Bill enrolled for Ratification:
S. 233 -- Senators Leventis and Leatherman: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 29, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MORTGAGES AND OTHER LIENS, BY ADDING CHAPTER 6 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR TIMELY PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, AND SUPPLIERS AND TO PROVIDE FOR INTEREST ON LATE PAYMENTS.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House
Received as information.
Columbia, S.C., April 12, 1990
Mr. President and Senators:
The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the Senate to:
H. 4905 -- Reps. Stoddard, McAbee, Clyborne and D. Martin: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO FIX 12:00 NOON ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1990, AS THE TIME FOR ELECTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF THE CITADEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, FRANCIS MARION COLLEGE, LANDER COLLEGE, THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND WINTHROP COLLEGE, TO SUCCEED THOSE MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1990 AND TO FILL VACANT SEATS ON THESE BOARDS THE PRESENT TERMS FOR WHICH EXPIRE IN 1990 AND 1992.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House
Received as information.
Columbia, S.C., April 12, 1990
Mr. President and Senators:
The House respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it insists upon the amendments proposed by the House to:
S. 961 -- Senator Rose: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 17-15-240 SO AS TO REQUIRE BAIL BOND MONEY TO BE DEPOSITED IN INTEREST-BEARING ACCOUNTS, TO PROVIDE THAT THE INTEREST ON THESE ACCOUNTS IS PUBLIC FUNDS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE INTEREST, AND TO AUTHORIZE SOUTH CAROLINA COURT ADMINISTRATION TO PRESCRIBE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING AND ACCOUNTING FOR BAIL BOND INTEREST.
asks for a Committee of Conference, and has appointed Reps. Hayes, Clyborne and Gentry of the Committee on the part of the House.
Very respectfully,
Speaker of the House
Received as information.
H. 4591 -- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 39, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 22 SO AS TO REGULATE THE STATE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM; AND TO REPEAL CHAPTER 21 OF TITLE 39 RELATING TO THE STATE'S AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSES.
The House returned the Bill with amendments.
On motion of Senator LAND, the Senate agreed to the amendments made by the House of Representatives and a message was sent to the House accordingly. Ordered that the title be changed to that of an Act and the Act enrolled for Ratification.
S. 1384 -- Senators Pope, Shealy and Martschink: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE PALMETTO GIRLS STATE TO USE THE CHAMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990, AND SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1990.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
S. 1516 -- Senator Long: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF MAY, 1990, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA TOURISM MONTH" TO BE OBSERVED WITH SPECIAL EVENTS PARTICULARLY DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 13-19, 1990, WHICH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS AS NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
S. 1525 -- Senator Matthews: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PATRICK ELMORE OF DORCHESTER COUNTY, STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER AT THE CITADEL.
Returned with concurrence.
Received as information.
H. 4871 -- Reps. R. Brown, M.O. Alexander, T.C. Alexander, Altman, G. Bailey, J. Bailey, K. Bailey, Baker, Barber, Barfield, Baxley, Beasley, Blanding, Boan, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, Bruce, Burch, M.D. Burriss, T.M. Burriss, Carnell, Chamblee, Clyborne, Cole, Cooper, Corbett, Cork, Corning, Davenport, Elliott, Faber, Fair, Fant, Farr, Felder, Ferguson, Foster, Hallman, Harvin, Harwell, Haskins, Hayes, Hendricks, Hodges, Huff, Jaskwhich, J.C. Johnson, J.W. Johnson, Keegan, Keesley, Keyserling, Kinon, Klapman, Kohn, Koon, Lanford, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Mappus, L. Martin, Mattos, McAbee, McBride, McCain, McEachin, McElveen, McGinnis, McKay, McLellan, McLeod, McTeer, Moss, Neilson, Nesbitt, Nettles, Phillips, Quinn, Rama, Rhoad, J. Rogers, T. Rogers, Sharpe, Short, Smith, Snow, Stoddard, Sturkie, Taylor, Townsend, Tucker, Vaughn, Waldrop, Washington, Wells, White, Wilkes, Wilkins, J. Williams, Winstead, Wofford and Wright: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 38-43-200 AND 38-55-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INSURANCE, SO AS TO PERMIT THE PAYMENT OF A FEE TO A TRADE OR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
On motion of Senator LINDSAY, with unanimous consent, the Bill was recalled from the Committee on Banking and Insurance.
On motion of Senator LINDSAY, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar for consideration tomorrow.
H. 4889 -- Reps. Boan and Hodges: A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RESTORE THE CHARTER OF LANCASTER COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.
On motion of Senator HINSON, with unanimous consent, the Bill was recalled from the Committee on Judiciary.
On motion of Senator HINSON, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
On motion of Senator HINSON, H. 4889 was ordered to receive a third reading on Monday, April 16, 1990.
