South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004
Journal of the Senate
Printed Page 1559 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Friday, March 26, 2004
(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 JACKSON.
REPORT RECEIVED
COMMITTEE TO SCREEN CANDIDATES
FOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES
OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
********
Monday, February 23, 2004
11:12 a.m. - 1:36 p.m.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
11:07 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
The meetings were conducted on Monday, February 23rd, 2004 and Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 433 Blatt Building, Columbia, South Carolina before Sonya K. Grice, Court Reporter and Notary Public, and Ginger E. Mills, Court Reporter and Notary Public, in and for the State of South Carolina.
APPEARANCES:
Monday, February 23, 2004:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Jesse Hines
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Senator Thomas Alexander
Senator Linda Short
Senator Warren K. Giese
Ms. Sophia Floyd
Tuesday, March 16, 2004:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Jesse Hines
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Senator Thomas Alexander
Printed Page 1560 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Ms. Sophia Floyd
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I call the Committee together for the college boards and screening. I want to welcome all of you here this morning. We've got a nice crowd to go through. I'll introduce our Committee. Representative Lanny Littlejohn of Spartanburg, Senator Tom Alexander from Oconee County, Senator Linda Short from Chester, Union, Fairfield and everywhere else.
SENATOR SHORT: And York.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And Senator Giese from Richland, and myself, Olin Phillips, from Cherokee. Absent is Senator Glover and Jesse Hines from Florence and Becky Martin from Anderson. They may be along, but right now we're going to start. You know, I'm kind of like the guy -- I see all of you sitting around here, and I know it's 11:00 and we were supposed to have been here at 10:30. I'm kind of like the -- I've got a lot of good news for you. I just saved a bunch of money on changing to GEICO Insurance. I know you wanted to hear that, but we do have some good news. We're going to be very lenient on screening this time, and we're going to start with the College of Charleston, and I'm going to drop down to Seat District Number 6 and District Number 4. Excuse me. District Number 6 is not here. District Number 4, ask for Lawrence Miller. Mr. Miller, are you present?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: State your name, sir.
MR. MILLER: Lawrence R. Miller.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: College of Charleston.
MR. MILLER: College of Charleston, yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Seat 4?
MR. MILLER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Or 5, excuse me. What we're going to do is, before we go to the screening of you and swearing because you are an incumbent, and you do not have any opposition, and I will just ask you a couple of questions. Has there been any change in your -- since you were elected last at the last Board meeting? Have you been appointed to any kind of committees or anything, any change whatsoever?
Printed Page 1561 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. MILLER: Yes. I am the Chairman of the Finance Committee. I'm also a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee on the College of Charleston Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I'm going to have to ask you a personal question. Your Board attendance, has it -- can you give me your Board attendance? Have you missed any meetings?
MR. MILLER: I've only missed two meetings, both of those have been as a result of work where I've had to be at another meeting as opposed to being at the Board meetings.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? No other questions. You may have a seat, sir.
MR. MILLER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We ask for Dwight Johnson. Mr. Johnson, you really don't have to go down there if you don't want to.
MR. JOHNSON: That's quite all right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I was just going to ask you the same questions I asked him. Has anything changed in your situation since you've been on the Board?
MR. JOHNSON: Yes, sir, there has. If you see my Statement of Testimony, I was representing 6th District. Due to Congressional redistricting, I was drawn into the 5th District, and I resigned my seat in the 6th District and filed for the vacant seat and I'm unopposed for the seat in the 5th District.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: So you're one of the flip-flops?
MR. JOHNSON: I'm one of the flip-flops, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. All right, sir. How about your attendance on the Board?
MR. JOHNSON: My attendance has been 100 percent for Board meetings, and I'm very proud of that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. And we appreciate that, sir. Any other questions from anybody? None. You can have a seat, sir. All right. Demetria Clemons?
MS. CLEMONS: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Has there been any kind of change since you were elected to the Board?
MS. CLEMONS: This is my first time. I'm not on the Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Oh, you're just coming to the Board, with no opposition?
MS. CLEMONS: Yes, sir.
Printed Page 1562 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, that's good. Ms. Clemons, do you have any illness or any kind of situation that would cause us to have some concern?
MS. CLEMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'm going to swear you. Would you please raise your right hand? The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. CLEMONS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Do you have any personal business relations that would cause a conflict of interest with serving on this Board?
MS. CLEMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Do you have any hobbies that would cause any kind of conflict?
MS. CLEMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no kind of illness or nothing that would prevent you from serving full-time on the Board?
MS. CLEMONS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, we'd like to ask you to make just a brief statement.
MS. CLEMONS: I stand before you with a desire to serve on the Board of Trustees at the College of Charleston. I am proud to be a 1975 graduate of the College. The foundation that I received at the College of Charleston has had an impact on my advanced studies and my professional development. I was afforded the opportunity to work at the College of Charleston as a counselor and later as Director of Housing and Residents Life. The College of Charleston is an institution with an honored tradition. I look forward to serving the College of Charleston and the State of South Carolina. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Any questions of Ms. Clemons? Thank you very much. Okay. Ms. Land. Senator Land, Marie Land?
MS. LAND: Yes, sir. How are you?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have there been any changes in your situation?
MS. LAND: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance?
Printed Page 1563 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MS. LAND: I've missed one meeting in 15 years of serving on the Board.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Congratulations.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Seems like you've been on the ball. Any -- nothing other than --
MS. LAND: Nothing's changed.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much.
MS. LAND: Thank you, sir.
SENATOR GIESE: Can I ask you one question?
MS. LAND: Yes, sir.
SENATOR GIESE: Do you think your husband has undue influence on your thoughts?
MS. LAND: I think I have an influence on his thoughts.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Giese won't have anymore questions. At-Large, Seat 14, Mr. James F. Hightower. Mr. Hightower, thank you very much. Have you had any kind of changes since your election to the Board?
MR. HIGHTOWER: No, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No illness or anything?
MR. HIGHTOWER: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your attendance, sir?
MR. HIGHTOWER: 100 percent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. Any questions? No questions. Thank you very much, sir. All right. Those I have called your name, you are now welcome to leave or whatever. We will notify you when the time for solicitation for votes begin. We still have a few more to screen. It's going to take another couple of weeks to screen people who could not be here, and so we'll --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Do you want to do them as a group?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Otherwise, we're going to be qualifying --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, I'm just saying maybe they can leave --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I didn't know. I was asking how you wanted to proceed.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. We're going to do -- we have two seats that are going to revert back to the 1st District and 2nd District as they have opposition. We'll screen those, but I'm
Printed Page 1564 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
just saying if these people would like to leave, they're welcome to go. What is the pleasure of the committee on the ones that we've asked to come before us?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do I hear favorable?
SENATOR SHORT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All opposed? Passes unanimous. So the ones that we have just asked to come before the Board, the Screening Committee, if you want to stay and listen to the other two that we're fixing to screen, you're welcome; if not, you're welcome to go. We will notify you in the mail for when the time is for solicitation for votes because we can't tell you that this day, but we will be getting back with you by phone and by mail. And we can tell you one thing. It's not going to be soon. So probably in the next four weeks because we have to get it transcribed and everything. But we will let you know; okay? The election could not be held anytime in April anyway, so you can forego and think about April, about the middle of April will be the election period. We have not set that date either, but I will just tell you it will be sometime in April, providing the House and Senate can concur and a resolution set in the election. Thank you very much. At this time I would like to ask First District, Seat 2, the incumbent, Cherry Daniel.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, an inquiry.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
SENATOR SHORT: I thought we were going to go to the next school's unopposed so that we could allow all of the unopposed candidates to --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Oh, would you like to do that?
SENATOR SHORT: In deference to the candidates, I think rather than make them sit here and wait on us to go through all the ones who have opposition, because we could do that fairly quickly.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll do that. All right. Ms. Daniels, if you'd just take your seat.
SENATOR SHORT: Sorry about that.
Printed Page 1565 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We will do that because we don't have that many. Thank you very much. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. We'll go to The Citadel.
SENATOR SHORT: Those are opposed; aren't they?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All?
SENATOR SHORT: I think we're going to Clemson. Wouldn't that be next?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let's go to Clemson University. Louis B. Lynn. Three seats, all at-large. Louis, thank you very much. Has there been any kind of changes in your situation?
MR. LYNN: On the Board, I just completed a term of Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Ag Committee, and I'm now Chairman of the Student Affairs Committee. And I graduated a daughter from Clemson, so.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. How about your attendance, sir?
MR. LYNN: In my 15 years, I've missed two meetings, one for my grandfather's funeral and one for Hurricane Hugo.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. William C. Smith, Jr.
MR. SMITH: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Smith, have there been any kind of changes for you that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. SMITH: Just on the Board, I'm Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee and now serve on the Institutional Advancement Committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Bill, how about your attendance?
MR. SMITH: In eight years, I've missed two meetings, one due to the death of my father and one on a business meeting that was excused by the Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. Well, I think that's all we need out of you. Thank you, sir.
MR. SMITH: Thank you very much.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I believe that's all the Clemson ones, then.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, Bob Peeler's absent.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Well, he's not here today, correct.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, that's all.
Printed Page 1566 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I would move that we have a favorable report on the two incumbents without opposition.
SENATOR SHORT: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Motion by Senator Alexander, second by Senator Short that you be declared candidates as favorable. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Unanimous. Thank you very much. Francis Marion University. Melissa Johnson Emery, 1st District, Seat 2. Ms. Emery, have there been any kind of changes in your --
MS. EMERY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. How about your attendance?
MS. EMERY: My attendance is -- the only time I've missed is for the birth of my son last year, and I am an attorney, and court appearances that keep me out of the meetings, but all those were notified and excused by the Board Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions?
SENATOR GIESE: Just a matter of -- how many times is that?
MS. EMERY: I would say, I missed last Friday, maybe once a year at the most since I've been on it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you very much.
MS. EMERY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 2nd District, Seat 4, Gail Richardson.
MS. RICHARDSON: Yes, sir. Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Richardson, have there been any kind of changes for you?
MS. RICHARDSON: Yes, sir. I am now Chair of the Board at Francis Marion.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, good. How about your attendance since you've --
MS. RICHARDSON: Perfect, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Perfect. Well, that's great. Thank you very much for offering. Thank you. And we go now to the 4th District, Seat 8, Alex ...
MR. KIRIAKIDES: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... Kiriakides III?
MR. KIRIAKIDES: Yes, sir.
Printed Page 1567 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Alex, have there been any kind of changes for you?
MR. KIRIAKIDES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Nothing. How about your attendance?
MR. KIRIAKIDES: In nine years, I've had two excused absences.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. That's very good. Any other questions for Alex? Thank you, sir.
MR. KIRIAKIDES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 5th District, George McIntyre.
MR. McINTYRE: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. McIntyre, you are new on the Board? You're coming on the Board as an unopposed?
MR. McINTYRE: No. Actually, I'm doing one of those flip-flops myself.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. You was on the --
MR. McINTYRE: I was a Governor's appointee for the last five years, and I'm now seeking an open seat from Seat 10 in the 5th District.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We will have to swear you, sir, because you're running for a seat that's an open seat. Please raise your right hand, sir. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. McINTYRE: It is, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business activities, you see no reason to have any kind of conflict?
MR. McINTYRE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about any kind of health reasons, sir?
MR. McINTYRE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No health, hobbies or anything that would --
MR. McINTYRE: No, sir. I've been on the Board for five years and have perfect attendance, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And when you were on the Board before this time, what was your attendance?
MR. McINTYRE: 100 percent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 100 percent?
MR. McINTYRE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Any statement or questions for Mr. McIntyre? Thank you, sir.
MR. McINTYRE: Thank you.
Printed Page 1568 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Coleman. William W. Coleman, Jr., 6th District, Seat 12.
MR. COLEMAN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Coleman, have there been any kind of changes for you?
MR. COLEMAN: No, sir, has not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No kind of changes. How about your attendance on the Board?
MR. COLEMAN: In 15 years, maybe two or three absences that were excused.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. Any questions for Mr. Coleman? No questions. You may have a seat, sir. That completes the ones who are incumbents who have no opposition on the Francis Marion University. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move for approval.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn moves for approval.
SENATOR SHORT: I second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Short. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous. Ladies and gentlemen, y'all are welcome to stay or you're welcome to leave, it's up to you. We'll go to the Lander University. Six congressional seats, one at-large, and we'll take 1st District, Seat 2, Robert Brimmer.
MR. BRIMMER: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Brimmer, you're offering for a seat as an incumbent that does not have any opposition; right?
MR. BRIMMER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand. Do you have any health reasons or anything that -- well, first of all, the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. BRIMMER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health reasons or anything that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. BRIMMER: No, sir.
Printed Page 1569 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your personal businesses or any kind of business relations that would interfere with a conflict of interest?
MR. BRIMMER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No hobbies or nothing of that nature?
MR. BRIMMER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. You may make a short statement.
MR. BRIMMER: I'm just very happy to be here today and have an opportunity to serve Lander University. I'm a 1998 graduate of Lander University and have always thought it had an excellent reputation. And I was very honored to be approached to serve on the Board. While a student at Lander, I was very active in the leadership there. I was the Student Government President for two years and very active as an alumni to bring new students to Lander. And so I'm looking forward to the opportunity to also serve in this capacity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Having been a student there and a recent graduate, in getting ready to be considered for the Board, what do you see as the greatest challenge here at Lander University?
MR. BRIMMER: I think Lander has a very important mission for South Carolina in terms of serving the students, especially in that part of the state. And I think the current financial woes of the state in learning how to operate within that environment successfully in making sure the mission still gets accomplished with diminished resources, I think, is probably the greatest challenge right now.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: One last question, Mr. Chairman. Roughly how many students are at Lander?
MR. BRIMMER: I believe Lander has 3,500.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any other questions? Thank you very much, sir.
MR. BRIMMER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Starnes. George Starnes.
MR. STARNES: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Starnes, any changes since you came on the Board?
Printed Page 1570 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. STARNES: Yes, sir. I'm currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. And your attendance since you've been Chairman?
MR. STARNES: I think as Chairman it's been 100 percent. I think in the last 12 years, I may have missed three meetings, one was due to a death in the family.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Any other questions for Mr. Starnes? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: There's someone called Speedy Starnes. Are you any relative?
MR. STARNES: Senator Giese, I don't claim to be related to any Starnes. I've found that's been the safest thing to say, no, I do not claim Speedy.
SENATOR SHORT: You would be lucky if you could. I know him very well. He's a wonderful person. Yes, he is.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Thank you, sir.
MR. STARNES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Mr. Horne could not be here, neither could Mr. Jack Lawrence. We'll move to the 5th District, Ms. Walker. Ms. Walker, have there been any kind of changes on your behalf?
MS. WALKER: I currently chair Academic Affairs Committee for the Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Your attendance?
MS. WALKER: Since 1988, I've missed one meeting when I was out of the country.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. Any other questions of Ms. Walker? None. Thank you very much.
MS. WALKER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll go to the 6th District, Seat 12, Thomas Kinard.
