Representative Jennings G. McAbee
522C Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Representative Curtis B. Inabinett
328D Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Representative H. Howell Clyborne, Jr.
503A Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Senator Alexander S. Macaulay, Vice-Chairman
305 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Senator Warren K. Giese
512 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Senator Maggie W. Glover
613 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
Senator Addison G. Wilson
606 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29211
THE CHAIRMAN: We will commence. First I'd like to introduce our panel
members. We have Vice Chairman Senator Macaulay on my left, Senator Wilson
below him and our Secretary, Mr. -- Representative Inabinett on my right. I'm
Gene Stoddard. Any of the committee members have any remarks they'd like to
make?
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman, I'm Mr. Joe Wilson from Lexington County and I am
really delighted to see people who I have the highest respect for, even General
Hyman is sitting out there today. And
And traditionally I've asked a question, but we have such a plethora of candidates today that I just want to make a statement and that is to express concern about the graduation rate in our public colleges and universities in South Carolina. I can know culturally for me, I thought it was imperative that I finish in four years. And I would like that this principle be in place because I'm just very concerned for the students, their parents, the taxpayers that so many students now are going far beyond four years to get an undergraduate degree and that very much concerns me.
And so I really want to make that point and urge those of you who are
elected, those of you who aren't elected to all be working for a higher
graduation rate, get these students in, get them educated and get them back into
society being productive for themselves and for their families and for the
State of South Carolina.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any other comment? Thank you, Senator Wilson. Senator
Macaulay.
SENATOR MACAULAY: Mr. Chairman, I notice that we have several positions that
seem to be uncontested and inasmuch as we do have a rather heavy agenda today as
well as an early meeting of the House, I understand, too, for some important
information, I would move now that we permit those uncontested positions if they
would, if you call -- if the Chair would call their name, have them stand and
for each of us, I think we all know you, but the only thing is it would be a
help to be sure that we know that you're still interested and still with us.
I say that because one time we had an appointment come before one my
committees and we debated it for some length until someone finally said, well,
didn't he die about six weeks ago and I don't want to have that embarrassment
again, so -- but if we could, Mr. Chairman, I would ask -- and I guess we're
talking with Clemson University, is that the first --
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes, and we have one candidate who couldn't appear next week, a
USC candidate that we have promised to accommodate.
SENATOR MACAULAY: Well, with that, and we have, what, three seats and we have
three candidates, that would mean there is no contest there.
THE CHAIRMAN: Correct.
SENATOR MACAULAY: I would just ask that Mr. Kingsmore and Mrs. McAbee and Mr.
Swann if they are here.
THE CHAIRMAN: Would you please stand?
Mr. Mack Whittle, is he present? Mr. Whittle is a candidate for USC, an
incumbent who, of course, has enjoyed one of the clean records and I would
entertain the same motion on Mr. Whittle.
SENATOR WILSON: So moved.
THE CHAIRMAN: All right. Thank you for coming Mr. Whittle.
Next we will go to the College of Charleston. Doctor Stine.
DOCTOR STINE: If I may, Mr. Representative, I'd just like to have the group
recognize that we are the number one basketball team in the state. And I
appreciate ya'll allowing me to be -- get back to Charleston in time, time
enough to watch the game on TV and I appreciate that.
THE CHAIRMAN: I appreciate you enlightening us. I'm sure none of us were aware
of that. Mr. Lightsey. Ms. Sheppard. Mr. Small. Mr. McMaster. Mr. Watson.
You may all be excused.
Now, the Francis Marion candidates. Mr. Lundy. Mr. Courie. Ms. Shortt.
MS. SHORTT: Good morning.
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Dozier. Mr. Kiriakides. I hope I got close on that,
sir.
SENATOR WILSON: It was excellent.
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Stanton. I don't know who this gentleman is, they call him
the father, but down there, Mr. Hyman. Ms. Brown. Mr. Allston. We certainly
appreciate ya'll coming and you may be excused. We certainly appreciate the job
you've done.
MR. HYMAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Now, we go back to our first College of Charleston, Seat 13. Yes, sir. Mr.
Ewing, is he here? Sir, would you take the stand please.
BLAINE EWING, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
THE CHAIRMAN: Considering your present occupation or other activities will you
be able to attend board meetings on a regular basis?
A. Yes, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: 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.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do you now hold any position of honor or trust that would violate
the Dual Office Holding clause of the Constitution?
A. I don't follow that question.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do you -- are you presently on any board or commission or
elective office --
A. I'm on the Tourism Commission in the City of Charleston.
THE CHAIRMAN: We'd have to check into that. If it was a conflict according to
the Constitution, would you resign that position, if elected?
A. Oh, absolutely.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any questions, gentlemen?
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman, inquiry.
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
SENATOR WILSON: Seat 13, is this an At-Large seat?
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes, I believe it is.
A. Yes, it is.
SENATOR WILSON: Statewide At-Large.
REPRESENTATIVE INABINETT: I have one, question.