The following were introduced:
S. 1526 -- Senators Martschink, Gilbert, Lee, Russell, Pope, Long, Rose, Giese, Drummond, O'Dell, Helmly, Mullinax, Fielding, Hinds, McGill, Shealy, Stilwell, Bryan, Wilson, Peeler, Hayes, Macaulay, Moore, Holland, Hinson, Courson and Leventis: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ADD ARTICLE 8; TO ENACT THE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR A PROCEDURE TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ARE INFORMED OF EXCESSIVE ABSENCES OF STUDENTS BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND PROVIDE A PENALTY; TO REDESIGNATE SECTIONS 59-65-10, 59-65-30, 59-65-40, AND 59-65-70 THROUGH 59-65-280 AS NEW SECTIONS IN ARTICLE 8; TO AMEND SECTION 43-5-550, RELATING TO A STATE PLAN FOR THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND OPERATION OF A WORK SUPPORT SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING PARENTING SKILLS FOR YOUNG CUSTODIAL PARENTS ARE REQUIRED COMPONENTS FOR AFDC RECIPIENTS, AND TO REQUIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT PLANS FOR ALL CUSTODIAL PARENTS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY MUST INCLUDE PARENTING SKILLS; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 59-65-20, 59-65-50, AND 59-65-60 RELATING TO THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO ENROLL A CHILD TO ATTEND SCHOOL, REPORTING OF NONATTENDANCE TO THE COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OF JUVENILES, AND THE PROCEDURE BY THE COURT OF A REPORT OF NONATTENDANCE BY A CHILD.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 1527 -- Senators Martschink, Setzler, Helmly, Hinson, Lee, McGill, O'Dell, Peeler, Stilwell, Wilson and Rose: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-70 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A DRUG CABINET AND PROVIDE FOR ITS DUTIES AND MEMBERS.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.
S. 1528 -- Senator Stilwell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-10-245, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FINES FOR FAILURE TO SURRENDER MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES ON LAPSE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE OWNERS OF INOPERABLE OR COLLECTORS' VEHICLES FROM THE FINE PROVISIONS AND TO DELETE A REQUIREMENT FOR A DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE TO PROVE AN ILLNESS EXEMPTION.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
S. 1529 -- Senators Hayes, Hinson and Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 292 OF 1987, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE AUTHORIZED TAX MILLAGE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES IN YORK COUNTY, SO AS TO INCREASE THIS AUTHORIZED MILLAGE; AND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MILLAGE WHICH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN YORK COUNTY MAY LEVY OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT IN A REFERENDUM.
Read the first time and ordered placed on the local and uncontested Calendar without reference.
S. 1530 -- Judiciary Committee: A BILL TO ENACT "THE OMNIBUS DRUG OFFENSES ACT OF 1990" SO AS TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-110, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LAWS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR THE TERMS "ICE" OR "CRANK"; TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-370(a), RELATING TO PROHIBITED ACTS CONCERNING NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO INCLUDE DELIVERY, PURCHASE, OR ATTEMPTED MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, DISPENSING, DELIVERY, OR PURCHASE AS PROHIBITED ACTS; TO AMEND ITEM (e) OF SECTION 44-53-370, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROHIBITED ACTS CONCERNING NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE CULTIVATION OR PURCHASE AND ATTEMPTED POSSESSION AS PROHIBITED ACTS; TO AMEND SUBITEM (e)(1) OF SECTION 44-53-370, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROHIBITED ACTS CONCERNING NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION OF ONE HUNDRED TO ONE THOUSAND MARIJUANA PLANTS, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT, IS PUNISHABLE BY A MANDATORY TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND A FINE OF TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT THE ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION OF MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND MARIJUANA PLANTS, BUT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND MARIJUANA PLANTS, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT, IS PUNISHABLE BY A MANDATORY TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND A FINE OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THAT THE ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION OF TEN THOUSAND MARIJUANA PLANTS OR MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND MARIJUANA PLANTS, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT, IS PUNISHABLE BY A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWENTY-FIVE TO THIRTY YEARS WITH A MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND A FINE OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-375, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MANUFACTURE OF CRACK COCAINE, SO AS TO INCLUDE REFERENCES TO "ICE" AND "CRANK", TO PROHIBIT ATTEMPTED POSSESSION OF THESE SUBSTANCES, AND TO ADD A NEW OFFENSE KNOWN AS "TRAFFICKING IN ICE, CRANK, OR CRACK COCAINE"; TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-392 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE SUBSTANCE IN ITS PURE FORM OR AS A MIXTURE IS THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-445, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHIN A RADIUS OF ONE-HALF MILE OF A SCHOOL, SO AS TO EXPAND THE TERRITORIAL AREA IN WHICH A VIOLATION IS POSSIBLE; TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-475 SO AS TO MAKE THE LAUNDERING OF CERTAIN MONETARY INSTRUMENTS UNLAWFUL AND TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-476 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO BE A "LEADER OF A NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING NETWORK", TO PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS OF THIS OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; TO AMEND ITEM (6) OF SECTION 44-53-520(a), AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FORFEITURE OF CONVEYANCES USED OR INTENDED TO UNLAWFULLY CONCEAL, CONTAIN, OR TRANSPORT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND THEIR COMPOUNDS, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE FORFEITURE OF SUCH CONVEYANCES WHEN USED OR INTENDED FOR USE TO FACILITATE THE UNLAWFUL CONCEALMENT, CONTAINMENT, OR TRANSPORTATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 44-53-370(a) OR SECTION 44-53-370(e); TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-577 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO EMPLOY OR USE PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN DRUG OPERATIONS OR TO RECEIVE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FROM PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 56, RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-745 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE UPON A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CONVICTION UNDER CHAPTER 53 OF TITLE 44 AND TO PERMIT ISSUANCE OF A RESTRICTED TO AND FROM WORK LICENSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CRIMES CLASSIFIED AS FELONIES, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES WHICH ARE MADE FELONIES TO THIS LIST.