MR. KINARD: Good morning, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Kinard, I'll ask you the question, have there been any changes?
MR. KINARD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. How about your attendance?
MR. KINARD: Well, I missed one. Chairman Starnes knew that I was going to miss that, and it was business-related.
Printed Page 1571 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Thank you, sir. Any other questions? None. Thank you very much. At-large, Seat 14, Ms. Bowen, Ann?
MS. BOWEN: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Been any kind of changes the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MS. BOWEN: No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. All right. How about your attendance?
MS. BOWEN: I can think of once in 1996 in the 10 years I've been on the Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. Thank you very much, Ms. Bowen.
MS. BOWEN: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the Committee on the ones that we've just screened?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short moves favorable report.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All -- no one. Unanimous. Gentlemen, you're welcome to stay, or you're welcome to leave, whatever. We will then notify you by mail when you can start solicitation. Okay. Medical University of South Carolina. 1st District, non-medical, I've got down Mr. Melvyn Berlinsky.
MR. BERLINSKY: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir, Melvyn. Have there been any kind of changes since you came on the Board?
MR. BERLINSKY: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. Now, sir, how about your attendance?
MR. BERLINKSY: It's been perfect.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
SENATOR GIESE: Mr. Berlinsky, I notice you're non-medical. What is your profession?
MR. BERLINSKY: We were in the manufacturing business for many years, and I've now since retired.
Printed Page 1572 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, Melvyn. Okay. We'll go to the 2nd District, non-medical, Mr. Bingham. Been any kind of changes, Mr. Bingham, since you assumed position on the Board?
MR. BINGHAM: No, sir, just two years older.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's good. All right, sir. How about your attendance since you've been elected, sir?
MR. BINGHAM: Perfect.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Perfect attendance. Thank you very much. Thank you. You may have a seat. Okay. 3rd District, non-medical, Mr. Schulz, Charles W. Schulz.
MR. SCHULZ: Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Schulz, have there been any changes that we need to be made aware of?
MR. SCHULZ: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. SCHULZ: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. How about your attendance?
MR. SCHULZ: 100 percent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 100 percent. That's terrific. Any questions? You may have a seat, sir.
MR. SCHULZ: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 4th District, Dr. Charles Thomas. Good to see you again, sir.
DR. THOMAS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Dr. Thomas, have there been any kind of changes on your behalf?
DR. THOMAS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, your attendance?
DR. THOMAS: Perfect attendance.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. Thank you, sir.
DR. THOMAS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir. 5th District, Mr. Cotey Fishburne.
DR. FISHBURNE: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Fishburne, been any kind of changes we need to be made aware of since you began?
DR. FISHBURNE: My colleagues, my fellow Trustees, honored me by electing me as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Printed Page 1573 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Sir, how about your attendance?
DR. FISHBURNE: Been perfect this past term.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any questions for Mr. Fishburne? None. Thank you, sir.
DR. FISHBURNE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 6th District, Dr. Conyers O'Bryan. Dr. O'Bryan, been any kind of changes on your part?
DR. O'BRYAN: I'm delighted to report after six years I'm the past immediate Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance, Doctor?
DR. O'BRYAN: 100 percent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. That is great. All right, sir. You may be seated. All right. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, may I say something before you make your motion?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'd just like to, before most of these candidates leave, to commend them on their attendance. We're making everybody aware of that, that it has been excellent and I commend them on that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I would concur in that, and I'm sure all the Committee would, too. I think we are surprised at the number of meetings you've attended. You know, it's brought to our attention. We were concerned that there had been some people who didn't, had been missing some meetings, but this is letting us know that we don't have to worry about that concern. I think the Board of Trustees itself will take care of non-attendance, and it's a pleasure to hear you say you can go and be there. I know it's a sacrifice just to serve on any because they're non-paying positions. It's sort of from the heart. You want to help your university and alumni or whatever. And we appreciate you doing that. And, again, I am shocked at the number of 100 percenters. I really am. You're better than some of the legislators. Thank you, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, I would then move, concur in that, and move that these for the Medical University of South Carolina be given a favorable report.
SENATOR SHORT: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All in favor signify by saying aye.
Printed Page 1574 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous that all these be declared favorable, and you may stay or go or whatever. Thank you very much. We'll go to South Carolina State University, 5th District, Linda Edwards. Ms. Edwards, please raise your right hand. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. EDWARDS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, ma'am. Ms. Edwards, you don't have any kind of business interests that would be a conflict by serving on the Board of South Carolina State University; do you?
MS. EDWARDS: No. I have none.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any personal occupation that would be a conflict of interest?
MS. EDWARDS: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems that the Board needs to be made aware of?
MS. EDWARDS: So far, none that I'm aware of.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, thank you very much. You may make a brief statement.
MS. EDWARDS: I received my Bachelor's and Master's from South Carolina State, and I am eager to serve in the capacity of Board of Trustees because it's like going home, and as the saying, "Home is where your heart is," and my heart has been at South Carolina State for many years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Questions?
SENATOR GIESE: What was your major area of study at South Carolina State?
MS. EDWARDS: Education.
SENATOR GIESE: Education.
MS. EDWARDS: And this is my 28th year of teaching.
SENATOR GIESE: And where are you teaching?
MS. EDWARDS: In Cherokee County. I'm a first grade teacher.
SENATOR GIESE: 28 years, that's getting pretty close to the 30-year --
MS. EDWARDS: Yes, it is.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Linda? None. Thank you very much for offering, Linda. And Linda is taking the unexpired term of Dr. J.W. Sanders who was selected to serve on the Examining Board of Authority by
Printed Page 1575 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Governor Sanford. So she is serving an unexpired term of one year.
MS. EDWARDS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I would just say that certainly she is following under someone I hold in very high regard, and I hope and trust that she'll do as fine a job as Reverend Dr. Sanders did with his many years of service on the Board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Okay.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, I move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. On Ms. Edwards, the Committee -- a motion has been made by ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... Senator Short and seconded by Senator Alexander. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Edwards, we will notify you when you can contact the members of the General Assembly for your solicitation for votes. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome to stay or you can go ahead, whatever. I'll be coming back to the other Board members if you'd like to stay and get a feel for what they have to say about South Carolina State, you're welcome to do that.
MS. EDWARDS: Thank you. I would like to do that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We have to treat Ms. Edwards nice because she's in my district. Okay. University of South Carolina. Don't everybody jump up at one time. 2nd Circuit, Mr. Loadholt. Miles Loadholt. Miles, any changes in your situation at the University?
MR. LOADHOLT: No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. How about your attendance, sir?
MR. LOADHOLT: I think I've missed one meeting in eight years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. All right, sir. Any other questions of Mr. Loadholt? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. LOADHOLT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 6th Circuit, Jim Bradley.
MR. BRADLEY: Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Printed Page 1576 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good morning, sir. Mr. Bradley, have there been any kind of real changes that we need to be --
MR. BRADLEY: No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. How about your attendance, sir?
MR. BRADLEY: I think I've missed three meetings in 24 years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I think you are to be commended.
MR. BRADLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. Thank you, sir.
MR. BRADLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about Mr. Herbert Adams? Herb, have there been any kind of changes since we saw you last?
MR. ADAMS: None. That I'm aware of anyway.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. How about your attendance?
MR. ADAMS: I was just telling Bob McLellan, I think I missed one meeting in 20 years, and that's when it got rescheduled and I was on a business trip and didn't make it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much, Herb. 10th Circuit, Mr. Bob McLellan.
MR. McLELLAN: Good morning, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good to see you, sir.
MR. McLELLAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have there been any kind of changes, Bob, since you've been over there?
MR. McLELLAN: Nothing but changes in committee assignments.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Committee assignments? How about your attendance, sir?
MR. McLELLAN: I think I missed two or three meetings in the last three years for health reasons.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Any other questions for Bob?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Everybody wants to question you, Bob.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I've got a list of questions I want to submit to him. I think rather than --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: In writing?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yeah. I just want to say personally before this Committee how much I appreciate Mr. McLellan and his service and his willingness to continue to serve and fill one of the highest honors I've ever had is I had him as a desk-mate when I began my service in the House of
Printed Page 1577 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Representatives some 18 years ago, and I give him a lot of credit for what I've had the opportunity to do. I just wanted to state that publicly.
MR. McLELLAN: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I think I could echo that, but I want to say how much I appreciate him when I came here 26 years ago and Bob McLellan was sitting back there, so as a freshman not knowing a whole lot of nothing and scared to death, and Bob was sitting on the back row, and Bob, I'm still on the back row. I never did get any farther.
MR. McLELLAN: Mr. Chairman, I couldn't help but notice when I came up the steps this morning, that when I first came down here we did not have this beautiful building and these wonderful rooms. We used to all be in the State House, and we stuffed all our papers and bills and whatnot under the chair of the particular committee, so I think we're very fortunate, even though I said at the time if I'd have been here when this building was proposed, I probably would have voted against it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I want to commend you, Bob, he was Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most, I guess stressful committee chairmen you could probably ever be because you've got to keep up with every dime, and you've got to know where every dollar is at all times. And he did a wonderful job as Chairman of the Ways and Means.
MR. McLELLAN: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And that is a tremendous job, and I appreciate the opportunity to let you know. Thank you very much.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: He's probably doing the same thing over at the University of South Carolina, having to keep up with every dime, you know.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll go to the 15th Circuit, Mr. Wayne Staton.
MR. STATON: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Staton, have there been any kind of changes on your behalf?
Printed Page 1578 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. STATON: As Mr. McLellan stated, committee assignments, and I am serving in my fourth year as Fiscal Policy Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance?
MR. STATON: I think I've missed one meeting in eight years when my wife had the flu.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, that's great. Thank you, sir.
MR. STATON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 16th Circuit, Sam Foster, II. I don't know what we would do if there were three of you.
MR. FOSTER: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good to see you, Sam.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: You better check on that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've got to ask you some big questions since you're moving our way.
MR. FOSTER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sam, have there been any changes on your behalf?
MR. FOSTER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. FOSTER: No, sir. I've only served as Chairman of the Athletics Committee since the last time we met.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And Sam, how about your attendance?
MR. FOSTER: I've had two excused absences in 20 years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you, old Sam was a good page. He worked hard in the House. We appreciate that. You got a question? Senator Giese has a question since you said athletics, I guess.
MR. FOSTER: I thought he might give me a little trouble, Mr. Chairman.
SENATOR GIESE: What do you think the biggest problem is in athletics at Carolina right now?
MR. FOSTER: Well, Mr. Chairman, it depends on whether we're talking academics or athletics. In academics, we're going quite well. In athletics, in certain sports, we have some challenges that we're trying to overcome. And we're working on it quite hard.
SENATOR GIESE: Tell me a little bit about the -- do you think the funding in the athletic program would be equal to the teams that we have to compete against?
Printed Page 1579 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. FOSTER: Well, in the SEC, we're bringing up our competitive level. Senator, we have good funding. We've had pretty good success over the past few years, especially in football, and we went to the Outback Bowl twice. We appeared on TV numerous times which helped us quite a bit in our fund-raising. We have to look to the Gamecock Club. It's been tremendous support for us for many, many years and continues to be. And so we feel like we're gaining on the conference. We're not where we want to be yet, but we feel like we're gaining. We lean heavily, as you know, on football and our revenue-producing sports. We're glad to have a great basketball team this year.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Going back to the 4th Circuit, and Dr. Eugene P. Warr. Mr. Warr is serving an unexpired term. Mr. Warr, have there been any kind of changes since you've been elected?
MR. WARR: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. How about your attendance?
MR. WARR: I was a elected in May of last year, Mr. Chairman. I've served nine months. I have attended all of the regular meetings. I did miss one special Sunday afternoon meeting this past November due to the death of my mother-in-law whose funeral was that day.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Any other questions of Mr. Warr? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. WARR: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the Committee for the ones that we have screened?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short moves favorable.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous. You gentlemen may stay or go. I see we've got one contested seat, 14th Circuit, and we'll get back to that in just a few minutes. Next is Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. Four seats, at-large. Bryan England. Bryan, thank you, sir.
MR. ENGLAND: Yes, sir. Glad to be here.
Printed Page 1580 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any changes since you've been elected to the Board?
MR. ENGLAND: No changes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. How about your attendance?
MR. ENGLAND: 100 percent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 100 percent. Well, that's great. Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir. Wilhelmina McBride. Ms. McBride, any changes since you've been on there?
MS. McBRIDE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. How about your attendance, Wilhelmina?
MS. McBRIDE: Maybe three excused absences in 20 years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I think that's great. Thank you very much, Wilhelmina.
MS. McBRIDE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Frankie. Frankie Newman. Ms. Newman?
MS. NEWMAN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good to see you. Have there been any kind of changes for you at Wil Lou Gray?
MS. NEWMAN: Well, I'm Chair of the Personnel Committee at the board meetings.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. How about your attendance?
MS. NEWMAN: I've missed one. I have one excused absence in eight years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's great. Thank you very much. Suzanne Turner. Suzanne, have there been any kind of changes for you?
MS. TURNER: I now chair the Policy Committee, and I serve on the South Carolina National Guard Advisory Board for the Wil Lou Gray School.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance?
MS. TURNER: I have excellent attendance.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any other questions? None. Thank you very much. We've heard one, two, three, four from Wil Lou Gray, and it's unanimous. All of them are here, and all of them are unopposed. What is the pleasure of the Committee?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move favorable, Senator Short.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second.
Printed Page 1581 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Senator Alexander. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous that you all are appointed. Winthrop University. An old friend of mine, she's Donna Tinsley. Donna, please raise your right hand. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. TINSLEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You don't have any health problems that we need to know about; do you?
MS. TINSLEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No conflict of interest about business or personal ...
MS. TINSLEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... or either any kind of --
MS. TINSLEY: (Shakes head negatively.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Nothing. Okay. Member of the -- works with the staff of the House here, Education Committee. And, Donna, if you'll make a little short statement, we'll appreciate it.
MS. TINSLEY: I am very humbled at the possibility of the opportunity to serve in this capacity. It is a dream that I've had.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's short. Any questions for Donna? Senator Alexander, do you have --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yes. I just wanted to just ask, what do you in your knowing of Winthrop, what do you see as the biggest challenge as being a member of the Board? And we appreciate your willingness to serve.
MS. TINSLEY: Well, thank you. I'm in a learning curve right now, but there are some facilities that need to be worked on and replaced and some moving around that we understand is in the process. It has a great focus and a great mission, and I'm excited about working on this over the next few years to work on the facilities.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you very much.
MS. TINSLEY: Thank you.
Printed Page 1582 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 3rd District, Seat 3, Janet R. Smalley. Ms. Smalley, will you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. SMALLEY: I do swear.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Smalley, do you have any kind of health problems the Committee needs to be made aware that would keep you from serving on the Board and attendance?
MS. SMALLEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business activities that would cause a conflict of interest with serving?
MS. SMALLEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. No hobbies or anything that would interfere with you serving on that board?
