South Carolina General Assembly
114th Session, 2001-2002
Journal of the Senate
Printed Page 1299 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Friday, March 29, 2002
(Local Session)
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 ACTING PRESIDENT, Senator COURSON.
REPORT RECEIVED
COMMITTEE TO SCREEN CANDIDATES
FOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
MEMORANDUM
TO: Clerk of the House
Clerk of the Senate
RE: Transcript 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,
/s/ Olin Phillips, 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. The purpose of the committee is instead to determine whether a candidate is qualified and under the statute, the committee's determination in that regard is not binding upon the General Assembly.
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COMMITTEE TO SCREEN
CANDIDATES FOR
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Monday, February 25, 2002
11:32 a.m. - 4:31 p.m.
The following screening of candidates took place at the Blatt Building, Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 25th day of February, 2002, before Sonya S. Keesee, Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.
APPEARANCES:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Representative Becky Martin
Representative Jesse Hines
Senator Warren K. Giese
Senator Maggie W. Glover
Senator Thomas Alexander
Senator Linda Short
Sophia Floyd
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I call the Joint Screening Committee to order. And at this time, I would like to ask Representative Jesse Hines if he would lead us in a moment of prayer.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: May we pray.
(Moment of Prayer)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much, Jesse. I'd like to introduce our committee members. Starting on my right is Senator Leonard Short, Senator Thomas Alexander, Senator Maggie Glover, Senator Warren Giese. To my left, Representative Jesse Hines, Representative Lanny Littlejohn, Representative Becky Martin, and myself, Olin Phillips, and our staff has so employed with us today?
COURT REPORTER: Sonya Keesee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much, our court stenographer. We're going to try to accommodate the swearing in of the candidates here. We've got requests from maybe a couple of people that need to do something and with your indulgence we're going to take a couple out of order. And if you don't mind, when we screen you, if you're an incumbent and do not have opposition, we would ask you to make just a brief comment if you want to, but if not, we're going into the direct questioning of you, and hopefully we can get this moving on fairly quickly. I know you're going to wonder when you can ask for
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support. We have several people who could not be here today due to sickness and we have some who have other professions that could not be here by virtue of having to perform operations today. All of this has to be transcribed by our court stenographer and put in both House and Senate journals, so we're not sure when that can be completed. We will let you know possibly as short as we can when you can solicit support. When we get through with you today, you will still not be able to go out and solicit support because some candidates will not be screened yet and we need to get all our screening behind and issue a report and put it in the journal, and the Screening Committee's report given to all our House members and Senators. So for that reason, we can't do that. We will ask you not to solicit until you're notified. We will notify you in plenty of time that you can get screened -- ask for support from various House and Senate members. The election cannot be held until in mid-April anyway, and so they're really not in a big rush to run out and start getting a pledge and asking for support. I know you want to get that done, get your seats locked in if you can. We understand that also. But we'll be just as expedient as we can in order to do that for you. But until we get all this bookkeeping and screening reports done, we will ask you to not, please do not send out any letters. If you do, if you send out any, just say you've been screened and you will come back, and you passed screening. You may do that, but you still can't ask directly for a vote. Any questions from any of the candidates about screening or the election. None. Thank you very much. All right. The first candidate we're going to take is a little out of order and it's MUSC, Thomas L. Stephenson. Mr. Stephenson, will you please raise your right hand.
THOMAS L. STEPHENSON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Stephenson, keep your hand raised, please, sir. you do not hold any elected or appointed office that the Committee needs to know about, do you, sir?
MR. STEPHENSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: If you're elected to this position you're offering, would it constitute a conflict of interest?
MR. STEPHENSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any illness or sickness that would prevent you from serving in the capacity of a board member if elected?
MR. STEPHENSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir.
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MR. STEPHENSON: Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, again I'm Tom Stephenson, I'm seeking re-election to the board for MUSC. I'm not opposed. And I appreciate your taking me out of order.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Thank you, sir. Any Committee members have any questions of Mr. Stephenson? No questions. Thank you, sir. Okay. And the next one that we'd like to take is Mr. Michael Mungo from USC. Mr. Mungo. Will you please raise your right hand, Mr. Mungo.
MICHAEL J. MUNGO, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Mungo, you're already on the board, but is there anything that would constitute a conflict of interest since last elected that would prevent you from continuing your service at USC?
MR. MUNGO: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No ailments or nothing that we need to be made aware of at this time?
MR. MUNGO: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No other offices that you've been elected to or appointed to that would cause a dual office holding?
MR. MUNGO: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any committee members of Mr. Mungo? None. Michael, thank you very much.
MR. MUNGO: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Our next request was for Lander, Maurice Holloway. Mr. Holloway. Please raise your right hand, please, sir.
MAURICE HOLLOWAY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'll ask you the same questions, Mr. Holloway. Do you hold any other elected or appointed office that would constitute a dual office holding?
MR. HOLLOWAY: None, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any business associates that would cause any conflict of interest if elected to the board at Lander?
MR. HOLLOWAY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or anything to prevent you from serving on the board in a timely manner?
MR. HOLLOWAY No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead and make your statement, sir.
MR. HOLLOWAY: I've been on the board since '88 and would love to continue to serve Lander.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Holloway? None. Thank you, sir.
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MR. HOLLOWAY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Then next we're going to reverse because most of them are unopposed and we can move a lot of people out of here fairly quickly. We would ask for Winthrop University, Karl Folkens. Mr. Folkens. Mr. Folkens, would you raise your right hand, please, sir.
KARL A. FOLKENS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you -- please continue to raise your right hand. Sir, do you have any elected position or appointed position that would cause dual office holding?
MR. FOLKENS: I don't believe so. I do serve on the Joint Commission on ADR, but that's a judicial commission. I do not believe that violates the dual office holding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is ADR?
MR. FOLKENS: Alternative Dispute Resolution. And Mr. Chair, if it does create a problem, I'm willing to resign from that commission.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You would be willing to resign from that if we determine that that would cause or constitute dual office holding?
MR. FOLKENS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest that the committee needs to know about, any business abilities that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. FOLKENS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or sickness that would deter you from serving on the board in a timely manner?
MR. FOLKENS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. All right, go ahead with your statement.
MR. FOLKENS: I have previously served on the board at Winthrop and have been the board chair, so in some respects, even though I am not an incumbent, I'm very familiar with Winthrop and service on the board, so I stand by my written statement. If there are any other questions I'd be happy to answer them.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any member of the committee? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Good morning, Mr. Folkens.
KARL A. FOLKENS: Good morning, Senator.
SENATOR GLOVER: How will Winthrop benefit from your, I guess you could say, re-election to its board?
MR. FOLKENS: Senator Glover, one thing we experience in South Carolina is, the Winthrop Board right now is concentrated primarily
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people in Columbia and the York area. There is pending legislation that's going to be offered up to legislature. What we're trying to do at Winthrop is to broaden representation in the state. I am from the Pee Dee area, and I -- in the past when I served on the board I was encouraging people around the state to try to import the board because Winthrop is not only a statewide institution, it's recognized throughout the Southeast. So I believe my service going back on the board will take the interest, not only to the people of the Pee Dee area but the entire state, as the board moves towards a statewide representation of its board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. FOLKENS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Hugh Hadsock. Okay, dealing with that, Mr. Hadsock asked to be excused today due to sickness. We would ask that we go to Wil Lou Gray. And we'll ask for Ms. Lynn Ammons. Ms. Ammons, please raise your right hand.
LYNN AMMONS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Ammons, have you been appointed or elected to any other position that would cause you to constitute a dual office holding?
MS. AMMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest or business ability that would cause you to have conflict of interest of serving on the Wil Lou Gray Board?
MS. AMMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or sickness that we need to know about that would prevent you from serving your time?
MS. AMMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You may go ahead and make your statement.
MS. AMMONS: I have been an incumbent. I've been serving since '98 and I am running unopposed, and I would consider it a great honor to serve. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Have any committee members got any questions of Ms. Ammons? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Ms. Ammons.
MS. AMMONS: Yes, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: How has Wil Lou Gray benefitted from your service on the board to date?
MS. AMMONS: Well, I came on board just as the national guard was combining with the school, and my father is a retired national
Printed Page 1305 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
guardsman, and my grandmother's been a school teacher. She's deceased now but she was a school teacher all her life, she graduated from Winthrop. And these young kids, you know, it's an opportunity school, it's children that would probably not get a GED otherwise, and I just consider it a great honor to work with these young folks.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you.
MS. AMMONS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Carlisle Roddey. Mr. Roddey, please raise your right hand, sir.
CARLISLE RODDEY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Roddey, have you been elected or appointed any position that would cause dual office holding?
MR. RODDEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business interest that would cause a conflict of interest to serve on the Wil Lou Gray Board?
MR. RODDEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments that we need to know about that would prevent you from serving in a timely manner?
MR. RODDEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: A short statement, sir.
MR. RODDEY: Yes, sir. I've been on the Wil Lou Gray Board since July of this past year, filling an unexpired term of Mr. Dan Smith from Gaffney who passed away. I enjoy serving on the board. It's a very, very, worthwhile school and you get the at-risk kids out there and you see them improve, and they work with them, and I'm just real proud to be a member of that board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any committee members?
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Roddey, if you were reappointed or reelected, what would you like to see different? How can you improve?
MR. RODDEY: Well, we're working towards -- we ended up with starting off with about 150 kids on a cycle, we'd like to see about 250. We can handle that many. And we're working towards the expanding and getting more kids out there because there are certainly more kids than 150 in this state that are at risk and we're working towards bringing more children in there.
SENATOR GLOVER: What has been the graduation rate at Will Lou Gray?
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MR. RODDEY: Probably around 120 per cycle.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay.
MR. RODDEY: It's moving up every time so it's doing better.
SENATOR GLOVER: All right. Thank you.
MR. RODDEY: Thank you.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: I don't have a question, but I have known Mr. Roddey for many, many, years and I want to thank him for his willingness to serve on this board. He serves in a number of capacities where he provides assistance and has helped a lot of people and I want to thank you, Carlisle, for offering again for this board.
MR. RODDEY: Thank you, Senator.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Carlisle.
MR. RODDEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: University of South Carolina, 1st Circuit, Mr. Othneil Wienges, Jr. Please raise your right hand, sir.
OTHNEIL H. WIENGES, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you served on any other Board of Commissions that would cause dual office holding?
MR. WIENGES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest by serving on the university board?
MR. WIENGES: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments that the committee members should be made aware of?
MR. WIENGES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Sir, go ahead with a short statement.
MR. WIENGES: I've been on the university board for quite some time, I find it very exciting. I hope that -- I have a wealth of experience and I hope that it's beneficial to the board. I was a member of the House of Representatives for ten years, followed by four years on the Commission of Higher Education.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Does any committee members have any questions of Mr. Wienges? Yes, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes, Representative Wienges, how was USC benefitted from your years of service, how do you think?
MR. WIENGES: Well, I think that I try to be a watchdog on the finances. I try to help the board set policy, which is what we're required to do. We're not supposed to manage, we're supposed to set policy. And
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I hope I have a good influence in changing policies as need change.CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
SENATOR GLOVER: One other one.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes. Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: When you look at the faculty ratio at USC, sir, do you have any concerns?
MR. WIENGES: Certainly. We always -- we are at a disadvantage now in that we don't have the ability to offer our faculty as much money as some other institution, such as the Texas schools and the Northeastern schools, University of Virginia, and all these other schools we have to compete with. The ability to pay more is one of the difficulties we have in hiring better faculty.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Thomas Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Briefly, one question, if I could, in brief response. With the scholarship programs that are going to be put into place through the lottery, have y'all made preparation in that regard as to what type of impact that's going to have upon the university?
MR. WIENGES: We think it will be enormously helpful, and we think that it'll be able to help us compete with our sister schools in sister states.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: You're not anticipating that to be a way to increase revenue at the expense of the students?
MR. WIENGES: No, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member? None. Thank you very much.
MR. WIENGES: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The next candidate would be 3rd Circuit Arthur Bahnmuller. Mr. Bahnmuller, raise your right hand, sir.
ARTHUR S. BAHNMULLER, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Bahnmuller, you don't hold any other elected or appointed positions that would cause a dual office holding, do you?
MR. BAHNMULLER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest or anything, business ability, that would cause a conflict of interest in serving on the board?
MR. BAHNMULLER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any sickness or ailments that we need to know about that would keep you from serving on the board?
MR. BAHNMULLER: No, sir.
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. A short statement.
MR. BAHNMULLER: I've been on the board now, this is my 12th year. I've enjoyed it. I hope I've been of good service to the board. I'm the only one on the board presently that has an engineering degree and I think that kind of helps, too, it kind of gives you a little bit of scientific approach at times to questions that arise. During the 12 years I've been on the board I've seen tremendous growth at the University of South Carolina. And since I've graduated there twice, once in civil engineering in '53, and once in law in '60, I really can say that the University of South Carolina has meant a lot to me and, hopefully, during these past 12 years and, hopefully, the next four, I will be able to continue to give back some of the great things that they've given me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Bahnmuller? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Mr. Bahnmuller, do you envision the University of South Carolina increasing its student body appreciably in the next few years?
MR. BAHNMULLER: I don't think so. If it does, it would be small increases. The thing we're concentrating on now, which we had a retreat on this past Friday, was endowed chairs and that's I think presently part of the legislature is looking into that through the lottery money. And what that does when it says, "endowed chairs," is allowing you to pay these well-known professors to come in here, and the extra money to induce them to come in here. And then what happens is, they bring in research grants with them and sometimes it's as much as a million to two million worth of grants they'll have and bring in with them. So if you can take your university to the next level -- we have some endowed chairs but we'd like to get a lot more endowed chairs because that way we can get the research grants and become a research institution. We're fighting right now, and when I say, "fighting," I mean with the University of North, Virginia, N.C. State, University of Florida, who have a lot of endowed chairs, this is just in our region, and they are taken off the cream of the crop with reference to these research grants. So consequently we're going to try to go that way and to get more research into the university so we can get more money and more grants.
SENATOR GIESE: Mr. Bahnmuller, you currently have 102 endowed chairs, the largest of which is 25 -- the corpus is $25,000.00 what's being suggested. The legislature is at a half a million dollars, roughly, 400,000 to $50,000.00 be used to endow each chair.
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MR. BAHNMULLER: Well, if that's what the legislature would like to do, we sure would encourage it and would ask the legislature to do that. I think that's what the request is.
MR. BAHNMULLER: Well, we hope y'all will honor our request, Senator.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Bahnmuller?
MR. BAHNMULLER: Yes, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: Have you, in your 12 years, does the racial composition of the faculty at USC concern you?
MR. BAHNMULLER: I think we're cognizant of that all the time and I think we're fair with everybody, but if you ask me what percentage we've got of this and that, I can't tell you. But as far as I know, I have not received any complaints in that regard.
SENATOR GLOVER: I have, Mr. Bahnmuller.
MR. BAHNMULLER: Well, I'm sure that you're probably in a better position to receive the complaints than I am.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yeah, and to all of the candidates, it's one of the things that really you do need to look at. The law school, or any number of your schools, have either zero or no more than one on your faculty and it is a major concern.
MR. BAHNMULLER: Well, I'm sure that we'll, since you -- I think this has been brought up before and I think we're working on it. We can't switch everything just, you know, on the spur of the moment, you've got to kind of go into things because you want to get good people to take these positions, take over these existing positions.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Trust me. We all want you to get good people and I hope that that doesn't mean that you think that you can't find good ...
MR. BAHNMULLER: No, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: ... minorities.
MR. BAHNMULLER: No, ma'am, I did not say that.
SENATOR GLOVER: I understand. Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any others? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What challenges or opportunities do you think that the scholarship program that will be started by the lottery will provide for the university?
MR. BAHNMULLER: Well, my feeling on the lottery, to begin with, was that hopefully we could get all qualified young students out of high school into either technical colleges or universities that are state supported, and that's what I would like to see happen. And then what extra money we have go in endowed chairs and other things that y'all
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have in mind. That's my feeling on it. Now, I know y'all may disagree with me.
MR. BAHNMULLER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member? Thank you, Mr. Bahnmuller.
MR. BAHNMULLER: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: At this time, we'll call the 5th Circuit, William C. Hubbard.
MR. HUBBARD: Good morning, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Raise your right hand, sir.
WILLIAM C. HUBBARD, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other elected or appointed position?
MR. HUBBARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest by serving?
MR. HUBBARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments, other than what I've got, that would keep you from serving on the board?
MR. HUBBARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
MR. HUBBARD: Well, first of all, I'd like to thank the General Assembly for supporting my election to the board in the past and I've tried to honor the trust that you've put in me by working hard for the betterment of the University of South Carolina and the State of South Carolina, and I appreciate that confidence and I certainly intend to try to maintain the trust that you've given me before.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Hubbard from committee members? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Mr. Hubbard, how has the university benefitted from your years of service on its board?
MR. HUBBARD: Senator, I've tried to look for every opportunity I could on the board to be of service. I think I've served as Chair of every committee except the Athletics Committee, and there were plenty of other people interested in that, so I deferred on that one. I have served as Chair of the board for four years and am currently serving as Chair of the Search Committee for a new president. So I try to, being the trustee from the Columbia area and from the Midlands, it's easier for me sometimes to participate in some of the committees and activities on the board, to participate in ceremonies honoring faculty, and to assist the president from time to time with donor solicitations and those
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kinds of things. I try to make myself available and I try to give it my best effort as we try to take the university to another level.
SENATOR GLOVER: Does the composition of the faculty give you concern?
MR. HUBBARD: It does. I think it's a real concern. I think it's a concern of most colleges and universities in America. But given South Carolina's history, given the demographics of this state, we obviously have to be more creative in our hiring to make sure that all populations are appropriately represented. I think we've done a good job in our overall student enrollment. We currently have about 18 percent African-American students in our undergraduate population in Columbia, but I think our faculty minority -- well, the African-American percentage of our faculty is about three to four percent and we need to work on that. We've made some recent hires, particularly in our history department, that should bring, or give us the ability to leverage those hires into recruitment in some other departments.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Over the last three or four years, what percentage, or how much has your tuition increased at Carolina?
MR. HUBBARD: It's gone up. As you know, we're under a formula proviso to the budget bill, it cannot exceed three percent over the higher education pricing that was set for this last year. Well, last year, I believe Carolina, as I understand the position, the research university which pairs us, Carolina with Clemson, says if you're below the average, you can only -- that cap applies to you, and we were below the average. Excuse me, we were above the average last year. And if you're above the average the cap applies. So I think when it was all said and done, we raised about 10 percent.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: With the scholarships, what are the plans at Carolina?
MR. HUBBARD: I think the greatest benefit of the new scholarships will be that it is a great recruiting tool to try to keep the best, most highly qualified young people in South Carolina from leaving the state. It's a real incentive for parents and young people to stay in South Carolina because of the support they'll get through that scholarship program. It'll certainly help us in our recruiting because we're not just recruiting against in-state schools for good students, we're recruiting against out-of-state schools, and we don't need any of our bright young people to leave the state if we can help it.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: I need to ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Hines.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Given the fact that the university, and perhaps all major universities, puts so much emphasis on athletics, and especially football, are you making any real effort toward equipping students so that when their football-playing things are over, insofar as in the academics, so they're provided with a fairly good education they can fall back on when the football-playing days and the basketball-playing days are over?
MR. HUBBARD: Yes, sir, I think we are. The graduation rate among athletes at the University of South Carolina is the second highest in the Southeastern Conference, second only to Vanderbilt. I know you're all familiar with Kalimba Edwards, one of our football players who's an All-American this year. His father was a professor at the University of North Carolina. The young man said he wanted to play in the Southeastern Conference, and his father said, "Well, you only have two choices, Vanderbilt or South Carolina, because that's where they do the best job of graduating athletes." So I think that's a testimonial to the support system we have, and the academic support that we provide to all of our athletes in all sports, and I think we're doing a very good job there. We have some of the most quality people I've ever met that do provide that support to athletes and they're doing a good job.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Hubbard.
MR. HUBBARD: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, 7th Circuit, Toney J. Lister.
MR. LISTER: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you raise your right hand, sir.
TONEY J. LISTER, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed or elected position that would cause a conflict of interest of dual office holding?
MR. LISTER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No business abilities or anything that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. LISTER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any health reason that would prevent you from serving in a timely manner?
MR. LISTER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
Printed Page 1313 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. LISTER: Mr. Chairman and members of this committee, I've been on the board at the University of South Carolina for the last eight years, and I just want to take this opportunity, as those who have passed here before me this morning, to thank all of you and the other members of the House of Representatives and the Senate for that opportunity. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Toney Lister? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Lister, how has the university benefitted from your years of service on its board?
MR. LISTER: Senator, I'm 55-years-old. I brought the same experiences to this board that any person active in the State of South Carolina who's a father, who is an employee, can bring. But besides the experience that I brought to the board, I've been certainly benefitted by the experience that was on the Board of Trustees before I got there. So I'm trying to use my experience, along with what I've learned since I've been there, to move this university and the State of South Carolina ahead.
SENATOR GLOVER: Does the composition of your faculty give you concern?
MR. LISTER: It does. It's been a concern since I've been there. And we have certainly talked a better game of recruiting minority faculty, and we've been able to fulfill those goals because of the numbers that we have not been able to find out there. But, yes, ma'am, it does.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Toney.
MR. LISTER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Next is the 9th Circuit, John C. von Lehe, Jr.
MR. VON LEHE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
JOHN C. VON LEHE, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed or any other elected positions that would cause you to have a dual office holding?
MR. VON LEHE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest by serving on the board at this time?
MR. VON LEHE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments that keeps you from serving on the board in a timely fashion?
MR. VON LEHE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
Printed Page 1314 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. VON LEHE: Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I want to express my gratitude for being given this opportunity to serve. This will be my second term, the good Lord willing, and I have enjoyed my service at the university.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any committee members? Senator Glover?
SENATOR GLOVER: The same for you, Mr. von Lehe.
MR. VON LEHE: Yes.
SENATOR GLOVER: How has the university benefitted from your years on this school board?
MR. VON LEHE: I, at least, consider myself to be a teacher. I did teach at the University of South Carolina for nine years in the business school at night. My interest in the university would be primarily in the academic area and I hope I've made a contribution to that.
SENATOR GLOVER: All right. And does the composition of your faulty, and I now have to say of your board, give you concern?
MR. VON LEHE: I think we've done a pretty good job so far as the student ratios are concerned. A pretty good job so far as the composition of the board is concerned. The faculty is not that good and certainly needs improvement.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Good morning.
MR. VON LEHE: Good morning.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What has been the greatest accomplishment of the university during your first term, what would you single out?
MR. VON LEHE: I think the agreement between the Medical University of Clemson and the University of South Carolina has been a great accomplishment to work together in the research areas. I see that as something that's going to really be big for this state, it has that opportunity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, sir. 13th Circuit, Mack L. Whittle, Jr.
MIKE L. WHITTLE, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed or elected position to cause dual office holding?
MR. WHITTLE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business connections that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. WHITTLE: No, sir.
Printed Page 1315 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or sickness that would cause you not to be able to serve on the Board of Trustees?
MR. WHITTLE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. WHITTLE: I've been on the Board of Trustees at the University of South Carolina for 12 years. I've served as Chairman of Building and Grounds, Chairman of Fiscal Policy and Vice-Chairman, and currently serve as Chairman of the Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Glover, Maggie.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Chairman, how has the university benefitted from your years of service?
MR. WHITTLE: Well, I come from a business background and I think that myself, along with several of the other businessmen, have brought a business perspective to an academic environment and I think it's been a healthy marriage with the academic side, especially in the times of more austere budgeting, and I think it has allowed us to persevere with the issues that we all face with the budget cuts.
SENATOR GLOVER: Does the composition of your faculty concern you, and what do you think can be done about it?
MR. WHITTLE: Yes, ma'am, it does concern me. And we have -- we recruit very actively minority faculty members, and have on a number of occasions, as we do minority students. It is a very difficult thing. There are -- the pool of applicants is small compared to other pools of applicants and it just -- we need, probably, some scholarships and some endowed chairs that would help us attract the kind of faculty that we need, minority faculty that we need.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee members? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Whittle, what is the greatest challenge that the university faces at this time for the future if you continued to serve on the board?
MR. WHITTLE: This weekend we completed our retreat, and at that retreat we presented the draft of the STI Report which is a strategic plan for the University of South Carolina that deals with funding. It deals with the academics at the university, and it deals programmatically with the university. And we have gotten consensus from the faculty now, from the administration, and from the board, that this is the correct plan that we need to adopt in order to make the university a better place, to make the State of South Carolina a better place. And the execution of that plan -- the implementation and
Printed Page 1316 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
execution of that plan is going to be very challenging. It will, ideally, involve not depending on the funding from the state that we've been fortunate enough to have in the past, and it deals with issues of alternative funding sources that some of our sister states are using to fund at the level that we need in order to generate the quality we want but not look solely to the state for the funding of that.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any others? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Mr. Whittle, what is the magnitude of your endowment?
MR. WHITTLE: Our total endowment, we run -- we have run the analogy, as you probably know, over the last three years with the capital campaign. We've just undertaken what was initially a 200 million dollar capital campaign, it now is a 350 million dollar capital campaign. Approximately a hundred million of that will go into our endowment and it will put our endowment in the 225 to 250 million dollar range. Unfortunately that number varies somewhat because of the performance of the market. This time last year I could have probably given you a little bit higher number than that. We still rank third from the bottom in the SCC, or fourth from the bottom in the SCC. We have the largest endowment in the state currently and we look for that as our source of finding and attracting good faculty and good students. It's a source of scholarships. It's a source of providing supplemental salaries to faculty members who want to go out and recruit.
MR. GIESE: Do you have a big drive on now for endowed chairs? Did I hear you say that the endowed chair subsidizes something different than the endowment?