Read the first time and ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
S. 1531 -- Senator Hinds: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 6-7-730, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR ENACTING OR AMENDING ZONING REGULATIONS OR MAPS, SO AS TO MAKE ZONING ORDINANCES SUBJECT TO THE PROCEDURES, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS FORTY-FIVE RATHER THAN THIRTY DAYS TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY AND FAILURE TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS IS DEEMED APPROVAL OF THE CHANGES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO SUIT MAY BE BROUGHT TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OF A ZONING ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION, OR MAP, OR AMENDMENTS TO ANY OF THEM EXCEPT ON THE GROUNDS OF ADEQUACY OF NOTICE UNLESS THE CONTESTANT FILES A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CONTEST WITH THE GOVERNING BODY WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER ITS FINAL ACTION ON THE MATTER AND ACTUALLY COMMENCES THE ACTION WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF FILING THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO CONTEST.
Read the first time and on motion of Senator HINDS, with unanimous consent, ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
Senator HINDS spoke on the Bill.
S. 1532 -- Senator Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-954, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT GENETIC TESTS MUST BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE PATERNITY, SO AS TO DELETE LANGUAGE WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE THE INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN THE TESTING NOT TO COOPERATE FOR GOOD CAUSE BECAUSE OF OTHER REASONS NOT ESTABLISHED IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
S. 1533 -- Senator Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 43-5-590, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES REGARDING APPROVED CHILD SUPPORT PLANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN A FAMILY CEASES RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHEN AN ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN MADE IT CONVERTS TO A NONPUBLIC ASSISTANCE ASSIGNMENT AND THE RECIPIENT MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO HAVE THE ASSIGNMENT TERMINATED.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.
S. 1534 -- Senators McGill and Moore: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 3, 1990, AS "JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS TO STAND TOGETHER AND PROMISE TO LABOR TOGETHER TO REMAIN "DRUG FREE".
Whereas, there is a continuing important battle against drug and alcohol abuse at the community, state, and national levels; and
Whereas, the problem of drug and alcohol abuse confronting our State has attacked our citizens with hostility, numbed their minds, invaded their bodies and taken their lives, infected countless homes and institutions, attacked ethical values, endangered the national security of our great nation, and threatens the ultimate destruction and enslavement of our citizens; and
Whereas, South Carolina's citizens must be educated about the terrible hazards and disastrous effects of drug and alcohol use; and
Whereas, to "Just Say No" is important for all South Carolinians to remember. Now therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate designate September 3, 1990, as "Just Say No To Drugs Day" in South Carolina and encourage and invite all citizens, community organizations, and local governments to observe the day with appropriate activities.
On motion of Senator McGILL, with unanimous consent, the Senate Resolution was adopted.
S. 1535 -- Senators McGill and Moore: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER 3, 1990, AS "JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS TO STAND TOGETHER AND PROMISE TO LABOR TOGETHER TO REMAIN "DRUG FREE".
On motion of Senator McGILL, with unanimous consent, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted.
H. 4911 -- Reps. Cork, Taylor, Wright, Smith, Altman, Sharpe, Sheheen, Fant, Derrick, Winstead, Rama, Sturkie, Mappus, Harrison, J. Bailey, White, Kirsh, Holt, Tucker, McAbee, Foster, Klapman, Nettles, Boan, Keyserling, McTeer, Gregory, Wilkins, Haskins, Fair, Simpson, Keegan, J. Harris, Wilder, Barber, Wells, Blanding, Hallman, Beasley, Vaughn, Snow, L. Martin, Stoddard, G. Bailey, Wofford, Bennett, H. Brown, M.O. Alexander, McLellan, T.C. Alexander, Gordon, Cooper, Moss, Manly, Baxley, Corbett, Ferguson, T.M. Burriss and McLeod: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO NAME THE I-95 - U. S. ROUTE 278 CONNECTOR AND U. S. ROUTE 278 FROM THE I-95 CONNECTOR TO THE CARL BOWERS BRIDGE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THE "BILL CORK MEMORIAL HIGHWAY".
Referred to the Committee on Transporation.
H. 4941 -- Rep. McEachin: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE PALMETTO BOYS STATE TO USE THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990, FOR ITS ANNUAL STATE HOUSE MEETING.