MS. SMALLEY: Absolutely not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. If you would, make just a short statement.
MS. SMALLEY: I think I stand here today because 35 years ago I graduated. I began Winthrop, and it is a -- it was a life-changing experience for me as it was for many other students who stood on the threshold of co-ed education at Winthrop University. So I was there at that beginning, and based on the introduction I've had to where Winthrop stands at this point in time, I see it as another threshold of change. The vision of distinction, the seeds of promise, the works that have begun at Winthrop University are all very exciting, and I am very anxious and humbled to have an opportunity to have a small part of that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Any questions? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: You mentioned the introduction you had to Winthrop. In that introduction, what do you think the biggest problem is facing or biggest problems are facing Winthrop?
MS. SMALLEY: I think all the liberal arts universities such as Winthrop University are going to be challenged to reinvent themselves to some degree because the face of the global economy, the face of education, the nature of education is changing so rapidly now. Technology is a good example of how it has changed all the universities and all the secondary,
Printed Page 1583 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
even primary schools. So I think the chaos of change balanced with the tradition of excellence at liberal arts universities in South Carolina, I think that's the biggest challenge.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Not really a question. We certainly appreciate your willingness to serve, but just knowing Ms. Smalley for many years and the outstanding reputation that she has there in our community and certainly in her affiliation with Wahalla High School, I just wanted to make the Committee aware of some of the things that she's done in the field of education as a teacher, administrator, also an innovative program developer and also has been a school evaluator for the U.S. Department of Education, and I think that that's a tremendous background to bring to such an institution as Winthrop University, being one of their graduates that they should be very proud of. I appreciate your willingness to serve on this.
MS. SMALLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Any other questions? None. Thank you very much. You may be seated. 4th District, Seat 4, Leland Cox.
MR. COX: Good morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Cox, would you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. COX: So help me God.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. COX: None at all, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business activities that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. COX: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. And how about you -- no other kind of activities with the University ...
MR. COX: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... that would constitute any kind of conflict? Okay, sir. Short statement.
MR. COX: Thank, Mr. Chairman. I have had a relationship with Winthrop for many, many years going back to the Presidency
Printed Page 1584 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
of Charles Vail, and now most recently during the tenure of Dr. Tony DiGiorgio. Dr. DiGiorgio served on my board during the time that I was President of the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics and was among the very first of public colleges to really make aggressive efforts of keeping and retaining our graduates from the Governor's School in the State and particularly at Winthrop. They did that very successfully, and I was also impressed with the quality of the experience that those young people had there. Representing Greenville, representing Winthrop and the 4th District, there's an opportunity to create a larger exposure for the university. I think the leadership of the school has been gifted from the top with vision, with boldness. It's an institution that dares to dream ambitiously for itself, and it would be an honor to serve.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Mr. Cox? All right. Thank you very much. What's the Committee's --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, if that completes Winthrop University, I would move for a favorable report of the three that we've just screened.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That concludes Winthrop, and there's been a motion ...
SENATOR SHORT: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... and second from Senator Short that these three be declared by acclimation, and all in favor signify aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, thank you very much. You all may be dismissed. All right. Now, we'll go back to a couple of more here of -- we'll go back to the College of Charleston, and we'll ask Ms. Cherry Daniel to come back.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sorry for the inconvenience while ago, ma'am. I'm sorry.
MS. DANIEL: That's quite all right, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. DANIEL: So help me God, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any kind of health reasons that --
Printed Page 1585 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MS. DANIEL: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No problems?
MS. DANIEL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No kind of business activities?
MS. DANIEL: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No kind of appointments or anything?
MS. DANIEL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Since you are an incumbent, what is your board attendance?
MS. DANIEL: I missed one meeting in eight years due to a water skiing accident.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you give us a short statement?
MS. DANIEL: I sure will. The College of Charleston experiences an impressive reputation as a result of the record number of students and enrollment applications both in-state and out-of-state. Having served two terms as Trustee for my alma mater, the experience has afforded me tremendous insight and perspective that lends continuity and knowledge in making good, sound decisions that will insure our continued success. Presently I chair the Academic Affairs Committee and serve on the Student Affairs Committee. Additionally, I was selected by Chairman Robert Smalls to serve as a member of the newly formed Low Country Graduate Center for the purpose of bringing more doctoral programs to the low country. My 27 years, successful years, as a professional educator in both private and public education has been viewed as an overwhelmingly positive asset by my fellow board members, particularly in assisting them in making difficult academic decisions in this arena.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Thank you.
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What is your background in education?
MS. DANIEL: Yes, sir. For 11 years I taught health and physical education at [inaudible] School. Then I went on to the public school system where I served Dorchester School District Number Two. I was the Director of Adult and Community Education for the Dorchester Two and Four. One's an urban school district, one's a rural school district. Then I was Assistant Superintendent for Colleton County School District,
Printed Page 1586 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
and now I'm the Director of Adult Education for the State of South Carolina.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, ma'am.
MS. DANIEL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'll ask George Malanos. Please raise your right hand, sir. Will the information given here today by the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. MALANOS: It is, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Sir, do you have any health problems that we need to be made aware of?
MR. MALANOS: No, not unless you consider this allergy that's bothering me today. The trees are starting to bloom. I have some water for that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, okay. Do you serve or have any kind of activities that would be any kind of conflict with activities with the university?
MR. MALANOS: No, sir, no conflicts.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Nothing. No sports activities, nothing recreational?
MR. MALANOS: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. Would you give us a short statement?
MR. MALANOS: Yes, sir. Chairman Phillips, members of the Committee, I'm George Malanos. I'm a physician from Charleston. I'm a candidate for the First Congressional District to the College of Charleston's Board. I was born in Charleston and attended public schools there and went to the College and graduated from the College in 1968. That was two years before it became a state institution. While at the College I served in various capacities in student government. I was the Student Body President my senior year. I was a Senior Select when I graduated. I received the C. Norwood Hasty Award which was given at that time to the male student who served the College students in an unselfish way and also served the College of Charleston. That award has been since sort of transitioned into an actual scholarship for minority students which is sort of an interesting thing I learned just recently when I made an enquiry about the award itself. I was actually up here as a State Student Legislator serving on the Senate side, and I've been active at the College, mainly
Printed Page 1587 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
through the athletic programs, supporting the athletic scholarships and with the Top Hat Club. I used to go to College of Charleston basketball games when there were more players on the floor than there were fans in the stands. And so that's my long history with the College. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry. I met my wife of 34 years there. So the College is a special place to me. I then attended the Medical University of South Carolina in the School of Medicine and graduated from there, did my internship and residency at the Medical University, and I've practiced medicine in Charleston as an Internist and [inaudible] for the last 27 years and recently retired from full-time practice. As you can see, Charleston is my home. My friends say I only leave Charleston for vacations, and that's about right. Several alumni called and asked me to consider being a candidate, and I did consider it, obviously, I, like them, believe that this is an exciting time in the history of the College of Charleston. The College has a remarkable past. It's future holds wonderful opportunities. It has a promising future even greater than its past. And I want to briefly explain to you why I feel that way. The College was an early vision of Colonial Charlestown, a colonial dream of free, unlimited learning at an institution that would be equal to those of Europe at the time. The first contribution was made in 1770, making the College the oldest municipal college in America. But it wasn't until 1785, after an Act by the General Assembly, that the College actually convened classes. At that time they convened classes in the home, actually, of the President, Dr. Robert Smith. In 1828 the main building, which many of you, I'm sure, are familiar with, was built and stands now as the centerpiece of that marvelous, beautiful campus in the middle of the City of Charleston. I briefly review the College's history because I believe its history is the driving force to its future. Last year the College announced its Fourth Century Initiative, a commitment to become a nationally preeminent liberal arts and sciences university for the 21st century, a goal in many ways similar to what the College's early founders envisioned. The Fourth Century Initiative is a rededication to the liberal arts while
Printed Page 1588 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
recognizing the College's traditional strength through the years in the sciences. The value of a strong liberal arts education has increased in importance in the 21st century. I quote you from a College of Charleston publication: "The average American will have more than three careers, not jobs, in his or her lifetime." The flexibility, versatility, and creativity embodied in a liberal arts education combined with the sciences will help guarantee success over a lifetime in the 21st century. The Fourth Century Initiative plays to the College's strengths as a liberal arts institution and focuses the student on the responsibility that student has to the citizens of the community, the local community, state community, and the regional community. This bold initiative by the College as outlined by its vision statement is possible only because of the firm foundation of the College's past successes. This success, by the way, has been created by students, by its faculty, and since 1970 by state support. I recently met with President Higdon to discuss the College's future with him and my candidacy for the Board. He envisions the strategic plan taking at least five to seven years to implement and to complete. This plan to become a nationally preeminent university will require time, commitment and resources, and the time to begin is now. As a member of the College's Board, I want to work to help make this vision for the future a reality. I also met with the Chairman of the College's Board, Tex Small of Greenville, and while it would not be appropriate for either he or President Higdon to endorse a candidate in a contested race, they both agree that my ability to commit time to do the work of the Board, is an extremely important asset. I would add to that to my 27 years experience as a physician, as a businessman, as a leader in the medical community, as one who has been active in the political process, and these are all assets that I could bring to the Board. Along with that, I made a commitment of time to do the necessary work. I have the time. I just retired from 27 years of practice, and I feel like I cannot only have a perfect attendance record, but do the work on a daily basis, if necessary, on behalf of the College's Board. The challenges of implementing the Fourth Century Initiative are great but the rewards for the citizens of South Carolina are even
Printed Page 1589 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
greater. We are in difficult budgetary times and we need solutions to match those difficult times, and these solutions need to be something beyond increasing tuitions. In the past several years, the College's tuition has increased 51 percent, and that is the reality. Of course, similar increases have occurred at other state institutions, but we have to work to find a balance. The solution cannot just be on the backs of South Carolina students and their parents. We have to look to efficiencies that could be realized, avoid unnecessary duplication and find other sources of revenue through endowments and scholarships. There's work to be done, and I want to have the opportunity to do the work that is needed. And briefly, let me just address the issue of incumbency. I've known Cherry for a long time. I'm not running against Cherry; I'm running for the Board. I want an opportunity to serve. I feel like I have some talents, some experiences that would be of great benefit to the Board, and, as I've mentioned, I have the time. So I'm not running so much against an incumbent as I'm running for the Board. I'll tell you, I was talking to a senator a couple of weeks ago, making him aware of my candidacy -- while not asking for votes, of course, as I understand you cannot do that -- but I made the point to him that I didn't think, and I'm glad some of the Board members that were incumbents have all left because -- there are quite a few still left that may not want to hear this -- but I don't feel that Board seats should be lifetime appointments. I know they come up for reelection ever so often. I think that there's a lot of talent in this state, a lot of people who can serve on boards, that could help the schools and institutions of this state to be better. So I told this state senator, I said, "You know, I think that it's important that we give other folks a chance once in a while." I think eight years on a board is, the seat I'm running for, is adequate time, and if I had to wait until the incumbent decided to retire or, you know, it might be forever. Some of the Board seats that were up here today, people have been on for 20 and 30 years. That, of itself, is not a disadvantage, but there are advantages to putting new people on boards from time to time. So as I told this senator that, he said, "You're not talking about the State Senate; are you?" I said, "No, sir, I'm not talking about
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that." I said -- but that brought me to a good point because I said, "That is a political process, and I understand the political reality of an incumbent wanting to be reelected." And usually the incumbent, of course, is, as most of you know from the political arena, has somewhat of an advantage. But I also made the point to that senator that I thought that college boards should not be political. They should be based on merit and ability to serve. I know the Legislature votes on the members of the college boards, but I would ask you to consider my candidacy based on the fact that there needs to be opportunities for others to serve who want to serve, and it doesn't mean that the incumbent has not served well; it just means that there's time for maybe a change. So that state senator made me change my message a little bit, so I got the word from that. So that's sort of where I'm coming from as far as my candidacy. As I went through trying to -- and I'm closing it with a few brief comments here. I went to look and see what others have had to say about the College over the years. I read a little bit of history, I got out my annual, you know, and spent time looking at the old pictures and how much younger we all looked and all of that. And one student wrote, and it looks like it was the turn of the century, and I must say turn of the 19th or 20th century now that we're in the 21st century. One student wrote for his professors the following: "Those who come under their influence and follow their precepts and example could not fail to be well educated. And what is better still, to reflect an immortal character on or upon the institution." And then another comment from a student after the great earthquake of 1886, at a time when many of the College's buildings and most of Charleston had been damaged, one student wrote that it was then he realized the following: "The true College of Charleston exists in the inquisitive spirit of the students and the professors' desire to impart knowledge, rather than the walls of the institution." This inquisitive spirit is the history of the College, and I believe this inquisitive spirit is also its future. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn?
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REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Dr. Malanos?
MR. MALANOS: Yes, sir?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: What made you aware that this seat would be available?
MR. MALANOS: I have looked from time to time, sir, at incumbent seats coming up for election, but I always try to make sure that I could make the commitment necessary to do something, so I've not done that. But this past year several alumni from the College called me, and they made me aware that, you know, that it was -- I already knew it was open, I mean up for election, but they encouraged me to consider the candidacy. And I always go through the process of trying to, you know, think about it thoroughly, so I asked them some questions. I called and asked the President some questions, and I made the decision to do it. I thought it was the right time. They made the point that I'd just retired from medicine, that I had some time and talent to offer, and that I loved the institution and it would be a good time to serve.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Well, did you actually read this in the paper, radio, or what?
MR. MALANOS: No, sir, I did not. I've kept up with it from time to time through the legislative, I guess it's the journal or something that's published.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you, sir.
MR. MALANOS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. 2nd District, Seat 4, Joel Smith. Joel, if you'll raise your right hand. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. SMITH: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Joel, have you had any kind of real changes since you've been on the Board?
MR. SMITH: I was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for eight years, ending two years ago. So last time I was here, I was Chairman of the Board. I'm now immediate past Chair.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your attendance?
MR. SMITH: I've missed one meeting for a trial in 16 years, and I missed another meeting recently because my wife had a meeting in Hawaii and she said I had to go.
Printed Page 1592 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, good for you. Okay. Any questions for Joel?
SENATOR GIESE: What is your business background?
MR. SMITH: I'm a lawyer here in Columbia with Nelson, Mullins. That's what I do for a living.
SENATOR GIESE: Any specialty with that?
MR. SMITH: I do products liability litigation, defending usually automobile and pharmaceutical companies.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? How long have you been on the Board, Joel?
MR. SMITH: 16 -- well, this term, when this term ends, it will be 16 years. The Board was born in 1988, and I was one of the original board members. There are still a couple of us on the Board who were original board members, and I served for eight years as Chairman and really had the opportunity as a student to be there when Ted Stern was there, as a new board member with Harry Lightsey to chair the board with Alex Sanders as the President, and then to be involved and chair the Search Committee that found our new President, Lee Higdon. So I've had a unique opportunity to work with all of the Presidents who have really been so responsible for bringing the College to where it is today.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: From your beginning on the Board, do you remember roughly how many students were there at the College then versus what the enrollment is today?