MR. WHITTLE: No, no, it does not. The endowed chairs, the way we would see the endowed chairs, the lottery money being used is we would hope to use that in some fashion to begin to attract research, and those research dollars would generate a return on the funds. For instance, if we were fortunate enough to get ten or 20 million dollars from a matching standpoint, I understand the proposal is that the funds would be on a matched basis, then we would deploy those into faculty and liberal arts, but also in the science areas where they would generate additional federal research dollars that would help us as a state and help us as a university. It would provide indirect costs that would allow us to defer some of the -- or to cover some of the cost for general operating costs to the university, and would allow us to, hopefully, have intellectual properties that would have values, as some of our sister
Printed Page 1317 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
states have done. North Carolina, in particular, and Florida State and the University of Florida, have been very active in generating -- taking research dollars, bringing in faculty, generating additional research dollars, and taking an interest in whatever that research created and generating recurring dollars in the form of intellectual properties.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Not to belabor and make this even longer but, briefly, I've been following the studies on changing the way you fund the colleges at the university. I wonder if a decision has been made on that?
MR. WHITTLE: Funding the?
SENATOR SHORT: The different colleges at the universities. And if so, how you plan to address those schools that are not able to bring in the same dollar amounts.
MR. WHITTLE: And this research comes to play in there. With limited funds we had to look at where we had -- where we needed to place the money in order to become, you know, the university that we think we need to become. So we had the faculty and the trustees come together in the form of a committee and look at the university and compare our model to other successful public institutions, the University of North Carolina, the University of Virginia, the University of Georgia, and to look at how they fund, and the colleges, the number of deans they have, the number of schools they have, and how they fund those. So the process that we went through was not a process of the board deciding how this would be done, this was the faculty and the administration coming up with this as well. The colleges and schools -- there are certain colleges and schools that can generate higher tuition, okay, the law school, for instance, the business school, for instance. There are certain schools and colleges that will generate more research dollars by the nature of what they teach and the fact that that's where research will come from. Properly managed, those can begin to stand on their own bottom, if we can use that term, we call it tubs on their own bottom, and the money that they have been getting in the past could then be channeled to those colleges that don't have the benefit of the research. So we look at reallocation as much as we look at taking money away from one college and giving it to the other. I hope that explains the process.
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, Mr. Whittle. That completes the University of South Carolina, Wil Lou
Printed Page 1318 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Gray, and Winthrop College. All of them are unopposed. What is the pleasure of the committee on screening the candidates. We have an approval for all candidates being screened. Second by Senator Glover. Any more discussion? None. All in favor of screening of the candidates signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All opposed, no. None. All the candidates that have been screened so far are now duly qualified as a candidate. Okay. Now we go to South Carolina State University, Congressional District 3, Mr. Charles C. Lewis, Sr. asked to be excused today. We go to Seat 7. at-large, Mr. Charles H. Williams, II.
CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, II, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any appointed or elected positions that would cause dual office holding?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest, business-wise or anything that would cause you to have a conflict of interest in serving on the board?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any illness or anything, sicknesses, to keep you from serving in a timely fashion?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. WILLIAMS: I've been on the board, I'm not sure if it was in 1984 or 1986, and I've enjoyed it. I've listened to these people from the University of South Carolina come up here, and it's so different, I think, serving on South Carolina State's Board because we usually, we basically don't have enough money. I hate to say we're under-funded, but ours is always indeed "How are we going to get by?" And we don't have chairs and those type luxuries. But I think Senator Glover will probably ask me, if you ask what have I done since I've been on the board, and I think one of the areas that I've been one of the few minorities, right now there are two minority members on the board, but most of the time that I've been serving, I've been the only minority. I've had to give them a perspective as to sometimes how the community looks at some of the actions we might take. It's been a lot of fun but it's also been a lot of frustration serving on the board, but I have enjoyed it and I appreciate the legislature's support over the years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Williams? Representative Hines.
Printed Page 1319 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVES HINES: Mr. Williams, given the fact that South Carolina State University was founded as a true land grant university, does it concern you that she's lost so much of her mission in that she's practically eroded of all the programs that she once offered? And additionally, you know, there was a law school that was developed there, they lost the law school. And does it concern you being a native of Orangeburg County?
MR. WILLIAMS: It does concern me. Of course, you know, hardly a meeting goes by, or maybe every other meeting, we don't talk about the significance of being a historical black college, as well as the land grant part. And, you know, it's just -- we're in a market now, I think, that if you go back 20 years ago, a lot of what we would bring were the brightest and the best, now we're having to compete with Carolina and compete with Clemson, and I hate to say they've taken a lot of our brightest and our best, but I think our admission has changed somewhat and we've lost perspective as to some of the things that we ought to be doing and that we certainly should be doing better. I think we're cognizant of this. I think we strive to accomplish it, I'm not sure if we do as good a job as we hope to do. But without question, you know, I think we've gotten away from our roots to a certain extent. We also find out that you have to kind of get away a little from your roots just to survive with present-day situation of lack of money.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Mr. Williams, bearing in mind your long years of service, do you believe that the university has been funded equitably by the state?
MR. WILLIAMS: Well, I don't. And, you know, you get into all kind of ways of trying to figure things out. But, I mean, we just do not have the corporate support and, to some extent, even alumni support, and I think that's more of a social issue then people not wanting to give, but I think that the other schools have done it for years, taught their alumni to give, give, give. And we all talk about it at South Carolina State that we've got to do a better job of teaching our kids that go to school that they've got to give something back. So when you talk about endowment, and we've got several million, my kids go to school in [inaudible] Virginia and they've got 140 million in their high school endowment. So, you know, we just don't have the money. We don't have it coming in from corporations, we don't have it coming in from the alumni, and it's frustrating because, you know, when the legislature makes these cuts, Carolina, Clemson, Citadel, and everybody else,
Printed Page 1320 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
seems to be able to deal with them. And, you know, we've cut and we've cut and we've cut, we just can't cut any more.
SENATOR GLOVER: But, I mean, Mr. Williams, I'm saying equity at the state level, in our state funding?
MR. WILLIAMS: Well, when you talk about if we apply for like money for bonds for buildings and so forth, I think the legislature in the last two years has done an excellent job. And of course Senator Matthews is kind of our leader in trying to get the legislature to give us more money, but I think we're way behind the other schools. And I hate to always say that money will solve all problems but, you know, we just need more. I think we went years without, and the problem is now asking for money, is it looks like the state doesn't have any. But we would hope that as soon as the state gets some that they can put more back into South Carolina State.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anyone else? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: One question for you. Do you feel, or are you aware of any students that are not able to attend South Carolina State because of the lack of a scholarship or financial ability?
MR. WILLIAMS: I don't know what the percentage is, but I think it's almost like 90 percent of our kids come on pale grants. I'm real curious to see, with the lottery, whether scholarships are really going to help us that much. I'm not so sure they are. Because, like I say, most of our kids come on financial aid and that type thing. And it will be interesting to see, if we go to a scholarship and South Carolina State doesn't get our, I reckon our fair share, how the legislature would try and rectify that, but certainly I don't know that we need to divvy everything up, but I'm sure that the scholarship is going to mean that much to South Carolina State.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Representative Hines.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Mr. Williams, are you aware of any other state in this nation that has suffered as much as South Carolina State College in regards to being a land-grant university where they've lost as much of their admission as South Carolina State University. Are you familiar, for instance, with our border states, such as Georgia and North Carolina, and other Southeastern states?
MR. WILLIAMS: Well, I don't know that I can really properly answer that because I'm really not familiar with their schools, you know, as much as I am with South Carolina State, so to say what another school
Printed Page 1321 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
or a sister state, their land-grant schools might have suffered, I really couldn't address that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. WILLIAMS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Seat 9, at-large, Leroy Mosely, Jr., please come forward for questioning. Would you raise your right hand, sir.
LEROY MOSELY, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any other appointed or elected positions that we need to be made aware of?
MR. MOSELY: No, sir, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest by serving on the board at the South Carolina State University?
MR. MOSELY: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any ailments or sickness that would cause you to not be able to continue to serve?
MR. MOSELY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No. Go ahead, sir.
MR. MOSELY: Let me say first, thank you basically for having me here today, and I'm also very appreciative of the opportunity to serve at the South Carolina State University. And I do consider serve as the operative word there. I've served on the Board of Trustees for ten years and have seen us grow as a board and have seen the university grow, and I think my more than 30 years of public higher-ed experience in resources, as well as the time that I have spent on the board, watching us grow, being a part of that growth, has prepared me well for moving to a higher level in the future. And I would just say that I intend to continue that service with the service to students being key. The primary driving force behind my service will be what's best for the students.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any committee member? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. I think Mr. Mosely has answered my first question just now. My second to you then, sir, is what about equity funding, is it a concern for you, and how do you see it in terms of state funding for the university?
MR. MOSELY: It is very much a concern, and I wish I could say that I'm optimistic that it's going to change to the extent that we feel it needs to change. However, we're going to continue to fight. We will be here talking to you and others in the legislature to see to it that there be some more equity, and even some remediation, if you will, because for so long in the past -- while today oftentimes we may get what would on
Printed Page 1322 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
paper be a fair share. When you're starting in the red as we have over the years, it takes a lot more to bring us up. Our infrastructure and the kinds of things that you can't see on campus are deteriorating, deferred maintenance, that kind of thing, but we do need to work on that. We're continuing to work on it and are to be talking to many of you on how to make something positive happen.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee members? Representative Hines.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Mr. Mosely, you know, as we serve from our position, we hear so many times that S.C. State quality -- South Carolina State University is not in a position to qualify for funds like Clemson and USC in that they are no longer a research -- it's no longer a research institution. Of course, you know, it was founded as a research institution, and I think, to some degree it may still be maintaining to a small degree as being a research institution. What's your belief so far as being able to main -- in that you've lost so much, do you still think that you can still hold on with that small amount as being a partial research institution?
MR. MOSELY: Our intent is to reverse that trend, Mr. Hines. I know what you mean, we have lost a number of our programs and the opportunity to compete for several kinds of grants, and that kind of thing, over the years. You mentioned earlier the law school, and the School of Agriculture, those kinds of things. Now, whether we'll be able to bring all of those back, there's some question on that. We do have some initiatives that we're studying, as we speak, on whether or not those programs can be re-instituted as far as qualifying for various kinds of funds. I think oftentimes we do qualify, but it takes a little more than qualifying, sometimes it takes some, if I may use the term, lobbying and that kind of thing to make sure that the proper funding comes. And we do intend -- we do intend to get better at that and do more of that. And our 1890 program is under review, as we speak, to attempt to bring it back to a level of community service programs as we had in the past. And we have had some good programs in the past that we do not now have, but we intend to bring those back.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Becky Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Yes, sir. Mr. Mosely, what is the rate of return, or what is the rate, percentage-wise, of graduation of the students at State University?
MR. MOSELY: I can't give you specific numbers. I can say to you that our graduation rate is competitive with other schools in this state. Now,
Printed Page 1323 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
whether or not it takes place in that four-to-five year initial period, perhaps not, sometimes it takes a little longer but we get there. The actual graduation rate is competitive, whether or not it's done in four-to-five years, there may be some question there, because, obviously, we start sometimes with some of our students who are, as we see them, diamonds in the rough and it takes us a little while, but we mind them, and we intend to continue to do that as well.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Following up with Representative Hines with the land-grant university, also Clemson is a land grant, how would you rate your working together on projects, and is that something that has expanded under your time on the board?
MR. MOSELY: It has. It is not where it needs to be, however, I'll have to acknowledge that, Senator. As I indicated earlier, we are looking now at the 1890 program, and one of the things we talked about at a meeting we held on campus last week was whether or not we are maximizing relationships with Clemson University and other land-grant universities and I think the -- I think we're pretty much sure that the answer is no, we are not maximizing. We are participating and cooperating with Clemson and have a good relationship with them, it could be better.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Mr. Mosely, you stated a while ago you've been on the board ten years.
MR. MOSELY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Can you tell me what is the problem at South Carolina State. You've had two president changes in the past six years. What -- and I always was under the impression that Dr. Leroy Davis was doing a magnificent job by the last two or three years of lobbying us and the members of the General Assembly for additional funds and gaining some respect for the university, South Carolina State. What seems to be the problem that there's so many changes so quickly?
MR. MOSELY: I don't know if I would characterize it as problems, Mr. Phillips. I do think, and we regret that it came to a point where Dr. Davis, number one, he has decidedly voluntarily retire, and I prefer to look at where we are now though as an opportunity to take us to another level. And I agree with you, Dr. Leroy Davis was a, is, a personal friend, as well as one that I respect professionally. I think, though, that we have reached a point where we needed to -- the consensus of the board was that we needed to make some
Printed Page 1324 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
improvements, move to another level. And we spoke with Dr. Davis about this, he agreed that there's some things that need to be done at the university, that there needs to be a stronger leadership role played by the president. Now, while we are not about changing for change's sake, we meet the challenge, however, of changing what needs to be done. And in this instance, we had hoped that we could make that happen, those improvements that we need to make, without a change at the top. It turns out that that was not the case and Dr. Davis has decided to retire. And we see this now as an opportunity to bring in a leader who will take us to another level.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any others? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Yes, Mr. Phillips. Mr. Mosely, it seems, if my memory serves me correctly, that the university last year took in about 110 million dollars in outside income from research and grants and so on. Why hasn't South Carolina State, I mean, just using -- gotten better in their seeking of outside funding for research, et cetera?
MR. MOSELY: I'm not sure if I can answer that, other than to say to you that we are getting better at it. We, just this past weekend, held the annual scholarship gala which is all about fund-raising. And while we are not necessarily proud of where we are in the level of the fund-raising that we do, in comparison to where we want to be, we are proud of where we are compare to where we were. We have over the last four or five years, each year, set new records with respect to fund-raising, and we have a -- we are now also, opportunity again, recruiting a new vice president for institutional advancement who will have primary responsibility for fund-raising, so that is a priority for us. Why we've not done better? I don't if I can answer that. Are we going to do better? Absolutely.
SENATOR GIESE: So I was thinking in terms of research grants and the kinds of things that the federal government has available to assist faculty members who are thinking in terms of going beyond the teaching portion of education?
MR. MOSELY: Well, here again, that institutional advancement officer, while much of the grant applications or the details of them, have to come from the corp of faculty. The coordination of that activity rests with the vice president for institutional advancement. And we are working there. I will say also that, as I've heard stated here by the University of South Carolina trustees, the difficulty in attracting and recruiting those faculty members who are capable of putting together that kind of proposal, there again, we run into some difficulty with the funds and the level of salary we are able to offer. Again, though, we
Printed Page 1325 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
recognize our shortcomings and are working on that. And I'm confident that we're going to get it done. Sometimes not quite as fast as we'd like to see, but we're moving, we're working on that. Every indicator shows an upward arrow, the actual level of achievement, only not where we need it to be, but upward anyway. And we intend to see that more of that particular other bring in some leadership.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. MOSELY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Seat 9, at-large, Glenn Jones. Mr. Jones, please raise your right hand.
GLENN E. JONES, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any other appointed or elected positions?
MR. JONES: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business interest that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. JONES: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or anything that would prevent you from, that we need to know about, from serving in a full capacity on the board?
MR. JONES: No, not any.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. A short statement, sir.
MR. JONES: Again, I'd like to do as everyone else is doing and thank you for the opportunity to come and speak with you about being a part of the South Carolina State Board. And to me it's the greatest university in the state. I'm a graduate of South Carolina State University and I thought of it so big that I met my wife there, I sent my sister there, now I have my daughter there. And regardless to what's going on on the outside, I do have opinions on it and I plan to be, definitely, more into what's going on as much as I can as far as paying alumni dues and things like that. I'm a 1981 graduate, I've done that since then. Attended football games, and got with my class, it was our twenty-year reunion this year, here, and my wife's 15th. So we definitely are wanting to get back in the arena, and we're already in the arena of education, that's where I work, and educating our children and our neighbors' children are some of the goals that we would like to see achieved as individuals and as a community.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Jones, welcome.
MR. JONES: Thank you.
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SENATOR GLOVER: How do you think that the university people benefit from your service on this board?
MR. JONES: Having ten years of education experience in the public school system, where I'm currently the Director of Alternative Education for Florence District 1, and I have a background in grant writing, I used to work for the Council of Governors before that happened. And my business background, I tend to want to, as far as the university is concerned, bring that experience that I've gotten from all of my experiences together to be able to, of course, represent the Pee Dee's children first that need to go to the university, and then branch out from where we are regionally to the state level. I think that when you do not collaborate you think that your job is the single sole job. Just to keep the university working, it's the people that have to come and fuel the university, not for those four years but for a lifetime. We have to be the promoters of lifelong learning, and I've always been that. It's been what I've been brought up with and I want to continue that where, not only again where I'm at in Florence, but for the state and for other alumni that are out there around the country who want to send their children to South Carolina State, that they may call home and ask a friend, "How is the college doing" -- "How is the university doing?" It was "college" when I went there. "How is the university doing?" And we have conversations about how it's doing and we've kind of taken a back seat to what's going on in the educational community here and I want to -- we weren't in a back seat 20 years ago, that's not a place for us, and we need to come forward and not feel that my ingenuity, my collaborative efforts that I've done in my local community and around the state will help the university reach the people who can become paying alumni again with a formidable plan, who can go and recruit other tenured teachers to come to our university and give us a chance, give our children a chance. That's what we -- when we lose the fire for that, this is not the arena for us.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Jones, is money the answer to your problem?
MR. JONES: It's not always money. I believe money can always be rearranged. It's the value additive of the people that work there. Maybe we have people who have been there too long and we need a human resources development assessment of who's been there so that we can now bring in more effective, maybe younger, ideas and energy and attitude so that we can branch then on to our children, so that when they
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graduate they can also go into the work force and say to folks who have not gotten a college education that South Carolina State is a good university to go to.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I think you answered part of that, that a lot of people think that education revolves around, or money revolves around education, which is not necessarily true. What are y'all doing there that -- if you say you've got a lack of money, what are you doing there that will enhance education with a lack of money?
MR. JONES: Again, I would say that if we're talking about a money situation, I think that we need to internally audit ourselves. We may be spending in areas that don't need as much spending, we may need to pull back. It may be a time, again, as I said earlier, to re-engineer or rejuvenate some jobs and some titles at the university so that we can have people moving into the specialized arena that we -- that you all have left for us to run as a country. And I think that that's one of the reasons that we have been at the back, so to speak, of the bus at this juncture of our career 20 years after I've graduated. We just have not stepped up individually.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Jones, I wonder from your perspective, as not currently serving on the board, what you see as the greatest problem they face and what you would want to do to try to address that?
MR. JONES: I feel that the greatest problem that we face is the lack of collaboration with outside sources, such as, "Why don't we have a partnership with Microsoft? Why don't we have a partnership with all of the local industries that are there? Why aren't we going from county to county in our state to try to make sure that at least a certain pocket of kids is able to go and get educated at South Carolina State University, work with our co-op system, then come back and work inside of another system? We need some collaborative efforts and innovative thinking to bring this about, and currently I feel that's not there and that's something that I would definitely like to work with. I'm a former student of the co-op program and in 1979 I missed a whole year from school to get experience in General Electric, and when I graduated in '81, I was one of the ones who didn't have a problem getting a job right afterwards. That, along with the other classmates of mine who partook in the co-op program. I ran track and, granted, I didn't have the best average but when it came to working and work ethic, this is what I was there for and this is what I meant to go out and get and do.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, may I continue?
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
SENATOR SHORT: Are you concerned at all about the change in leadership and do you see that the current change that's about to happen as a potential for a positive effect on the university as an alumni and not currently serving on the board?
MR. JONES: The changing of presidents over the last six years has been -- that's a concern of mine. I feel that as a board member I would bring expertise in human resources development as having a master's degree. Maybe we need help in the process of who we're going to choose so that when we get that person we can, as a board, hand them a mission statement as to where we need to go forward in the future. With two people in ten years, in my mind, that's not been discussed or even evaluated, and I think that's what we have to do to move South Carolina State University. We're already in the new millennium and we've got to get better with what we do, and I think that's something that we can do. Let's make sure that the leader that we choose is open-minded to different things of the campus that either make or break or hinder us. Sometimes your staff can hinder you because they're not -- they're in a group-think pattern and they're not following a mission statement, they're just there to keep the doors open. I think we need to move from a group-think status into an innovative status which will grow us for the years to come.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Jones. Okay. Let's take about a two minute or three minute break.
(Break taken from 12:45 p.m. until 12:56 p.m.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've got a couple of requests we need to really do. And y'all don't like me being here, so I'm going to take Bobby Bowers who draws the map. I want him to put me in Chimney Rock. Bobby Bowers with Lander University, seat 15 at-large, unopposed. Bobby, you can go ahead and make a brief statement after we swear you.
BOBBY M. BOWERS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any interests that would cause a conflict of interest for serving on the board?
MR. BOWERS: No, Mr. Chairman. The only thing, I'm on the Board of Trustees as an appointed member by the legislature but I'm told that's not a conflict.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Not a conflict. Sir, do you have any ailments that we need to know about?
MR. BOWERS: Not at this time.
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You'd have to be a state nut drawing these maps.
MR. BOWERS: I may have before we get through here.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I have nothing else, so go ahead, Bobby, with a short statement.
MR. BOWERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you taking me out of order. I have a very important meeting at 2:30 this afternoon that I need to get to. I laugh, people can lock me up or can fire me but the court can lock me up, so I try to be on time with them. Mr. Chairman, I've been on the board since '94. I've served on the Academic Affairs Committee, the Student Affairs Committee. I'm presently Chairman of the Finance Committee. And I think I can add a lot to Lander University Board of Trustees in the coming years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do we have any committee members who've got a question of Bobby?
SENATOR GLOVER: We aren't going to let Mr. Bobby go.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: He has all our money.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You didn't bring a mount with you?
MR. BOWERS: I didn't bring a mount with me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: They're going to let you go. Bobby, thank you very much.
MR. BOWERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And I sure appreciate your services.
MR. BOWERS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We try to accommodate everybody. This is a committee that likes to accommodate. We will ask now that Mr. Creighton McMaster, we'll take him out of order, he has a court case and he needs to be in court also. Mr. McMaster is running for the 5th District, seat nine, and is unopposed.
F. CREIGHTON MCMASTER, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Creighton, do you have any conflicts of interest with serving on the board?
MR. MCMASTER: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any sickness or ailments that we need to know about?
MR. MCMASTER: None that I know of.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Nothing. Nothing. Sir, go ahead with your statement.
MR. MCMASTER: What was that?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir, with a short statement.
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MR. MCMASTER: It's been a pleasure to have served on the college board for 32 years, since 1970, and I have served in most of the positions at the College of Charleston, including Chairman of the Board. When the college was taken into a state system in 1970, it was approximately 500 students. Today, the College of Charleston has approximately 12,000 students. I think -- I am proud of what is being done at the College of Charleston, I hope the General Assembly has because y'all have been extremely helpful to the college to the stage that they are today. So my thanks to you very much, and my thanks to the General Assembly for allowing me to serve as a trustee in the College of Charleston and I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any committee members have a question?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: One good question. Mr. McMaster, the McMaster clan goes across the state. There are many hundreds, I'm sure. Do you belong to the famous or the infamous portion?
MR. MCMASTER: Well, we are the Winnsboro branch and I don't know if they're infamous or not, but some are republicans and some are democrats.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now, if we want to start something, Cherokee. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? Thank you, sir, you may go.
MR. MCMASTER: Thank you very much, I appreciate it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We have Mr. Robert Treacy, 3rd District, Seat 5, College of Charleston. Mr. Treacy needs to be in court. Go ahead Mr. Treacy.
MR. TREACY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
ROBERT TREACY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other elected or appointed positions that would constitute dual ...
MR. TREACY: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflicts of interest with serving on the board?
MR. TREACY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or anything?
MR. TREACY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir, go ahead.
MR. TREACY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am a 1993 graduate of the College of Charleston, 1996 graduate of our South Carolina School of Law. I've served the state by working for Solicitor Giese when I was in
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law school. I was judicial law clerk to a Circuit Court judge in Anderson. I worked in the Oconee county solicitor's office where Senator Alexander is senator and I am now in private practice in Anderson. And I come from a family of educators and I'm eager to serve my state, and I think that that's something that I am qualified to do and I'm here seeking to get on the College of Charleston Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Mr. Treacy, how do you think that the College of Charleston will benefit from your service on its board?
MR. TREACY: Thank you. I am from Charleston, I lived there for 11 years. I attended Bishop England High School, which the structure no longer exists, that's where the College of Charleston Library is being built. I went across the street to the College of Charleston for school. My stepfather was a librarian that served for 33 years. I was raised on The Citadel campus. My mother is a professor as well. So around -- my entire life I've grown up around a dinner table discussing higher education policy to some extent. I've taught, myself, since I graduated at junior college and tech school. My mother still lives in Charleston, so I live in Anderson, I go home on a regular basis. I'm familiar with the community, what's going on in Charleston, and I think that I have, not only the education and experience background, even though I am only 30, to bring some good ideas but I also have some energy and a connection to Charleston that will keep me interested in that post.
SENATOR GLOVER: Any specific things that you want to address?
MR. TREACY: Specifically, I think that our state is in a budget crisis, obviously, and I think that we need, in my humble opinion, more active boards on our major universities who are going to work with the legislature in instituting some realistic fiscal policy that will -- obviously they're going to have to be cuts somewhere and I think we need people on the boards who are willing to not only look out for their institution's interests, but have a broader view across the state and be willing to take some punches in order to preserve the state's higher education as a whole.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Yes. Do you think there's any real, real value of having on a board someone at the early end of the spectrum, so far as age is concerned, when dealing on a college problem basis?