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Inabinett.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE INABINETT:
Q. Mr. Ewing, sometime ago the College of Charleston had problems housing
all of the students, if you're elected to the Board in your opinion how can you
help resolve that concern?
A. Let me kind of back up on that. First of all, I think, you know, the college
is one of the oldest colleges in the country and it's happened to be
I feel that my experience in living in those neighborhoods would be able to
help the Trustees and the College be able to get a better feel for what the
impact is of not having housing in that area.
Q. Just one more, I'd just like to make a statement. About two years ago, there
were a few senior citizens in the City of Charleston that was willing to give
free room and board to a college student that would just live with them as a
companion like to be with them in the evening. Would you support that kind of
venture?
A. Sure. I would support that. I think it would be a great idea.
Q. Thank you.
SENATOR MACAULAY: Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Senator Macaulay.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR MACAULAY:
Q. Mr. Ewing, I notice in the questions that have all been addressed to you
as a candidate for the College of Charleston Board. I thought ya'll were a
university.
A. Well, you're right. We are. But I think --
Q. What is the name? I get confused. Is it a University of the College of
Charleston or the College of Charleston University?
A. I think that we all like the College of Charleston that we didn't want to
change her and you're right, it is a university, but I think if you ask
everybody what is the college, it's the College of Charleston. It's sort of a
-- well, what else can I say?
Q. Well, don't -- for the record, really, what is the name of it now?
A. It is a university.
Q. I mean if we had to have an official record for the General Assembly of South
Carolina, it was going to be published for -- you know.
SENATOR WILSON: Posterity.
Q. Posterity.
A. Posterity.
Q. What would we call the institution down there below Calhoun Street?
A. Well, we'd call it Charleston University, I suppose.
Q. Charleston University. All right. Charleston University. Thank you. I was
just curious.
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman, you need to know that was a Citadel graduate who
is very interested --
THE CHAIRMAN: Oh, okay.
We've got to encourage Afro-Americans and all other minorities that the teaching profession is not only very noble, but to me the education of the citizens of South Carolina is the most important thing for us to move from an agricultural society into a high tech industry that our state is becoming.
I have talked at civic meetings in my home area of Barnwell encouraging all
students regardless of their race to get their education and also to become
teachers. My wife went back to school through the tech schools and obtained a
teacher's certificate to teach computer programing at Barnwell High School for
five years, so I'm very much in favor and also speak very highly of the fact
that the profession meets all, all citizens and certainly they need
minorities.
Q. Thank you, sir.
SENATOR MACAULAY: Are there any further questions of Mr. Weeks?
SENATOR WILSON: I'd just like to thank you for clarifying about the College of
Charleston -- what is the name of it?
A. College of Charleston slash University of Charleston, which is our graduate
program.
SENATOR WILSON: And I as a former native of the State of Charleston, I am not
the precise bit surprised that there would be controversy over the name. And --
but we sure are proud of the College/University as to its development because I
remember when it had 300 students and so that's certainly an indication of my
age. But it's really terrific when I go visit and see the students and I'm
proud of
Next we have the Seat 15. Mr. Clark. Raise your right hand, please, Mr.
Clark.
JOHN F. CLARK, III, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
THE CHAIRMAN: Considering your present occupation or other activities, would
you be able to attend board meetings on a regular basis?
A. I'm sorry?
THE CHAIRMAN: Considering your present activities and occupation, would you be
able to attend board meetings on a regular basis?
A. Yes, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening
Committee should be made aware of --
A. No, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: -- that could prevent you from serving on a regular basis?
A. No, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Do you now hold any public office of honor or trust that would
violate the Dual Office Holding Clause of the Constitution?
A. No, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Gentleman, any questions of Mr. Clark?
SENATOR MACAULAY: No, Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Senator Wilson.
SENATOR WILSON: No, Mr. Chairman.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE INABINETT:
Q. I have the same question that I had for -- with this candidate, the --
referring to the student minority recruitment into the teaching profession. If
you -- how would you handle or how do you propose to get more minorities into
the teaching profession?
And I think the records have shown that -- that a very high percent of those students go on to college. Many of them at the College of Charleston.
Our School of Education is one of the biggest in terms of enrollment and
emphasis at the college and I think a large proportion of minority students are
going there, so we're working -- we're not where we want to be, but I think
we're moving in the right direction and we very much share your concern.
Q. With reference to the housing problem for students, would you support, and if
so, how would you propose to pair students with good reputations with senior
citizens that sort of need a companion or someone to be with them at night?
A. Sir, I think that's an excellent idea. I had not heard that one -- that idea
of -- proposed before and it's something that I would like and I will -- in
fact, I'd like to get with President Sanders and get with you and discuss how we
could carry that out.
It sounds like an excellent match as far as is the needs of the -- actually
overcoming this problem of -- of there being some conflict between the
neighborhoods and the student resident in the neighborhood, this would be
-- actually make it a more complimentary relationship and I'd like to see us
move forward on that idea.
Q. Thank you, sir.