MR. SMITH: You know, when I was at the College in `78, which I graduated in `78, I think the number was approaching 5,000. When I went on the Board, I think the number was around seven as a number I recall. Today 11,536 students.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: What do you attribute that growth in --
MR. SMITH: The growth at the College has not only been in numbers, but it's been in excellence. Our -- we're one of a handful, about 25, public schools in America that have an entering SAT score of 1200. So when you look at growth and you think, "Well, everybody wants to go to Charleston." Everybody does want to go to Charleston and that's a very, you know, location, location, location. It is a very attractive thing. But I've got two children in public school here, they
Printed Page 1593 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
both go to Clemson -- and I couldn't get them to go to the College because they live in Charleston -- but the truth is that the consumer of what we are selling a lot of times are parents who have children who they have nursed through high school trying to stress their academics, and if you want to send them to Charleston for four years, you know, you can send them down there and they can work in a restaurant and get sort of an education. But what I'm interested in is making sure that my kids go somewhere where they can get a quality education, and that's what we've been able to do. And that's the Fourth Century Initiative that Dr. Malanos was just talking about that Lee Higdon has instituted is a furtherance of our goal to try to make sure that what we're doing is providing excellence. We see our competition really as the private schools in the southeast, and what we're able to do is to provide, and what we are doing, is to provide an intimate, private school type of experience at the cost of a state institution. So it really provides access to a lot of kids who have excellent academics as they're coming up through school but who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford that level of intimate educational experience.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: What is your out-of-state attendance, percentage-wise?
MR. SMITH: It's 33 percent. It's about one-third/two-third. It's actually 33.4 percent. We are working on bringing that number down a little bit. Over the last two years we've focused on trying to bring that number down. One of the issues that we have is as we are trying to raise standards, as they have been going up every year, and with South Carolina's SAT scores being what they are, we've run into a little bit of a conflict of how much of our student body can come from South Carolina. We've worked intensely on a recruiting process that would recruit South Carolina's finest students. And that's been successful, and the number in each year has been going down a little bit. That number, of course, because you have a four-year window, sometimes five-year window, those students who you admit today affect the -- can
Printed Page 1594 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
only affect about a quarter of your percentage points. So each year as you show improvement, that improvement gets greater every year.
SENATOR GIESE: What is your average SAT score? Would you know that, by any chance?
MR. SMITH: It's under 1210, over 1200, under 1210. It's a single digit over 1200. We just passed that benchmark this year which we're really excited about. By the way, Clemson's one of the other schools in America that has, one of the other public institutions in America, that has an SAT score for entering students over 1200. It's quite a distinguished little group when you look at who they are, places like the University of California, UCLA, outstanding institutions that you would be proud to be associated with.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Has the College of Charleston capped its enrollment now or are you still looking for further room?
MR. SMITH: We have not, in essence, capped it, but part of the Fourth Century Initiative is to actually bring down the number to -- there's not a -- there hasn't been a Board vote or any institutional decision that we would never grow. But one of the ways we're trying to improve all these things, in-state, out-of-state quality, our minority percentages, and improve our entering SAT scores, and continue to improve the quality of the student body is by bringing down the number of students. Actually, part of the Fourth Century Initiative would be to bring down the number of students enrolled by 75 in each year so that what we do is we concentrate -- one of the major challenges we have is that every large institution in downtown Charleston develops sharp elbows. We are bumping into everybody, and that's one of the great challenges for us is to make sure that we are good neighbors. To the extent that we can continue to compress our student body and improve excellence and at the same time have 75 less parking spaces that we need in downtown Charleston, you know, we're making everybody happy.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: What is your minority enrollment right now?
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MR. SMITH: It's 13.9 percent in the undergraduate programs and 16.2 in our graduate programs. We have, of course, limited graduate offerings because we're a school with an undergraduate mission. And that's truly unsatisfactory to us. That number is unsatisfactory. It has been improving year in and year out, but that's a number that we are very focused on working on and working on as we continue to enhance the quality of the overall student body.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. SMITH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Lee Mikell. Sir, will you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. MIKELL: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Are you serving on any kind of board or commission that would be a conflict of interest?
MR. MIKELL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health problems that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. MIKELL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business activities that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MIKELL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Go ahead with a short statement.
MR. MIKELL: Mr. Chairman, members of the Screening Committee, my name is Lee Mikell from Columbia, and I appreciate the opportunity to be considered for the College of Charleston Board of Trustees. I'm currently the Manager of Special Projects and an Executive Assistant to the President of South Carolina Electric and Gas. My reasons for seeking this position are many, but I'll briefly highlight a few. First, I'm a graduate of the College of Charleston and have great admiration and appreciation for the school. I've remained involved in the college through contributions to the College of Charleston Foundation and the Alumni Association. My experience with the school both as a student and as an alumni have been most enjoyable. In addition, prior to working for SCANA, SCE&G, I spent six years working in Washington with Congressman Spence and Senator Thurmond. During
Printed Page 1596 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
my tenure in Washington and with SCANA, I've had the opportunity to work on a number of public policy issues. As Senator Thurmond's Projects Director, I worked with many South Carolina schools and universities on federal funding issues, education policy matters and accreditation issues. I enjoyed working on these matters, and hopefully this knowledge I've gained will be of benefit to the College of Charleston. And finally, as an employee of a large corporation, I'm aware of the importance of many different groups working together to make a company successful. I think this is also true with colleges and universities. These colleges and universities must address issues that range from personnel to academic to accreditation and facility maintenance. Hopefully, this is another area where my experience would be of value to the school. And again, I appreciate your consideration.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Mikell, thank you for seeking this seat. What made you aware that this seat was available?
MR. MIKELL: I've been involved in the political arena for a good many years, and I've had my eye on it for a number of years and just felt this was the time to seek it.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Did you see it in the paper or radio or what?
MR. MIKELL: Just knowledge of the terms.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: We just heard that the minority enrollment at the College of Charleston is 13.7 percent. Is that reasonable?
MR. MIKELL: I think as Mr. Smith indicated, that's certainly somewhere where the College would like to improve. I personally went to a public school in Orangeburg where I was actually in a minority, and I think there are a lot of schools where the College can make an outreach effort to try to increase their enrollment for minority students. And I know the College is offering a number of programs. There's the Avery Institute which focuses on that with African-American history. In addition, a new multi-cultural center has just been
Printed Page 1597 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
opened. So I think there are efforts along the way to increase the attractiveness of the school to the minority population.
SENATOR GIESE: Do you have any thoughts on why it's at this low ebb right now?
MR. MIKELL: I think it's just kind of the history of our State, to some extent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Thank you very much.
MR. MIKELL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What's the pleasure of the Committee? That concludes the College of Charleston.
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Motion by Senator Short ...
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... move favorable report, second by Senator Alexander. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous. Thank you very much. You're welcome to leave, or you can stay on, whatever. We'll notify you when the time is for solicitation.
MR. MIKELL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll go now to The Citadel and William E. Jenkinson III.
MR. JENKINSON: Morning, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Jenkinson, would you please raise your right hand, sir? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. JENKINSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Bill, since you've been elected, have there been any real kind of changes with you at the Board?
MR. JENKINSON: I didn't hear you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have there been any kind of changes?
MR. JENKINSON: No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes?
MR. JENKINSON: No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is your attendance?
MR. JENKINSON: I missed one meeting about seven years ago, and I was actually present but fell ill with a stomach virus and had to get up and leave.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: So your business activity is the same?
Printed Page 1598 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. JENKINSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Do you want to make a little short statement now?
MR. JENKINSON: Twelve years ago I was elected really fulfilling a lifelong dream of service on the Board. I represent the third generation of four generations in my family that have attended The Citadel, my son most recently having graduated in 1999. In that 12 years, I've had the opportunity to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board and a little over a year and a half ago, my colleagues elected me as Chairman of the Board. I'm in the middle so-to-speak of a four-year term. I seek reelection because I made a commitment to my colleagues to serve as Chairman for four years. Chairman at The Citadel not only deems you Chairman of the Board of Visitors, but I also serve as a sitting member of The Citadel Foundation. I serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Foundation, and why that's so critical to the life of our college right now is it's just, again, a $100 million capital campaign two years ago. We're vitally involved in that because of obvious budgetary constraints and we think that it's very, very important for our students to raise this $100 million, not only for the facilities, but for the most part, an academic enhancement and scholarships for these young people that need financial assistance. I'm proud to report so far in this two years we've raised right at $45 million in pledges and donations to-date which is going to make a significant impact on our college. It already has made a significant impact. Our President recommended to us two years ago a leadership in ethics initiative whereby our students and our cadets would receive leadership training involving ethical principles and moral principles of leadership in business. A feature article this week in the Post and Courier as of yesterday went into great detail about how important and significant this program is. It has been funded by one of our graduates, Bill Gross, who's one of the founders of the Palm Pilot. He made a two and a half million dollar gift to the college to endow this leadership initiative which we think is extremely significant to provide ethical principle leadership in South Carolina. In addition, we have been involved in a very rebuilding ambitious program. We
Printed Page 1599 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
are now completing the third barracks, our main barracks, Padgett Thomas which will be ready for occupancy on 1 July. Next October we're hopeful to have a contract for the construction of our final barracks, the Wall Barracks. We are in the midst of a campaign to replace our football stadium which we had decreed must come down, and it is in the process of being demolished in the next 60 days, at least half of it. We feel we have a very ambitious program on it. Last week we had a donation of two and a half million dollars raising our ante, so it's to almost $6 million in this ambitious project, and we feel very confident that we are going to have a stadium which will be the best in Division One AA football in South Carolina, in the nation. So there are many items of unfinished business, and I feel a very strong commitment to finish as Chairman, in the next two years as Chairman and on this term on the Board, and for those reasons, I seek reelection.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions? Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: What will it cost to replace the stadium you're going to tear down next week?
MR. JENKINSON: The cost?
SENATOR GIESE: To rebuild the stadium or replace it.
MR. JENKINSON: It depends on which scenario you're looking at. Right now we are looking at The Citadel's portion of that project to-date of being $9 million. We feel like if we could raise $9 million, the rest should come, and it's a package that is currently being put together as we speak. I sent out a four-page email to the Executive Committee of the Foundation on Friday. We are working on funding, revenue bonds and looking at all kinds of possibilities, but this is going to happen.
SENATOR GIESE: Is there any municipal money going into the stadium?
MR. JENKINSON: None committed as of this minute.
SENATOR GIESE: None committed. Are you expecting any?
MR. JENKINSON: I would hope so. I hope so. That's, again, items that are being discussed. I'd say being discussed at this time, no commitments.
SENATOR GIESE: Thank you.
Printed Page 1600 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Following that line of testimony, Mr. Chairman, as far as the funding, are you anticipating revenues from the athletic program participating in that, and how much are you expecting that to generate?
MR. JENKINSON: It's -- we look at it this way. We are not going to mortgage the future of Citadel athletics over a stadium, period. We are pay as you go. We told our alumni, "If you want a new stadium, show me the money." We're not -- we don't want to get into any long term other than bridge financing to cover pleasures or commitments. So we are not going to mortgage it. We're in a problem with our athletic programs, most colleges and universities are. We tasked the administration with coming back in April to give us a complete overview of our athletic funding of the program. "We will not operate in the red" is what our mandate was to them. "Show us how to operate in the black because that's where we're going." We do anticipate revenue from the state, and it could be significant. That's part of our package, but we don't want to count those dollars until we can see them.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And how about from the State of South Carolina?
MR. JENKINSON: Pardon?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: How about from the State of South Carolina?
MR. JENKINSON: Are we looking to the State of South Carolina?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yes, for the funding.
MR. JENKINSON: I'm not aware of any current asked of the State of South Carolina from the State, but I'm not -- I don't think we can ask for --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Is there any projected in that plan that you have in building the stadium?
MR. JENKINSON: Right now, what we have on the drawing board, we're going to raise the money ourselves.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, Bill.
MR. JENKINSON: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, may I be excused? I'm trying to make a flight out of here, out of state. I need to leave if I could be excused?
Printed Page 1601 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir, you're welcome to go. What's the pleasure of the Committee on Mr. Jenkinson?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable report?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Now you can go.
MR. JENKINSON: I appreciate that so much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. All right. I would like to have Mr. Raymond Johnson. Mr. Johnson, would you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. JOHNSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any kind of illness the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. JOHNSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you serve on any other kind of board or commissions that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. JOHNSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business activities?
MR. JOHNSON: I'm retired, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Would you make a short statement?
MR. JOHNSON: Sure. I graduated from The Citadel in 1955, with a major in chemistry and a minor in math. When I graduated from The Citadel, you had to make a choice whether you wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer or go into some service industry or leave the State of South Carolina. Today, and some of you may not be aware of this, 60 percent of our graduates live out-of-state. About 50 percent, a little over 50 percent are in the business community, and much less than that are in the military today. I was one of those folks who was willing to leave the state for the career in corporate America. I was promoted over the 30-plus years to Vice President, DuPont's Vice President in charge of manufacturing for textile fibers. I was responsible for 20,000 employees, and about 5,000 of those employees were in South Carolina. Our annual income was $6 billion, so I have some experience handling a lot of people through many
Printed Page 1602 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
layers of the organization in budgeting. The reason I was successful, and I was granted early in my career for the leadership and ethics that I got from The Citadel. Thanks to The Citadel, I got a leg up on my competition. I have work experience in the United States, Europe, and Asia. I know how to handle authority, to delegate and to enforce responsibility, how to manage change, and these days you all must know how to do that, and how to talk to corporate America. It is my experience that a governing body should represent the people it serves. From the military agenda and race point of view, I believe that Board of Visitors is in balance; however, I think if you look at the background of the Board of Visitors, you will see that the present board does not represent the graduates that left this state to pursue careers in corporate America. That 60 percent that live outside the State are our best contributors. An example we just heard Billy give about [inaudible]. After retirement I returned to work for DuPont as a Senior Consultant, working with companies like Boeing, TRW, Long Island Railroad and Anheuser Busch. And I wasn't a tasting agent for Anheuser Busch either. After retiring again I served as Vice Chair of Happy Days, children with cancer, and a vestry in the Episcopal church and other community organizations. Presently I'm on The Citadel's School of Business Advisory Board, the Boards of MUSC's Storm Eye, Institute Camp St. Christopher and the Country Club of Charleston. I was recognized by the Honor Society of hi Kappa Phi at The Citadel for my contributions to The Citadel. I founded a mentor's association of The Citadel's School of Business which I now chair. The mentor's association exposes our students to successful business men and women from all business functions including CEOs. The mentor program has doubled in size since its founding in two years ago and continues to grow. It has the added advantage of showing our fine cadets to people who, through their contacts, can represent The Citadel as more than a regional college, and I really believe it is. The mentor's association was recently recognized by a feature article in the Post and Courier. As an example of what our mentors experienced, I arranged for the CEO of DuPont to talk to the Corps of Cadets. He was so impressed
Printed Page 1603 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
with our cadets that he offered internships which some of our students took. Organizational effectiveness comes from having a diversity of experience as well as race and gender. I believe that after you review my record, I would offer the needed diversity to the Board of Visitors. Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? None. Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson. I'd like to make the Committee aware -- I should have maybe stated this earlier. Raymond Johnson, Buck Limehouse, W. Thomas McQueeney and William A. Moody, Jr. are running for the unexpired term left open by Dennis Rhoads' resignation on the Board of Visitors at The Citadel. William E. Jenkinson and Tim Rush are the candidates for the other seat. So what we've got here, we've got a split that even though they're at-large, there's two seats, one of them for the unexpired term of a candidate who had to leave the Board of Visitors at The Citadel, Dennis Rhoads. So bear that in mind. Raymond Johnson, Buck Limehouse, W. Thomas McQueeney and William A. Moody, Jr. are running for a one-year term. All right. At this time we'll ask Buck Limehouse.