MR. TREACY: Yes, sir. Obviously I think I'm more in tune with what's going on in the student body. I'm closer to that age, but I also
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have the education and experience to be able to tackle issues that are more complicated. I don't think my youth is going to be a handicap, if that's your question. I think I certainly will bring a different perspective, a younger perspective, and more energy to the position.
SENATOR GIESE: I would view your youth as a plus.
MR. TREACY: Thank you, I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Sir, I have one.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Treacy, you kind of threw up a red flag when you mentioned sound fiscal policies. Are you indicating that our universities and colleges are lacking in that area now?
MR. TREACY: No, sir, that's not what I'm indicating. I was raised very conservatively. I think, you know, listening to my stepfather over the years, the times he was the head of the library at The Citadel, every school, I believe, can do better with what its got. And I think that across the state there's no reason why our institutions of higher education should be any different than any other department or agency. And we need to do a better job with what we've got. And I think that's probably going to be -- some of the institutions we have, the satellite branches of major institutions, some of the other institutions, we need to possibly consider focusing our attention on maybe having three or four quality universities in this state rather than a baker's dozen of institutions that are all competing to exist and to better themselves, and that's not necessarily the best thing for our state government.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: That sounds good. Thank you.
SENATOR SHORT: May I ask a question, sir?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sure. Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Briefly, since you are running against an incumbent for the seat, I'm going to assume that you have some divergence of opinion about how the policies should be implemented or some programs that you think should be changed. Could you just briefly address any concerns of that type that you have?
MR. TREACY: Specifically, my experience in communicating with people in the Charleston community, the board, specifically at the College of Charleston, is a rather weak board, rather inactive, has basically given the president free will, and I don't think that that's the proper role of a Board of Trustees. I think the Board of Trustees should serve the legislature and make sure that it has a strong enough constitution and the ability to act -- and by-laws that it can act on its
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own to preserve the statewide objectives of the legislature within that institution. I don't think that that has been the case at the College of Charleston. I admire what our presidents have done since I've been there, but I think that we need a stronger board. Not to say that the board should micro-manage, I don't believe that, but we should at least have an active policy-making presence and should enforce the policy, and the president should be supervised by the board. And I don't think -- that doesn't mean rubber-stamped by the board.
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. TREACY: Thank you for taking me out of order.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Since there is opposition on this 3rd District, seat 5, I need to call the incumbent, Anne T. Sheppard. Ms. Sheppard. Will you raise your right hand.
ANNE T. SHEPPARD, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed or elected positions that we need to know about that would cause a dual office holding?
MS. SHEPPARD: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about any conflict of interest ...
MS. SHEPPARD: No conflicts.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... by serving on the board timely? How about any physical ailments that we need to know about that would keep you from serving?
MS. SHEPPARD: I don't walk very well but that doesn't hurt my brain power yet.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. A short statement.
MS. SHEPPARD: Yes. Since 1963 I have been actively involved in public education in South Carolina, with the exception of two years when I had a family illness. I taught English in public schools for 25 years. I served on the State Board of Education one time, and for the last eight years I have been a member of the College of Charleston Board of Trustees, and I thank the legislature for the opportunity to do that because it has been a very interesting experience. And I'm very proud of the progress that we have made under our recent president, Alex Sanders. And I'm very excited about our new president, Leo Higdon. You may have heard some information about our fourth century initiative. It's geared toward improving an already good academic status. We want to increase our faculty full-time members. We want to decrease our student body by a little bit because we have had an embarrassingly successful rate of growth over the past years, as
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Mr. McMaster alluded to. This may be a dangerous thing to say to a group from the legislature, but we are in, I think, admirable financial state at the moment. We just completed a capital campaign that had a goal of 33 million, and we raised 45 million. We have been very generously assisted by the state special appropriations for some buildings that we have built recently. We are really bursting at the seams facility-wise, but we have a good board and our fourth century initiative, which is a four-year program to improve academics, is something that we're all very excited about and I would love to be a part of that continuing improvement. What is a rather unique college, I don't know whether everybody's aware, but the College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college, and there are not that many of them. And it is also the 13th oldest college in the nation. So we're looking forward to the inauguration of our new president on the 25th and 26th March. I hope some of you will be able to be there. Our major speaker is going to be the president of the College of William & Mary. And it's an exciting time to be at the college and I hope I will be able to continue to be a part of it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Ms. Sheppard.
MS. SHEPPARD: Yes, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: What do you say to the allegation that it's an old board?
MS. SHEPPARD: I think the young man is mistaken. Now, by "old," if you mean in terms of years, I have served in public education longer than he's been alive. So, to a degree, that is true. But there is some merit, I think, in experience, and I've had lots of experience, all the way from the public secondary school to a committee I currently serve on in Laurens County, the First Steps Program, which gets young people ready for first grade. So I've been interested in that a long time. I don't think our board is weak; in fact, I've always been pleased at how well we work together. We had an outstanding president in Alex Sanders, and I think we're going to have -- and before him also, Harry Leightsey and Dr. Ted Stern. We've been blessed with our leadership.
SENATOR GLOVER: Were you rubber stampers?
MS. SHEPPARD: I don't think so. I don't think we are. I think we work well together. I think we do our homework. I think we're all prepared. And we disagree on occasion, but we are all ladies and gentlemen about it.
SENATOR GLOVER: Do you think that your growth boon would be an indication that you're okay?
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MS. SHEPPARD: Well, I know that we're popular. We have a lot of people wanting to come to the College of Charleston. Some of them just because they like the location down there, I'm sure. But we're a very popular college. And we're probably more popular with our incoming students than we are with some of our townspeople on the peninsula. I think they feel from time to time that we've crowded them somewhat. The parking situation is dreadful, and we try to address -- we're trying to address that situation. But we have a very good relationship ongoing now with the peninsula family. Our fourth century initiative that I mentioned has been supported by the City of Charleston. We've gotten a resolution from the City of Charleston supporting that. Our student body has supported it, and the board has been very, very -- I don't want to say we rubber-stamped it, but we certainly agree with what was explained to us as the goals of the fourth century initiative.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Ms. Sheppard, you see before you on this committee 100 percent of the women who serve in the Senate, and you are the first woman that has come as a college trustee before us. Do you see that as bringing any kind of meaningful perspective to the board, and as a necessary role that should be a part of the trustees' board?
MS. SHEPPARD: Well, we have a board of 17 members, four of whom are women. Our one minority member is a woman. The gentlemen are always very nice to us and include us in decisions, and I think that we have a good relationship with them.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? All right. I have just one question.
MS. SHEPPARD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you changed your hiring practice since you had the episode last year where the young man that you had on campus, was that a rubber stamp or?
MS. SHEPPARD: We, as a board, are not involved, and you're speaking of the young man who was not properly screened?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Right.
\MS. SHEPPARD: We, as a board, do not have much input into that, but I think, yes, the administration of the college is very aware of that little loophole and are trying to ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: But as a board member, did y'all want to get behind that and see if there was some strength through better screening?
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MS. SHEPPARD: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Did y'all just let that go on by?
MS. SHEPPARD: No, no. Absolutely, we are very interested in being certain that our students are safe. Being there on the peninsula has certain hazards to it. It's a very over-populated area. And, of course, we have the system that I think a lot of the larger campuses have of alarm bells at many points for our students to use. But our public safety personnel are very aware and working hard all the time for the safety of our students which is a major concern for us.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Any other questions? I have none. Thank you very much.
MS. SHEPPARD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. There is another candidate for that since we have heard from the incumbent, we have another candidate offering, Annaliza Oehmig Moorhead. Please raise your right hand.
ANNALIZA OEHMIG MOORHEAD, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other appointed or elected position that the committee needs to know about?
MS. MOORHEAD: No, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any interests that would cause a conflict of interest by your profession that you do, or any job you have?
MS. MOORHEAD? No, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about any health reasons?
MS. MOORHEAD: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Go ahead with a short statement.
MS. MOORHEAD: Thank you very much for having me here today and giving me this opportunity to be before you. If you would, let me say a brief bit about myself. I am a graduate of the Honors College at the College of Charleston, where along with being elected to Who's Who I have a departmental award for being the highest ranking student of economics in our graduating class, and was an active member of numerous organizations. After graduating from college, I received a Congressional Scholarship for young professionals to study and work in Germany where I lived for one year and worked for BMW. Upon returning to South Carolina I began my career as a certified public accountant with the Big 5 accounting firm of Ernst & Young in Greenville. After several years with Ernst & Young, I accepted a position in my hometown of Anderson where I accepted a job with Elliott Davis and currently work as a CPA. And I have two primary
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reasons for wanting to serve on the board. First, as I mentioned, I am a College of Charleston graduate and, therefore, I do have a vested interest in seeing the college continue on its path to becoming a nationally recognized preeminent public liberal arts and sciences university. I would willingly attend all meetings, be an active member of those meetings, serve as a liaison between the college and the legislature when called upon, and be a responsible steward of state funds. Second, as I stated, I am a practicing certified public accountant. My profession gives me a clear advantage in interpreting financial information presented to the board by third-party auditors, by the president, and other decision-makers at the college. My financial background would allow me to make sound financial decisions on behalf of the college when it comes to managing state appropriated funds. Based upon the economic environment in which we will be operating in at least the near future, I feel that my contributions to the board would be invaluable.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions?
SENATOR GLOVER: That was an excellent answer to my question.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Just one question, Ms. Moorhead. What makes you think you could work with that old board?
MS. MOORHEAD: I'm very respectful and appreciative of the board that is currently in place. I did go to the College of Charleston under many of these trustees, and do appreciate what they've done for us. I just feel like I would be an active board and could contribute more with my professional background in these times, which are pretty uncertain.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any others? None. Thank you very much.
MS. MOORHEAD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We go to The Citadel and we have at-large, two seats. Colonel Douglas Snyder. Please raise your right hand.
COLONEL DOUGLAS A. SNYDER, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Do you have any other elected or appointed positions that the committee needs to be made aware of?
COLONEL SNYDER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No conflict of interests or anything in your profession?
COLONEL SNYDER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have anything health-related items that would keep you from serving in a full capacity?
COLONEL SNYDER: No, sir.
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
COLONEL SNYDER: Well, I have a presentation that would bring tears to everybody's eyes, but I've been sitting here with a lot of my colleagues and trying to get through, but I'll just give you a quick background. That I was honored by the legislature to be elected to the board six years ago. In that six-year term we have done a lot of things at The Citadel, of which I've been a part of. I currently serve as the vice chairman of the Board of Visitors at The Citadel.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Any questions from any committee members? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Mr. Snyder -- Col. Snyder, how has The Citadel benefitted from your years of service on its board?
COLONEL SNYDER: Well, it was good timing because the lady that was just here is a CPA, and I also am a CPA. So I've been Chairman of the Finance Committee. And I believe The Citadel has maintained its standards and increased on a lot of the good things we've done, but we haven't increased our student fees but a very small portion over each year. So while I've been a member of the board we've successfully assimilated women into the Corps of Cadets. We've hired a new president that's taken our college to different heights. We had several different fund-raising organizations which we brought together, combined, and now it's one foundation. So as we go forward, we'll all be in one step trying to raise external funds for The Citadel. And to address Senator Short's question a second ago, I certainly lobbied and supported the first woman that was elected to The Citadel Board of Visitors last term.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
SENATOR GLOVER: That was my second one. I was about to ask him. How are things now years later?
COLONEL SNYDER: Wonderful.
SENATOR GLOVER: Great.
COLONEL SNYDER: Again, there are a lot of different opinions, as you can imagine, but once the decision came down and we determined that we had to assimilate women into the Corps of Cadets, whether we -- those who wanted it, those who didn't, that we were going to be the best co-educational military college in the world, I think we're on our way.
SENATOR GLOVER: And you didn't go to hell in a hand basket, did you?
COLONEL SNYDER: Not at this point.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander, do you have a question?
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SENATOR ALEXANDER: If I could, just briefly. As far as the scholarships are concerned at The Citadel, what planning, and in what direction are y'all going?
COLONEL SNYDER: After hearing some of the other comments on that, I think ours won't be a dramatic impact. I think we're -- and I don't know how we got thrown in with USC and Clemson as far as getting funded, because we really get funded just like South Carolina State University. There are nine other colleges they get funded that way. So we're the teaching universities, not the research universities. So certainly the scholarship money will help us, but I don't know that it's going to be a dramatic impact. Things, such as the lottery money, again, when you're talking about large endowments and a lot of the money going to the research universities, one of the later amendments that I've seen on the floor, at least at this point, is that where 12 million was going to those nine colleges, the teaching colleges, it got reduced to five. And at this point there has to be a match, and also the technical colleges got thrown in there. So once you break that money down, those colleges, out of the lottery money, may get $150,000.00. What we're trying to do, all the nine colleges have agreed to help increase and support the technical side of our college.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What percentage of students at The Citadel now are on some type of a scholarship?
COLONEL SNYDER: At least 60 to 70 percent, but you have to understand that includes military, because there's a lot of military scholarships, and that includes a scholarship even if you're getting a quarter of a scholarship for -- whether it's from the army, navy, or things like that.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Do you ever get any phone calls from any parents or students?
COLONEL SNYDER: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Would the Hope scholarships, or need-base tuition grants, do you get help? Do those help you?
COLONEL SNYDER: Yes, ma'am. At all levels those scholarships will help, but as far as making an impact from the financial side, it'll help but it won't be as significant as some of the other issues that have been discussed. But yes, they will help.
SENATOR GLOVER: You realize that with the two proposals that's before the Senate, one version is void of the Hope scholarships and
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need-base tuition, while the other one does have that. Any directions on...
COLONEL SNYDER: We would certainly be for the Hope scholarships. I mean, there's no question, but as far as the significant financial impact, some of the other issues within the bills you're discussing would have a more significant financial impact.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman. I'm not going to ask you a question, Colonel, I'm just going to tell you that you might be happy to know there are other proposals out there that do a much better job for the teaching universities as far as the technology funding is concerned from the lottery. So keep your fingers crossed that we're successful.
COLONEL SNYDER: I will. And I do want to follow up on two other questions, that the graduation rate at The Citadel is the highest in the state, number one. Number two, to answer your question about athletes, it's almost -- I believe it's in the country, we're either number two or number one as far as graduating athletes and African-Americans, not just athletes, there's over an 80 percent success rate in four years. The percentages I want you to understand is this, we graduate in South Carolina ten percent of those who graduate in four years at The Citadel. We get two percent of the budget from the state. So if I could make an impact on you right now, you're getting ten percent for two percent, certainly any funds that we could get we'd appreciate, and we think when we get those funds we're able to not just get the people in, and the people who want to be there, but we're successful, those who get there, to get them through and graduated and on to life.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? And I just want to commend you on good judgment. He hired a coach that started out at Gaffney High school, Ellis Johnson, on your football team. Thank you very much.
COLONEL SNYDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Glenn Addison. Raise your right hand, sir.
GLENN ADDISON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Addison, do you have any appointed or elected positions that we need to know about?
MR. ADDISON: I am on a term right now that will end in October as an elected member of The Citadel Alumni Association, as the district director, and if that is a conflict, I can step down from that.
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CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business associates wouldn't be a conflict of interest by serving?
MR. ADDISON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health matters that we need to know about?
MR. ADDISON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. ADDISON: Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks for the opportunity to come before your committee today. I am a candidate for one of the two at-large seats with The Citadel Board of Visitors here, and I'm looking forward to telling you a little bit about myself. You have my statement in front of you. I'll go ahead and cut to the chase a little bit for time's sake. I am a 1979 graduate of The Citadel, a South Carolina resident, and currently reside here in Columbia. I'm married to the former Ann Reagan from Florence, South Carolina. We have three beautiful children, and I hope that each one of them has the great opportunity to experience the value of a Citadel education, as I did, and my father did before me. I'm currently a financial advisor here in Columbia with UBS PaineWebber, and I'm also the Director for Plans and Programs with the South Carolina Air National Guard, headquarters of the Air National Guard at McEntire here outside of Columbia. I have had over 22 years experience in the armed services with active duty and with McEntire. And since 1985, I've served in various different levels with the guard. One of those was as the Chief of Intelligence for the 169th Fighter Squadron, and the other was working as a Squadron Commander during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where I was awarded the Bronze Star for my services. With my military experience, I've been able to draw a lot of conclusions as to what I think we need on The Citadel board today. Each of the candidates you'll have before you today with The Citadel are highly qualified individuals. I am offering an exception or difference, I feel, to what some of the other people can bring, and that is the fact that I've got the military experience. I feel that that's important for the board to have someone like myself to be able to speak to the issues as we face them today. In this dangerous world that we face and with the fact that we're at war as a country, and the President of the U.S. has indicated that we're going to be in that arena for quite some time, I feel that it's important that we have somebody on the board who could speak to the issues that affect not only our cadets but our administration and our alumni as a whole. I'm that person that can bring that to the board. Out of the 12 members on the Board of Visitors at this time, we only have
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two individuals that have had any military experience. One of those is my boss and my good friend, General Spears, the Adjutant General, who was not a cadet and can't speak to that experience, and he also is unable to make some of the meetings due to his busy schedule. The other is an individual who retired from active duty in the middle seventies and he can't speak to the current events. I feel that it's critical that we have someone that can speak to those events in situations that may arise so that the cadets better understand what they face. Since 9/11 we've had over 50 cadets activated for the reserves and guard duty, and every year we send 30 to 40 percent of our individuals into the active duty. I find that it's necessary that we have someone that's there to be able to address those issues, as I said, and I am the person to do that. I know that -- I'm well aware of the important decisions and issues that come before the board, and as a board member, I pledge that I will always give it my utmost concern and render fair decisions, whatever may come before the board. And I really welcome the opportunity to be here in front of you today and I look forward to being able to serve, hopefully, if elected.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? All right. Thank you, sir.
MR. ADDISON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Bart Daniels.
E. BART DANIELS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any appointed or elected positions that we need to know about here as a committee?
MR. DANIELS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. DANIELS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Sir, your business ability, would it cause a conflict of interest in any way?
MR. DANIELS: No, sir, it would not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No health-related problems that would keep you from serving?
MR. DANIELS: No, sir. None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Go ahead with your short statement.
MR. DANIELS: I had the privilege, Mr. Chairman, of serving on The Citadel Board as an alumni-elected member for six years. I just got off the board last year. So I've been off for approximately a year now. During that time I was privileged to serve on the Presidential Search Committee, along with Mayor Riley, and some of these many leaders, as well as Frank Mood from Columbia, who chaired that search
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committee. We were able to land General [inaudible], who has been really a boom, in that, like Mr. Snyder said, sort of has brought The Citadel to a new, higher level, so we've been very pleased with that. I also had the privilege of sharing with the Athletic Director Search Committee, and we were able to land Les Robinson, who had been the athletic director for N.C. State, and had previously, some years earlier, served as the head basketball coach at The Citadel. And we've been extremely pleased with the job that he's done. I've been active in The Citadel affairs since I graduated in 1977, and I'd like to continue to serve, given the opportunity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How are they going to benefit? While you've served before, what's new? What do you bring?
MR. DANIELS: Well, I don't know if I'd bring anything additional that I did not give before, because I think I gave everything I had. I think one thing -- probably three things: dedication, enthusiasm, and energy, and I've got all three of those in ample supply.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, sir. Having heard the three candidates, what is the pleasure of the committee for screening?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover moves. Second?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Nos? No nos? Thank you, sir. All right, we'll go to Clemson University, Mr. Doug Kingsmore. Harold Doug Kingsmore. Three seats.
HAROLD DOUG KINGSMORE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Kingsmore, do you hold any other appointed or elected positions that we ...
MR. KINGSMORE: No, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. How about, do you have any conflict of interest by serving?
MR. KINGSMORE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health ailments that we need to know about?
MR. KINGSMORE: Absolutely none.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. A short statement.
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MR. KINGSMORE: Mr. Chairman, and members of the Screening Committee, you have my written statement, and like so many others before me, I won't bother going over that again. I would like to say that we really appreciate the job that you folks do, and the rest of the General Assembly, when it comes to doing things for the State of South Carolina, and especially for higher education. We appreciate that very much. I'm honored to come before you once again asking for the privilege of serving Clemson University for a fourth term as trustee. I was first elected back in 1990. During my 12 years on the board I can honestly say I feel better about what's going on at Clemson University today than I have since I was a student there in 1955, when I graduated. We have a mission at Clemson, and that mission is unanimously backed by our Board of Trustees and our administration. And even with some successes that we've had recently, we realize that success is never final, we must keep achieving and achieving and striving to do better as a university, and to have a place in the State of South Carolina that we can provide quality education for some of our best and brightest, and also others who would like to attend Clemson University. I want to give another four years to the institute I love and support.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Kingsmore, Clemson enjoys, in South Carolina, probably the better, it's not the greatest, but it's got the better numbers in terms of faculty and student body for minorities in the state. What do you attribute that success to? How have you been able to do it?
MR. KINGSMORE: Well, I think really, Senator, that's one of the things we're lacking in, we do not have anywhere near the numbers that we would like to have. We only have seven percent of our students that are minorities. However, I can say since the last, at least the last four years on this board, we have made a concerted effort by going around to all the different high schools. We have a committee within the university that's interested in soliciting minority students. We're providing some money and scholarships being set aside for minority students. And more than anything else, we have improved our classified staff. Our new human relations manager at Clemson University is a minority, a black American, and he's doing a super job.
SENATOR GLOVER: And your faculty?
MR. KINGSMORE: Our faculty is still an area that we need to improve. I think those who have been in academia would know, one of the problems, it's not impossible, but one of the problems you face in faculty is tenure, and we've been cutting staff and cutting professors
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and taking early retirement rather than bringing people into the system, which has somewhat delayed our progress in being able to bring more minority professors into the university.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Kingsmore, thank you for coming. What percentage of students are from South Carolina that attend Clemson?
MR. KINGSMORE: 65 percent. And that's a board policy that goes back in some of the early written documents that go back around the turn of the century, that we would never exceed 35 percent of taking students from out of state. 65 percent of our student body would be from here.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Kingsmore, in light of that, South Carolina was hurting last year economically. The legislature -- we were short of money. Why would you raise the rates 40-some-percent knowing the economy in South Carolina and the taxpayers were at a crossroads in educating their children? Why would you do that?
MR. KINGSMORE: Well, I'm not so sure when this program started that we had ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'm not talking about the program, I'm talking about ...
MR. KINGSMORE: ... that we had -- that we had seen -- I'm talking about the downturn in the economy and so forth.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'm talking about the tuition increase last year.
MR. KINGSMORE: I understand. I'm saying I don't think at the time we began this process that we had seen that downturn. Nevertheless ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: The legislature had cut 500 million dollars out before you raised the rates. You knew we were hurting.
MR. KINGSMORE: Let me say this. We were aware of that, our board voted unanimously to increase the tuition. We think for $5500.00 it's one of the best education ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'm asking you why would you do it, though. I know you raised it, but I'm asking you why you did it?
MR. KINGSMORE: We did it to support our mission statement of where we wanted to be and where we wanted to go. And we did that in lieu of increasing the enrollment to get more money to fund the institution.
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REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Yet 65 percent of the students couldn't afford to pay you that.
MR. KINGSMORE: 83 percent ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I don't understand.
MR. KINGSMORE: 83 percent of the people going to Clemson are on financial aid of some kind.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: That's just still not a clear answer. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: First, let me ask you, as far as the endowed chairs, what do you think will be the direction that Clemson University will go with the opportunities that the endowed chairs program will provide?
MR. KINGSMORE: Well, that's certainly a top priority for us, and you've already heard statements from people at the other two research institutions in the state about bringing in research dollars and money. We have less than half of the endowed chairs that the University of South Carolina has, but we're making some progress. We just finished a 260 million dollar campaign improvement of bringing money into the university, and it's certainly a high priority of ours, that we think a way of getting additional funds -- one of the best ways is through research. And we think that, based on our past experiences, and having the Strom Thurmond Institute there, that we have already done some of those things, but we certainly haven't scratched the surface in where we want to be. I think up until now we've had somewhat of a conflict of all three research people going after the same type projects and getting in competition with one another. I think what we're doing now is looking at each individual and saying, "Which institute is better qualified to handle this?" And I think you're going to see an improvement in all three as a result of that.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you. I would just say one thing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to publicly commend the members of the board from the standpoint of hiring President Barker. I think it was one of the finest decisions that the trustees of Clemson University have done since I've been around.
MR. KINGSMORE: We concur with that. And I would like to close, we realize that we raised tuition 43 percent. This past year, with tuition rates 43 percent, we had over 8,000 students applying for 2200 spaces in the freshman class.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
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SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman. Mr. Kingsmore, could you tell me what percentage of the students at Clemson are life scholarship? Or on life scholarship?
MR. KINGSMORE: No, I really can't. I wouldn't know right now. One of the people that may have served on that committee, who will be up after me, may have the answer to that question.
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member? None. Thank you. Okay. Ms. Patti McAbee. Raise your right hand, please.
PATTI MCABEE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. McAbee, have you achieved any elected position or appointed position that we need to know about that would cause dual office holding?
MS. MCABEE: No, sir, I'm not currently serving in any other position.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Your position in public life, would it cause a conflict of interest by serving on the Board of Trustees at Clemson?
MS. MCABEE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about health, is there anything that ...
MS. MCABEE: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. If you would, a short statement.