Referred to the Committee on Invitations.
H. 4950 -- Interstate Cooperation Committee: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, FOR RATIFICATION BY THE STATES, SPECIFYING THAT CONGRESS AND THE STATES HAVE THE POWER TO PROHIBIT THE PHYSICAL DESECRATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 4965 -- Reps. Carnell, McAbee, McLellan, Blanding and Boan: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE INTENTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL AUTHORIZATIONS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS FOR THE 251ST EVACUATION HOSPITAL ARMORY AND THE 51ST AVIATION GROUP ARMORY PROJECT.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
H. 4989 -- Reps. Gordon, Snow and Harvin: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND SANTEE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND ITS EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND EFFORTS IN REGARD TO THE HURRICANE HUGO DISASTER.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4991 -- Rep. McGinnis: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE HAL MCMANUS, CAPTAIN OF THE JAMES F. BYRNES HIGH SCHOOL REBELS BASKETBALL TEAM ON BEING NAMED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4992 -- Rep. McGinnis: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE HAROLD MCMANUS, COACH OF THE JAMES F. BYRNES HIGH SCHOOL REBELS BASKETBALL TEAM ON BEING NAMED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AS COACH OF THE YEAR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4993 -- Rep. Gordon: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND CAROLINA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY AND ITS EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND EFFORTS IN REGARD TO THE HURRICANE HUGO DISASTER.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4994 -- Orangeburg Delegation: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS OF THE LATE CLIFFORD BAXTER "CLIFF" MORGAN OF ORANGEBURG.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4996 -- Reps. Gordon and Snow: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY RED CROSS AND ITS EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND EFFORTS IN REGARD TO THE HURRICANE HUGO DISASTER.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4997 -- Reps. Gordon and Snow: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY EDUCATION OFFICIALS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND EFFORTS IN REGARD TO THE HURRICANE HUGO DISASTER.
On immediate consideration, the Concurrent Resolution was adopted, ordered returned to the House.
H. 4569 -- Reps. McTeer, Wilder and Rhoad: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 15-78-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE TORT CLAIMS ACT SO AS TO EXEMPT FROM LIABILITY BOAT RAMPS, LAUNCHING, OR DOCKING FACILITIES COMPLYING WITH STATE ORGANIZATION OF BOATING, ACCESS ADMINISTRATORS (SOBAA) SPECIFICATIONS.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 4571 -- Reps. Hayes, Huff, M.O. Alexander, T.C. Alexander, Altman, G. Bailey, K. Bailey, Baker, Barber, Barfield, Baxley, Beasley, Bennett, Blackwell, Boan, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Bruce, Burch, M.D. Burriss, T.M. Burriss, Carnell, Chamblee, Clyborne, Cole, Cooper, Corbett, Cork, Corning, Davenport, Derrick, Elliott, Faber, Fair, Fant, Farr, Felder, Ferguson, Foster, Gentry, Glover, Gordon, Gregory, Hallman, J. Harris, P. Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Harwell, Haskins, Hendricks, Holt, Jaskwhich, J.C. Johnson, Kay, Keegan, Keyserling, Kinon, Kirsh, Klapman, Kohn, Koon, Lanford, Littlejohn, Manly, Mappus, D. Martin, L. Martin, McAbee, McBride, McCain, McElveen, McGinnis, McKay, McLellan, McLeod, McTeer, Moss, Neilson, Nesbitt, Nettles, Phillips, Quinn, Rama, Rhoad, J. Rogers, Rudnick, Sharpe, Smith, Snow, Stoddard, Sturkie, Taylor, Townsend, Tucker, Vaughn, Waites, Waldrop, Washington, Wells, Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkins, D. Williams, Winstead, Wofford and Wright: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-475 SO AS TO MAKE THE LAUNDERING OF CERTAIN MONETARY INSTRUMENTS UNLAWFUL, AND TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-10, RELATING TO CRIMES CLASSIFIED AS FELONIES, SO AS TO ADD THE ABOVE OFFENSES WHICH ARE MADE FELONIES TO THIS LIST.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 4574 -- Reps. Hayes, Huff, M.O. Alexander, T.C. Alexander, Altman, G. Bailey, K. Bailey, Baker, Barber, Barfield, Baxley, Beasley, Bennett, Blackwell, Boan, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Bruce, Burch, M.D. Burriss, T.M. Burriss, Carnell, Chamblee, Clyborne, Cole, Cooper, Corbett, Cork, Corning, Davenport, Derrick, Elliott, Faber, Fair, Fant, Farr, Felder, Ferguson, Foster, Gentry, Glover, Gordon, Gregory, Hallman, J. Harris, P. Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Harwell, Haskins, Hendricks, Holt, Jaskwhich, J.C. Johnson, Kay, Keegan, Keyserling, Kinon, Kirsh, Klapman, Kohn, Koon, Lanford, Littlejohn, Manly, Mappus, D. Martin, L. Martin, McAbee, McBride, McCain, McElveen, McGinnis, McKay, McLellan, McLeod, McTeer, Moss, Neilson, Nesbitt, Nettles, Phillips, Quinn, Rama, Rhoad, J. Rogers, Rudnick, Sharpe, Smith, Snow, Stoddard, Sturkie, Taylor, Townsend, Tucker, Vaughn, Waites, Waldrop, Washington, Wells, Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkins, D. Williams, Winstead, Wofford and Wright: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO POISONS, DRUGS, AND OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES BY ADDING SECTION 44-53-577 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO EMPLOY OR USE PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN DRUG OPERATIONS OR TO RECEIVE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FROM PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION, AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-10, RELATING TO CRIMES CLASSIFIED AS FELONIES, SO AS TO ADD THE ABOVE OFFENSES WHICH ARE MADE FELONIES TO THIS LIST.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 4575 -- Reps. Hayes, Huff, M.O. Alexander, T.C. Alexander, Altman, G. Bailey, K. Bailey, Baker, Barber, Barfield, Baxley, Beasley, Bennett, Blackwell, Boan, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Bruce, Burch, M.D. Burriss, T.M. Burriss, Carnell, Chamblee, Clyborne, Cole, Cooper, Corbett, Cork, Corning, Davenport, Derrick, Elliott, Faber, Fair, Fant, Farr, Felder, Ferguson, Foster, Gentry, Glover, Gordon, Gregory, Hallman, J. Harris, P. Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Harwell, Haskins, Hendricks, Holt, Jaskwhich, J.C. Johnson, Kay, Keegan, Keyserling, Kinon, Kirsh, Klapman, Kohn, Koon, Lanford, Littlejohn, Manly, Mappus, D. Martin, L. Martin, McAbee, McBride, McCain, McElveen, McGinnis, McKay, McLellan, McLeod, McTeer, Moss, Neilson, Nesbitt, Nettles, Phillips, Quinn, Rama, Rhoad, J. Rogers, Rudnick, Sharpe, Smith, Snow, Stoddard, Sturkie, Taylor, Townsend, Tucker, Vaughn, Waites, Waldrop, Washington, Wells, Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkins, D. Williams, Winstead, Wofford and Wright: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-9-355 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS REGARDING THE INTIMIDATION OF WITNESSES ARE UNLAWFUL, TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION, AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-10, RELATING TO CRIMES CLASSIFIED AS FELONIES, SO AS TO ADD CERTAIN OF THE ABOVE OFFENSES WHICH ARE FELONIES TO THIS LIST.
Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
H. 4922 -- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 39-41-260, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ABOVEGROUND STORAGE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, SO AS TO DETAIL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE, DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE FIRE COMMISSION PROMULGATE REGULATIONS FOR STORAGE, AND PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION OF AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE SECTION.
Read the first time and on motion of Senator DRUMMOND, with unanimous consent, ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
Senator SALEEBY, from the Committee on Ethics, submitted a majority unfavorable with amendments and Senator Leventis a minority favorable report on:
S. 724 -- Senators Lourie, Giese, Thomas and Rose: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 8-13-495 SO AS TO RESTRICT A LEGISLATOR FROM PARTICIPATING IN ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION AFFECTING ANY ADMINISTRATIVE STATE AGENCY INVOLVED IN OR WITH HIS TRADE OR BUSINESS.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator MOORE, from the Committee on Invitations, submitted a favorable report on:
S. 1219 -- Senator J. Verne Smith: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION TO USE THE SENATE CHAMBER AND THE COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM(S) IN THE GRESSETTE BUILDING ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1990 AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1990 TO CONDUCT A YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator SALEEBY, from the Committee on Ethics, submitted favorable with amendments report on:
H. 4338 -- Reps. Waites, Hayes, Keyserling, T. Rogers, Rudnick and Washington: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 8-13-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROCESSING OF COMPLAINTS BY THE COMMISSION AGAINST PERSONS ALLEGED TO HAVE VIOLATED THE PROVISIONS OF ETHICS LEGISLATION.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator MOORE, from the Committee on Invitations, submitted a favorable report on:
H. 4791 -- Rep. Haskins: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE STUDENT LEGISLATURE TO USE THE SENATE CHAMBER, HOUSE CHAMBER, AND THE BLATT AND GRESSETTE BUILDINGS NOVEMBER 8 THROUGH NOVEMBER 11, 1990, FOR ITS ANNUAL MEETING.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
Senator LAND, from the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, submitted a favorable report on:
H. 4826 -- Reps. Waites, McBride, Faber, T. Rogers, J. Brown, Quinn, Harrison, Taylor, M.D. Burriss, Corning and T.M. Burriss: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE COLUMBIA AREA FOR SPONSORING ON APRIL 21, 1990, A HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY AND THEREBY ENCOURAGING THE CITIZENS OF THE MIDLANDS REGION TO VOLUNTARILY DISPOSE SAFELY OF LEFTOVER AMOUNTS OF HOUSEHOLD SUBSTANCES WHICH IF NOT DISPOSED OF PROPERLY CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN HEALTH OR TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
Ordered for consideration tomorrow.