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Gentlemen.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Buck. Thank you, sir. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: It is.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Buck, do you serve on any other boards or commissions that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Not at the present time.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. And I know you've been loaded with them in the past. I wasn't sure. Sir, do you have any health related problems that we need to be aware of?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Well, you've heard me tell this before. I've served with every one of you in the state government, and I was appointed head of the Department of Transportation by Governor Campbell and reappointed by Governor Beasley, and then I retired in `99 due to illness. Governor Hodges was sick of me. And I guess next year when we come back before y'all, if I'm lucky enough to be your Trustee, then maybe you'll be sick of me, too.
Printed Page 1604 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Buck, do you have any business activities that would cause a conflict?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None, sir. No personal activities, no hobbies or anything that would cause a conflict either?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, give us a little short statement.
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Well, I graduated from The Citadel in 1960, and as I mentioned, I served the state government as head of the Railway Commission and head of the Highway Department. And I think the service that I had there will help me and help the school, not only from my knowledge of state government but because of my approach. If there's anything that's common to all of the colleges and universities of this state, and I believe in every other state, it's funding. And if you recall, when I was head of the Department of Transportation, we were ranked Number One in the United States the whole time I was there. That's never happened before; it's never happened since. And I think it was because I had a vision for what I wanted the Department to do, and I attacked the funding problem and tried to understand it and tried to get the organization to understand that we had to be frugal but visionary. And I think that's what The Citadel needs as well.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Any questions for Buck?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Senator?
SENATOR GIESE: Does "Buck" mask something like Alphonze or some other name?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: It's Harry Bancroft but, you know, I was named after a mule because I'm pretty stubborn.
SENATOR GIESE: Harry Bancroft?
MR. LIMEHOUSE: Yes, sir.
SENATOR GIESE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Buck? I might add that Buck is the father of Chip Limehouse who serves in the House. Any other questions? Thank you, Buck. How about Mr. W. Thomas McQueeney?
MS. FLOYD: He's not here.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Not here. Okay. Mr. McQueeney has asked for a leave of absence and to be screened at a later date.
Printed Page 1605 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Mr. William A. Moody, Jr. Mr. Moody, would you please raise your right hand?
MR. MOODY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. MOODY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health related problems we need to be made aware of?
MR. MOODY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business interests that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MOODY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No hobbies or anything that would make a conflict of interest?
MR. MOODY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead with a short statement.
MR. MOODY: My name is Bill Moody. I am a 1965 graduate of The Citadel. I'm a CPA in the Charleston area. I have been blessed, unlike Mr. Johnson, to live and to work and raise my family and be a part of The Citadel family since my graduation. I built a career and a business in Charleston, and I think that was all made possible by the education and the training and the relationships that I developed while a cadet. I also believe that living in a community is not a one-way street. You've got to give back, and I think I've done that over my life. I've been active in my church. I have been the President of the Metro Chamber of Commerce. I've chaired the United Way campaign, and I very soon will be the Chairman of the United Way Board of Directors. And that's not what I -- that doesn't even include what I have done while I've lived there with The Citadel. I have a membership and I've been active in the Alumni Association, the Brigadier Club, the Business -- before it was a school it was the Business Department. I served on that advisory board for several years. I am part of Mr. Johnson's mentoring program. I mentor cadets over there. I also am currently serving as Vice Chairman of the School of Business. That's a new or recent development the last couple, three years. I have financially supported, as well as my firm, The Citadel, the athletics, the Business School and the Development Fund for
Printed Page 1606 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
many years. There's really three parts of what I see as the vision for the Board of Visitors, and it all revolves around money, money, money. And I'm not sure how much the state has to give. It seems like you guys have pretty much given all you can give, so I don't need to be coming up here and lobbying you because I don't think there's a whole lot up here, but I do believe that there's a lot of money in the community. As Mr. Jenkinson mentioned earlier, we're starting a $100 million campaign. It's the first time The Citadel has ever gone out and asked for that kind of money for an endowment. We've gone out and asked for the Mark Clark Campaign which was $27 million, but that was to do specific things. This $100 million is really about an endowment fund. The professors in the Business School, for example, are underpaid comparable salaries $10,000 to $20,000 per year. And this endowment fund would allow us to take some of that money on an annual basis and supplement those professors' salaries. Out of that $100 million, if any of you know anyone that would like the Business School named after them, we're looking for $25 million to name the Business School. So there's a lot going on down there, and I think that because of my business training and love for The Citadel that I feel that serving on the Board of Visitors would be the best way that I can keep The Citadel financially strong and ready to provide future cadets with the same opportunity that I received.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: Where is your business background?
MR. MOODY: I am a CPA of -- I passed the board in 1970 and I, my firm, we've audited schools; we've audited school districts; we've audited colleges; we've audited all kind of governmental entities as well as being a business and financial advisor to a lot of businesses in the State. Our firm is now probably one of the -- well, I know it's in the top ten in terms of size in the State of South Carolina. We have a total of about 85 people at our firm.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: You wouldn't want that Business School named after you?
MR. MOODY: I don't have the $25 million, sir, but I wish I did. It hasn't been that successful.
Printed Page 1607 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anybody else? No? All right. Thank you, sir.
MR. MOODY: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That concludes The Citadel. What is the pleasure of the Committee on Raymond Johnson, Buck Limehouse and William A. Moody, Jr.?
SENATOR GIESE: Move favorable report.
SENATOR SHORT: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese moves favorable. Second by Senator Short. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Unanimous. Thank you very much.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Did you miss Tim Rush when I was out?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Tim Rush is not here today.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Absent?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He's asked for a leave.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Okay.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Tim Rush and William McQueeney. Thomas McQueeney has asked to be excused and come to the next one. That concludes -- gentlemen, we'll let you know when the time comes by letter or the telephone when you can be up for solicitation of votes. Thank you very much. You're welcome to stay or go. Okay. We'll go to Francis Marion University, and we'll drop down to the 3rd District, Seat 6, Patricia C. Hartung.
MS. HARTUNG: Hello.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, ma'am. Please raise your right hand. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. HARTUNG: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business relations that would cause any kind of conflict of interest by serving on this board?
MS. HARTUNG: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any positions of elections or appointments back in your district that you would have to give up?
Printed Page 1608 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MS. HARTUNG: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Okay. Go ahead with a little short statement.
MS. HARTUNG: My name is Trish Hartung, and I did have a personal change in my life last year. I got married, and my name changed. It used to be Trish Edmonds. And I'm Executive Director of Upper Savannah Council of Governments. This is a regional planning and development agency serving six counties in west central South Carolina. I serve in Seat 6 from Greenwood, but my counties that I work in are Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Saluda. Our organization is involved in a variety of activities in community and economic development, planning, programs for the aged and work force development. And through these experiences, I believe that I can contribute and can continue to contribute to the goals and the programs and the projects at Francis Marion University and would like the opportunity to do so.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Thank you very much.
MS. HARTUNG: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. I would ask for Robert C. Figueira.
MR. FIGUEIRA: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand, sir. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. FIGUEIRA: Yes, so help me God.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any kind of business conflicts?
MR. FIGUEIRA: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No business. How about illnesses that we need to be made aware of?
MR. FIGUEIRA: None. No medical condition.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. If you would, just go ahead with a short statement.
MR. FIGUEIRA: Yes. Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, I'm a candidate from the 3rd Congressional District for the Board of Trustees, Seat 6 at Francis Marion University because I feel that my experience in higher education, public humanities programming and heritage tourism equip me well to serve my fellow South Carolinians. My training as an
Printed Page 1609 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
African historian, my quarter century-long work in public and private higher education as an instructor and middle level administrator, my participation in the activities of the South Carolina Humanities Council, the South Carolina Historical Association and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Project have given me a broad perspective regarding the function of publicly supported colleges and universities in our communities. As a Trustee, I believe that I will be able not only to represent my community in service, but also to assist Francis Marion in its mission as a public regional comprehensive teaching university. I believe that our state colleges and universities face both challenges and opportunities and it will be the responsibility of the Trustees as stewards of their institutions to overcome these challenges and exploit these opportunities. First, Trustees must insure that their institutions attain or maintain high quality instruction and student learning. Second, Trustees should strive to eliminate wasteful program duplication in the current straight and public budgetary landscape. Third, Trustees must revisit their institution's vision statement and the mix of their institution's academic programs to insure that both satisfy regional and statewide needs in employment and community life. Fourth, Trustees must promote excellence in all aspects with the faculty's and staff's professional life at their institution. Finally, Trustees must never lose sight of the big picture; that is, the aim of public higher education itself. Our state colleges and universities must produce graduates whose education has not only enhanced their full potential as social and humane individuals, but has also prepared them to function in our communities as workers, neighbors, family members and engaged citizens. Currently, I have no formal professional alumni or personal connection to Francis Marion University, but I do understand its mission and institutional character by analogy to my own professional experiences during the past decade and more as a faculty member at Lander University. The absence of prior connections to Francis Marion University would insure my impartiality as a Trustee. The nature of my own professional life in recent years, however, also makes Francis Marion University a very familiar place. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Printed Page 1610 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Dr. Figueira, what made you aware of this seat being available?
MR. FIGUEIRA: An advertisement in the Greenwood Journal.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Appreciate that. In hearing your comments there, in saying that they need to be evaluated as far as the mission, things of that, are you -- do you feel, is that saying that currently that has not been done?
MR. FIGUEIRA: I'm saying generally throughout the university system of comprehensive public institutions, that revisiting has to be done constantly. And I think that that's with -- previous counties have mentioned rapidly changing times and challenges of the modern technological age. And the employment picture is changing so quickly, and migration patterns and business patterns in small communities -- think for a moment of the tremendous Hispanic migration in certain areas of the state. Definitely the picture of the landscape is changing so quickly that institutions have to on a regular basis see if their match programs and the job needs --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Excuse me, I don't want to --
MR. FIGUEIRA: Yeah.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Then are you saying -- are you knowledgeable enough to be able to address, has that been done, or is that something that --
MR. FIGUEIRA: Oh, at Francis Marion?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yes.
MR. FIGUEIRA: No, I do not know whether it has been done or is being done --
SENATOR ALEXANDER: So saying that is not saying it has not been done?
MR. FIGUEIRA: No, I'm just speaking in generalities here.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anybody else? No. Okay. Thank you, sir.
MR. FIGUEIRA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. We'll go to Seat 14, at-large, Mr. Robert W. Williams, Jr.
MR. WILLIAMS: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee.
Printed Page 1611 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good to see you, Robert.
MR. WILLIAMS: Glad to see you again, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you please raise your right hand, sir? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Robert, kind of give us some board meetings you've been to. You haven't missed any; have you?
MR. WILLIAMS: Mr. Chairman, I have not missed any board meetings. And I questioned my best thinking on whether or not I wanted to make myself available for the board for another four-year term, and the members of the faculty and members of the Board and the President wanted me to continue to serve if at all possible, if the members of the legislature saw fit to reelect me. My objective in giving them a positive answer is, the job has not been done at Francis Marion in regards to what we have now underway, our $12 million campaign. We've worked very hard at that. We've been able to successfully bring $2 million personally from people who have contributed. We've started a program funding 20 scholarships, full-fee scholarships, and that has been very successful in educating some of the children that could not afford to go to school if it wasn't for our scholarship program that we bring to the table. We're also very active in the Foundation in raising funds for the Foundation to fund certain projects at the University, and we have one of the best universities you'll find today in South Carolina, and it's because of the new leadership that we have in Dr. Fred Carter. We have improved in our faculty, and anyone who doubts that we're not meeting the challenge of tomorrow would be totally wrong because we are, and I'm here to say that I want to be a part of it to help this university continue to grow. Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions for Robert? I would like to comment. No questions, but I would like to comment. Robert, thank you for saying yes to offer again. Robert served on the Aeronautics Commission in ...
MR. WILLIAMS: Vice Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... Florence County, in that area, the Pee Dee area well throughout his career down there and in
Printed Page 1612 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
working with the people in that area and did a wonderful job on the Aeronautics Commission. And it's a pleasure to serve with you.
MR. WILLIAMS: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Thomas C. Cathcart.
MR. CATHCART: Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a correction. That is Thomas D. Cathcart.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: B.
MR. CATHCART: Yes, sir. D.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: D.?
MR. CATHCART: D. Yes, sir. As in --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: As in dog?
MR. CATHCART: Yes, sir, or as in dog. That's true.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thomas, will you please raise your right hand? The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. CATHCART: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any personal injuries that would cause a conflict of interest if you should be elected?
MR. CATHCART: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any kind of elected positions or any appointed positions back at home in your district?
MR. CATHCART: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. No ailments or anything that we need to be made aware of?
MR. CATHCART: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead with a short statement, sir.
MR. CATHCART: Sir, Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, I wanted to talk a little bit about what drives me here today. I'm a 1986 graduate of Francis Marion University, at that time, Francis Marion College. While I was there, I served on the Student Government Association as a student government senator. I served as the Vice President of the Student Body, and I served on the President's Advisory Council. I became a very active part of the student government organization there and got to understand a great deal of the administrative process at the University. Upon my graduation, I entered the insurance industry and have been an insurance agent since that time. I now serve as Vice President of an insurance agency here in Columbia. I work a territory throughout the
Printed Page 1613 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
State of South Carolina. I come across a number of our graduates and fellow individuals that I attended school with, and we all have the same feelings and/or commitments to the institution. We enjoyed our time there and we felt like what we gained there was something that has carried us through to the present and to our present positions. I would like to serve the University in a continuation of what I had done as a student. I would like to go back and take up the mantle of government and/or organization and growth process there at the University. I think the University has a great opportunity. Up until now I think it's been a regional institution, and I think it could be more marketed to the state as a state-wide institution. And I think it has great opportunity. The only question that I ask you today is the opportunity that you would give me to be able to serve the state and to the institution.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? None. Thank you, sir. What does the Committee --
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable report from Senator Short.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second from Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Okay. We'll go to South Carolina State University. At-large Seat 11, Mr. John Williams, Jr., the incumbent. Mr. Williams, please raise your right hand. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. WILLIAMS: I do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any kind of conflicts that have come in, any changes since you've been on the board?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance, Mr. Williams?