MS. MCABEE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to start by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to be with you today and to appear before you. I also appreciate the support of the General Assembly in having selected me as a member of the Board of Trustees at Clemson and of their decision to re-elect me in the past. It's been a great honor for me to serve in this capacity since 1993, and an honor I take very seriously, giving it very high priority in my daily life. I genuinely care about Clemson University students, faculty, staff, and I genuinely care about my native state of South Carolina. I respectfully submit leadership and experience as qualifications for my candidacy. Professionally, I'm vice president of Custom Development Solutions, a South Carolina based professional fund-raising company. I serve on various boards throughout the state and locally. At Clemson University I serve on three committees, Student Affairs, which I chair, Executive and Audit, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Additionally, I'm a member of the South Carolina Poultry and Livestock Commission and the South Carolina Crop Pest Commission. I've served on every standing committee of the board and have chaired two of them. I have served on numerous ad hoc committees, including Senator Thomas -- the committee that selected Jim Barker to recommend to the board. I
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have an impeccable record of attendance and participation at board and committee meetings, and I attend as many supportive functions as possible. During my tenure Clemson University successfully implemented significant organizational restructuring. The results have been a substantial reduction in both the number of colleges and administrative overhead. The South Carolina Secretary of State awarded President Phillip Prince a Watchdog for the Taxpayers award for these outcomes. Clemson University has consistently received the most favorable ratings from the Commission on Higher Education for administrative efficiency. This year Clemson University has carried the distinction of being Time Magazine's Public College of the Year. These accomplishments, when coupled with the determined quest to bring high quality education to the State of South Carolina provide ample incentive for me to continue my service to the people of this state through service on Clemson University's Board of Trustees. It is a privilege to have had this opportunity and to offer as a candidate again for re-election.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: That decision came abruptly. Is there any history prior to this decision that led up to this decision by the Board?
MS. McABEE: Certainly, Representative Littlejohn. Thank you. Yes. We saw the economic outlook as growing dimmer and dimmer in South Carolina, and as a result we asked the Administration to provide us with several alternatives to funding our basic education and general budget. We studied those alternatives and recognizing that we were on a track to offer South Carolina students the very best education possible, we felt that the alternative that suited our goals best was the alternative to raise tuition. Knowing also in that equation over, well over, the vast majority of our students are on some type of financial aide, and also that the cash outlay of students who come to Clemson is still, for 80 or more percent of our students, the cash outlay is still at 1950 levels. So we felt like it was the move that we had to make. Our administrative overhead was already cut. We've trimmed the fat to the bone, and we felt that those were factors leading into that decision.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Ms. McAbee, do you know what percentage of the students at Clemson are life scholarship recipients?
MS. McABEE: Well, we talk about that primarily in numbers of entering freshmen because one of the struggles that students have, not
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only at Clemson but in every university, is maintaining that scholarship once they complete their freshman year. 80 percent of our entering freshmen, roughly, have the life scholarship. And in order to help them achieve and maintain that scholarship into the second year, we've established an academic success center that is similar to Vickery Hall, which is the same academic success center for athletes. That center is now permeated throughout the university, and faculty members and advisors recruit students who are looking as though they might be in academic trouble into the academic success center to help them maintain their scholarship.
SENATOR SHORT: You didn't mention the change in the law that addresses life scholarship, CAPS, as being a part of the consideration when y'all raised your tuition rates by 43 percent. Was that not the major consideration?
MS. McABEE: No, ma'am, Senator Short, it wasn't. Actually, I recall those conversations in those meetings and deliberations very carefully, and the best recollection that I have is that the CAPS were never a part of our discussions. The calendar would show, I'm sure, that the conversations for the CAPS were simultaneous with our discussions for tuition increase, and although we realize the overall budget was going to be cut, the CAP part of the life scholarship was not really a factor in our tuition decisions. We learned about that -- I personally learned about that about a week after we made the decision to raise tuition.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you. You mentioned in your comments in your statement about the re-organizational structure that you had, and I agree that it has been successful. I was just wondering, have there been any areas that have not been successful in that, or has that seemed to be a smooth transition; or is there any area, if you had to do it over again, you would do different?
MS. McABEE: We made dramatic changes during re-organization. We went from nine colleges to four, and we did realize that the cuts were severe. We came back and added a fifth college. We have also since added Vice President for Research back to the mix. So we are in constant adjustment with that. The school directors and those positions are in adjustment, and our feeling at the time and the feeling that has guided our decision-making since then is that we wanted to make as dramatic a cut as we could in response to changing financial pictures and then to adjust that as we felt necessary, and we've done that.
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SENATOR ALEXANDER: Did you have, have you had, or are you aware of any that maybe were opposed to this change that now have embraced it and see it as a very big positive, from that standpoint?
MS. McABEE: Faculty morale at that time in the university's history was very low. We had faculty members and members of the Faculty Senate who were appearing before the Board of Trustees questioning various decisions that we were making, and certainly there was some discord on campus regarding re-structuring. During that time and certainly since then we've made strong efforts to communicate with the faculty and the classified staff and students as well. We've made great strides in that area. Currently we enjoy a very strong relationship with the Faculty Senate, and morale is reported to be very high. I think that's an indicator that yes, we have found more acceptance with our decisions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Let me ask you, I know that going back to the 43 percent increase, I know that was a tough decision on your part as board but -- and I know it was a hardship on a lot of people to come up with that money, additional funds, to send their kids who were already enrolled over there, but do you know how many did not return by virtue of the tremendous increase in tuition?
MS. McABEE: No, sir. I don't know the answer to that question in numbers, but I do know that in response to mitigating that hardship we delayed the actual increase by a semester in making tuition increase come in the January semester rather than the fall semester to allow parents and students more time to adjust their personal budgets and finances if they needed to do that in order to meet this increased tuition.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Can you tell me approximately how much increase that amounted to for a -- well, a sophomore, for that, in dollars, how much that generated per family per student increase?
MS. McABEE: If I understand your question correctly, the ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How much additional money would I need to come up with?
MS. McABEE: If you didn't have any scholarships or any financial aide?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's right.
MS. McABEE: I might defer to my colleagues, but I believe it was about $600.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How much?
MS. McABEE: About $600.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Per semester?
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MS. McABEE: No, no, no. Overall. No, sir. Not per semester. It's only $5,500 -- now total tuition is just over $5,000. We believe that that's value in South Carolina or perhaps in the nation for higher education.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I don't understand. Some of the parents called me and said it was better than $1,000 additional to them. Now, I don't know how they -- what happened.
MS. McABEE: Well, there are a lot of ways to figure that, and financial aide comes into the picture when it gets down to how much students have to pay. I've certainly been told that someone said tuition was increased by $800, but that was a personal situation. And I'll check on those figures and get that information back to you.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes. Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Please check on those figures because 43 percent of 5,000 -- I mean, you can add it up real quick, 2,000-something dollars. If you're talking about a 43 percent increase per year. I mean, you don't have to have a calculator to do that.
MS. McABEE: A fellow trustee has just indicated to me it was 600 a semester.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: That's only $1,200, so that doesn't add up.
MS. McABEE: Well, we weren't at 5,000 when we raised tuition.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: What were you at?
MS. McABEE: We were at 3,600.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: So 43 percent. That's closer then.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Patti. Okay. Mr. Joseph D. Swann.
JOSEPH D. SWANN, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been appointed or elected to any other position in the community which would cause a dual office holding?
MR. SWANN: I have not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business associates that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. SWANN: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments or anything that would keep you from serving in a full capacity as a board member?
MR. SWANN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead with a short statement, sir.
MR. SWANN: Thank you. Like my fellow trustees, I also thank you for the opportunity to address this committee. You do have my
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testimony, and so I will not go through all the statements that I made in that. But I am completing my twelfth year as a member of the Clemson Board. I'm proud of the fact that Clemson University still continues to offer the sons and daughters of working South Carolinians an opportunity for a terrific education. The University is really a laboratory of life. I'm proud also that at the University we have a number of programs to ensure that students of all races and backgrounds work together and that they also participate in public service activities so that we have an opportunity not only to graduate academically successful young people but also good citizens for our state and for this nation. Giving back to Clemson is very important to me. It's something I'd like to continue to be able to do, and I'd be happy to answer your questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Geise.
SENATOR GEISE: Mr. Swann, in the 12 years that you've served on the board, have you had any special interactions that you might point to with the Board of Trustees?
MR. SWANN: Senator Geise, I have been a member of each committee. I've served as chair of two and now am chair of the Research Committee. I think probably my most significant participation has been with the Educational Policy Committee, with the Budget and Finance Committee, and certainly with the Research Committee now as we are trying to make sure that the research that we do on our campus turns into a development opportunity for the State.
SENATOR GEISE: As a follow-up on that research capacity that you were fulfilling. It's my understanding that one of the efforts is to through the research get patents that then become money-makers for Clemson University drawing down the patent income. Do you have any examples of that that might have happened?
MR. SWANN: There are three or four very significant patents in the storage of information technology and in automotive component parts, but patents are something that the University participates in continually. The Clemson Research Authority also participates in funding of those, the work of attorneys for the patents.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Swann, I think there's a lot of -- well, millions of dollars in dispute that the Governor gave y'all I read last year that's in the Supreme Court; is that correct?
MR. SWANN: I think that's correct.
Printed Page 1353 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Do y'all have that money escrowed, set aside, or do you plan on giving it back, whatever decision the Supreme Court makes?
MR. SWANN: My understanding is that we gave the money back, but I'm not certain of that. But that is what allowed us to -- the additional money that came from the Governor is what allowed us to be able to delay the tuition increase by one semester.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: So you don't have that money. Are you saying that ...
MR. SWANN: I'm saying I really do not know whether the money is at Clemson or has already been returned to the State.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: A comment in response to that, I understand from the news today that it is in the Governor's office, the money, so they probably did give it back.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In hearing your comments and in also reading your response here or your statement about the Land Grant Mission, what kind of focus are y'all putting on the PSA side? I hear that it's not as much a part of Clemson as it used to be. What is your all's perspective on that?
MR. SWANN: Senator, PSA is very important to this state, and is certainly very important to Clemson. But as the funding in the state has been decreased, there have not been very many alternatives other than to cut PSA. So what Clemson has done is try to retain a number of the faculty members that were working under the PSA area and move them into other positions where they could still serve students of South Carolina, but PSA is extremely important to us. When I've served on the Agriculture Committee, it's an area that gets discussed at each one of our board meetings, and I'd say what we would like to do is be able to continue to do that and make sure that county agents continue to be able to support not only agriculture in the various districts but also the emerging manufacturing and other interests in South Carolina.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Swann, this tuition increase then, that didn't benefit the PSA, the overall Clemson program or view that I heard while ago? They were looking to take care of the program for our future. So PSA was not a part of this then; is that right?
MR. SWANN: Representative Littlejohn ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Based on that statement.
Printed Page 1354 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. SWANN: I just want to say for all of us that what we did at Clemson was in no way meant to be an affront to anyone in this Legislature or any students in South Carolina. We did this after looking at a number of alternatives, and we made the decision based on the information that we had of how to proceed with the mission of the University. Now, the portion of the PSA that was impacted by the tuition increase was the number of faculty members that had to be removed from their jobs was decreased by moving them into other departments and in other faculty positions and moving out of those faculty positions part-time faculty members and junior faculty members. But none of that, none of the tuition increase went to fund PSA.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I think that's a contradiction in what your goals are, you know, in helping South Carolina. If PSA helps the citizens of South Carolina directly, the endowed chairs are supposed to help the people of South Carolina directly by raising the quality of life a little bit better. I don't understand the statement that the PSA should have to be cut, you know, and other programs just continue to go on to the next level. I don't quite understand that philosophy.
MR. SWANN: PSA is funded by the State and by the federal government, and the tuition increases have never been part of the funding of PSA nor would we be permitted, I believe, to use ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Well, I would think you would want to take the whole family up with you.
MR. SWANN: Certainly. We do want to ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: PSA is part of Clemson, you need to take it up with you instead of just going on without it.
MR. SWANN: And I'm not sure I understand how we would fund an increase in PSA or ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I think there's all kind of ways you could undergird or underwrite the PSA with other in-house, in-kind things that would help them instead of cutting them.
MR. SWANN: I'm sorry that I don't know how we would do that given the limitations of what we have to work with.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? In other words, what you're saying about PSA, y'all just contract with them to operate them out of Clemson as far as environmental services and things of that nature?
MR. SWANN: Well, there are two parts of it. Part of the environmental services and the oversight committees, and we are contracted by the State to operate those committees and agencies, but the other part of
Printed Page 1355 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
PSA is all the work that we do in the various research areas and in the extension areas and all of that. And that's the area that we tried to keep as many of those faculty members at Clemson as we could in hopes that this was a temporary problem for the State in funds, and if we would be able to then move those individuals back into their jobs. But what we now hear is that that might be extended further, and so I think you know that there is a web site where there is an opportunity for an early retirement program that a number of people in the PSA area are participating in.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: I don't want to belabor this point, but I hope that Clemson recognizes that, in rural counties in particular, Clemson Extension is a vital part of every community, and everybody relies on that very strongly. This cut-back of Clemson Extension isn't something that's just happened in the last year or two. This has been going on now for five years or six years, maybe longer than that, as you've been combining counties and as somebody retires, you don't replace them, and it just seems that Clemson has made a conscious decision that PSA is no longer of particular importance to the University. And that's a decision that I have to say I'm very sorry about.
MR. SWANN: Well, we're very sorry with you, Senator. I'm from Greenville County now, but I grew up in Clyo in Marlboro County, and I understand what rural Pee Dee requirements are as well and how much the Clemson Extension meant and means to that county. It's a matter of funding, and the funding for PSA, while it's grown over the last few years until last year, it's grown at a very small amount. And it's -- what we've tried to do is find a way to keep all the PSA programs going, and most of that re-organization was in the way we managed rather than in the number of agents that we had, but certainly some agents were reduced as well.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. SWANN: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We would ask Tom Lynch, Jr.
TOM LYNCH, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Lynch, do you hold any other elected or appointed positions in the community that would cause dual office holdings?
MR. LYNCH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments that we need to know about?
MR. LYNCH: No, sir.
Printed Page 1356 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you, within your business abilities, that would cause a conflict of interest with serving on the Board at Clemson?
MR. LYNCH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. LYNCH: In respect to the people, of the people here, I'm going to make my statement short. You have a letter of intent and my qualifications. I've served on numerous boards. I've served on boards that I had to be elected state-wide and some just locally. But I have spent 39 years in Clemson, and I worked hard with the University in doing different things, but one of the things I've worked with and tried to educate people at Clemson on, and alumni, and I've been on the Alumni National Council and the Foundation Board, and those boards too. But we are state-assisted. We are not state-supported like the other schools in the state. And the schools that get out and raise the money now are the schools that are going to be successful, and we've been doing that at Clemson. We have a capital campaign. I was on the steering and executive committee where we started with a 62 million-dollar goal, after we got into it, it was successful, and we raised a little over 100 million dollars. I was also on the 260 million-dollar capital campaign. We raised that goal to 295, and we actually went over that. So I realize the importance of raising money, and that's been one of my chief things with working with Clemson. Other things, as you have my letter, you can read.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anybody here have any questions for Mr. Lynch? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Lynch, what would you look to be the biggest challenge or opportunity you would see if you became a member of the Clemson University Board?
MR. LYNCH: Well, unlike the young folk from Anderson with the youth, I bring age to the Board. As you notice too, most of the people on our Board have been there a good while, and I could bring some new ideas to the Board. Having lived there for 39 years and having lived in the area all my life and having listened to mothers and daddies whose children attended Clemson and still do attend Clemson, mostly grandchildren now, but I realize what some of the problems are, and I have some ideas. And our Board at Clemson has done a good job, and I concur with one of the best things that's happened to us in a long time is to hire Jim Barker as our President. That's a very positive move. We've made a lot of good positive moves, and I just want to add my experience to some of those. But I have a few different ideas, and I
Printed Page 1357 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
think it's -- I think with the length of service that some people have served, I think one new idea or one new person on that Board, it might be good for the Board. And the Clemson people, the Clemson community encouraged me to run, and the Clemson people would like to have a representative on the Board. And it's been a long time since we've had one.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Lynch, I think I know what your answer is going to be, but do you agree with the tuition increase the way it was handled?
MR. LYNCH: Representative Littlejohn, I have to say that I've been on campus here with the General Assembly for the last few weeks, and I've talked to a lot of people. And I had mixed emotions about it, but after talking to a lot of the people here in the General Assembly, and after listening to them and after learning what I know about it, I think we're going to find that they made a good move. I really do. The way they went about it, I don't know because I wasn't sitting on the Board, but I do know that they made, from the people that know and know more about it than I know, they feel like it's a pretty good move. But again, to answer your question, as Confucius say, "The man who knows all answers is not familiar with all questions." I'm really not in a position to know because I didn't sit on that Board and know exactly what they did, sir.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: And you know Harry Truman said, "If you can't convince them, confuse them."
MR. LYNCH: Right. Fake back and punt.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. LYNCH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the Committee on Doug Kingsmore, Patti McAbee, Joseph Swann and Tom Lynch?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, I move that they be qualified.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We have a motion by Senator Alexander and second by Representative Littlejohn that the candidates be certified and qualified. All agree signify aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. Thank you. You are now qualified and we'll let you know when to start seeking support. Okay.
Printed Page 1358 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, are we going back to the College of Charleston? We didn't finish that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: There was one seat on the College of Charleston. What I'd like to do, we've got quite a number of other counties that are unopposed if we could run through them right quick before we get back to the opposition. And I think the next 15, 16 counties are unopposed. And if we would, we could run through that and get those out of the way. That would clear up some. Let's go to Coastal Carolina. We've only got two candidates. Both of them are unopposed. Coastal Carolina. Mr. Robert L. Rabon. Mr. Rabon? He's not here? If you will, Mr. Robert Rabon? How about Mr. Charlie Hodge? 4th District, seat 7, Mr. Charlie Hodge.
CHARLES J. HODGE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any public office or any kind of appointments that would constitute a dual office holding?
MR. HODGE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have, in your business, would be a conflict of interest if you should be elected?
MR. HODGE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments we need to know about?
MR. HODGE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead.
MR. HODGE: Thank you, Representative Phillips and members of the Committee. I know a great lady named Elaine Marks who was a teacher when I was a student, and later we became great friends when I got into the professional world, and she served faithfully at the Coastal Carolina Board, and she tragically passed away this past July. And I've had the privilege of serving on that board since that time, and I'm seeking re-election to that post.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Hodge?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, I knew Elaine Marks also, and I know y'all are going to miss her, and we appreciate you running and filling that seat.
MR. HODGE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anymore questions?
SENATOR GEISE: One quick question. In what event does your son participate in track?
MR. HODGE: I've got two of them, but they're both at Clemson though, and I was a Carolina graduate, so I've got paws in my house. One of them is an 800-meter runner, and the other one is a thrower.
Printed Page 1359 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR GEISE: A thrower?
MR. HODGE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR GEISE: Shot put, discus or javelin?
MR. HODGE: He throws the shot some, but he's mainly a weight thrower and a hammer and a discus.
SENATOR GEISE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions of Mr. Hodge? Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Do you know what the rate of graduation is at Coastal of the ones going in versus graduation?
MR. HODGE: I may stand corrected, but I believe that from start to finish it's over 85 percent, and it may be greater.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: I wondered if you know when they're planning on using that $4,000,000 for the stadium at Coastal?
MR. HODGE: I think they're going to knock down the soccer field in ...
SENATOR SHORT: To build the stadium?
MR. HODGE: Yeah -- in March and then start on the stadium this May.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Geise.
SENATOR GEISE: An editorial comment. If Coastal puts in a football team, you're going to have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars you better be looking for. Because I hope the state doesn't finance it. It's the most expensive thing you'll ever undertake.
MR. HODGE: Well, you make a good point, but it's a dynamic university with a dynamic President, and it's got a vision for the future. Coastal is a real deal. You hear about these 43 percent increases, but last year Coastal went up a modest 7.7 percent, and I think that the yearly tuition there is $3,700. This is a place that has grown to over 5,000 students, and the facility, the plant, the physical plant in the last two years has increased by 30 percent primarily because of endowments and gifts. There's a lot of energy and a lot of interest, and so we hope that we are able to take a load off of the State and secure outside sources of funding because, you know, if you look at the amount that we've gotten from the State, it's on the lower end of the spectrum; not that we don't want more, but we understand your dilemma, so we're seeking alternative ways to raise money for our university.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
Printed Page 1360 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: None. Thank you, sir.
MR. HODGE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about Mr. Rabon? Did he come back in the room? Charles Rabon? Robert Rabon? No? At-large, seat 13 was Franklin Buress. The untimely death of Mr. Buress a couple of weeks, or three weeks ago, that seat is now vacant and we're accepting applications for that particular seat. What is the pleasure of the Committee for Mr. Hodge?
SENATOR GLOVER: Favorable, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The Committee recommends -- second?
SENATOR GEISE: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no? None. Mr. Hodge, you're qualified to seek when the time comes. Thank you very much. Okay. We'll go to Francis Marion University. There's no seat contested, so we'll call Mr. Randall Dozier, Dr. Randall Dozier, seat 1, District -- District 1, seat 1.
DR. H. RANDALL DOZIER, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, have you been appointed to any other position, elected or appointed to anything that would constitute you in dual office holdings?
DR. DOZIER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: In your business, does it offer any kind of conflict?
DR. DOZIER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about the health -- any health-related matters, sir?
DR. DOZIER: None that would keep me from serving on the Board, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead, sir.
DR. DOZIER: Thank you. I've served on the Board at Francis Marion since about 1991. I resigned in January, I think, of 2001, due to relocation. So I'm actually not an incumbent, however, I am offered to seat 1. I have served in a number of capacities on the board including Chairman of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, of those 10 years. I am a graduate and have a vested interest in the Pee Dee. My family still resides there, and I presently live at Murrells Inlet.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Dozier? None? Thank you, sir.
DR. DOZIER: Thank you.
Printed Page 1361 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Next is the 2nd district, seat 3, Mr. William M. Ellen.
WILLIAM M. ELLEN, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, have you been appointed to any other or elected to any position that would constitute dual office holding?
MR. ELLEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you in your business have any conflict for serving on this board?
MR. ELLEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health-related matters we need to know about?
MR. ELLEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
MR. ELLEN: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, thank you, and members of the Committee, for allowing me to come before you today. I had the opportunity to be elected last April to serve an unexpired seat on the Board of Trustees for Francis Marion, so I've had approximately 10 months to familiarize myself with the function of the Board and the needs of the University, and would very much like the opportunity to fill a full term on the Board of Trustees.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Ellen? None?
SENATOR GEISE: May I ask, were you elected or appointed to that position?
MR. ELLEN: I was elected last April to fill ...
SENATOR GEISE: And who elected you? Who elected you?
MR. ELLEN: General Assembly.
SENATOR GEISE: General Assembly?
MR. ELLEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions of Mr. Ellen? None? Thank you, sir. Okay. We'll go down to 3rd district, seat 5, Ms. Carolyn B. Shortt. Ms. Shortt asked to be excused. Okay. We'll skip seat 5 and go to 4th district, seat 7, Mr. Franklin Elmore.
L. FRANKLIN ELMORE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Elmore, you haven't been appointed or elected to any position that would cause a dual office holding?
MR. ELMORE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any ailments or sickness that would keep you from serving in a full capacity?
MR. ELMORE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business or professional activities doesn't constitute a conflict of interest with serving, does it?
Printed Page 1362 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. ELMORE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, go ahead.
MR. ELMORE: Thank you. I was elected with Mr. Ellen last April to also fill an unexpired term at Francis Marion. Like Mr. Ellen, I'm also a graduate except I graduated about a decade earlier than he did. I'm serving on the Financial Affairs Community board. I'd just like to say what a tremendous job the Board of Trustees did when they elected Fred Carter as a President, and what has transpired just in the short time that I've been there is really inspiring. And I'd like to see it through at least through the time while Dr. Carter is President.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Elmore? I'd have to agree with Mr. Elmore on Fred Carter. Thank you, sir. No more questions.
MR. ELMORE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 5th district, seat 9, Mr. W.C. Stanton.
W.C. STANTON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any conflict of interest that would -- by serving on this Board?
MR. STANTON: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been appointed or elected to any other position that would cause dual office holding?
MR. STANTON: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments that would keep you from serving in a full capacity as a Board member?
MR. STANTON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead, sir.
MR. STANTON: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Screening Committee, I'm old, and I've received many of life blessings in several different ways. And now I feel it's time for me to put something back into life if the opportunity presents itself. Serving at Francis Marion certainly afforded me the opportunity to do this because there is much need in our area. 38 percent of our students are the first member of their family to attend college. 70 percent of our students receive aide or work. These two statistics gave us, in our December 15th graduation, 91.7 percent of the students graduated were from South Carolina, and it's been a pleasure for me to serve there.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions from any Committee members? Don't nobody hold Mr. Stanton liable for David. That's his son, David Stanton. We appreciate David and all his TV work and everything he's done in the Columbia area for us.
MR. STANTON: Thank you, Chairman Phillips.
Printed Page 1363 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much.
MR. STANTON: And I appreciate your kind words, but let me assure you that I'm running as W.C. Stanton for Trustee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: There you go. Thank you, sir.
MR. STANTON: No further questions? I want you to ask me what I've done to help Francis Marion.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Stanton, how has Francis Marion benefited from your service?
MR. STANTON: Thank you, ma'am. A short time ago I was in an early group known as dissidents, radicals, trouble-makers, which to some it was true, but we were on a mission, and we accomplished that. We kept nudging until our former president planned an exit strategy. And when he did that, then we started helping him with his planning, and before he was through with it we were already talking with Dr. Carter. So I think I have helped to benefit Francis Marion by getting rid of one president and hiring another one.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Who's going to follow that? Somebody from the 6th district, seat 11. It would have to be somebody with the name James Brown. I don't know how somebody could follow that.
MR. BROWN: That's a tough act to follow.
SENATOR GLOVER: He's up for the task. I assure you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He's not the one that says "I feel good."?
JAMES A. BROWN, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed positions that would cause a dual office holding?
MR. BROWN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business or professional anything that would cause a conflict of interest with serving?
MR. BROWN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any ailments that we need to know about that would prevent you from serving?