The following Bills were read the third time and having received three readings in both Houses, it was ordered that the titles thereof be changed to that of Acts and same enrolled for Ratification:
H. 4653 -- Rep. J. Rogers: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STANDARDS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF PHYSICIANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR THE SPECIAL PURPOSE EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT AND FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE REQUIREMENT APPLIES.
(By prior motion of Senator GIESE, with unanimous consent)
H. 4873 -- Rep. Moss: A BILL TO RE-ENACT SECTION 23-23-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COUNCIL.
(By prior motion of Senator SALEEBY, with unanimous consent)
H. 4730 -- Rep. J. Bailey: A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RESTORE THE CHARTER OF CHARLESTOWNE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
(By prior motion of Senator McCONNELL, with unanimous consent)
The following Bills and Joint Resolution were severally read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives:
S. 1039 -- Senators Mullinax and O'Dell: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-79-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ALARM SYSTEM BUSINESS LICENSE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS ALLOWING WORK EXPERIENCE TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS.
S. 1514 -- Senators Setzler, Hayes and Moore: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE JOINT SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION STUDY COMMITTEE SHALL SELECT UP TO SIX PILOT PROJECTS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PART III, ACT 189 OF 1989 BY APRIL 15, 1990.
(By prior motion of Senator SETZLER, with unanimous consent)
S. 1515 -- Senator Williams: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-70, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A CLERK FOR EACH POLLING PLACE IN A PRIMARY, SPECIAL, OR MUNICIPAL ELECTION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A CLERK IS VESTED IN THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE BY LAW FOR CONDUCTING THE ELECTION RATHER THAN IN THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION.
(By prior motion of Senator WILLIAMS, with unanimous consent)
Senator LAND objected to further consideration of any Bill on the statewide uncontested Calendar.
THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE MOTION PERIOD.
On motion of Senator LAND, the Senate agreed to dispense with the Motion Period.
S. 1160 -- Senator Lourie: A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 53 OF TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 23 SO AS TO ESTABLISH AND FUND A PROGRAM OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY INSTRUCTION AND PROVIDE THAT A DISCOUNT INSURANCE RATE MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR CERTIFIED GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM.
Senator HINDS asked unanimous consent that the Bill be taken up for immediate consideration.
On motion of Senator HINDS, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives.
S. 1237 -- Senators Drummond, Williams, Waddell, Lourie, J. Verne Smith and Lee: A BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE EXISTENCE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CEMETERY BOARD FOR SIX YEARS AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 39-55-55, 39-55-95, 39-55-125, AND 39-55-185, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CEMETERIES, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT TWO MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CEMETERY BOARD MUST BE NOMINATED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION AND TO PROVIDE THAT NOMINATIONS MAY BE RECEIVED FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, OR ASSOCIATION, TO REQUIRE A CEMETERY GENERAL MANAGER TO HAVE ONE YEAR'S EXPERIENCE INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE, TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS TO REGULATE MERCHANDISE OR MONUMENTS INSTALLED IN A CEMETERY, TO REGULATE THE PLACEMENT OF MONUMENTS OR MARKERS, TO REGULATE FEES, TO REQUIRE INSURANCE ON INSTALLERS OF MONUMENTS OR MARKERS, AND TO REQUIRE FINANCIAL REPORTS TO BE SIGNED BY A LICENSED ACCOUNTANT.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration.
The question being the adoption of the amendments proposed by the General Committee.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, the Bill was given a second reading with notice of general amendments, carrying over all amendments to third reading.
S. 1238 -- Senators Drummond, Williams, Waddell, Lourie, J. Verne Smith and Lee: A BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE EXISTENCE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE FOR SIX YEARS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 40-19-20, 40-19-100, 40-19-170, AND 40-19-190, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS, SO AS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE FROM ELEVEN TO NINE AND TO CHANGE THE METHOD FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT, TO CHANGE QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND TO PROHIBIT LICENSEES FROM SERVING AS CORONERS; TO EXEMPT BUSINESSES LICENSED TO PROVIDE FUNERAL SERVICE BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1984, FROM FACILITY REQUIREMENTS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 40-19-230 RELATING TO PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration.
The question being the adoption of the amendment proposed by the General Committee.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, the Bill was given a second reading with notice of general amendments, carrying over all amendments to third reading.
S. 1400 -- Senator Drummond: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 40-7-230 AND 40-7-280, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO BARBERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH REGISTERED BARBER AND APPRENTICE SHALL RENEW HIS CERTIFICATE ANNUALLY AND TO EXEMPT COSMETOLOGISTS FROM LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; AND TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 40-7-125 SO AS TO ALLOW A LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AS A MASTER HAIR CARE SPECIALIST.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration. The question being the third reading of the Bill.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives.
S. 1401 -- Senator Drummond: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-13-90, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COSMETOLOGISTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A REGISTERED MASTER HAIR CARE SPECIALIST MAY QUALIFY AS A COSMETOLOGIST.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration. The question being the third reading of the Bill.