MR. WILLIAMS: I think I've missed about two meetings in the last seven and a half years.
Printed Page 1614 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Sir, will you make a little short statement?
MR. WILLIAMS: Chairman Phillips and members of the Committee, I have had the honor and pleasure of serving the citizens of South Carolina for 37 years. 27 of those years have been with South Carolina State University, 20 years as a member of the faculty and seven years as a member of the Board of Trustees. I recognize the importance of the position I hold as a member of this governing body. I have and continue to give the necessary time, not just attending board and committee meetings, but other campus events, for the show of Board support is important to the University. I will continue to help to promote South Carolina State University to my community and state and do those things that will enhance the public image of the University. I will continue to contribute to the University financially and urge others to do likewise. I share a continuing commitment to provide quality education to those who wish to attend our University. I graduated from South Carolina State University in 1962, had an opportunity to work in several counties in the State of South Carolina. I started out in Spartanburg County, went to Greenwood County, Greenville County, Beaufort County, and all of these areas that I worked certainly assisted me when I went to South Carolina State University to do my work there. I spent three years in the military. I was honorably discharged in 1965. And certainly, it's been a pleasure to serve as a member of this governing body.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Williams, graduation rates are not good in South Carolina, your school as in all the rest of the schools. What's the main problem with that?
MR. WILLIAMS: There are many problems. I think that certainly we are going to have to continue to spend more time with the advisement process. I think the idea that the students are leaving, not necessarily just dropping out, but transferring to other institutions, that's going to have to be addressed. And certainly, a number of the things that we may have to do as far as improving the quality of life and everything at South Carolina State. We are beginning to make a number of those changes. We're very excited about the new administration
Printed Page 1615 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
that we have in place and, of course, we look for great things in terms of graduation rate and as far as increase in enrollment and in a number of other things that relate to the student progress at South Carolina State.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Are we accepting students that shouldn't be in college?
MR. WILLIAMS: At the present time, I feel that we're not accepting students that shouldn't be in college, but I do believe that as far as our mission is concerned, we are not out of the rejected stone business. We're going to find that there are a lot of first generation students who will be coming from areas of the state that may not have been as advantaged as some of the others. I've lived in Greenville. I've lived in Orangeburg. I've lived in Beaufort. I've seen the disparities that relate to what happens because a child is born in one part of the State versus the other. But I think as far as our mission is concerned, we're still going to have to leave a small crack in that door to try to serve the unserved. We have helped a number of students who were very rough as they came in, but certainly are jewels and diamonds that we have today. We're very proud of many of those young men and women. I've worked with them, and we look forward to continuing that process.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Let me pursue that same point. Are you familiar with the average entrance score at South Carolina State, SAT?
MR. WILLIAMS: The average entrance score has risen from the 700s when I was there working on the faculty, to about 800 or 900 at this point. Now, we do have exceptional situations where we've had some students who've come in with 1400. We recruited a number of students, certainly foreign students who come from Trinidad and other areas like that, and they have done a great job in terms of, I guess boosting our overall SAT score, but we still have a problem in the State of South Carolina, per se. If you look at what we do, I guess on an average as far as state SAT scores are concerned, that's sort of a modest area. I think we've got to improve overall as far
Printed Page 1616 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
as our high schools and certainly as far as our university is concerned.
SENATOR GIESE: Can you speak to -- has progress been made over the last three or four years on ...
MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR GIESE: ... increasing -- could you speak just briefly to that?
MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir. Progress has been made. Our numbers have gone up from the 700 range to where we're looking at an average about 900 SAT on our student enrollment.
SENATOR GIESE: It's 900 now?
MR. WILLIAMS: Yes.
SENATOR GIESE: That's not the latest data, I don't have latest data, but is it roughly 900 now?
MR. WILLIAMS: It's roughly 900. That's to the best of my knowledge, that's correct.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I think it's a little over 900; isn't it?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Representative Littlejohn, do you have another question?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do you have the percentage of your students that are out-of-state that attend S.C. State?
MR. WILLIAMS: We have certainly encouraged, but because of funding, it has been sort of a tough sell as far as student athletes and areas of that nature. We actually had to sort of cut back just a small amount as far as our student athletes and recruiting student athletes from out-of-state, but roughly I would think that we have about a 65 to 35 ratio as far as out-of-state and in-state students.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Of the things that you mentioned that need to be done there, what is the number one priority or the biggest challenge that's facing you today at S.C. State?
MR. WILLIAMS: I think we have several, but one of the things I know that we're working on in a very particular way, and that is deferred maintenance. We're also looking at the kinds of things that we're going to need to do as far as dormitories, as far as additional classrooms, certainly building towards
Printed Page 1617 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
programs in science and engineering. But deferred maintenance has been one of the real tough spots for us because we have facilities that have gone unattended for a long period of time, and we just need some help in that respect. One of the things that I am very proud to say that we've sort of got a hold of our financial situation. We took the bold step to bring in some consultants to give us the information that we need to sort of root out some of the problems that we had as far as finances are concerned. The new administration provides leadership that not only is great in terms of management, but they're also good teachers. So some of the individuals who were there who have been working in some of the past administrations have been, they have done a good job of bringing them up to speed as far as some of our problems are concerned.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: What kind of program, if any, do you have to attract outstanding students to South Carolina State, reference the fact that the average SAT score in our State is 980, 1010 around the nation, and your SAT average is somewhat less than that?
MR. WILLIAMS: Well, one of the things that we've just put in place is the nuclear engineering program that we collaborated with the University of South Carolina. We have the only undergraduate nuclear engineering program in the State of South Carolina. The University of South Carolina has the Master's and doctoral programs. And so there's going to be a nice transfer of faculty and students, and certainly our students and our faculty are going to get the experience from faculty from the University of South Carolina and vice versa. That is one of the areas that I can point to. We also have a number of exciting things that are happening certainly in our School of Business where we are having world leaders who are coming in and addressing our students and giving them some of the information that they have that's current in terms of corporate America, and these areas are doing extremely well. We also have a center of excellence in transportation that has been created over the last few years, and we're hoping the kind of things that might go on in the State of
Printed Page 1618 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
South Carolina in the future as far as transportation is concerned, we'll be able to get students to certainly involve themselves in these areas and be some of the leaders of developing transportation in the State of South Carolina.
SENATOR GIESE: I think those are all fine and wonderful objectives, but it would seem to me that the entrance scores that you have at South Carolina State are such that the majority of students fall somewhat below what is required in other schools, the major schools in the rest of the state. In other words, if you accept people with 840, 860, and 870 and -80, when the average SAT score is 1010 in the country and 980 in South Carolina, it would seem that you're starting in a negative position so far as the student body is concerned.
MR. WILLIAMS: Senator, we're doing the best we can. We're going to keep our doors open, and certainly we're going to try to provide the programs that are attractive to any student who would want to come. I think we do have some exciting programs that will benefit our students. We have a rich history of involvement as far as our past is concerned, and many of our students have gone on and done extremely well. We are certainly looking to see that that happens in the future, and we're going to have to work with what we have at this point in time.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Williams, would you agree that SAT scores are not the only measure of academic success?
MR. WILLIAMS: Thank you so much. Rank in class, certainly, you know, the size of a person's heart. I don't know what my SAT score was. I think I could have gone to any school in America but I don't know whether that was one of the criteria at that time. We still want to make sure that those students who come and take part in our university -- we take them where they are and try to move them to a higher level.
SENATOR GIESE: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: When you responded to that last, "You take them where they are," does that mean that you --
Printed Page 1619 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. WILLIAMS: Students that enroll in our university, we work with them, and we try to provide them the best possible education available.
SENATOR GIESE: Does that mean you have open enrollment?
MR. WILLIAMS: No, sir. I don't think we have open enrollment because you just look at our athletic program, certainly you've got to qualify in order to get into our institution, so we do not have open enrollment.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. WILLIAMS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: John T. Bowden.
MR. BOWDEN: Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand, sir. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. BOWDEN: I so swear.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any appointed positions or elected positions that you would have to give up that would cause a conflict of interest if elected?
MR. BOWDEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. BOWDEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any health related problems that would cause you not to be able to attend meetings of the Board?
MR. BOWDEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Any kind of recreational activities that would cause a conflict?
MR. BOWDEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Please give us a short statement.
MR. BOWDEN: Yes, sir. Thank you very much. My name is John Bowden. The first thing I would like to do, Mr. Chairman, is to thank you and thank the Committee for allowing me the opportunity to appear before you today. I would also think I would be remiss if I didn't thank the staff that arranged the filing process. They were very, very helpful and very, very efficient, and I specifically would like to thank Ms. Floyd. I find it very difficult, frankly, to talk about myself, but it's obvious in this case I'm going to have to do it. So just a little background. I'm a graduate of South Carolina State College
Printed Page 1620 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. I also had the wonderful opportunity to obtain a Master's degree from one of the most prestigious universities in this country, Pepperdine University in California. Obviously, I have a military career, and in the military I attended, I was selected for and attended all the highest level of colleges, the Commander General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from the War College, I stayed on the faculty at the War College and served as the Director of Management Studies. I believe that I can make a contribution as a Trustee at South Carolina State College. I do have quite a bit of experience in boards and commissions. Just to name a few, I served on the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, and I was selected as a national delegate to the National Convention from the Diocese of South Carolina. I served as a board member and Chairman of the Houston Center at Clemson University. I served on the area Commission of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, and I serve presently as a member of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. I give you that information because I think I know how a board should operate and the things that it should not do. As far as visioning is concerned, I have a few things that are fairly close to me. Number one, I believe an institution, specifically an institution of higher learning, needs to have a set of core values, and these core values should permeate the institution. They shouldn't be on a piece of paper and that's as far as they go, but they should permeate the institution to the extent that when you question yourself at the end of the day, if what you have done is not correlating with those core values, then you ought not to be doing it. You should be doing something else. And so I believe those core values have to be an integral part of the institution, and we have to follow them dearly, dearly, dearly. Now, what do I mean by core values? Well, I mean by -- examples would be values that address good, sound financial management, values that address the manner in which we present the curriculum, values that would address civility in the
Printed Page 1621 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
curriculum; that is to say we do a pretty good job teaching technical skills, but sometimes we miss the pieces that have to do with civility, that have to do with morality, that have to do with ethics. And I say all of that based on my experience. I've talked about my military side. I spent 26 and a half years in the regular Army of the United States, and I rose to the rank of Full Colonel, and immediately after that launched into a career in higher education administration where I had the wonderful opportunity to serve at the executive level at a four-year public institution, at a four-year private institution, as well as a two-year technical college. And so these things just simply didn't occur to me last week. These are things I've been thinking about for a long time. And then a third thing I -- a third point I want to make to you is that it is quite obvious that -- and you hear it from all of the institutions that have been up here today. It's quite obvious that we're going to have to do something very, very creative and very, very proactive and very -- of being able to generate more funds from grants and contracts and from other private sources. We're going to have to do that. Now, there's got to be a way to do that because if you look around the landscape of South Carolina and you take a look at our private institutions, they all appear to be doing quite well. And they've learned some lessons, and they have reacted, and they have been very, very aggressive in creating structures that go out and do these things as well as having everybody in the institution understand that you are a part of that and that you have to really go after it. And so I think it might be a good idea to benchmark some of the more successful programs, whether they be public or private, and build the kind of structures and plans that would help us in the funding situation because that problem, I know, is not going to get any better. And for those reasons, I feel that -- for those reasons and my background, I feel that I have something positive to offer as a Trustee at South Carolina State University. I'm retired. I have the time. I believe I have the talent, and I think I have the resources to be able to help. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Bowden, you certainly have a very interesting background. I think you've given a
Printed Page 1622 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
lot to your nation and to the State of South Carolina. Where do you draw the base line for accepting students? With the money crunch the way it is and getting students and making the budget, where do we draw the line in accepting students?
MR. BOWDEN: That's a tough question. It's a tough question to answer. I know at the last institution that I served in -- and sometimes if you take a look at an average figure, for example, an SAT score, it doesn't really tell quite the story. The problem in the last institution I worked in is that on the one hand, we had a good core of good solid students with very high SATs. On the other hand, we had some students that just barely squeaked into the door that require a whole lot of help to get past that first year. If you get them past the first year, you can do pretty good. The challenge is to try to create a bell curve. Instead of having something that looks like that (indicating), have something that looks like this (indicating) with that middle ground is a core with SAT scores like 950 or 1000, and then you have your good ones, and then, of course, you have to spend time with the rest of them. But I, you know, I'm not so sure - that's a tough question just to answer, I mean, without sitting on the inside for some time.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Thank you.
MR. BOWDEN: But I know that's my experience from the last institution. And our strategy then became to create recruiting strategies that builds that bell curve better, that makes a better looking curve.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Senator Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I'm following up a question that has been asked several times earlier there, as far as your interest in the board and finding out about the availability there, how did you --
MR. BOWDEN: I've been thinking about it for a long time, but concretely I read it in the Orangeburg newspaper.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Giese?
SENATOR GIESE: You mentioned about recruiting. Do you think we spend enough time at South Carolina State recruiting students?
Printed Page 1623 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. BOWDEN: I couldn't answer that, Senator, because I'm not on the inside. I don't know what the recruiting strategy is at this time.
SENATOR GIESE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Thank you, sir.
MR. BOWDEN: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll go to At-large Seat 12, Brantley Evans, Jr. Please raise your right hand. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. EVANS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Brantley, has anything changed since you've been elected to the Board?
MR. EVANS: Yes, sir. I am the Chairman of the Athletics Committee and also I'm a member of the Executive Committee and also a member of the Buildings and Grounds and Facilities Committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your attendance? Can you tell us?
MR. EVANS: I have missed probably two meetings in the past four years. I travel quite frequently but, you know, I always call in and participate by conference call if I'm not actually physically at the campus.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you make a little short statement?
MR. EVANS: Well, thank you for having me. And when I got on the Board four years ago, I can honestly say we've made a tremendous amount of progress. We spent the first year kind of finding out that there were some things that we needed to correct. Our second year we brought in Justice Chief Finney as an interim President and started doing some change on the institute and Athletics Committee. This was the first time in the school's history to have more of an oversight on athletics because athletics was a huge drain on our overall budget as well as most of other universities. We developed various programs, institutional control programs, through the restructuring and actually streamlining our administration. Our third year we elected the new President who has done an awful lot with the presidential service, I should say, that took most of their time. And so my four years have been more
Printed Page 1624 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
about change than anything else. We're starting to put a tremendous amount of oversight and institutional controls in place. I believe that from a physical service standpoint, you can't go out and raise money if you don't have the institutional control over making sure that the monies are being spent where they need to be spent. So I am very honored to be here. I'm looking forward to continuing my service. Hopefully we can improve on the areas in which we need to and -- that's it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Any questions for Brantley? None. You did a good job, Brantley.