MR. BROWN: No, sir, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. BROWN: I would like to thank you for your time, and I'd like to thank you for allowing me to serve on the board at Francis Marion since 1999. I'm a graduate of Francis Marion in 1997 -- I wish it was '97 -- a 1977 graduate, and I've enjoyed my service there. We've got a great group on the board, and we have a fantastic president and good administration and faculty, and it's been my pleasure to work with them. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Printed Page 1364 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Are there any questions for Mr. Brown? None. Thank you.
MR. BROWN: I didn't want to follow that either. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Okay. At-large, seat 13. A good old southern name, Mr. Robert E. Lee.
ROBERT E. LEE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, have you been appointed or elected to any other position ...
MR. LEE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... in the community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. LEE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you in your business or professional, do you have any conflict of interest by serving on the Board?
MR. LEE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health matters that would keep you from serving in a full capacity?
MR. LEE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. LEE: I completed my first term on the board, the last three years of which I have been privileged to be selected by the board to serve as chair. As you can tell from the trustees I served with, it's an exciting place, we're doing exciting things. We welcome all of y'all to come see us. We realize y'all have spent a lot of time here this morning, if you've got any questions, fine; otherwise, we look forward to seeing you at Francis Marion.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Lee? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. LEE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. At-large, seat 15, Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson.
KENNETH W. JACKSON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any elected or appointed position that would cause you to have dual office holding?
MR. JACKSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business conflicts that would keep you from -- cause a conflict with serving?
MR. JACKSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Health matters? Do you have any health matters this committee needs to know about?
MR. JACKSON: No, sir.
Printed Page 1365 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Go ahead, sir.
MR. JACKSON: Thank you for allowing me to be here today and also for being able to serve as a Trustee for the past four years. Like many of those before me on the Francis Marion Board, I'm a graduate, and I've been actively involved in the university for the past 20 years in one capacity or another, and I can honestly stand before you today and say that I think that Francis Marion is in the best shape as far as personnel and morale that it's ever been as long as I've been involved and I want to be a part of keeping that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? No questions. Yes, sir. I'm sorry.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Just an observation. I'm sure that Senator Glover and myself are -- we're delighted to know that we have been relieved from -- that you don't have the problems that you once had out there, and we are satisfied that things are working real smooth as far as we know.
MR. JACKSON: It's been quite a ride.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Do you know what kind of percentage rate that Francis Marion has for graduates?
MR. JACKSON: The graduation rate of people who start as freshmen, I think, is around 30 percent. And as you know, from the area we serve, that has something to do with percentages.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: So only 30 percent of the ones that start finish?
MR. JACKSON: Right. I believe that's correct. And that -- I'm not sure of the percentage of that, that are people who drop out, people who transfer. I don't know that right now.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Are there a lot of transferrals?
MR. JACKSON: I'm sure there are. There are a lot of people who come for two years to get the basics and then will transfer, and also we have a lot of people who transfer in from other universities.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Geise.
SENATOR GEISE: To shed a little light on that. Graduation is looked upon within six years of entering the school, and I believe your rate is just over -- I think it's 41 percent.
MR. JACKSON: Okay. Thank you. Much better.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. JACKSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That completes Francis Marion University.
SENATOR GLOVER: Favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
Printed Page 1366 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover moves, second by Becky Martin. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. Gentlemen, you're all certified now to seek when the time comes. Thank you very much. We go to Lander. And since there is no opposition, we'll scale through Lander. Seat 1, 1st district, Anthony Noury.
ANTHONY NOURY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been elected or appointed to any other positions in the community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. NOURY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do your professional or personal background constitute a conflict of interest with serving?
MR. NOURY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related items that would keep you from serving in a full capacity?
MR. NOURY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, go ahead.
MR. NOURY: In lieu of time and with the testimony in front of you, I would simply like to thank you for the opportunity to serve on Lander's Board, and I'll take any questions you have at this moment.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Noury? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. Mr. Noury, why is it that you want to serve on Lander's Board?
MR. NOURY: Senator Glover, two years ago I attempted to serve then a very new seat that was on the board, and my main interest is I live in the low country of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Lander serves a general -- I could be wrong in making this statement, but I'm pretty sure they serve about a 9-mile radius is what their concentrated effort is. I simply want the folks in the low country to understand what a wonderful institution that everybody understands in the upstate. And quite honestly, in some of the work that I do in the low country, I've had some customers and whatnot ask that their children are interested in Lander and don't even know where it is and don't even know that it's one of our great institutions in the State of South Carolina. I want to make sure that's well represented in the low country.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any other questions? Thank you, sir. Then 2nd district, seat 3, Mr. Maurice Holloway. He's already been done. Okay. 3rd district, seat 5, Ms. Mamie Nicholson.
MS. NICHOLSON: Good afternoon.
Printed Page 1367 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MAMIE W. NICHOLSON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you -- have you been elected or hold any appointed office in your community that would cause dual office holding?
MS. NICHOLSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MS. NICHOLSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments that require that you couldn't continue to serve in a full capacity?
MS. NICHOLSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your professional background or business background would not cause a conflict of interest?
MS. NICHOLSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Then go ahead.
MS. NICHOLSON: Thank you for having me here this afternoon. I've enjoyed my service on the Lander Trustee Board and would like to continue to serve. I've served on the Board since 1996 and would be happy to respond to any questions you may have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Committee members have any questions for Ms. Nicholson?
SENATOR GLOVER: Ms. Nicholson, what is the composition of your Board?
MS. NICHOLSON: The composition?
SENATOR GLOVER: Yeah.
MS. NICHOLSON: Do you mean how many ...
SENATOR GLOVER: The racial make-up of your Board.
MS. NICHOLSON: The racial make-up? I am the only ...
SENATOR GLOVER: Sex, too.
MS. NICHOLSON: Okay. I am the only African-American woman on the Board. There are two African-American men and -- I have to count how many white women and white men. But there are three African-Americans on the Board, and the rest of the Board are white board members.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you very much.
MS. NICHOLSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 4th district, seat seven, Mr. Fred Thraikill.
MR. THRAIKILL: Yes, sir.
FRED THRAIKILL, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
Printed Page 1368 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed positions in the community?
MR. THRAIKILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you in your business or professional -- cause any kind of conflict of interest with serving on this board?
MR. THRAIKILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters that would cause you not to be able to continue to serve?
MR. THRAIKILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Go ahead. MR. THRAIKILL: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Committee members. I'm a first-time candidate for a college Board of Trustees seat and look forward to the opportunity to possibly serving on the Lander University Board. I grew up in Greenwood. I was around Lander University much of my life in growing up. I graduated from Lander in 1970. It provided me with an opportunity to work and pay for my own college education. I have a son that will graduate from there this May with a degree in education, and he will be commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army at that time. I recently retired after 32 years service with the South Carolina Army National Guard, and the last 15 years of that was in a full-time status. I feel like the training that I received in the Guard from a managerial standpoint and strategic planning and operation will certainly help me as I provide input to Lander University by serving on their board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any Committee members? None? Thank you, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I don't have a question. I just want to say I've had the opportunity to know Fred and his family for many, many years and just appreciate your willingness to serve on that Board, and I know you'll do an outstanding job.
MR. THRAIKILL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, Mr. Thraikill. Okay. The next one is Dr. Glen Lawhon, Jr. That's 5th district, seat 9.
DR. GLEN J. LAWHON, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed positions in your community that would constitute ...
DR. LAWHON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... dual office holding? Sir, do you, in your profession or business, do you -- that would cause any kind of conflict of interest with serving?
DR. LAWHON: No, sir.
Printed Page 1369 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health related matters that we need to know about?
DR. LAWHON: Not that I'm aware of.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
DR. LAWHON: I have served -- my name is Glen Lawhon. I want to thank the Legislature for giving me the opportunity to have served on this board since 1988. I have also served two terms as Chairman of this board, two two-year terms during that time, and it's been a wonderful experience for me, and I hope has helped Lander, and I would like to continue on the Board. And I would be willing to answer any questions that anyone may have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Dr. ...
SENATOR GEISE: Just one quick question. Which version of doctor are you, Ph.D., M.D., DDD?
DR. LAWHON: VMD. Which is the University of Pennsylvania's version of VVM which is veterinarian.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any other questions for Dr. Lawhon? Thank you, sir. Okay. Let's go to the 6th Congressional, seat 11, Ms. Ricci Land Welch.
RICCI LAND WELCH, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any positions in the community, elected or appointed, that would cause a dual office holding?
MS. WELCH: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: In your business or professional, would anything constitute a conflict of interest?
MS. WELCH: It would not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No health matters that we need to know about?
MS. WELCH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Go ahead.
MS. WELCH: Thank you. Chairman Phillips and Committee, it's a privilege to be here before you today. I'm Ricci Land Welch from Manning. I won't go into my history or anything because I know these people are as hungry as I am. I just wanted to let you know that I'm very involved in my local school district. I believe that education is the key for South Carolina to move from the bottom to the top which we desperately need to do. I was called by actually a present Lander board member making me aware of this position. She knew that I was interested in high education and that this might be an opportunity for me to get my foot in the door. I would appreciate the opportunity to
Printed Page 1370 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
serve on this board, and I would be happy to answer any questions that y'all may have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Ms. Welch? None? Thank you very much.
MS. WELCH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Mr. Raymond D. Hunt. That's seat 13, at-large.
RAYMOND D. HUNT, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed positions in the community?
MR. HUNT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matter that would cause you not to be able to continue to serve on the board?
MR. HUNT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any conflict of interest ...
MR. HUNT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... in your profession? Thank you, sir.
MR. HUNT: Thank you for having me here today. In interest of time, this is my -- I'm attempting to get my second term on the Lander Board. I was fortunate enough to be elected or appointed four years ago, and I currently served as the Chair at the University Advancements Committee, and I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? None? Thank you, sir.
MR. HUNT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That completes the Lander. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I move.
MS. MARTIN: I second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn moves that we screened out, second by Ms. Martin. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. So gentlemen, ladies, you are now screened and you'll be able to start selecting when we get an opportunity to let you know. Thank you very much. We'll go down to the Medical University of South Carolina. 1st district, medical, Dr. Donald R. Johnson, II. Dr. Johnson. Thank you, sir.
DR. DONALD R. JOHNSON, II, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
Printed Page 1371 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed position in your community that would cause a conflict of dual office holding?
DR. JOHNSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Either your personal or business would not constitute any kind of conflict of interest by serving?
DR. JOHNSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health related matters that the Committee needs to be aware of?
DR. JOHNSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
DR. JOHNSON: Committee members, my name is Donald Johnson. I'm a spinal surgeon from Charleston, one of five physicians on the MUSC Board. I've had the opportunity to serve since 1994 and enjoyed it. I appreciate the Legislators' support and I'm offering myself for re-election. I'll be glad to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for the doctor? Dr. Johnson, Any questions? None. Thank you, sir.
DR. JOHNSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. The next one is 2nd district, medical,
Mr. Tommy Rowland.
DR. THOMAS C. ROWLAND, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any other elected or appointed positions in the community that would cause dual office holding?
DR. ROWLAND: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you, in your professional or business, does anything relate to a conflict of interest?
DR. ROWLAND: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No health related matters?
DR. ROWLAND: Except I'm hungry. I'm sure you are too.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Dr. Rowland.
DR. ROWLAND: I'm Tommy Rowland. I'm a gynecologist in Columbia, South Carolina, and I've been on the Board at the Medical University for almost 20 years. I've served as Chairman for six years. I'm currently on the Finance Committee, and I appreciate the opportunity to have served, the confidence that you've put in me. I think over the 20 years, the Medical University has achieved an outstanding status and recognition as a major medical center in the
Printed Page 1372 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
country and I have enjoyed being a part of that. I hope that you'll let me serve for another term.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Dr. Rowland? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Doctor, I'm just curious. Do you know right off what percentage of the students at the Medical University have some type of financial aide or assistance?
DR. ROWLAND: We don't -- I can't give you a number right now, but we don't have as many scholarships as we need to have, and we have got several programs going now to get scholarships. Dr. Edwards started a scholarship program when he was president.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Would it be close to 100 percent who receive some type of ...
DR. ROWLAND: I think most everybody gets some sort of aide, but I can't give you a percentage.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions from any Committee members? Thank you, Dr. Rowland.
DR. ROWLAND: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 3rd district, medical, Dr. Stanley C. Baker, Jr.
DR. STANLEY C. BAKER, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any appointed or elected position in your community?
DR. BAKER: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None? In your business or profession would it cause a conflict of interest in serving?
DR. BAKER: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters the Committee needs to know about?
DR. BAKER: Not to my knowledge.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
DR. BAKER: You have my statement, and in the interest of time, I would like to refer you to that. I'm a surgeon in Greenwood, and I've served on the Board for 25 years and I thank you for the opportunity to serve. I thank you for electing me to serve again. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Dr. Baker? Senator Geise.
SENATOR GEISE: Dr. Baker, general surgeon or some specialty?
DR. BAKER: Well, in Greenwood we do everything and cut hair on Saturday night.
Printed Page 1373 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any other questions? None. He's already -- Okay. 2nd district, non-medical, Mr. William Harold Bingham, Sr.
WILLIAM HAROLD BINGHAM, SR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any elected or appointed positions within your community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. BINGHAM: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, in your business, if you should be elected here, does it cause any kind of conflict of interest?
MR. BINGHAM: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Sir, do you have any medical reasons that we need to be made aware of?
MR. BINGHAM: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead with your statement.
MR. BINGHAM: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and distinguished guests, members of the Committee. My name is Bill Bingham. I call myself Bill because that's what everybody calls me. And so I'm a life-long resident of South Carolina and a native of Cayce. I'm married to Mary Lynn and am the father of three children: Billy, Kenny and Terry. All three are graduates of the University of South Carolina. I'm the owner of Hercules Contractors and Engineers and part-owner of American Engineering Consultants. I hold a BS degree in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina. Throughout my life I have served my country, my state and my community, and now I'm ready to serve the Medical University of South Carolina. I submit to you a testimony regarding why I wish to serve the Medical University of South Carolina. My desire and motivations to serve is fueled by the same driving force that has guided me through my entire life, that is my commitment to make a positive difference in this world in which we live. I believe that true success is not measured by how much we can take from this world but what we can give back in return. I believe that my educational background, coupled with my many years of experience in life, not only make me qualified but provides me with the unique ability to make a positive difference at the Medical University of South Carolina. Now more than ever our state faces extraordinary budget cuts. It is important that all of our state universities work together along with the members of the General Assembly to insure that both fiscal responsibilities and academic excellence throughout our higher education system. I realize that at times that these criteria can
Printed Page 1374 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
seem to be competition with one another, but I'm convinced that the positive attitude, a strong work ethic and an unwavering commitment to success, these principles can be balanced in a way that we've never before envisioned. These are the same principles that I have used to guide me in my professional engineering and successful business owner over the 30 years. I look forward to applying them equally as a member of the Board of Trustees if I am given the opportunity to serve. In closing, I believe that health and education are the two most important possessions that we have in our life. As a result, I cannot think of a better way for me to use my educational and business background than to serve this State of South Carolina and my fellow man than to be a member of the Board of Trustees. This position will allow me to do two things; have a direct impact on the education of the students that they ultimately will be responsible for taking care of our medical needs and our health care needs. Ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate you letting me be here, and I stand ready to answer any questions that you might have. I'm very nervous, so.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We are too, sir. How about any Committee members have any questions of Mr. Bingham? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I know you say that health and education are certainly two of the most important things, and I agree with that. What would you foresee looking outside is one of the biggest challenges that the Medical University is facing? Do you have any thoughts on that?
MR. BINGHAM: I think they have a great board now that has progressed and made our Medical University one of the greatest, in my opinion, in the world. But in the state, that's for sure. And from an outside perspective, I think that we need to build on what they've set up so far, and the educational end is two things that we give our people that nobody can take away from them, and I think that we need to work towards graduating a lot of doctors and keeping them in our state in order to take care of our people.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And I guess following up on that, your last statement about keeping them in the state, do you think that they have a responsibility to try to help meet the medical needs of the rural communities of the State of South Carolina?
MR. BINGHAM: Yes, sir. I'm a firm believer in that. See, I came from a small community in Clarendon County. That's where I was educated in school in Clarendon County, and it's one of the poorest districts in the state. And I had to leave there in order to make an education -- I mean to make a living to get an education because there wasn't none
Printed Page 1375 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
there, and so I look back on all those people, my roots are there, and they depend on the Medical University for a lot of their health care. They leave there and go to Charleston, so I'm familiar with the district and the community needs.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Hines.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: I'd just like to know, how do you rank nationally as a Medical University?
MR. BINGHAM: Well, I'm not sure because I'm not on the Board. I'm a business person, so. You say how do I rank?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: How does the University, the Medical University, that's what I mean?
MR. BINGHAM: How does the Medical University rank?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Rank.
MR. BINGHAM: I'm not sure. I'm not sure of that answer, sir. I couldn't answer that.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Well, I heard recently they do rank tenth in the nation as a ...
MR. BINGHAM: Yes, sir. And I think they were awarded an award this year for being a community-type college. They're -- the present head of the college is towards trying to work with communities in order to better improve that college, is my understanding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions of Mr. Bingham? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. BINGHAM: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. 3rd district, non-medical, Charles W. Schulze.
CHARLES W. SCHULZE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed position in your community?
MR. SCHULZE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Sir, by serving on this board would it constitute any kind of dual office holding -- I mean, conflict of interest?
MR. SCHULZE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your health matters? We need to know anything about that.
MR. SCHULZE: No, sir. I think I'm in pretty good health.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
MR. SCHULZE: In presence and in the interest of time I will stand by my written statement. The only other thing I would like to say is I think
Printed Page 1376 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
it's an honor to be here, and I thank you very much. And I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Y'all, does any of the Committee have any questions for Mr. Schulze? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. SCHULZE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Next is the 4th district, non-medical. We've done him, didn't we, Mr. Stephenson? Yeah. I'm working with two different lists. When I came back I picked up the wrong one. The 5th district, non-medical, Dr. James E. Wiseman.
DR. JAMES E. WISEMAN, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any positions in the community that would cause you to have a dual office holding, either elected or appointed?
DR. WISEMAN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you in your business background would have any kind of conflict of interest by serving on this board?
DR. WISEMAN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters we need to know about?
DR. WISEMAN: Not as I know.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
DR. WISEMAN: Thank you for having me here, Mr. Chairman and Committee. I practiced dentistry in the State of South Carolina for 40 years. I've been retired for three years. And I'm vitally interested in the total health of all our citizens in the State of South Carolina. I'm familiar with the practices of MUSC because I served on the Board of Visitors for one term. I served on the Board of Visitors for USC for one term, and I was on the Board of Trustees at Newberry College for two terms. And during the '60s I was part of the planning of establishing the dental school that is now at MUSC. And for these reasons I submit my resume as a candidate for the Board of Trustees seat for the lay position, Congressional District Number Five. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any Committee members? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Dr. Wiseman, how do you define lay position, and for this particular board, what do you think that means, and how does your prior profession as a medical person impact?
DR. WISEMAN: Well, Dr. Neal McCauley was in this same position some years ago, and he was a retired dentist. I think a lay position means that you are not connected with any other, you know, association
Printed Page 1377 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
in the state. And it's, you know, I've been called doctor for over 40 years, so I'm privileged for that, but I don't see the -- I am not a medical doctor. I'm a dentist.
SENATOR GLOVER: Why do you think they have non-medical and medical positions on this board?
DR. WISEMAN: Well, I think the main reason is to get the input of the community that you're serving, and as you know or might not know, I've been very vital in the community relations in and around Newberry County for the last three years, and this is probably my -- I dropped the dentistry to carry on community work around my hometown in Newberry.
SENATOR GLOVER: If the board should -- if a situation should arise on the board and it's a vote that let's say might impact the medical profession, if you're dealing let's say with salaries, can you as a lay member of the board put aside those 40 years of medical to, you know, to move away from that and vote as lay people -- I think you understand what I'm trying to say.
DR. WISEMAN: Absolutely, I can.
SENATOR GLOVER: Yes. How do you think -- tell me the impact.
DR. WISEMAN: Well, I think, Senator, that, you know, part of being a doctor is one thing, but you're a business person too. And you make business decisions all the time. And I think this whole purpose of having a lay position is, like I stated, is to represent the community from which you are from, and that's what I'm prepared to do.
SENATOR GLOVER: So you really could take your doctor's hat off and vote in favor of something that the people ...
DR. WISEMAN: Absolutely.
SENATOR GLOVER: ... or lay people would want? You think you could honestly do that?
DR. WISEMAN: Yes, ma'am.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Dr. Wiseman? Yes.
Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Senator Glover asked the question that I had, but I will tell you that I live in the 5th district, and we have a dentist who currently serves as the medical profession from that district. I would just encourage you to please remember that as consumers, we need you there to represent the best interests of the consumer and watch out for the health care needs of the community and I would encourage you to remember that. Thank you, sir.
DR. WISEMAN: Yes, Dr. Fisher and I talked about this.
Printed Page 1378 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other Committee members? None. Sir, I would reiterate what two of the Committee members have asked you and tell you that we did have some question about your application today.
DR. WISEMAN: I understand.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And after talking with you, we feel better about it, but I would ask you to always -- you're representing the lay people, to remember that, and in any kind of decision that -- when decision-making coming, I know nothing that would ever make me come down to where lay battles medical, but if it ever did, we would ask you to really, really give consideration to what side you represent and give that some thought.
DR. WISEMAN: I understand.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No other Committee members had any other question? Thank you, sir.
DR. WISEMAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 6th district, non-medical, Ms. Margaret M. Addison.
MARGARET M. ADDISON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Addison, do you hold any other elected or appointed position in your community that would ...
MS. ADDISON: I am a member of the Commission of Higher Education, but I don't think that's a conflict of interest. That's a position that's rotated among the three research institutions: MUSC, the University of South Carolina and Clemson. And it does expire in June, June 8th of this year. It's rotated among the three schools.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ma'am, did you take an oath of office when you were sworn in for that position?
MS. ADDISON: I don't think so.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You did not take an oath?
MS. ADDISON: That's an appointed position. I don't remember -- I don't know.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, would that not probably be an ex officio membership on this commission?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'm not sure.
MS. ADDISON: I represent those three institutions [inaudible] next year the University of South Carolina. I replaced the one from Clemson. It's one of those things that rotated among the three institutions. But I wanted to tell you that just to be sure.
Printed Page 1379 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Do you -- we'll get back to that in a minute. Do you have any business conflict that would cause a conflict of interest ...
MS. ADDISON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... with being on the Board?
MS. ADDISON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And Do you have any health related matters?
MS. ADDISON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now you can go ahead and relax. That's why I wanted to go on.
MS. ADDISON: I would like to just make a statement that I want to thank you for allowing me to serve on the board. I'm concluding my second four-year term there, and I am seeking re-election to continue serving that board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Ms. Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Ms. Addison, what is the composition of your board presently?
MS. ADDISON: I wanted to tell you that's one of the reasons why I wanted to serve because I feel as though I'm the eyes, the ears and the voice for all of the females and minorities on the campus of the Medical University and all those that we serve across the state and beyond. I am the only female and the only minority on the board.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? No other questions. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Next we have Mr. Charlie Appleby, Jr., for the 6th district, non-medical.
CHARLES L. APPLEBY, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You don't hold any other elected or appointed positions in the community?
MR. APPLEBY: I serve on the Re-insurance Commission, but I have already talked to John about resigning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, if elected you would resign?
MR. APPLEBY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business that would cause any kind of conflict of interest by serving in a non-medical position on the Board?
MR. APPLEBY: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health related problems that we need to know about?
MR. APPLEBY: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
Printed Page 1380 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. APPLEBY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, gentlemen and members of this Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name is Charlie Appleby, and I am seeking election to the Medical University of South Carolina Board of Trustees as the Sixth District layman. I've had the pleasure to serve in leadership roles in our local, state and national government. I also have a strong business background along with leadership roles and volunteer work with all people of all backgrounds. Some examples include: member of the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration, member of the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, lay-member of the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy, member of the Florence Housing Authority, executive board member of the Pee Dee Area Boy Scouts of America. I'm a very active member in the Methodist church. A complete brochure of my specific roles is available for your review. I feel that my background in government, business and civic activities prepare me professionally to serve on this board. But most importantly, my wife, Betty, and I have raised two children who have grown up in South Carolina and have been educated in our public institutions from first grade through college education graduation. I welcome and look forward to answering your questions. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Appleby? Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Appleby, what do you think you would bring particularly to the board? You are running for a seat that is currently held by an incumbent, so what do you think you would bring different?
MR. APPLEBY: Thank you, Senator Short. My connections with money in the legislature, my connections with money nationally, my connections in the business world, resources for money, and I think that would be one of my greatest assets to the University.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions of Mr. Appleby? I appreciate Mr. Appleby offering. I did serve with Mr. Appleby on the Aeronautics Commission, and we appreciate your services there, Mr. Appleby.
MR. APPLEBY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I've known you for quite a while now, and I have never known you to miss a meal. How are you sitting up there? I know you're hungry, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I eat a setting of eggs before I came in here this morning. Thank you. That completes the Medical University of South Carolina. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
SENATOR GLOVER: Favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
Printed Page 1381 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Motion and second report in favor. All in favor please signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Nos? None. So, gentlemen and ladies, you're reported out and we'll let you know when the screening -- I mean, when the time to start solicitation. Hopefully, very soon. We're now -- we lack one more. We're going to go to College of Charleston.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, I had a request. Can we move to ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Just a second. We're going to have to take a little time out, pause for the cause, and we'll be right back.
(Break was taken from 3:11 p.m. until 3:15 p.m.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 1st district, seat 1, Mr. Joseph F. Thompson, Jr.
JOSEPH F. THOMPSON, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any elected or appointed position within your community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. THOMPSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Sir, do you have any professional or business that would cause you to have a conflict of interest?