On motion of Senator HOLLAND, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives.
H. 4244 -- Reps. Wilder, Baxley and Corning: A BILL TO CREATE A JOINT COMMITTEE TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
On motion of Senator DRUMMOND, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration. The question being the second reading of the Bill.
On motion of Senator DRUMMOND, the Bill was read the second time, passed and ordered to a third reading.
On motion of Senator DRUMMOND, with unanimous consent, H. 4244 was ordered to receive a third reading on Monday, April 16, 1990.
THE SENATE PROCEEDED TO THE ADJOURNED DEBATE.
H. 4807 -- Ways and Means Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 44-2-40, 44-2-60, BOTH AS AMENDED, 44-2-70, 44-2-90, AND 44-2-130, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE UNDERGROUND PETROLEUM ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE BANK ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPERB ACCOUNT MAY BE USED TO PAY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND SPECIFY QUALIFYING REHABILITATION COSTS WHICH MAY BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT, TO IMPOSE A ONE-HALF CENT A GALLON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FEE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE USED AND COLLECTED, TO REVISE THE REDUCED UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK REGISTRATION FEE AND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS, TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AMOUNT AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERB ACCOUNT FROM WHICH FUNDS ARE DISBURSED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, TO REVISE THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF OWNERS OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS, TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN EXPENSES BEING DIRECTLY BILLED TO OR REIMBURSED FROM THE SUPERB ACCOUNT, AND TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1998.
The Senate proceeded to a consideration of the Bill. The question being the third reading of the Bill.
Senator GIESE argued contra to third reading of the Bill and Senator LAND argued in favor.
Senator WADDELL proposed the following amendment (Doc. No. 1133o), which was adopted:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, in Section 44-2-40(C) of the 1976 Code, as contained in SECTION 1, by inserting immediately after /reached./ on line 13 of page 3 the following: /The suspension of the environmental impact fee occurs at the end of the month in which the Department of Agriculture is notified by the department. The lifting of the suspension occurs on the first day of the month following the month in which the Department of Agriculture is notified by the department./; and by striking /four hundred fifty/ on line 20 of page 3 and inserting /six hundred/.
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, by striking Section 44-2-70(B) of the 1976 Code, as contained in SECTION 3 which begins on line 6 of page 5, and inserting:
/(B) The department shall promulgate regulations specifying requirements for maintaining evidence of financial responsibility, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, for taking corrective action and compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage caused by sudden and nonsudden accidental releases arising from operating an underground storage tank which shall become effective five years from the date of enactment of this chapter. The Superb Account, for purposes of these regulations, is an acceptable mechanism for maintaining this financial responsibility by owners and operators of underground storage tanks./
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, in Section 44-2-90(C) of the 1976 Code, as contained in SECTION 4, by inserting immediately after /chapter./ on line 26 of page 6 the following /The environmental impact fee of one-half cent per gallon on December 31, 1998, is abolished, provided that the environmental impact fees due for the month of December, 1998, must be paid by the end of January, 1999./
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, in Section 44-2-130(A) of the 1976 Code, as contained in SECTION 7, by striking /Prior to or/ on line 8 of page 8 and inserting /Prior to or For sites reported/; by striking /Subsequent/ on line 13 of page 8 and inserting /Subsequent For sites reported subsequent/; and by inserting after /incurred/ on line 17 of page 8 the following /for corrective action or cleanup/.
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 9 and inserting:
/SECTION 9. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor, except that the environmental impact fee imposed by Section 44-2-60(B) of this act is effective on the first day of the first month following approval of this act by the Governor./
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, by adding the following new sections to be appropriately numbered which shall read:
/SECTION ____. Section 44-2-130(D) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(D)(1) No person is entitled to direct billing to or reimbursement from the Superb Account for site rehabilitation unless rehabilitation has been completed is conducted in accordance with cleanup criteria established by the department and the procedural requirements of this section have been met.
(2) No person is entitled to direct billing to or reimbursement from the Superb Account for the costs of repair or replacement of any tank or equipment."
SECTION ____. Section 44-2-130(G) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(G)(1) At least sixty days before initiating site rehabilitation, written notice of this intention must be submitted to the department together with sufficient demonstration of sites and conditions prior to the initiation of cleanup. Any owner or operator of an underground petroleum storage tank seeking direct billing to or reimbursement from the Superb Account must submit a written application to the department together with sufficient demonstration of site conditions prior to initiation of cleanup.
(2) The person responsible for conducting the site rehabilitation or his agents shall keep and preserve suitable records of hydrological and other site assessments, site plans, contracts, accounts, invoices, or other transactions related to the cleanup and rehabilitation and the records must be accessible to the department during regular business hours.