MR. EVANS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. That concludes -- Jay Fields has withdrawn, and Sam Hinson has asked for a leave of absence.
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, favorable report by Senator Short.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Representative Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's unanimous that John Williams, John T. Bowden and Brantley Evans, Jr. are qualified to run, and we'll let you know when it's such time to qualify for votes. Okay. We've got one more. And we'll go to the University of South Carolina, and we would ask for Helen C. Harvey, 14th Circuit.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Saved the best for last.
MS. HARVEY: That's just what I was going to say. Thank you. Thank you. And you did save the best institution for last. Carolina is my love. It always has been. I'm a graduate -- well, excuse me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand. The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. HARVEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Helen, can you tell us a little bit about how many meetings you've missed? Have you been missing any meetings or have you been attending?
Printed Page 1625 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MS. HARVEY: I've been on the Board for 11 or 12 years, and I think I've missed two, I think two or three, always for out of the country trips.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes. Okay. Nothing changes towards any kind of appointments or anything on the Board?
MS. HARVEY: I have been working the last four or five years on a visual impairment, and I have been very -- it has stopped my ability to drive which is like taking candy away. But I find that it is not interfering in any way with my ability to serve on the Board of Trustees. And everyone has very kindly helped me get back and forth, and I have no problem in making the meetings or attending to the business.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Are there any questions for Helen? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Ms. Harvey, and certainly I just wondered today, you're wearing such a beautiful red and black outfit as that, was that a particular reason for today with you coming before this Committee?
MS. HARVEY: It surely was. These are my colors. I wear them as much as I can, and I am proud of them.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: We appreciate your being here.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? None. Well, thank you very much, Helen. Thank you.
MS. HARVEY: My goodness. The biggest ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, you did a good job.
MS. HARVEY: ... and largest university, and no questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You did a good job.
MS. HARVEY: We really have done a good job.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You did a good job. See, if you get it covered, you got it covered when you came in. Thank you very much, Helen.
MS. HARVEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Mr. William W. Jones, Jr.
MR. JONES: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Jones, please raise your right hand.
MR. JONES: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. JONES: Yes, sir.
Printed Page 1626 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Jones, do you hold any elected or appointed positions?
MR. JONES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None?
MR. JONES: Nothing.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about health related problems we need to be made aware of?
MR. JONES: No health related problems.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about business activities? Any?
MR. JONES: No business activities.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Will you give us a short statement?
MR. JONES: Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, for this opportunity. I'd first like to introduce my wife and best friend, Margaret, who's here with me today. She has been up here with me several times, and she now is convinced that it's not all pleasure. There's a good bit of work involved. I'm part of an immediate and extended family that has attended the University of South Carolina for generations. In the latter part of 1999, I was asked to co-chair Beaufort County Citizens' Task Force to make USCB, University of South Carolina-Beaufort, a four-year, degree-granting university and to assist them in the development of a new campus in central Beaufort County. Over the succeeding two or three years, I've spent a tremendous amount of time working with the USC Board of Trustees, legislative leaders in Beaufort County in structuring a strategic plan that would result with the University obtaining four-year baccalaureate degree-granting status and provide sufficient capital to build a new USCB campus. Our efforts were successful, and I'm sure that many of you know that construction is currently underway in Beaufort County for the development of a new $35 million campus for USCB without cost to the state or the university. And USCB has been given a four-year baccalaureate degree-granting authority. As a result of this experience, my appreciation for the University and its critical importance to South Carolina grew enormously. And I developed a desire to become even more involved in the life of this institution. I am dedicated to the full development of the University Research Campus as a brilliant way to bring
Printed Page 1627 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
investment to the University and into South Carolina with minimal investment of state dollars. I am dedicated to the continuation of the University's fuel cell research which is critically important to the nation to change our national dependence on an oil-based economy. I am dedicated to the further development of the Natal Science Center, the limits and possibilities of which are virtually immeasurable. This initiative could put South Carolina on the cutting edge of what is happening nationally and internationally. I am dedicated to the University's ongoing quest for research funding. The hard economic times that we are currently in makes this extraordinarily important for the continued growth and success of the University. It has been my extreme pleasure to work with the University during this exciting period. My goal in serving on the Board of Trustees is to be in a position to work more closely with the University system and to utilize my experiences and talents to help raise the level of the University's teaching, research, scholarship and public service mission to a new and even higher standard. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions? Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: Will you give us just a bit of your business background?
MR. JONES: Yes, sir, Senator. I'm an attorney. I graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. I have a somewhat general practice but have the good fortune of back in four or five years ago spending the better part of six years in Eastern Europe developing European telephone companies in some of the countries where the walls had come down. Most recently, I met -- thank goodness those projects are over, and I'm not going to Europe three or four times a month. So I'm back to practicing law in Beaufort County. I have offices on Hilton Head and in Bluffton. And I happily reside in my office in Bluffton. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: When you commented your involvement with the expanding of the campus there to a four-year program, how many students?
MR. JONES: Approximately 1,000.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: 1,000 students at that campus?
Printed Page 1628 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. JONES: Yes, sir. And it is growing in direct proportion to the growth of Beaufort County which, as you probably know, is the fastest growing county in South Carolina. We were having a severe brain drain in our area because there were no four-year baccalaureate degree-granting schools in South Carolina in a reasonable driving distance from Beaufort County. The brain drain was going into the numerous schools that exist in Savannah. So this is a wonderful opportunity to keep some of this talent home, to keep some of these bright students in Beaufort County and in South Carolina to help the critical job situation we've got, to get wages up. It's going to be an economic steam engine for our area of the State, and I think the University system is going to be well served.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: There is also movement in some circles that would expand the Sumter campus to a four-year institution. What would be your -- what is your thinking on that versus that --
MR. JONES: Well, first let me say, nobody knows any better than I do about the benefit of having a four-year university opportunity within a close distance. I have looked at this carefully, and quite frankly, this really becomes a legislative matter. And infinite wisdom of the Legislature, I'm sure, is going to lead us in the right direction there. And as I become more familiar with the opportunities in Sumter, I'll probably be able to develop a better personal feel, but my experience has been that it is absolutely critical to have a four-year institution within a reasonable driving area of everyone in the State so everybody can take advantage of the opportunities that a full four-year college degree can bring them.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: I don't really have a question for you, Wes, but I want to thank you for taking this opportunity to be here, and I would ask that you use whatever influence you have to help us maintain the campuses, regional campuses, that have been threatened recently, one of them being in my district in Union.
Printed Page 1629 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. JONES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Anybody? Any others? None? Thank you, sir.
MR. JONES: Thank you for the opportunity.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the Committee on --
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable report by Senator Short.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Senator Alexander. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Pleasure of the Committee, we vote to qualify Ms. Harvey and Mr. Jones, and we'll let you know by mail when we start soliciting, when you can solicit votes. Y'all two want to come back up again?
MS. HARVEY: We might.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No? This Committee, we had set March the 9th, but we just happened to think of something. We'd be coming in at 10:00 instead of 11:00, but we wouldn't have time to do it, so we'll go to the next week after that.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: We start the budget on Tuesday.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, I know.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: We've got [inaudible] on Monday.
MS. FLOYD: Right. We're going to --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll come in at 10:00 though.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: On Tuesday?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, on Tuesday. We had it set at 11:00 on Tuesday.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Oh. I thought you wanted to come in on Monday.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, we're not going to -- we don't have that many.
MS. FLOYD: So it's the 16th.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 16th.
MS. FLOYD: 16th at 11:00. Is that good for you, Sonya?
COURT REPORTER: Yes.
MS. FLOYD: Okay.
Printed Page 1630 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll get you a note on it. And we'll discuss all this other. Thank you very much for your attendance here today, and I appreciate it. I look forward to getting some things ironed out. We'll take them as they come, I guess.
MS. HARVEY: I also want to comment on the staff. All of us who were here, it really was good. The gentleman was right about your staff.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much.
MS. HARVEY: Thank you for being so helpful.
MS. FLOYD: Thank you.
SENATOR SHORT: May we adjourn?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move to adjourn by Senator Short. All in favor say aye.
(Board: Aye)
(Adjourned at 1:36 p.m., February 23, 2004 to be reconvened March 16, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.)
MARCH 16, 2004, 11:00 A.M.:
(The hearing was reconvened on March 16, 2004 at 11:07 a.m.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: This is the College Screening Board. What we're going to do, we're waiting on a few more house members and senators, but I would like to take out of order ... I would like to take out of order some of the unopposed candidates and we'll start with the College of Charleston, 3rd District, Seat 6. Philip Bell is unopposed. Mr. Bell. What we're going to do we're going to forego the swearing of you because of the fact that you are unopposed, you are on the Board already as an incumbent and we'd just like to know if there has been any change, any discussion, any change in the health matters that the we or the Board need to know about. Have there been any changes in relationship in business or anything of that nature?
J. PHILIP BELL: No, sir. No changes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No changes. Everything's the same?
MR. BELL: Everything is the same.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you like to give us a little brief of what's going on?
Printed Page 1631 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. BELL: Absolutely. I've been on the Board since 1996, have been involved with the budget, finance, athletics, institutional banking committee. I have been fortunate enough to be there with great leadership and wonderful administrators who we have full confidence in. The college is continuing its successful tour, I guess you'd say. We have better qualified students. We have great faculty and we have wonderful administrators.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the Board?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move to approve.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. All in favor signify by saying Aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Bell, we're probably going to try to publish in the journal Thursday. If we do, then we'll let you solicit ... you can start soliciting votes next Thursday. I believe it's 48 hours ... it will be 48 hours after that. So I would say probably next Thursday, so that we can get it in by Thursday. But we'll let you know either in a call or by a letter as to when we're going to start letting you solicit votes.
MR. BELL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. I'd like to back up here just a minute and introduce our court stenographer, Ginger E. Mills, with the Creel Court Agency. Thank you for your help. And Representative Lanny Littlejohn of Spartanburg and Sophia Floyd, part of the staff here and of course I'm Olin Phillips from Gaffney. Here is our esteemed colleague, Mr. Jessie Hines from Darlington and Florence County. Jessie, we've just screened one, Mr. Philip Bell who is unopposed and we've already signified him and he is qualified to run at the Citadel, I mean the College of Charleston. Now let's bring up Bob. This is for Clemson University. Bob is unopposed and we'll forego the swearing in. Bob has just been on there maybe six months, four months?
BOB PEELER: Since May 7th.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It hasn't been long. It hasn't been long. Bob has there been any kind of change of anything as far as performance or any other thing on the Board?
Printed Page 1632 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. PEELER: No, no change.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No change? Well tell us how it has been in a brief statement.
MR. PEELER: It's been interesting and challenging and I appreciate the legislature electing me last May 7th and, of course, there's a learning curve to it, but I've enjoyed this past few months; working with other members of the Board and the administration to try to meet the challenges ahead of us, and with the General Assembly. Like everybody to the Boards and Commissions, I think I bring some things that are kind of unique; my business background in helping build a successful business and serving two terms as Lieutenant Governor and also having a close working relationship with the General Assembly.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Peeler?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Chairman, I have one. Bob, how do you feel about the tuition situation in South Carolina with all the major colleges? Give me your opinions on that, please.
MR. PEELER: It's been a challenge. Of course the budget that we've all had to deal with has certainly been tough, but we can't price ourselves out of the market. We have working families in South Carolina and I know that the scholarships certainly have been a part of all that, but we all have a challenge ahead of us that we have to step up and meet.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Could you just give us a brief update on whether it has affected your enrollment at all, with the shortages of funds?
MR. PEELER: Clemson has been able to keep its enrollment up. We have ... I tell my children ... my daughter Caroline graduated from Clemson in May of 2002 and my son is in the 9th grade. I couldn't get in to Clemson today with a visitors pass, if I was applying. But we don't have a shortages of applicants and we don't have a shortage of outstanding students at Clemson, but we do have to, as far as tuition, and I know that all you in the General Assembly certainly has a challenge with the budget. We just have to work together and figure it out.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move to approve.
Printed Page 1633 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've got a motion to approve.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've got a second. All approve say aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Congratulations.
MR. PEELER: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll let you know, Bob.
MR. PEELER: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let's go to Lander, 3rd District, Seat 6. Mr. Finis Horne.
FINIS HORNE: Yes, sir, Finis Horne.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Finis Horne, good name.
MR. HORNE: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll forego the screening process. Has there been any real change since you've been on the Board?
MR. HORNE: No, sir. I've had rotator cuff surgery, so I recommend not having that. But outside that I'm good.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Go ahead.
MR. HORNE: Well, the thing I'd like to do is thank the Committee for allowing me to serve the last four years on Lander University's Board of Trustees. It's meant a lot to me and I would like to serve for another four years.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Mr. Horne?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Yes, it's affirmed, Mr. Chairman, that the people are pleased anytime you run unopposed. That's rough work.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We appreciate your work at Lander, Mr. Horne. Mr. Littlejohn?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I appreciate your service too because my son is a graduate from Lander and it's a good school.
MR. HORNE: That's good and I thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: If there's no more questions, we'll look for a motion to approve.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Motion to approve.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Motion to approve and a second. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Approved, sir.
Printed Page 1634 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. HORNE: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Jack Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence, we will have to swear you.
JACK W. LAWRENCE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you please raise your right hand?
MR. LAWRENCE: (Candidate does as instructed.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. HORNE: It will.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related problems this Committee needs to know about?
MR. LAWRENCE: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you, in your business interests, have any conflicts of interest in serving on the Lander Board?
MR. LAWRENCE: No, sir. None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. How about hobbies, any hobbies that may be a conflict of interest?
MR. LAWRENCE: I wish I had a few more hobbies, but the only thing I do is work and do family stuff.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. I would like to introduce Senator Tom Alexander from Walhalla. I'm going to get it right one of these days.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: You're doing good.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You're from Walhalla?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've screened out a couple of unopposed and we're know on Mr. Jack Lawrence of Lander and Mr. Lawrence is seeking a seat on the Lander Board vacated by Mr. Gilmore, Tyrone Gilmore. The questions are open if you have any questions for Mr. Lawrence. Any questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Jack, how is your attendance been?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He's not on the Board. He's seeking a seat.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: That's right, first time. We had screened some of the other ones on their attendance and it was called to my attention that everybody had great attendance. That's why I ask that.
MR. LAWRENCE: I am on a Board in Lake Lure, North Carolina that I have been on for about six or eight years and before I went on that Board they asked me if I was going to be one of these
Printed Page 1635 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
people that didn't appear and I said, "Absolutely not." The only time I have missed a meeting there is today's meeting in six or seven years. So I do ... I want this position and if I'm elected to this position I will definitely be attending.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I would like to note that Mr. Lawrence is replacing someone who probably has been there for one Board meeting and has missed ten. That is the reason that he's running because that seat was vacated by someone who didn't have ... had lost interest in serving on the Board of Lander and didn't attend board meetings. So is there anymore questions for Mr. Lawrence? No other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Move for approval.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Hines moves for approval and seconded by Mr. Littlejohn. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Lawrence, thank you very much.