MR. THOMPSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters which would cause you not to be able to serve in a full capacity?
MR. THOMPSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. THOMPSON: I'd just like to, in the interest of time, just thank the Screening Committee and the Legislature for the opportunity to serve. I am an incumbent. I've been serving since 1998, seeking a second term. I am a graduate of the College of Charleston, 1974 graduate. I am a Charleston native, and just seeking a second term.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Thompson? None. Thank you, sir. 2nd district, seat 3, Ms. Charlotte Berry.
CHARLOTTE L. BERRY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed or elected position within your community that would cause dual office holding?
MS. BERRY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Professional or business background that would cause a conflict of interest?
MS. BERRY: No.
Printed Page 1382 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Health related items that we need to know about that would cause you not to be able to serve?
MS. BERRY: Huh-uh (negative response).
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead.
MS. BERRY: Most of you probably can see that I was appointed initially six years ago and was elected by the General Assembly four years ago to the College of Charleston Board of Trustees. I think I am in a unique position. I want to just thank you for the opportunity because I'm a relatively new South Carolinian, having lived here only ten years. Now, a little bit more, ten and a half, but I have enjoyed thoroughly what I have been able to do at the College of Charleston, and I guess I have to tell you and you see that I really believe in education for all ages and have worked through the years in various educational opportunity volunteer experiences. So I believe strongly in what I'm doing. Any questions?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Ms. Berry? None. Thank you very much.
MS. BERRY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now we'll go down to 4th district. We already had the 3rd district, seat 5. We'll go to the 4th district, seat 7, Mr. Robert S. Small, Jr.
ROBERT S. SMALL, JR., being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed position in the community?
MR. SMALL: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you in your professional background, business, constitute a conflict of interest by serving?
MR. SMALL: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Any health related matters we need to know about ...
MR. SMALL: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... that would prevent you from serving fully? None. Go ahead, sir.
MR. SMALL: I want to thank the Screening Committee, and I have sent some additional information out in addition to the application that I've given you. I am seeking a 3rd term on the College of Charleston Board of Trustees, and it is a position which I think is one of honor. I think it is one which you must give dedication to, and I have enjoyed my participation on the Board of Trustees and my participation with other colleagues. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Printed Page 1383 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Small? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. SMALL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. W.T. Maynard.
W.T. MAYNARD, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any business or professional business that would cause any kind of conflict of interest if you're elected?
MR. MAYNARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters that we need to know about?
MR. MAYNARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. Go ahead.
MR. MAYNARD: I'll be very brief. I did not provide the Committee with a prepared statement. I think now in light of the time, I wish I had, but I will be very brief. I was born and raised in Charleston. I'm a lifelong resident of South Carolina. My mother attended the College of Charleston, and I went to school for my first nine years primary in education in downtown Charleston. I have a degree in finance from the University of South Carolina. I attended Furman before transferring to the Business School of South Carolina. I have a law degree. I've been very active in the community in Spartanburg. I'm a graduate of Spartanburg Leadership of South Carolina. I have served on the Spartanburg Commission for Human Affairs. I am very interested in serving on the College of Charleston Board. Although Spartanburg County is the fourth most populous county in the state, we have never had a Board member on the College of Charleston during the time it's been in the state system and had an independent board. I teach at Converse College. I've been on the faculty there almost 15 years. I'm an instructor of finance and economics. Although I have to tell you that's what it says on the catalog, I'm not an economist, I teach finance, management, and the upper level finance courses. Therefore, I have spent a good deal of time and continue to spend a good deal of time in the classroom with college students. I have served as interim Vice President of Finance and Business Affairs at Converse, and I began a continuing education program there. Higher education is a very unique institution, business, if you will, because quite frankly our customers are our product. Our customer is the student, and in my case her parents because Converse being a women's liberal arts college, we have only women in the undergraduate program. We do have a small graduate program as well. So it is a very unique institution of higher education.
Printed Page 1384 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
We have to respond to customers' needs. We have been in tight financial ways for quite some time as well, as many small liberal arts colleges have been. We have found ways that we can address issues other than just throwing money at it. I wish we had money to throw at it, but there are other things that we have to do and we do; for example, periodically and systematically re-doing the curriculum, the joint education requirement, the degree to non-degree programs. One of the problems -- let me back up one second. Many of the problems that the colleges and universities are facing have been simply brought on by the change of technology and the demands of students and, in our case, her parents when they come to our campus. You know how fast the technological revolution has moved. No sooner do you go down to Best Buy and buy you a new computer and software, then six months later it has now 40 gigs, and it does this, and it does that and whatever else. The students coming to our colleges, in many cases, will have better technology, if you will, in their high schools than we can continue to keep up with. The sheer volume of publications in our library has doubled in the last 50 years. It's doubled. To keep the number of publications in there, the technological journals, the journals dealing with business which I teach, is very expensive for a college. When I went to Furman in 1967 we had a bathroom down the hall and one pay phone on the hall. The students that come to our colleges now look for suite arrangements. They look for them to be wired with the Internet and cable, and I'll tell you again, since they're our customers, we have to compete. That's what they expect, and we have to try and compete at that level. I am very interested in the future and success of the College of Charleston because even though I'm on the faculty at Converse, I will tell you that the small and large independent colleges in this state are inter-related and inter-dependent with the major state colleges and universities. We all will sink or swim together. Higher education is of vital interest to South Carolina, and I bring a perspective, being a native Charlestonian, but also having lived in Spartanburg the last 20 years, and currently being in higher education, and I would love the opportunity to serve, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. And let me add one thing. The president and provost at Converse are aware of my candidacy and actively support it. And secondly, I will support any other activities of interest to attend regularly and consistently all the board meetings if I should be fortunate enough to be elected to the college board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Maynard? None. Thank you, sir.
Printed Page 1385 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. MAYNARD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 6th district, seat 11, J. David Watson.
J. DAVID WATSON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointed position or elected position ...
MR. WATSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... in the community that would ...
MR. WATSON: I didn't mean to anticipate your question, but I don't have any that would be dual office holding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you, in your business, do you have any conflicts of interest with serving on this board?
MR. WATSON: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any health related matters?
MR. WATSON: None that would affect my service as a trustee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead.
MR. WATSON: It's been interesting to watch today, and everybody who has come before you in ways of meaning for them to try and establish a pedigree for their service, and then sooner or later asking for your support. I was looking around the room with my fellow trustees at the College of Charleston, and I'm shocked to tell you that I'm up for my fifth term as a trustee of the College of Charleston. I've completed 14 years. I know, Senator, you look at me with some amazement, but for me the College of Charleston has been a way of life since I entered its doors in 1973. How fortunate I was to be somebody from Marion County, go to Charleston, to go to the College of Charleston. Mr. Chairman, how fortunate I am to go to an institution that holds in its group of graduates three people who signed the Declaration of Independence, three people who signed the Constitution of this United States. Senator Glover, I don't anticipate your questions, but forgive me as a lawyer sometimes I'm guilty of it. We try at that school to do as much as we can to be inclusive. I invite you to see the Avery Research Institute. South Carolina was the first place in the nation to start a finishing school for blacks who wanted to go on to college. It started in downtown Charleston in 1865 and ran until 1951, the same location. Am I proud of what we do in minority enrollment? You bet your sweet bottom dollar I am. It's nice to be able to tell you that we're up nine percent over last year. It's not nice to tell you that in light of 12,000 students, that's not a lot from where we were. I'm proud of our faculty, Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee. I'm proud of its diverse composition. I'm proud of the people who work at the college, not just the faculty, but the students. One of the things y'all talked about today
Printed Page 1386 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
is how many people are on 80? You know, 81 percent of the people who walk into the college, and when it comes to funding we're like sixth or seventh in the state to cost. 81 percent of the people that come in there are going to get some sort of aide before they leave. They can't come to our school without it. It is fortunately or unfortunately something that every school, even us, has to deal with. I know the General Assembly is concerned about where we get our students. I couldn't be more pleased with the student body and its rich diversity. There's seven places on the face of this earth you can go get a College of Charleston diploma, seven places, outside the United States. If you walked in the President's office today, you know how we used to talk about vampires being from Transylvania? I didn't know that place really existed. Lo and behold, it does. There's a young lady who works in the President's office who is from Transylvania getting her education at the College of Charleston. I have been indeed fortunate to be elected by the General Assembly on four prior occasions as trustee, serving the last four years as Chairman of Academic Affairs. That has been an incredible mixed blessing. I think if I had only five things to tell you that drive a trustee to do better, that make his nights short, that make his phone number published to everybody, and everybody calls you, they are these: funding, faculty, facilities and future students. Remember, our school was started in 1770s. The house where it began at 66 George Street, in 1770 when we admitted students, we still use today. Okay? So when you look at the college and you ask us how we do, I think we do quite well when we have a college campus which is predominantly filled with historic buildings. We are behind in our building curve. We are ahead in the students that we admit. We have people crawling all over us to get in. Am I happy to serve? You bet your bottom dollar. Am I happy that I can point to my wall and say, "I went and graduated from the College of Charleston"? You bet. But our challenges, our greatest challenges, lie ahead. How are we, when we rank fourth from the bottom in SAT scores, going to attract the best and brightest? I don't have an answer for that, but I feel with the Fourth Century Initiative that we are on the right direction to attract as many as we can. I can tell you as Academic Affairs Chairman, if I'm re-elected, I'm going to try to harvest as many of the valedictorians and saludatorians as I can in this state. Happy? You bet. Want to serve? You bet. I don't have Mr. Stanton's zeal for life, but I think I can match it at the College of Charleston. I'll answer any questions you have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Geise.
Printed Page 1387 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR GEISE: One quick question. You mentioned you were Chairman of Academic Affairs.
MR. WATSON: Yes, sir.
SENATOR GEISE: Is that a committee within the Board?
MR. WATSON: It is.
SENATOR GEISE: And how many people are on the committee?
MR. WATSON: Four.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Littlejohn.
SENATOR LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Watson, you say you have a lot of code violations?
MR. WATSON: Code violations?
SENATOR LITTLEJOHN: Yes, sir, in the buildings?
MR. WATSON: I'm not sure if I understand your question.
SENATOR LITTLEJOHN: You just said that you had -- a lot of the older buildings were not up to par.
MR. WATSON: If I said that, I didn't mean to indicate that. We have -- a great portion of our physical plant are historical landmarks, but because of the increase of the simple student body size, we need to replace our science center, we need to replace our library, we're building dormitories now. But when it comes to code violations, no, sir. We would -- we couldn't inhabit those buildings, we couldn't have a certificate of occupancy if we had those going on.
SENATOR GEISE: Do you think you need to go ahead and continue accepting students that you can't properly handle and then expect the state to come in and to solve that building problem for you? Is that what you're saying?
MR. WATSON: No, sir. Let me take that in two parts, if I may. I do not believe that we admit today students that we cannot handle. I don't. I mean that with all sincerity. What -- when it -- if you did a building to building to building assay of the physical plant of the College of Charleston today and looked at me and said, "Well, you have deferred maintenance on these two residence halls, I want you to catch that up." Or let me give you a better example, if I may. If you walk through our science center and said to me, "Mr. Watson, you claim that you want to be a preeminent liberal arts institution, but look at your science center," I would tell you, sir, this: I will, of course, do what you tell me to do, but in my opinion, in light of the budgetary short-fall, I would rather defer maintenance on a building I know I'm going to replace and save those funds if I can for the new facility which funding has already been appropriated for. I do not believe there is a single place on the College of Charleston campus that has a code violation, by that I take it you
Printed Page 1388 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
mean building code, or a structural problem that places a student at risk. I do not. I do not. I do not. And it was great wrestling to say we want to decrease the student body. We report our applications, as do all institutions, to the Commission on Higher Education. When you have like a 14 percent increase a year, that's something to be proud of, but it forces you to make choices sometimes that are most difficult. But to underscore one thing: I do not believe there is a single child at the College of Charleston that has been admitted that cannot be cared for: educationally, housing-wise or instructionally. I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Do you know what the ratio is of the students for each counselor that they have? And I had some concerns about them -- some of the students at the College of Charleston were getting the proper counseling, along with a lot of other colleges.
MR. WATSON: Okay. Permit me to dissect that question just a minute. If you want to be counseled, there are an array of counselors available. If I want to be counseled, there are two major stages in that process. Well, really three. First, when you get admitted, if you have any advanced placement, how will that be applied to any other declared major or how to use those credits if not declared for satisfying prerequisites. That's the first basis. Second, when counseled, even before you declare a major, after you're admitted, after you have completed your first twelve hours, gotten out of your first semester, you need then to have a shepherd, a -- someone to say, "These are the next items that you need to accomplish." That then melds or molds into your major advisor. In my humble opinion, we are doing that as good as we can now. It's not available to us, the funding to say in each level of study, whether declared or undeclared, you will have one person that will follow you all the way. If I come in as a freshman, I can take the college catalog, I can take a tenured professor, and I can say, "You have these clep or AP classes that you have accomplished, that puts you in this tier of opportunity for classes." That to me is fairly proforma. The one that I have the most concern over and hope that we can improve are those people who come in after they have completed the second semester of their sophomore year and say, "This is what I think I want to do now. How can I go about doing it?" It's important to note in this state the overwhelming majority of people who graduate from college no longer do it in four years. It's closer to five. They will change their major at least three times on average. So there are a lot of sub-parts to your question.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
Printed Page 1389 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR GLOVER: I don't really have a question. I have a -- well, yes, I do. Mr. Watson, how many people on your board are out of Marion County or have ever been on there that's out of that area?
MR. WATSON: Out of it now? I think I'm the first person from Marion County to ever serve on the Board of Trustees at the College of Charleston.
SENATOR GLOVER: I guarantee you you're the first one to serve on any of them, any board.
MR. WATSON: Well, no. Can I brag for 30 seconds? The General Assembly was kind enough to elect my mother to the University Board of Trustees prior to her death.
SENATOR GLOVER: Well, very good. I was real pleased to see that.
MR. WATSON: Thank you.
SENATOR GLOVER: And thank you for your willingness to continue to serve.
MR. WATSON: Thank you much. I'm sorry. Are you through with me, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Far as I know. I didn't mean to answer that way. Mr. William Dwight Johnson.
WILLIAM DWIGHT JOHNSON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed position in your community?
MR. JOHNSON: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business and professional life wouldn't cause a conflict of interest?
MR. JOHNSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health related items that would keep you from fully serving?
MR. JOHNSON: None that I know of, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead.
MR. JOHNSON: You have my statement, and I'm one of those heavy eaters also, and the rumble from the back of the room was my stomach for about the last three hours, so I'll try to hurry on. But I know that if you've reviewed our packages you're saying, "What is a Dillon -- Florence, South Carolina who didn't graduate from the College of Charleston wanting to do, and how did he get involved or ever think about wanting to be on the Board of Trustees for the College of Charleston?" And I believe you are owed an explanation. In 1997 I was privileged to be elected as the General Chairman and CEO of South Carolina Trade Conference which is the second largest trade conference
Printed Page 1390 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
in America. Serving on that board with me was the dean at that time of the business school at the College of Charleston, and together we formulated an internship that benefits College of Charleston students. It was the feedback I got from these students that got me interested in the college. I was well aware of the college. I lived for several years in Charleston and -- well, I take it back. I lived in Summerville, but you consider that part of Charleston. And so going forward with my relationships, eventually over the years I had a personal relationship with the women's golf coach at the college, and together we co-founded what is now the largest NCAA women's golf tournament, the [inaudible] Unlimited Potential Classic which is held the weekend after Labor Day in Myrtle Beach. So I am familiar with the university, and I feel that many things that Mr. Watson said are true. There are over a hundred buildings on the campus, and over a period of time some of these buildings are going to have to be replaced, but as he said, most of these are historic buildings. And the City of Charleston and the Historic Commission there has codes and regulations that's going to make it hard to, you know, really recoup some of these buildings, so we're going to have to look at new buildings. We're going to have to look at the amount of students we have because of the amount of space that -- the peninsula is only so big. But I'm willing to take that challenge. I know there's challenges ahead for the university, and I ask you today to approve me to solicit for the Legislature to be elected to this job.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Johnson? None. Thank you, sir. All right. We're going to at-large, seat 13. Mr. Thomas W. Weeks.
THOMAS W. WEEKS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any appointed or elected position within your community?
MR. WEEKS: I have listed them, and none that I believe are dual office holding problems.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Does your business and professional life that would not constitute any kind of conflict of interest?
MR. WEEKS: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related matters that we need to know about?
MR. WEEKS: None that would keep me from serving, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. WEEKS: Thank you. I served with David Watson. In fact, there are three of us on the Academic Affairs Committee. I've done a number of -- I started off in 1981, July, State College Board of Trustees. We
Printed Page 1391 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
had Lander College, Francis Marion College and the College of Charleston. I attended my first meeting in the state in the dormitory at Francis Marion when they just -- I think they built the whole campus out of a corn field. And I've been there ever since. In 1988 the Legislature felt that it was appropriate to separate the three schools. I went with the College of Charleston. I was on that Executive Budget Committee at that time of the State College Board. So I've been on the Board now for 21 years. I think contrary to one of the candidates' positions this morning, this has not been a weak board. I came on in '81. We had a president; we had a problem. I was, in fact, given the job of firing him. All my senior board members took off and left me. I think I had to fire him while I was at Lander College attending a board meeting. We rotated. Since that time, we were very fortunate. We -- after we stole Harry Lightsey away from the University of South Carolina, and then we stole Judge Sanders away from everybody and got him down there and got him to stay longer than he really wanted to stay. I think we've been very very reactive. I think the Board is very diverse. We've got women. We've got minorities. We represent the entire State of South Carolina. I have practiced law now for twenty-something years in Barnwell County. I am actually now a resident of Colleton County. I feel like we have a strong board. I feel like we've now moved with a new president, Mr. Lee Higdon. I think we've got a great initiative that I believe will help continue the education of the people of South Carolina, and I am very, very happy to have served, and thank you very much for all the support you've given me over the years. I'm certainly available to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any Committee members have any questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. WEEKS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Robert Marlowe.
ROBERT W. MARLOWE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any appointed or elected positions within your community that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MARLOWE: Yes, sir. I'm Chairman of the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. My term expires June 30th, but I would resign should that become a conflict.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. In your business and professional life, is there anything there that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MARLOWE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about health related matters?
Printed Page 1392 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. MARLOWE: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Go ahead, Mr. Marlowe.
MR. MARLOWE: I will be brief. I graduated from the College of Charleston in 1972. In 1974 I earned a degree from the University of South Carolina in higher education. That same year I began employment at the College of Charleston. I guess I'm one of the few people, if not the only people, being screened today who actually is applying for a board seat and worked at the institution. I worked there for 11 years. I was Director of Resident's Life. At that point in time, we -- I think when I came to the college as an employee we had about 250 students in dormitories, and when I left it was about 1,800. I remained in that position, like I said, until 1985. During the time I was employed at the college, I was Director of Summer Orientation. I was an advisor to entering freshman on faculty matters. I advised council, chairman, President of the South Carolina Housing Officers Association. I was on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Housing Officers Association. I was on the State College Student Personnel Board of State Colleges and Universities. After my tenure at the college, I have been a life member in the Alumni Association, as my wife is. I served on the [inaudible] Club Board. I was Secretary/Treasurer. I'm a member of the Top Cat Club now. I've served in the foundation fund-raising efforts, and I've just generally been involved with the college since my entering the college in the late 1960s. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any Committee members? Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. Next is at-large, seat 15, Dr. John F. Clark, III.
DR. JOHN F. CLARK, III, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any other elected positions appointed in your community that we need to know about?
DR. CLARK: I hold no position that would conflict with dual office holding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your business or professional has nothing to do with any kind of conflict of interest?
DR. CLARK: No, sir. I have no conflict.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no health matters that the Committee needs to know about?
DR. CLARK: None that I know of, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you.
DR. CLARK: Very briefly, it's very late here to be almost the very last one. But I do want to make a couple of comments while we're closing. You do have my statement in front of you. I want to say, I served on
Printed Page 1393 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
the Board for 12 years, for three terms. I was first selected in 1990 by the General Assembly, and I would appreciate an opportunity to serve a fourth term, but regardless of whether that happens, I want you to know that the Board in the period that I've been serving, and you've seen some of my fine colleagues here today, has done a super job. SAT scores at the College of Charleston over the last 10 years have risen from 1105 to 1170. We have a faculty/staff ratio of 51 to 49. That's 51 percent faculty over staff. That's the only -- that's by far the best ratio in the state. We've got 12 departments that have received commendations of excellence by CHE. The next highest institution in the state is the University of South Carolina and has four. We by far exceed all other institutions in that we're very efficient. We have the least amount of appropriated dollars per student of any of the four-year colleges or research universities in the state. And I think we spend those very well to get the quality we're getting out of that, but we get less per student than anybody. All of our classes are taught -- we're an undergraduate institution, first and primarily. All classes are taught by professors, not by graduate students. We've had some comments here about growth and size. We have decided within the last year that we had to choose between quality and quantity, and we can't keep growing. We've got to decide what we want to be, what's going to be our niche, and we want to be a nationally preeminent, high-quality, liberal arts, public institution, and we have to preserve the unique quality of the College of Charleston in doing so. So we've begun to reverse enrollment for undergraduates, and over the next three years we're going to reduce undergraduate admissions by 300 students. So we're going in the opposite direction. How do we do that? We've done it a lot of ways, but I'm going to be honest. The most important thing a Board of Trustees can do is put good leadership in place, and the Board of Trustees of the College of Charleston has done that. They had already hired President Lightsey when I got there. He's a great president. I was a participant in the process in 1992 of hiring Alex Sanders who took us to new heights. He made the comment then it's sort of like trying to follow -- following Lightsey was like following Moses, but Alex did that real well, and the most recent thing we've done is in the past spring and summer we went through a process to hire a new president. I was on the search committee and played the key role in that, and we hired someone that we are ecstatic about. We were impressed all the way through the process, and we just keep getting more and more impressed. This guy's going to take us where we want to be as a nationally preeminent, public, liberal arts college in the state. We've got -- we're going to -- he
Printed Page 1394 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
has already worked with the Board to establish something called the Fourth Century Initiative. Basically we're going to increase, without going to the Legislature for more money, we're going to get an increase, get more merit, more need-based grants, more work opportunities. We're going to increase the size of our faculty by 50 new members, replacing adjuncts. Our faculty, we're going to improve the faculty/student ratio to 16 to one. We're going to add support staff, institute in-services which is one of the areas you were talking about, in support of faculty, and we're going to fund research opportunities for undergraduates to work with professors that the most, the highest capable ones to add that kind of meaningful undergraduate experience. I think some great things are happening. You've got, you, as the General Assembly that have put the College of Charleston where it is, created it and nurtured it, have got a great institution, and you've had some great stewards of that throughout the years. I've played some modest part in that. The one thing -- I think I've brought many things to the board, but one thing I have brought is I am the only member of the 17 that taught at one time in institutions of higher learning. I taught in three places before, many years ago, but I've been able to serve a role, I believe, in bringing together and linking the faculty perspective and that part of the college to the real world, political, socioeconomic, cultural world in which the College of Charleston deals in. Finally, on the question of whether or not we're a strong board. Let me tell you this. We had tremendous pressure, and I think some of y'all are aware of this, and none of it came, to my knowledge, from any of you sitting here. We had a lot of pressure in a lot of places when we through our presidential selection process. We had 150 applicants. We had presidents of flagship universities applying confidentially to come to the College of Charleston for huge pay cuts because they liked what we're doing there. We had some local candidates, local as in within South Carolina. There were those who said, "You guys need to hire someone from South Carolina to do this. Don't worry about all of these outside people." They don't tell the University of South Carolina that and Clemson, but they did -- there were those that had that feeling. There were those of us who sat there and said, "You know, if we keep this an open process and find the best person in the country to run this, we may not be on the Board of Trustees anymore," but then we said, "Well, that may be, but I -- there's nothing more important you can do as a member of the Board of Trustees than hire the right person." We went through an extensive process. We had excellent in-state candidates, excellent out-of-state candidates. We hired Lee Higdon, and
Printed Page 1395 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
he's going to take us to great new dimensions. And I appreciate your letting me speak to you. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Just one brief question. You indicated that the College of Charleston received the lowest state funding per people. Did you arrive at that determination based on state dollar amounts that were appropriated in using the total number of students that the College of Charleston has or only South Carolina students?
DR. CLARK: I imagine, and I will tell you where my statistic comes
from is Daniel Dukes, whom you know very well.
SENATOR SHORT: Yes, I do.
DR. CLARK: Our legislative liaison. I don't know. That's a good question. We -- I don't know the answer to that. I have to admit, I don't know.
SENATOR SHORT: I have been informed at other times that many of the schools in the state use the total number of students to determine that appropriation, when in fact, we only appropriate dollars to those South Carolina students. So that may in some cases be misleading. I'm not suggesting that it is in this because I don't know, but that does happen. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Just one brief question, if I could as well. Did I understand you to say you use no graduate students to teach classes at the College of Charleston?
DR. CLARK: Yes, sir. That's right. We have a graduate program. We have about 1,500 graduate students in Masters programs and I think about six-or-700 FTE's. Most of these are part-time students. These are various applied programs, but all of our classes are taught by professors. Now, some are taught by adjunct professors, and this is why we're going to increase our full-time faculty by 50 percent.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And obviously you feel that that's very important that you don't use graduate students?
DR. CLARK: Yes, sir. We want hopefully terminal degreed professors teaching the undergraduates to give them a quality experience.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Geise.
SENATOR GEISE: Mr. Chairman. I commend you for -- you have two ways of judging numbers of students. One is head count, and it could be three credits, but the typical way of doing it is 15 credit hours being one full-time equivalency. And you don't have those figures?