(3) Within thirty days of receipt of notice of intent to initiate site rehabilitation, the department shall make a determination and provide written notice as to whether the person responsible for site rehabilitation is eligible or ineligible for participation in the early detection incentive program as provided for herein. Should the department determine the applicant is ineligible, it shall include in its written notice an explanation setting forth in detail the reasons for the determination. Upon receipt of a complete application for direct billing or reimbursement from the Superb Account for site rehabilitation costs, the department shall make those investigations and inquiries as are necessary to enable the department to approve or deny the application. Upon final determination the department shall provide written notice to the applicant of its findings setting forth in detail the reason for the approval or denial and the amount approved for direct billing or reimbursement. The department shall make payments from the Superb Account for any approved billing or reimbursement as funds are available./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
Senator WADDELL argued in favor of the adoption of the amendment.
Senator ROSE moved to carry over the Bill.
With unanimous consent of the Senate, Senator ROSE argued in favor of the motion.
Senator WADDELL moved to lay the motion on the table.
The motion was laid on the table.
Senator GIESE argued contra to the adoption of the amendment.
Senator WADDELL moved that the amendment be adopted.
The amendment was adopted.
Senator GIESE proposed the following amendment (Doc. No. 1506X), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, in Section 42-2-70(A), as contained in SECTION 3, page 4, beginning on line 28, by striking /one hundred twenty-five/ and inserting /one hundred/ and on lines 31 and 35 by striking /three hundred twenty-five/ and inserting /three hundred/.
Amend title to conform.
Senator GIESE argued in favor of the adoption of the amendment.
Senator GIESE moved that the amendment be adopted.
Senator LAND moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The amendment was laid on the table.
Senator GIESE proposed the following amendment (Doc. No. 0573I, G2), which was tabled:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, in Section 44-2-40(C), as contained in SECTION 1(2), page 3, line 13 by striking /one/ and inserting /one five/
Amend further, in Section 44-2-60(B), as contained in SECTION 2(2), page 3, line 44, and page 4, line 1, by striking /one/ and inserting /one five/.
Amend title to conform.
Senator GIESE argued in favor of the adoption of the amendment.
Senator GIESE moved that the amendment be adopted.
Senator LAND moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The "ayes" and "nays" were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Bryan Courson Drummond Fielding Gilbert Hayes Helmly Hinds Hinson Holland Land Lee Macaulay Martschink Matthews McConnell McGill Moore Mullinax Passailaigue Patterson Peeler Pope Rose Russell Saleeby Setzler Shealy Smith, N.W. Stilwell Waddell Williams Wilson
NAYS
Giese
The amendment was laid on the table.
There being no further amendments, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered returned to the House of Representatives with amendments.
On motion of Senator MOORE, Senator J. VERNE SMITH was granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.
On motion of Senator MULLINAX, Senator O'DELL was granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the day.
S. 138 -- Senators Wilson, Giese, Thomas and Bryan: A BILL TO ENACT THE CLEAN INDOOR AIR AND PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACT OF 1989 AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
On motion of Senator FIELDING, with unanimous consent, the Bill was taken up for immediate consideration. The question being the third reading of the Bill.
On motion of Senator FIELDING, the Bill was read the third time, passed and ordered sent to the House of Representatives.
The Clean Indoor Air Act provides a comprehensive system for regulating smoking in public buildings and facilities in South Carolina. The Bill generally prohibits smoking in public schools, health care facilities, government buildings, elevators, public transportation excluding taxicabs, arenas and auditoriums. Smoking is permitted within these buildings or facilities in certain private offices and in clearly designated smoking areas in lounges, break areas, and foyers or lobbies of auditoriums or arenas. Violation of the provisions of this Bill is a misdemeanor offense.
The Clean Indoor Air Act is intended to address a public health matter of general concern to the people of this State. The objective in enacting the Clean Indoor Air Act is to provide statewide regulation of smoking in public buildings in this State, in order to avoid conflicting or confusing regulations. It is therefore both necessary and appropriate to regulate the designation of smoking areas in public buildings by general statute such as the Clean Indoor Air Act.
S. 1182 -- Senators Moore, Land, Nell W. Smith, Saleeby, Leatherman, Peeler, Drummond, Stilwell, Bryan, Pope, Lourie, Williams, Waddell, Horace C. Smith, Hinds, O'Dell, McLeod, J. Verne Smith, Rose, Giese, Wilson, Fielding, Thomas, Setzler, Passailaigue, Hayes, Long, Martschink, Macaulay, Mitchell, Mullinax, Shealy, Hinson, Courson, Holland, Patterson, Lee, McGill and Helmly: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 95 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE POLICY OF THIS STATE REGARDING SOLID WASTE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE; TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-700, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LITTER LAWS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720 SO AS TO ASSIGN POINTS FOR THE DUMPING OF LITTER ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY OR WATERS; AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 7 OF TITLE 12 RELATING TO THE TAX LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-7-1255 TO PROVIDE A TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED RECYCLING EQUIPMENT.
On motion of Senator WILLIAMS, with unanimous consent, the Bill was made a Special Order, subject to the consent of Senator LEVENTIS when the Senate reconvenes.
At 2:07 P.M., on motion of Senator WADDELL, the Senate adjourned to meet next Monday at 11:00 A.M.
This web page was last updated on
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 1:19 P.M.