Printed Page 1396 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
DR. CLARK: I know what the -- I do, in general, from what an undergraduate enrollment is. Our undergraduate enrollment is about -- is actually -- you know, I've heard the number 12,000 used here because that was one of the numbers, but it's only about 9,500 FTEs. I think the undergraduate enrollment is close to 11,000 head count, and then you throw in 1,000, 1,500 head count graduate. If you do FTEs, graduate and undergraduate, it's about 10,000.
SENATOR GEISE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Any other questions? I'd just like to say they used good judgment, the College of Charleston when they [inaudible]. They used good judgment. Thank you, sir. Mr. Donald H. Belk.
DONALD H. BELK, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any elected or appointed position within your community that we need to know about?
MR. BELK: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. In your business or professional background, would there constitute any kind of conflict of interest if you're elected?
MR. BELK: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related reasons that you couldn't fully serve the board?
MR. BELK: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. BELK: I'm a resident of Isle of Palms. My wife, Marty, is a member of the East Cooper Constituent School Board. My daughter, Kimberly, is a junior at Wando High School. Approximately ten years ago, I sold a business I owned in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and moved to Charleston and immediately started pursuing a History/Political Science degree at the College of Charleston. For two years I took non-credit courses for preparation. Seven years of pursuing the education resulted in my graduating Phi Kappa Phi Cum Laude from the College of Charleston. With my business and academic background, I feel I would be an asset to the College of Charleston Board of Trustees. Because I am a recent graduate, I have a new insight into the challenges facing the college. Ms. Sheppard and Dr. Clark, both current board members, have mentioned the Fourth Century Initiative that President Lee Higdon has initiated. This is very important for the College of Charleston. Dr. Clark said that it's a time of great new dimensions, and Ms. Sheppard said that it was a time of excitement. I would certainly like to be a part of both of those. The Fourth Century Initiative, which I
Printed Page 1397 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
commend newly elected President Lee Higdon, is a comprehensive academic enhancement program which is centered entirely on student learning and addresses the critical needs of the college. One major core area on the program is to hire 50 more full-time faculty and 50 more support staff. Enrollment is to be reduced by 300. The objective of President Higdon's plan is to reduce the student/faculty ratio one to 14. The goal of the program is to enhance student/faculty relationships and improve student life services. This is all very commendable. My observations as a recent graduate and a business owner tell me that increased faculty and services will help only if students utilize these new opportunities. The faculty as it now exists has always demonstrated a willingness to devote time and energy to every student. However, a large number, maybe a majority, of students do not visit their professors for additional help during posted office hours and do not communicate with their professors outside of the classroom. Students also need to have a greater appreciation for the learning labs and offer help with homework and other academic research projects. Again, my observations have been that these labs are seldom used to capacity. The College of Charleston, like most colleges, competes with working students who come to class without putting in the adequate time needed to complete their assigned lesson plan. There are many reasons outside of the classroom that keep academic performance below academic expectations. President Higdon's plan to decrease the classroom size and improve the student/faculty ratio can certainly alleviate some of these problems I have expressed. I would like to see the additional staff form mentor programs somewhat like the Citadel's that will work one-on-one with any student and help with everyday life problems that affect academic performance. As we all know, young people are often required to make some of life's most important decisions when they are least capable of making them. This program would greatly benefit the college and would work in unison with the Fourth Century Initiative plan of facilitating the intellectual and personal development of the students. I have been fortunate to live in the great state of South Carolina all my life. South Carolina has done an outstanding job of providing lifelong learning for its citizens. It first offered me an opportunity to excel in private business and later offered me, a non-traditional student, the opportunity to attend a major university and excel academically. The non-traditional students at the college make up approximately one-quarter or 2,500 people of the entire student population. Non-traditional students start college on a trial basis and are only admitted if they successfully complete 15 credit
Printed Page 1398 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
hours. In my opinion, the continuing education students increase the quality of education at the college. They also have a better understanding of the difference between a college degree and a college education. Non-traditional students sometimes act as role models for the traditional students. For the convenience of traditional and non-traditional students, I would like to see convenient off-campus learning opportunities expanded at the college. For example, off-campus annexes like the one in North Charleston provide a convenient location and superb facilities for non-traditional working students and even traditional students who might find the location more convenient. A college annex located in Mt. Pleasant would also be a great asset and help to alleviate downtown campus congestion and parking problems. This plan is one that I think is worthy of exploring. I have a sincere interest to help and serve the college. I feel I can bring a new perspective to the board, the perspective of a recent graduate who knows firsthand the needs of the students as well as the college. I ask that you allow me to continue my commitment to my alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees of the college. As a loyal supporter of and a contributor to the college, I thank each of you for your time and consideration.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Thank you, sir. Mr. James W. Ledlie.
JAMES W. LEDLIE, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any elected or appointed positions within your community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. LEDLIE: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. In your business or professional life, would there be any conflict of interest if you were to be elected?
MR. LEDLIE: I don't believe so. I am a judicial clerk for a Federal District Court judge, but I believe that there are procedures in place that would eliminate any conflict of interest.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health related problems that would prevent you from ...
MR. LEDLIE: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead.
MR. LEDLIE: My name is James Ledlie. I am, in the interest of brevity, I will defer most of my information to the written statement that I have provided. I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I am not a graduate of the College of Charleston, but I am an alumnus of a liberal arts college, Wofford College, here in the state. I feel that my experiences with Wofford led me to seek a seat here on the board of the
Printed Page 1399 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
College of Charleston because I think the college provides a unique opportunity for students in South Carolina to obtain a liberal arts education at a publicly funded institution. This is very important because speaking from my own experiences, a liberal arts education is normally an extremely expensive proposition. I stand before you with over $80,000 in student loan debts, and a philosophy major, which can be difficult to pay off in those regards. I did go on to the University of South Carolina Law School and am now able to fulfill those obligations, but I think that a liberal arts education is a paramount of importance to the State of South Carolina in preparing our future generations to serve in this state, and the College of Charleston provides a special niche for our students. At this time, I'd like to defer to any questions the board may have about my willingness or capabilities to serve.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any of the Committee members?
SENATOR GLOVER: Have you secured your voter registration card yet?
MR. LEDLIE: Yes, I have.
SENATOR GLOVER: All right. Thank you. That's important, you know.
MR. LEDLIE: Yes, it is.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir. That concludes the College of Charleston. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable.
SENATOR GLOVER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable report. We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. All of you screened out. At this time we need to take up another item that has come to our attention. Mr. Charlie Appleby had brought it to our attention that he feels that Ms. Margaret Addison did not file timely by virtue of a fax that she sent in and did not -- the fax was not received here by 12:00. And he is saying that the fax shows that it came in at 3:45 p.m. on November the 7th. Here is the fax, and this is Mr. Appleby. Mr. Appleby, do you want to say anything? Mr. Appleby, now, you do know our clock was out of order that day. To what extent, we've got letters here saying that it was broken, to what extent and how much the clock was out of order, I can't tell you. The fax is here. We'll let the
Printed Page 1400 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Committee look at it and we'll discuss it while we're here with Mr. Appleby.
MR. APPLEBY: You want me to be excused?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir?
MR. APPLEBY: Would you like me to be excused?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, no, no, no. You sit there. I just wondered if you had anything to say.
SENATOR GLOVER: Mr. Chairman, since we had a similar situation this morning, was this not one that the staff or the office had in the question?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Charlie had mentioned it to us.
(Off the Record Discussion)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Medical University, 6th district, non-medical, Margaret M. Addison and Charlie Appleby, Jr. Representative Lanny Littlejohn noted a motion to reconsider whereby we certified those two candidates.
(Off the Record Discussion)
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, I would move to reconsider the action taken on the 2nd district, non-medical seat of the MUSC Board of Trustees earlier today.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your motion has been noted.
SENATOR GEISE: Second.
(The Legislative Screening was concluded at 4:31 p.m.)
COMMITTEE TO SCREEN
CANDIDATES FOR
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
********
Thursday, February 28, 2002
10:32 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
The following screening of candidates took place at the Blatt Building, Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 28th day of February, 2002, before Sonya S. Keesee, Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.
APPEARANCES:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Representative Becky Martin
Representative Jesse Hines
Senator Warren K. Giese
Printed Page 1401 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Senator Maggie W. Glover
Senator Thomas Alexander
Senator Linda Short
Sophia Floyd
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let me call the meeting to order and introduce our Committee members. We have Representative Larry Littlejohn, Senator Warren Geise, and Senator Alexander and myself, Olin Phillips, and we're waiting on hopefully some more committee members to come in. We are going to start with looks like the first one here is Coastal Carolina, and Mr. Robert L. Rabon is unopposed. And Mr. Rabon, could you step down to the end there, sir.
ROBERT L. RABON, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Rabon, your business that you're engaged in would not have any conflict of interest with continuing to serve on this board?
MR. RABON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments that might prevent you from serving in the full capacity, continued service on the Board?
MR. RABON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been elected or appointed any position in your community that would cause dual office holding?
MR. RABON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: If you'll give us a brief statement, that would be fine, and of course answer our questions.
MR. RABON: First of all, thank you for allowing me to appear before you. I was talking to the other gentleman here about the different institutions, and I said it's not hard to tell how I feel about Coastal. I was a student at Coastal when it was a two-year institution, part of the university system. So I've had a 30-year, life-long love affair with Coastal, and we just think it's one of the better institutions in the southeast, and we sure try hard, and it's an honor for me to serve Coastal and the State of South Carolina at that institution.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Any questions? We are joined now by Senator Glover. Senator Glover, we've got Mr. Robert Rabon. He has just given a brief statement, and we are open now for any kind of questions. He is a candidate for 1st District, seat 1, unopposed at Coastal. Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Rabon, are you pretty well satisfied with the graduation rate at Coastal?
Printed Page 1402 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MR. RABON: No, sir. As a matter of fact, probably -- before I served on the Board of Trustees I was on the Higher Education -- for Horry County, and we began working on things at that time, and we tried to put in some things in place, and it's just actually coming to fruition. We have some counseling services for our incoming freshman to kind of get them on track. We find, just some of the things that we find, a lot of the students come in and they just sign up for a course and they really aren't set on what they want to be in life, and if I can -- I don't know how much time you want me to talk, but I'll be real brief on this. I have three daughters: one that's a school teacher in the Horry County school system and the other one's an occupational therapist in the Horry County school system. When she graduated, she was valedictorian in high school, and she said, "Daddy, how do you decide what you want to do the rest of your life?" And that's a big question. And I think that's something that probably needs to be asked, all the kids needs to ask when they come out their junior, senior year, probably in the ninth or tenth grade in high school in order to start working toward that end. But I said, Sugar, first of all you need to decide where you want to live. Because if you live in Horry County, we're limited. We don't have the business opportunities that Columbia would have or Charlotte would have or Atlanta or -- so decide where you want to live. Then decide if you want to work indoors or outdoors. Then decide if you want to work with a group or by yourself. You know, sit at a desk and work all day or if you want to move around. As you go through the process of elimination, then you can narrow it down to what is available to you when you get in that area. And so basically I think a lot of the students don't do that maybe. And that sounds awful simple, I'm sure, Mr. Littlejohn, about the way I said it, but the point we were trying to make was we have counselors on campus now. We started this a couple of years ago. And it's starting to make a difference. It's taken a while because a lot of the kids -- I think the majority of the first and second years, unless they're absolutely certain about what they need, if they just take basic courses and then start on their curriculum in their junior year, I think they'd be much better off, and that's some of the things we're trying to direct and focus on and not waste so much time. Because I think one of the things that really hurts the graduation rate is kids go for a year or two years and they find out there's no jobs in the field they're looking in, that they're -- because if you take a major in psychology, there are not but so many counselors available. And so I think a lot of it has to do with that, and we're working to that end. Hopefully, with the counseling we can do better at it.
Printed Page 1403 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any other questions? None. If there are no other questions from committee members, what is the pleasure of the committee?
SENATOR GLOVER: Favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We have a motion and second?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. We'll let you know when -- we are going to have the election some time in April, probably middle of April.
MR. RABON: All right, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We can't hold it -- there's time period we have to -- it will be after April the 4th, but we will let you know, and we will hopefully let you know when you can start soliciting. You don't need any, but making your contacts some time in the next ten days.
MR. RABON: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We will let you know. Thank you, sir, and you may be dismissed if you'd like to leave. Okay. Thank you for coming. We'll go to Ms. Carolyn Short has asked to be excused until we have another screening. We've got one more screening to be done by virtue of a vacancy at Coastal Carolina, and we'll take the ones who couldn't be here at that time. So we'll go to South Carolina State University, Mr. Charles C. Lewis. Mr. Lewis is also unopposed.
CHARLES C. LEWIS, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Lewis, you're a member of the Board now, but have you been appointed to any other position in your community or elected to any other thing where you'd be taking an office, an oath of office, that would constitute a dual office holding?
MR. LEWIS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health related items that we need to know about that would keep you from serving in full capacity?
MR. LEWIS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business does not enter any conflict of interest at this time?
MR. LEWIS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. And if you would, go ahead, sir. Short statement.
MR. LEWIS: Short statement. I prepared one there for you. First of all, I want to say, honorable members of the board ...
Printed Page 1404 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, we have your statement, if you want to just make a brief comment, that'd be fine with us.
MR. LEWIS: Yes, sir. I just think that the 2001-2002 academic year has presented several problems for our board and I'm sure for other boards across the State of South Carolina. Budgetary matters are a main problem for us. We started out the year with our budget, a ten percent cut-back, and I think we're going to have some others, hopefully not too severe. We are working hard now to expand our fund-raising. We have done a pretty good job doing that. We raised more money this year than we raised last year, and we raised last year more money than we did the year before. So we're trying hard there, and we're trying to improve our security on campus and other things, academic programs as well. I appreciate you allowing me to come before you this morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. We are now joined by Representative Becky Martin. Ms. Martin, we have Mr. -- we just did Mr. Robert L. Rabon. We now have Mr. Charles C. Lewis who is unopposed and is representing the 3rd district, seat 3 for South Carolina State University. He has given a brief statement, and now he's open for questions. Any question from any committee members? You did a good job, Mr. Lewis.
SENATOR GEISE: Favorable.
SENATOR GLOVER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: There's a motion that he be approved and a second by -- a motion by Senator Geise and a second by Senator Glover that Mr. Lewis be approved. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. Sir, we will tell you the same thing we told a while ago. We will let you know when the election is coming by virtue of mail. Otherwise, and certainly being unopposed, you may make some contacts at the proper time, and we'll let you know when that is.
MR. LEWIS: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. You may be dismissed if you like. Okay. Our next candidate is from Winthrop University, an at-large seat, and I might add all seats at Winthrop are at-large. There are no congressional seats at Winthrop. We may want to look at that in the future where we designate some legislation that would require representatives all over the state for Winthrop College.
SENATOR GEISE: Mr. Chairman, I think we -- the Senate passed a bill with seven seats, as I recall, seven sections. But you folks don't have it yet.
Printed Page 1405 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MS. FLOYD: It's pending actually. It is, yeah. I don't know the status right now, but I know it hasn't -- I will keep you up to date on that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'm not familiar with it. but anyway, as I say, you know, some of us -- Mr. Hadsock.
HUGH HADSOCK, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, have you been appointed or elected to any positions in your community since you knew you were coming on the board that would cause any conflict of interest, dual office holding or whatever?
MR. HADSOCK: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about the businesses that you represent or work for, would there be any conflict of interest with serving on Winthrop?
MR. HADSOCK: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health ailments that this Committee needs to know about that would prevent you from serving at full capacity?
MR. HADSOCK: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: A brief statement, sir.
MR. HADSOCK: Sure. To follow-up your lead-in where you were talking about breaking down the congressional districts, I was told that at my appointment, since I was running unopposed, I would automatically fall into one of the congressional seats, and they are going to, as far as the break-down, seven congressional. We feel it's an excellent opportunity for Winthrop to get a better diversification across the state and a better opinion of the students in the area. We're real excited about that. The facilities -- I'm a graduate, a 1987 graduate of Winthrop. The facilities are up-to-date now, the best I've ever seen them. Partially, that comes to thanks to Committee Senators and Representatives for helping to support, you know, Winthrop and the cause they're trying to go toward. They've invited me previously to go to their retreat. I'm excited and also concerned about some of the challenges ahead. One, as everybody knows, we're having a salary problem at Winthrop we're trying to correct, and we're looking for alternative revenue sources right now to alleviate that problem. The main pride at Winthrop that I really take pride in is the technology right now. We set aside money, started five years ago, and part of the tuition goes toward increasing as far as technology. So there's no computer on Winthrop's campus that's over three years old. So we keep it rotated and try to stay within time with technology. And just looking forward
Printed Page 1406 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
to the challenge ahead of me of being a member of the Board of Trustees at Winthrop.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Committee members have any questions for Mr. Hadsock?
SENATOR GLOVER: I move for a favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Glover moves favorable. Second by?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I second.
SENATOR MARTIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn, Ms. Martin. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All response aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. Sir, we will let you know when the election time comes, and certainly you may want to make some contacts. We'll let you know when that can be done, but until then we want to thank you very much for being here. Thank you for your willingness to want to serve on Winthrop Board of Trustees, and you may feel free to go if you wish.
MR. HADSOCK: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Back to the old business.
(Off the Record)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short noted a motion to reconsider the application where Mr. Charlie Appleby made a motion to us that his opponent, Ms. Margaret Addison, did not file on time and asked us to review it. And at that time a motion was noted by Senator Linda Short that we take that up today, and now the noted motion is up now. Do I hear ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I move that we reconsider the approval of Ms. Margaret M. Addison to the 6th district, non-medical position at the University of South Carolina.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Do I hear a second?
SENATOR GEISE: Second.
SENATOR GLOVER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Senator Geise and Senator Glover. All in favor ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: What's the motion now?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Reconsideration.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Oh, reconsideration.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Because we had actually certified her.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And the motion to reconsideration is up now. Any other discussion on the motion? None. All in favor of reconsideration please signify by saying aye.
Printed Page 1407 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. The motion to reconsider is passed. Now a motion to deny and open it back up is ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, based on the information that we had provided to us, then I would so make that motion that we not accept this application and that under Section 2-20-25 of the law that exists that that would be put into place.
SENATOR GEISE: When did we have to first move to reconsider the approval? If we reconsider the approval, then it puts us in the position to do exactly what you said.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Then we'll take the first part of the motion first then.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
SENATOR GEISE: Move to reconsider the approval.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Well, we did that. We just need to -- we made it to -- okay. Go ahead.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. We've already done -- Senator, we already made the motion to reconsider approval. We are now ...
SENATOR GEISE: If you move to -- but once you move to reconsider, then you have to ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Then we take action on that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: One part to that, we would have to take action on Appleby's application and Margaret Addison, both applicants, because they both were certified that day. So would you -- can we amend that to say Mr. Charlie Appleby and Margaret Addison. We approved both of them so we're now asking -- we're now going to reconsider both where they were ...
SENATOR GEISE: I don't mean to be picky on this issue, gentlemen, if we have to move to reconsider and then we have to -- if we move to reconsider, then we have to withdraw our previous approval. If you just move -- don't -- you've got to do something about moving to reconsider it because it's currently approved. You move to reconsider the approval, and we do that, then we have to say we withdraw the previous approval. Then we're back to ground ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I think that was the first part of the motion, provided the information that we have before us, which is the time elements, then we ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: His motion was to withdraw whereby we certified those two.
SENATOR GEISE: I thought it was just to reconsider.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Based on ...
Printed Page 1408 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR GEISE: Withdraw the -- that's fine.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Based on the information that we have, I think ...
SENATOR GLOVER: His motion just simply needs to add Mr. Appleby ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's all we need, just to add Appleby because we had approved him in the same scope. So -- when we did them all. We did them all ...
SENATOR GLOVER: That motion, I second. That just provides for both names.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now the motion is now that we are asking to withdraw Mr. Charlie Appleby and Ms. Margaret Addison's application based on Section 2-20-25 by virtue of Ms. Addison being the incumbent whose application was rejected for filing too late which opened that seat entirely, and at this time we're rejecting both applications for filing. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. Thank you. Now, Mr. Littlejohn, you noted a motion earlier to reconsider whereby we did what we did earlier as we corrected -- to be consistent, do you ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I don't remember making ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I think what you were doing in being cautious, and Ms. Short just fell back by -- are there any more discussion about Stalvey? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Now, have we declared, or do we have to do that by motion, to have -- I know that we are going to open it up, but do we have to do that by motion too, to open, to declare the seat open again for filing, for the 6th, for Appleby and Addison? We've done all of the motions that cleared the seat.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Yeah. That would be fine to do that.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Out of an abundance of caution ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Glover makes a motion now that we now declare that seat vacant, and we ask the screening process to begin, and it's according to the screening law. Okay? Is that clear enough?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: And I second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And second by Representative Martin. Any other -- none? All in favor of re-opening seat according to our screening process and our Lexington law, signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any opposed? None. It passes.
MS. FLOYD: Ten-day deadline.
Printed Page 1409 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's right. Ten-day deadline.
MS. FLOYD: 5:00.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now -- I wish I had said something -- go ahead.
MS. FLOYD: Now, on the 2nd district ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Before we get back to that one, can I make one -- just a comment and see how y'all feel. Rather than having to go through the book, the SLED screening and all, do I hear a motion -- let me discuss it first. I would like to accept their previous filing records that they gave us which is in the folder now, the information that they gave us, and now with them, the only change that we would ask them to make would initial the change of date.
SENATOR GLOVER: So moved, Mr. Chairman. Just -- I think ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Just Appleby ...
SENATOR GLOVER: Appleby and Addison. I would amend the motion to make it specific on those two.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: They will initial the change of date that that was filed so they don't have to go to the Clerk of Court. We don't have to send all that to SLED again.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Let me clarify that. They will have to send in new letters of intent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Just for the background information.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The background. The background work, and we accept that with a change -- a note from them and initialing the date, a change by them, and at that time, we will deal with screening when we get to that. I'm just talking about having to do all that, we send all that back. And any other candidates would fall right in. We'll have to do what has to be done.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay. That's ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now, go ahead with your ...
SENATOR GLOVER: At this time I'd like to move that we -- I think it was Stalvey that we took out the first day, right? Hold the motion until I figure out what I'm getting ready to do here. Allan is the one that we took out for the purpose of ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Not filing on time.
SENATOR GLOVER: All right. Okay. And I'd therefore like to have this Committee reconsider the motion by which we -- what did we do to this man? We disqualified him. Yeah. We denied his application. That's the first one, so that we can first reconsider that. Can we get a second on that one?
Printed Page 1410 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Reconsideration for what?
SENATOR GLOVER: You know, we with -- we disqualified Allan Stalvey based on his time.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Right.
SENATOR GLOVER: And I'd now like to ask us to reconsider the motion under which we did that because I think that, like the Senator said, we need to be consistent, and if we are going to open this one back up, I'd like to also open the Binghmam/Stalvey again to give this gentleman an opportunity to also ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Bingham is not an incumbent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Our law ...
SENATOR GLOVER: I'm really talking about Stalvey.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The law does not protect that seat because there was no incumbent.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay. So we are not -- I just thought that that's what the Committee wanted to do.
SENATOR MARTIN: I think he was talking about consistent with previous, not this previous one, but previous years.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay. So what's the consider -- why did we have them on here?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Littlejohn noted a motion to talk about that in case we went back to it.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Depending on what we did on this last one. Say if we had not disqualified Ms. Addison, then we would have had to gone back probably and considered opening that one back up.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I would like to explain to her the reason we don't, can't do that for any of them. It's not that I don't want to do that. I think you've got good intentions in your mind, but our law -- there was no incumbent.
SENATOR GLOVER: Okay.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: So Mr. Bingham and the lady who filed earlier would have been a candidate for that seat, but she withdrew prior to screening, and Mr. Bingham and Mr. Stalvey were the only two candidates at that time. Mr. Stalvey was treated as a candidate up until that meeting we had. And at that time we found that he filed too late, so his application was rejected. That left someone in that seat because it was ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Properly qualified.
Printed Page 1411 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... properly qualified. Had there been an incumbent there, we'd have to open it back up, but it doesn't address that.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Bingham, if you open that seat back up, but he did everything that was required by law, you know.
SENATOR GLOVER: All right. I don't have a problem.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: And based -- the consistency comes in with information -- you know, we're not going to get into the times. All we're saying is based on what we have before us with what we can tell, that we're consistent with rejecting -- we've rejected both of these applications. It just happens to be that with Ms. Addison being an incumbent, then this section of the law -- so that she can ...
SENATOR GLOVER: I follow you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Now, we've got his motion. His motion has been noted. We have to take action on his motion. Your motion was noted, and now you made it where we ... you noted a motion to reconsider. Now do I hear a motion to table that reconsideration.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I table it.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I second it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Littlejohn tables and Ms. Martin tables, second by Mr. Littlejohn. All in favor of tabling the motion by Representative Littlejohn, signify by saying aye.
(All respond aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The motion to reconsider on that particular Stalvey/Bingham seat failed, so that situation is closed.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Unanimous, I think, so the record can reflect it, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes. By virtue -- let's put in there by virtue of that law.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: By not qualifying under the stipulation.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 20 -- what was it?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: 20-20-25.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Did not cover candidates qualifying. It only covers incumbents. Anything else? Gentlemen, thank y'all. We'll let you know in a couple of weeks, and we'll screen again.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let me ask you this before we send this thing out, should we accept fax on the last day? I mean, do we accept fax up until the last day, and then it has to be letter only and ... because she says at 4:30 ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Why do we accept faxes?
Printed Page 1412 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's just a technical thing now that we've got into an age where ...
SENATOR GLOVER: Right. That's ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've just ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: But we could go by our entry journals that say you might have it faxed on that day, but it needs to be postmarked also on the same day you fax it, if you wait until the last day.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any fax should come in that day that wasn't postmarked that day would not be accepted.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion to -- that if Sophie doesn't have this to get a stamp, buy a stamp when we receive that thing in.
MS. FLOYD: Record the time. The time and day that you receive it.
SENATOR GLOVER: Is that our ethics law though? Our ethics law doesn't work that -- you can fax it, but your hard copy doesn't have to have that day's postmark on it.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Yeah, but that's what I mean. On the fifth day, if you fax it in on the fifth day, it has to be postmarked on the same day that you faxed it in. On the fifteenth date, it's supposed to be only ten days. You have five days in break, and then -- I mean, that's the way our ethics does, that you have to have it the same -- the last day for it to be faxed is also the date that should be on the ...
MS. FLOYD: And that stamp thing wouldn't work because, you know, we accept faxes for two weeks. I mean, I don't have a fax machine in my office.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Well, I think that's where you just need to stand there at the deadline, and we know that by the deadline, that's it.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: That's it. Yeah.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And the other thing is that when we -- filing a report to me is different -- if we're filing for office, we can't send a fax and say, "I'm intending to run for the House of Representatives/Senate." We've got to do it by the deadline. And so I'm wondering if you left it by letter, then saying it has to be postmarked by the date of that ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, the only thing about a letter, I might go the post office at 5:00 on the 7th and be postmarked. Then I'd be in the same boat, didn't file by midnight. I might not put it in there 8:00 that night. Somebody call and say nobody didn't file. Go down there and put your letter in. So they get it in the morning. That's all that counts. I
Printed Page 1413 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
mean, you know, it's so many things, you know, loopholes. It's just tough. I'm sorry this happened. It's, you know, I ...
SENATOR GLOVER: I think that our present rules are fine then. This doesn't always happen. I've served on this committee a long time, and we've not had this as a problem. So I think that they're working.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I will definitely be at my fax machine -- stand there and not move.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We will be there, and we will get a stamp.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Maybe when we set it up in the future for applications after the deadline will not be honored in the letters or something.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We give so much time, it's pitiful, and I think the reason we give maybe too much time. They get lax and they say, "Well, I've got plenty of time to do that." It's just our nature.
MS. FLOYD: You can go off the record.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
(Off the record at 11:15 a.m.)
COMMITTEE TO SCREEN
CANDIDATES FOR
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
********
Thursday, March 21, 2002
9:38 a.m. - 10:03 a.m.
The following screening of candidates took place at the Solomon Blatt Building, Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 21th day of March, 2002, before Sonya S. Keesee, Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.
APPEARANCES:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Representative Becky Martin
Ms. Sophia Floyd
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: If you will, I'm going to take Dr. Floyd from the University of South Carolina. If you would step around, Dr. Floyd.
DR. FLOYD: Right here?
Printed Page 1414 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. And if you would, just raise your right hand.
DR. C. EDWARD FLOYD, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Dr. Floyd, continue to raise your hand.
DR. FLOYD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I know you've been sick, do you have any health-related problems that would prevent you in the future from continuing service on the board?
DR. FLOYD: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. I know you've been on the board for quite a while and you don't have any conflicts ...
DR. FLOYD: Right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... by serving, and certainly you haven't been elected or appointed to any position to cause a conflict of interest by serving or still continuing to serve?
DR. FLOYD: Right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
DR. FLOYD: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you want to make a little brief statement for us?
DR. FLOYD: Well, I've served for quite a few years at the University of South Carolina, and I think the legislature in recent years has continued to elect a lot of the same board members at the university and I think it really has stabilized our board in the last -- in the last ten years or so. I was chairman six or seven years ago, we started out on a plan to build the university. We started out -- we started out, and we sort of got the group together. We got the chairmanship lined up where we would work it out for the next 12 or so years, because you couldn't accomplish what we wanted to in four years, and we have continued on this program. We've built the university, you can see every bit of money that we have spent at the university, and if you will look, we've spent a lot of money, but it's all been on student areas that we felt that would attract students, and for the benefit of the students. Every administrative type building we sort of nixed, and we have fixed -- I think we've got this campus right now, if we can get a little bit of support, we can really make it into something that all of us will be very proud of. And you can see right now the infrastructure that's going up, the last parts of the puzzle are going in place right now with our fitness center, our dormitories and everything in the past year so I think we really -- I think the University of South Carolina is on a roll right now. And anyway, I could talk on and on.
Printed Page 1415 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I know you could, and let me introduce our committee members. This is Becky Martin from Madison, and Representative Lanny Littlejohn from Spartanburg and Cherokee County.
DR. FLOYD: All right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Dr. Floyd, we're glad you could be here today and certainly we know you've had some health problems and ...
DR. FLOYD: Right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... we hope you are feeling better where you could continue to serve. We appreciate your service on the board. Having served with you for a while on the board, I know your zeal for the university. Are there any questions from any of the committee members? Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Dr. Floyd, I know that, you know, there's been a lot of building, and like you said, there's been a lot of money going into the university. And some of the buildings sometimes that we have, even like the stadium, you know, that's an awful large area, are y'all utilizing that other than just for the six games that are being played during the year -- six times a year? Is it being used for any meetings or any other studies in those buildings?
DR. FLOYD: Yes. We have utilized the stadium for practically every request. I mean, we have concerts. We try to generate income from that. And I think you'll see that, you know, all of the high school championship games are played there. You'll see that I think South Carolina State and Benedict played this year in the stadium and we try to utilize it now. I'll have to admit, and maybe your question includes this, you know, we have to protect our turf to a certain extent.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: That's true.
DR. FLOYD: When the Carolina Panthers -- when the Panthers wanted to play in our stadium, now what happened, which very few people know, I mean, I was in on the negotiations, and what happened was, Mike McGee was trying to get them to help us with our renovation and he was trying to gain money for the university. And if you remember, at that time Clemson -- Clemson had a bad -- was having a bad year at that time, Florida State just -- and they undercut, from a financial standpoint, the University of South Carolina, and that was more the cause. We were trying to negotiate as much as we could from the Panthers to help us with our renovation, and that was really what happened. But we have to protect our interests at the university. The bowl game that was proposed was a farce. I mean, and I think we're trying to do what's right and open up the stadium for use, but we still have to protect our interests. But it was interesting you talked about that. One of the things that happened to
Printed Page 1416 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
us, and we got criticized, was one time we had a concert and the stadium, the top part of the stadium was swaying some and nobody ever knew it, but we turned down a concert for the stadium because they said when the music -- with the rhythm of the music, it caused some -- Olin may have been on the board at that time ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: He was in the stand.
DR. FLOYD: But we turned down the concert. We turned down the concert, but we never told anybody why we turned it down, because we said before we got the stadium stabilized, if something terrible happened, but yet the engineers said it was safe, but we just didn't -- we didn't think that that was, you know, if something terrible ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Do y'all have it stabilized now?
DR. FLOYD: It was stabilized after that. Because even though the ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Just checking.
DR. FLOYD: ... engineers said it was okay, that was where it was supposed to be, we felt like if there was anything that ever happened, we'd be -- I mean, we'd be criticized severely. So we stabilized it, but we had to turn down one of the rock concerts that was going to be ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I appreciate your bringing that to the forefront. I was there at the Georgia game and I thought it was going to come down on me.
DR. FLOYD: We hope it will take care of it.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I figure if some of those speakers will blow a car apart, I'm sure they might do something to concrete eventually.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any more questions of Dr. Floyd?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I move we accept.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: A motion has been moved that we accept him as a candidate and seconded by Ms. Martin. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All Respond Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, since you don't have any opposition, Dr. Floyd, ...
DR. FLOYD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... the screening process will be continued, as far as the journals are concerned, next Tuesday, and you may go ahead and ask for support on Thursday at noon, there being no other candidates.
DR. FLOYD: Well, I thank y'all. And, you know, the legislative support is very important to the university and we appreciate y'all very much. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good luck to you.
Printed Page 1417 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: We appreciate your support.
DR. FLOYD: Olin, thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Next we will screen the -- is Ms. Shortt here?
MS. SHORTT: Yes, here I am.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Francis Marion University, 3rd District, Seat 5.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Is Dr. Floyd a medical doctor?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He is one of the best surgeons in South Carolina.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: He's from Florence.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: From Florence. The only bad thing about Dr. Floyd, he owns his own hospital. He was in his own hospital last month when we did the screening, he put in for a diagnostic for colon and found out he did have some problems and wanted to do his own surgery, actually, telling them how to do it. But they said he wasn't too good a patient. Francis Marion University, 3rd District, Seat 5, Ms. Carolyn B. Shortt. Ms. Shortt, will you please raise your right hand.
CAROLYN B. SHORTT, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Shortt, do you have any health-related problems that the committee needs to be made aware of?
MS. SHORTT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Since your election, have you been appointed or been elected to any other position that would cause a conflict of interest by serving?
MS. SHORTT: No, sir, not to my knowledge.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And you have no conflict of business or pleasures that would cause a conflict to serve on the -- continue to serve?
MS. SHORTT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Are there any questions? Thank you, ma'am. A short statement.
MS. SHORTT: Well, Chairman Phillips, I am indeed honored to appear before the Committee to Screen Candidates for Board of Trustees of Colleges and Universities and am appreciative to be allowed to make a brief statement. I support opportunities that allow all young adults the chance to attend and extend their education beyond high school, and especially four year colleges and universities, including Francis Marion University, in the forms of scholarships or grants or loans or student employment programs, of which two-thirds of Francis Marion versus student body attends. And in my most -- in the most recent edition of The Patriot, the Francis Marion University faculty and staff newsletter, Emerson Gower, Jr., vice president of the southern region for CPL and
Printed Page 1418 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Chairman of the Steering Committee for FMU's Campaign for Excellence states that Francis Marion University is one of the region's best assets. I, too, echo the same. It is for this very reason that I really look forward to further devoting my energy, my resources and support, to serve on the Board of Trustees of Francis Marion University. I believe in higher education. I know the profound impact that attending a higher -- a college can make a difference in a student's life, and more especially, the Pee Dee area students. On a personal note, all of my sisters and brothers, my husband, and my two sons -- our two sons, graduated from a four year institution, and my mom, a retired educator, all finished a four year institution. My father, however, only completed junior high but was a successful businessman. But he knew that to be competitive and to improve one's life, a college degree, a disciplined mind, and a positive attitude is a must. I love working with young adults. I love working with children, with families, in South Carolina. Because many of the students at FMU are the first in their families to go to college. A few assets about Francis Marion University, as you probably already know, is that it's one of the 12 supported co-educational universities. It's very young. It was founded in 1970. It has a strong, dynamic personable concerned leader and a gracious first lady, Dr. Fred Carter and Ms. Carter, and an outstanding faculty. FMU is a big business with a huge impact in the Pee Dee region, to say the least. Less than 50 percent of the budget comes from state appropriations and the major -- it majorly employs about 500 employees. And a few other things that I like about it is that it works very closely with the business community, the area agencies, and the school system, and it serves one of the largest supply of classroom teachers in the Pee Dee region. And there are many other things, but I'd like to say this, too, before I close, 5.8 percent applications as of December 15th, 2001, we have a total enrollment of about 3,513. The student make-up, the U.S. News & World Report Magazine writes FMU has one of the most diverse student body among regional universities in the South. 41 counties are represented in the state at Francis Marion University. Of course, the teacher ratio of 1 to 14 this year, and likewise, our tuition cost full time is about 3500 for a full-time student. So, in closing, I invite you to visit our beautiful campus. The admission office offer tours. And I hope if, again, I can serve, you'll be invited to come down and I'll have the privilege of touring the university with you. And I thank you for this opportunity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Any questions? Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Well, you've painted a pretty good picture of Francis Marion.
Printed Page 1419 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MS. SHORTT: Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: What's wrong with it? I'm serious. What's the problems that you see that y'all are having?
MS. SHORTT: One of the things is, really the challenge is continued recruiting and maintaining the number of students at the university.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: How many is that that y'all have?
MS. SHORTT: I think we have about 3500. And certainly those challenges are not only that most of our students, two-thirds, come from the Pee Dee area, but still the challenge of -- and it's made up of 91.7 percent of South Carolinians, but still the challenge of sending the message to all parts of the system to get students to come there. Financially, as we see it, two-thirds of the money is either coming from grants, tuitions, scholarships and workplace. This is where the heart is, but we, you know, we wish, in essence, that more children could afford to go to four year institutions on their own without having to have scholarships, you know, in addition to that, to be independent. But students -- the core of students, just getting students to be there to maintain the challenge each year, from year to year, to keep that student enrollment up at a place where we can operate fiscally in the black.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I'd just like to comment that men were there before me. That's one of the problems females have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What's the pleasure of the committee?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I just wanted to share that I think Francis Marion is a good college, and I've seen it grow. My husband attended there, and it's really grown. And I think if y'all just continue to keep up the leadership, it's going to take it ...
MS. SHORTT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What's the pleasure of the committee?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I make a motion.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second Mr. Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(All Respond Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Shortt, having no opposition, but yet next Thursday at 12:00 o'clock you can make contacts to your constituents if you'd like ...
MS. SHORTT: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... in seeking commitments. Next Thursday at 12:00 noon.
MS. SHORTT: Yes, sir.
Printed Page 1420 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: By virtue we have to put this in the journal and it's only fair to other people.
MS. SHORTT: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Thank you very much.
MS. SHORTT: And thank you. Thank you for this opportunity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you.
MS. SHORTT: Thank you, Ms. Sophia.
MS. FLOYD: Uh-huh (affirmative response). Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Next is Coastal Carolina, at large, Seat 13, the seat previously held by Franklin Burriss. And the first candidate will be Susan S. Chapman. Ms. Chapman, will you raise your right hand, please.
SUSAN S. CHAPMAN, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Chapman, do you have any health-related problems the committee needs to be aware of?
MS. CHAPMAN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you hold any other elected office or appointed office within the community that would cause a dual office holding?
MS. CHAPMAN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business or pleasure interests that would cause a conflict by serving at Coastal?
MS. CHAPMAN: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MS. CHAPMAN: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. If you would make a short statement, we'd appreciate it.
MS. CHAPMAN: Chairman Phillips, and representatives, it's a pleasure to be here and I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to be screened and be put in this position. We have an unusual race here in that Gene and I are cousins and so -- we are close friends, too, and so, hopefully, when this is over we'll still be friends. In fact, he was the ringbearer in my wedding. He was four years old, and as soon as the wedding was over, he didn't want to do it, he ran out the front door, took that pillow and threw it as far as he could throw it.
MR. SPIVEY: I was four.
MS. CHAPMAN: But he was cute in his white suit. But anyhow, I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I, of course, have not served on the board, but I have a background in education. I went to Columbia College and studied to be a teacher, because in my day you could be a teacher, a nurse, or a secretary, and at Columbia College we were trained to be teachers. I started out teaching school, went from there to a school board
Printed Page 1421 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
in Anderson, School District 5, up in the upper part of the state, and served on that for about 20 years, and was involved in the building program and long-range planning, et cetera. And I say that because Coastal Carolina has been in my community, it began, probably, and was born close to the time that I was born, and it grew from a little single building to what it is today. And it's a place that is dear to me. It's part of my community, it's part of Conway, and I would like to serve on that board for that reason. Because of my background in education and the parts that I have done in education, I feel like that I could work well on that board. Coastal -- and I don't know how familiar y'all are with Coastal, and we all call it Coastal down there, it used to be Coastal Carolina College, so I'm having to re-learn Coastal Carolina University -- but it has growing by leaps and bounds. And, as you probably know, Coastal is getting ready to get a football team which is going to be exciting, too. I think that usually tells us a school has come into its own. But one of the things about Coastal that I think is very important, it's right on the verge of a tremendous growth. It has grown a lot, but I think we're going to see more growth coming in. If you have read my testimony, one of the things I think is extremely important when you're in a public office and when you're in a public institution like that, you have got to engage people in the community in helping you make decisions and helping you to be part of what is happening in that community. And so I think that's something very important and something I think that I can bring to this college. But in a nutshell, it's part of my heritage. It's an institution of higher learning where we're bringing students in, and I think it's so important this day and time that we bring students and young people and began to instill in them what they need to have to be adults in this very complicated society. I could talk on and on and on, but I know y'all have things to do, and I'll be glad to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Are there any questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'm just interested in what -- [inaudible] Kingston? Do you live on Kingston Street?
MS. CHAPMAN: I live on Kingston Street ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Kingston Corporation?
MS. CHAPMAN: ... and live on Kingston Lake also.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: What do you do for them?
MS. CHAPMAN: It's a land lease company that came about from my mine and Gene's great grandfather and it was split up into different segments, which his family has part of it and my mother and I have part
Printed Page 1422 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
of it. And they lived at Kingston at the time and they just named the corporation Kingston.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLE: [inaudible].
MS. CHAPMAN: Land lease in the Myrtle Beach/Conway area, is what we do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: It sounds like you have pretty good experience with Coastal Carolina. And I'm like you, it's hard to get used to some of these colleges and universities changing to universities.
MS. CHAPMAN: Exactly. It's college to most of us.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. What is ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move to accept.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Accept.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Seconded. All in favor signify aye.
(All Respond Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We accept you as a candidate and next Thursday at 12:00 noon you may start soliciting. And the election, hopefully, will be, if we can get everything lined up, April the 9th. That's on a Tuesday at 12:30.
MS. CHAPMAN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We will notify you definitely.
MS. CHAPMAN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's indefinite at this time but we will notify you.
MS. CHAPMAN: Okay.
CHAPMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much.
MS. CHAPMAN: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Thank you for being here.
MS. CHAPMAN: Glad to do it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Mr. Eugene C. Spivey. What are you going to say about your cousin?
MR. SPIVEY: I don't remember the wedding. I promise you I don't remember the wedding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand.
EUGENE C. SPIVEY, being duly sworn, testifies as follows:
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health-related problems we need to know about?
MR. SPIVEY: Once I shake this bout of pollen, no, sir.
Printed Page 1423 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business activities that would cause a conflict of interest by serving on Coastal?
MR. SPIVEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Have you been elected or appointed any positions in the community that would cause or constitute a dual office holding?
MR. SPIVEY: If I'm elected to this, I will be resigning from the State Housing Finance & Development Authority.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. A brief statement, sir.
MR. SPIVEY: As a Coastal graduate, and it's termed that I'm a fairly obnoxious Coastal supporter at times, I would look forward to serving on the Coastal board, helping Coastal to continue to grow in both stature and size as we go forward. I would hope, too, that some of my experience, having worked in and around state government, having been a -- having served on the State Housing Finance & Development Authority for the last 12 years, I was appointed by Governor Campbell, two years I was appointed chairman of the board by Governor Beasley, I have yet to be unappointed by Governor Hodges, I would just hope that those experiences in working in and around state government would help. I'm an unabashed Coastal supporter.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Spivey?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: This State Housing Finance & Development Authority, that's not a salaried thing, is it?
MR. SPIVEY: No, sir. I'm a board member.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: And do you own a land company?
MR. SPIVEY: Horry Land Company.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Is that what y'all do, lease land?
MR. SPIVEY: The Horry Land Company is going to be a first cousin to Kingston Company, yes.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Yeah.
MR. SPIVEY: It was all part of one bigger, much bigger company many years ago. And we do the same type thing, we own and operate a few businesses in Myrtle Beach primarily. We lease a few spots.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Do you like The Citadel life?
MR. SPIVEY: I liked The Citadel life a lot. That's mainly why I flunked out of The Citadel. I had a real good time at The Citadel.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I understand.
MR. SPIVEY: Which led to my graduating from Coastal a couple of years later.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir. What is the pleasure of the committee?
Printed Page 1424 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I move that we accept, Mr. Chairman.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn moved to accept, seconded by Ms. Martin. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
(All Respond Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir, you may do the same, next Thursday at 12:00 o'clock you may ask for your commitments and tentatively scheduled the election is April the 9th ...
MR. SPIVEY: Very good.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... at 12:30 that afternoon, hopefully. And with no other business, I believe we need to go to the House. Thank you very much.
(The Legislative Screening was concluded at 10:03 a.m.)
Findings of Fact
The Committee to Screen Candidates for Boards of Trustees of State Colleges and Universities finds the following candidates for Boards of Trustees qualified. Background reports from the State Law Enforcement Division show no felony charges against any of the candidates.
The Citadel
At-large,two seats Col. Douglas A. Snyder*
Mr. Glenn Addison
Mr. E. Bart Daniel
Clemson University
At-large,three seats Mr. Harold Doug Kingsmore*
Ms. Patti McAbee*
Mr. Joseph D. Swann*
Mr. Tom Lynch, Jr.
College of Charleston
Six congressional districts, two at-large
1st District, Seat 1 Mr. Joseph F. Thompson, Jr.*
2nd District, Seat 3 Ms. Charlotte L. Berry*
3rd District, Seat 5 Ms. Anne T. Sheppard*
Ms. Annaliza Oehmig Moorhead
Mr. Robert Treacy
Printed Page 1425 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
4th District, Seat 7 Mr. Robert S. Small, Jr.*
Mr. W. T. Maynard
5th District, Seat 9 Mr. F. Creighton McMaster*
6th District, Seat 11 Mr. J. David Watson*
Mr. William Dwight Johnson
At-large, Seat 13 Mr. Thomas W. Weeks*
Mr. Robert W. Marlowe
At-large, Seat 15 Dr. John F. Clark III*
Mr. Donald H. Belk
Mr. James W. Ledlie
Coastal Carolina University
Two congressional districts
1st District, Seat 1 Mr. Robert L. Rabon*
4th District, Seat 7 Mr. Charles J. Hodge*
At-large, Seat 13 Ms. Susan S. Chapman
Mr. Eugene C. Spivey
Francis Marion University
Six congressional districts, two at-large
1st District, Seat 1 Dr. H. Randall Dozier*
2nd District, Seat 3 Mr. William M. Ellen*
3rd District, Seat 5 Ms. Carolyn B. Shortt*
4th District, Seat 7 Mr. L. Franklin Elmore*
5th District, Seat 9 Mr. W. C. Stanton*
6th District, Seat 11 Mr. James A. Brown, Jr.*
At-large, Seat 13 Mr. Robert E. Lee*
At-large, Seat 15 Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson*
Lander University
Six congressional districts, two at-large
1st District, Seat 1 Mr. Anthony Noury
2nd District, Seat 3 Mr. Maurice Holloway*
3rd District, Seat 5 Ms. Mamie W. Nicholson*
4th District, Seat 7 Mr. Fred Thrailkill
5th District, Seat 9 Dr. Glenn J. Lawhon, Jr.*
6th District, Seat 11 Ms. Ricci Land Welch
Seat 13, At-large Mr. Raymond D. Hunt*
Seat 15, At-large Mr. Bobby M. Bowers*
Printed Page 1426 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Medical University of South Carolina
Seven congressional districts (3 from medical, 4 from non-medical)
1st District, medical Dr. Donald R. Johnson II*
2nd District, medical Dr. Thomas C. Rowland, Jr.*
3rd District, medical Dr. Stanley C. Baker, Jr.*
2nd District, non-medical Mr. William Harold Bingham, Sr.
3rd District, non-medical Mr. Charles W. Schulze
4th District, non-medical Mr. Thomas L. Stephenson*
5th District, non-medical Dr. James E. Wiseman
6th District, non-medical Ms. Margaret M. Addison*
Mr. Charles L. Appleby, Jr.
SC State University
One congressional district, two at-large
3rd District, Seat 3 Mr. Charles C. Lewis, Sr.*
Seat 7, at-large Mr. Charles H. Williams II*
Seat 9, at-large Mr. Leroy Mosely, Jr*
Mr. Glenn E. Jones
University of South Carolina
Eight Judicial Circuits
1st Circuit Mr. Othneil H. Wienges, Jr.*
3rd Circuit Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller*
5th Circuit Mr. William C. Hubbard*
7th Circuit Mr. Toney J. Lister*
9th Circuit Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.*
11th Circuit Mr. Michael J. Mungo*
12th Circuit Dr. C. Edward Floyd*
13th Circuit Mr. Mack L. Whittle, Jr.*
Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
Two seats, at-large Ms. Lynn Ammons*
Mr. Carlisle Roddey*
Winthrop University
Two seats, at-large Mr. Karl A. Folkens
Mr. Hugh Hadsock
* incumbent
Printed Page 1427 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
Respectfully submitted,
Rep. Olin Phillips, Chm. Sen. Warren K.Giese
Rep. Becky Martin, Sec. Sen. Maggie Glover
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn Sen. Thomas Alexander
Rep. Jesse E. Hines Sen. Linda Short
THIRD READING BILL
The following Bill was read the third time and ordered sent to the House of Representatives:
S. 1160 (Word version) -- Senator Peeler: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-47-140 CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO BE LICENSED AS A PHYSICIAN, SO AS TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING DAILY SCORES ON FLEX EXAMINATIONS TAKEN BEFORE JULY 1, 1985 AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PASSING SCORE ON THE COMVEX EXAMINATION MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY THE TESTING AGENCY.
By prior motion of Senator PEELER, with unanimous consent
SECOND READING BILL
The following Joint Resolution, having been read the second time, was ordered placed on the third reading Calendar:
H. 4644 (Word version) -- Reps. Carnell, Klauber and Parks: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT UP TO THREE DAYS MISSED IN THE 2001-2002 SCHOOL YEAR BY THE STUDENTS OF A SCHOOL IN GREENWOOD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 51 WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED DUE TO SNOW, ICE, OR INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE MAKE-UP REQUIREMENT OF THE DEFINED MINIMUM PLAN THAT FULL SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BE MADE UP.
By prior motion of Senator DRUMMOND, with unanimous consent
Printed Page 1428 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 2002
MOTION ADOPTED
On motion of Senator HAYES, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. William Mark "Billy" Mauldin, Jr. of Rock Hill, S.C.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:15 A.M., on motion of Senator GIESE, the Senate adjourned to meet next Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at 12:00 Noon.
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