MR. LAWRENCE: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Now, why don't we just go to South Carolina State at this point. At-large, Seat 12. Is Mr. Samuel Hinton here today? Samuel Hinton? Okay, we won't disqualify him yet. We'll go get these others because he may be on his way. Let's go up here and go back to the College of Charleston, excuse me, The Citadel and we'll ask Mr. Tim Rush to come up. Please, raise your right hand, sir.
TIM RUSH: (Candidate does as instructed.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. RUSH: Yes, it will.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health related problems the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. RUSH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about business interests that would be a conflict?
MR. RUSH: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any hobbies or anything of that nature?
MR. RUSH: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any offices or positions that would be a conflict?
Printed Page 1636 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. RUSH: The only thing is that I am in the South Carolina National Guard as Chief of Staff.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you want to make a little short brief statement there?
MR. RUSH: Yes, sir, I would. First I would like to thank you for allowing me to participate in this. My name is Tim Rush and I am a candidate for The Citadel Board of Visitors. I graduated from The Citadel in 1974. During that time, from `70 to `74, I was involved militarily and socially throughout the school. I held ranking in every class, sophomore through senior. I was a member of the Junior Sword Drill and the Summerall Guards and I was a company commander my senior year in T Company. Upon graduation in 1974 I entered the military in the United States Air Force and was full time in the military, active duty, to fly F-4's for seven years and F-16's for eight until 1985 at which time I separated and became a pilot with the South Carolina Air National Guard in Columbia, South Carolina and also a commercial airline pilot with U.S. Airways. My experience from 1985 until now, I am still a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard. I participated in Desert Storm and several contingency operations up until last November when I had to give up my flying job. I am currently the Chief of Staff of the South Carolina National Air National Guard and the rank of Brigadier General. My various involvements with The Citadel include primary officer for painting the up board located in the first battalion on the parade grounds. I have been involved as the primary officer for numerous F-16 fly-by's during games, not only at The Citadel, but around the State for military participation. I sponsored three freshman, and this is my third one this year, as a mentor to give them my perspective and personal history on what I think and what how I can guide them to be better cadets at The Citadel and also citizens in this great State of South Carolina.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Is there any questions? Mr. Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Rush, we appreciate you running for this Board. You've been asked a lot of questions and you seem to be a very busy man. Are you going to have any problems with attending the Board Meetings?
Printed Page 1637 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
MR. RUSH: No, sir, I will not. I'm currently ... I was full time with the Air National Guard from November of `99 until November of last year, for five years I took a leave of absence from the airline. I'm currently back at the airline at which I work 12 to 14 days a month with another six to eight for the military here in Columbia. I live downtown in Charleston, three miles away from The Citadel, and it would be no problem at all to attend any activities and the Board meetings.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Rush, I believe you must be a pretty good man. My son was a sword drill ... a member of the sword drill in `91, so you must be a pretty good man.
MR. RUSH: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Any other questions?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Just a brief question. I think picking up on what I did prior to the House and their debate, as far as The Citadel goes, what about the new stadium and your expectations of State funds?
MR. RUSH: Yes, sir. That's a very good point. I have been personally involved from the military involvement in that General Spears, the Adjutant General of the State of South Carolina, has made that his number one priority. As a result I've been in meetings and, in fact, this past Tuesday I was up at Senator Hollings office with his staffers coordinating with The Citadel and with the National Guard Bureau at Washington D.C. on the final design approval to go forward with a joint stadium with The Citadel and the Army National Guard. It looks like that was initially slated to come out in `08. With some help from Senator Hollings and Senator John Kuhn we have moved it up to `05.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move to approve.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. You may have a seat. Okay. We ask Mr. Thomas McQueeney to come forward and raise your right hand.
THOMAS MCQUEENEY: (Candidate does as instructed)
Printed Page 1638 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. MCQUEENEY: It will.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health related issues that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. MCQUEENEY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any business relations that may cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MCQUEENEY: I don't believe so, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any hobbies or anything of that nature?
MR. MCQUEENEY: My hobby is The Citadel.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No appointments that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. MCQUEENEY: I don't think so, but we will bring up one and you tell me if it's a conflict. I don't believe so. I am the chairman for the Johnson-Hagood) Stadium revitalization effort and I'm also the chairman for the ESPN Palmetto Bowl.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Let me state that Mr. Rush or Mr. McQueeney is running for the unexpired term of ... wait a minute.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Mr. Rush is running for ....
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Oh, wait a minute, I'm sorry.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Mr. Rush and I were also a classmates.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've got two seats; we've got one four year seat and we've got an unexpired seat for one year of Dennis Rhoad who retired and that is the seat he's seeking. All right, sir. I wanted to make that clear.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Would you like me to give you some background?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. We would like for you to make a general statement.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Well, there's a few things I've already told you, but I am ... my blood runs Citadel Blue. I am a classmate of General Rush's; class of 1974. Like General Rush I have a distinguished background at The Citadel where I held rank every year and was the intermural athlete of the year. I was involved in a lot of things and a lot of different boards, cadet boards and so forth. I don't want to bore you with that. I am one of seven brothers to have attended The Citadel and one of
Printed Page 1639 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
six who graduated. We span from 1971 to 1990. We hold the military college record for brothers who have attended a military school. I have been active my entire post graduate time in Charleston. I am a Charlestonian. I've been on the President's Resource Council at the Citadel Foundation still, Memorial Fund, Brigadier Club, I started the Fast Break Club and a lifetime member of the Alumni Association, Mark Clark's Capital Campaign and I'm currently on the Board of The Citadel Foundation Capital Campaign along with Chairing the Johnson-Hagood Stadium Revitalization Committee. I've donated enormous time and energy into programs in pursuits of The Citadel; both in fund raising, planning, athletics and scholarships. I pledged considerable, personal financial resources to this; both paid and pledged well over 1.5 million dollars to The Citadel. I feel that I'm blessed with energy, resourcefulness, imagination. I'm a small businessman, very successful in my business. I'm one of the top agents in the United States for State Farm. In short, I feel like I've walked the walk. I want this opportunity to see if I can help The Citadel into its future.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let me ask you, how much involvement do you have in bringing this ESPN Bowl? Are you ...
MR. MCQUEENEY: Probably 100 percent. I know this is a controversial issue and I noticed that you asked about the line item, the $380,000.00. I'm probably the main person that you may like to speak to about that. I have tons of information on it. I think it's a very good thing for the State of South Carolina. I see that it's a way to bring other money in that can fund a lot of other needs down the road that we can't fund this year. And though I know this is a very, very defensive year for the State of South Carolina to be spending any money, I just see this as the main ... the offensive opportunity we need to take because it seeks so much income for the State in our future.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I'm glad you've got a vision, whether it comes true or not, it is a step forward.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. McQueeney, just one question. Are you concerned any, at all, about the bowl dates? Other bowls
Printed Page 1640 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
have failed with these dates. Do you see any changes in those bowl dates?
MR. MCQUEENEY: I don't, personally, see any change. Remember that we're only a 35,000 seat stadium. It's a very small stadium. There's a 550,000 population in the general area, the Charleston area. ESPN doesn't ... we really don't have a risk in this. We feel like with the 21st or 22nd we're pretty good to go to give fans a drive home time before Christmas and it also gives the community shopping time. This is the new ACC with a second place conference USA team, which should be a nationally ranked football team so it should be a pretty good game. Regardless of the crowd that will be there, which is going to be guaranteed by ESPN, they sell half the tickets, essentially, to one college and half to the other and there's a guaranteed buy; sell or buy. So there will be very few locals tickets available, actually.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You say you don't have a re-estimate for the people of South Carolina to have a way of (inaudible) of this, you don't see any problems raised there?
MR. MCQUEENEY: I don't believe so, sir. I see this as something that brings an income in somewhere in the neighborhood of three million dollars per year depending on the contract people have to deal with for two years with ESPN to bring this to the forefront. They own and operate three other bowls that are very, very successful.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Senator.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I concur, I think it would be great to have the bowl, I'm certainly for the bowl. I guess my concern is the precedence this sets with the State aprop ... I mean why if this is going to bring in three million dollars per year would we not use that three million ... part of that ten percent, roughly about three million dollars, rather than $380,000 out of State appropriations.
MR. MCQUEENEY: I'm sorry, there was some noise back here.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Why would we need the $380,000 of State appropriations if there is going to be a net income of three million dollars?
MR. MCQUEENEY: Well, I've worked on this extensively and what I get is a fair share proposal that I have taken to the legislators which I would love to see all of you here, also, because
Printed Page 1641 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
you're asking great questions and I would love to explain that to you. The fair share proposal that I brought breaks down just the bowl game itself. Now remember we have four other ancillary activities to go with the bowl game approved, a historically black college football game between SWAC and the MEAC, which has already been approved by both of those conferences. And we have a job fair, we have a military conference double header, the first time it's ever done in the United States, all three service academies and The Citadel in conjunction with this bowl game which is going to have a big economic impact. We will have, also, a core of eighteen pre-season exempt NCAA basketball tournament in which they will bring as many four ranked teams into Charleston/North Charleston Coliseum each Thanksgiving. In addition we are in discussions, and you all are the first to know this essentially, with the 1AA football committee and they want to bring that game from Chattanooga to Charleston because of weather. That's usually played the first week in December. So there are other activities that are coming. This is not even mentioning non-sports activities; Easter services, Spoleto events, Charleston Symphony Orchestra. There are so many other things; boy scouts, for instance. This stadium, remember, there are three major communities in this State by population; Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and we've got a rickety 20,000 seat stadium, although we have other assets that are there.
MR. ALEXANDER: I guess the question is that the Clemson and Carolina athletic revenues paid for those stadiums. Without this $380,000 from the State on a year to year basis, is it still possible for this project to move forward and be successful?
MR. MCQUEENEY: I would have to ... we would have a lot of problems getting income from the major proposal that we did for the other governmental agencies, that the three cities that are participating in the Charleston County area. I guess they're all basing that on the fair share document that I shared with everyone concerned, or most everyone concerned so far. And that fair share document would certainly not hold water if the State, being the biggest part of that, would not be participating.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Printed Page 1642 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What's the pleasure of the Committee?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move to approve.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Second, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All in favor say aye.
(Board: Aye)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Approved.
MR. MCQUEENEY: Thank you all very much for having me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. I think that concludes it unless we've got Samuel Hinton present. Did he ever come in? What is the pleasure of the Committee on Mr. Hinton?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Just carry him over, wouldn't you think?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: He's not an incumbent.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He's not an incumbent. We've given him twice, this is his second time.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I think we ought to carry him over, at least.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, we'd have to meet again. We've met and been here twice and if he can't attend these meetings, then he can't attend the Board meetings.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Mr. Chairman, have we had any communication from him as to why he's not here?
MS. FLOYD: I've sent a memo and left a message on his recorder and said that I was calling to confirm his attendance and I haven't had any reply in two weeks.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: It seems strange. You would think he would reply.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let me make this suggestion then, let's make ... we want to give everybody an opportunity and we've never thrown anybody out. If it please the Committee, would the Committee agree to let the Chairman send a letter to him telling him he has 48 hours to notify us.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Or he will be found ineligible.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Or he will be found ineligible for failure to comply with our regulations and we disqualify him for failure to be screened?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I would be agreeable to that. I think it would be safe to go ahead and move and say that if we don't
Printed Page 1643 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
hear from him within that period of time he is disqualified and that would keep us from having to meet.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We have his phone number and we'll contact him by phone and by letter and that way we'll know that we did give him an opportunity. And would it please the Committee if he did come and we couldn't get a quorum I would screen him out? The Chairman would have authority to screen him out?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, is this the one that said he didn't have time to come?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, this is a different one.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, is he unopposed?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, he's running against Ms. Floyd. I can tell you right now ...
MS. FLOYD: He's running against Brantley Evans.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, I think if he wanted a seat, he'd be here available if he's running a contested race.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I would think he'd be here, but I mean, you never know, something could have happened; broke down on the road. Any other things ... you all want to go ahead with new business now or do you want to put it on for later?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Yes, put it later.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Thank you very much. This concludes our meeting.
(There being no further questions or testimony, the meeting was concluded at 11:40 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.
College of Charleston
Six congressional districts, one at-large
1st District, Seat 2 L. Cherry Daniel
Printed Page 1644 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
George E. Malanos
2nd District, Seat 4 Joel H. Smith
G. Lee Mikell
3rd District, Seat 6 J. Philip Bell
4th District, Seat 8 Lawrence R. Miller
5th District, Seat 10 W. Dwight Johnson
6th District, Seat 11 Demetria N. Clemons
6th District, Seat 12 Marie M. Land
At-Large, Seat 14 James F. Hightower
The Citadel
At-large, two seats William E. Jenkinson III
Tim Rush
Raymond G. Johnson
Buck Limehouse
Thomas McQueeny
Clemson University
At-large, three seats
Louis B. Lynn
William C. Smith, Jr.
Bob Peeler
Francis Marion University
Six congressional districts, one at-large
1st District, Seat 2 Melissa Johnson Emery
2nd District, Seat 4 Gail Ness Richardson
3rd District, Seat 6 Patricia C. Hartung
Robert C. Figueira
4th District, Seat 8 Alex Kiriakides III
5th District, Seat 10 George C. McIntyre
6th District, Seat 12 William W. Coleman, Jr.
At-large, Seat 14 Robert W. Williams, Jr.
Thomas D. Cathcart
Lander University
Six congressional districts, one at-large
1st District, Seat 2 Robert A. Brimmer
2nd District, Seat 4 George R. Starnes
Printed Page 1645 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
3rd District, Seat 6 Finis Horne
4th District, Seat 8 Jack. W. Lawrence
5th District, Seat 10 S. Anne Walker
6th District, Seat 12 J. Thomas Kinard
At-large, Seat 14 Ann B. Bowen
Medical University of South Carolina
Six congressional districts (three each from medical and non-medical professions)
1st District, non-medical Melvyn Berlinsky
2nd District, non-medical William H. Bingham, Sr.
3rd District, non-medical Charles W. Schulz
4th District, medical Dr. Charles B. Thomas, Jr.
5th District, medical Dr. Cotesworth P. Fishburne, Jr.
6th District, medical Dr. E. Conyers O'Bryan, Jr.
South Carolina State
One congressional district, two at-large
5th District, Seat 5 Linda Edwards
At-large, Seat 11 John Williams, Jr.
John T. Bowden
At-large, Seat 12 Brantley E. Evans, Jr.
University of South Carolina
Eight Judicial circuits
2nd Circuit Miles Loadholt
4th Circuit Eugene P. Warr
6th Circuit James Bradley
8th Circuit Herbert C. Adams
10thCircuit Robert N.McLellan
14thCircuit Helen C. Harvey
William W. Jones, Jr.
15thCircuit M. Wayne Staton
16thCircuit Sam R. Foster II
Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
At-large,Four seats
Bryan England
Wilhelmina McBride
Mary F. Newman
Printed Page 1646 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
Suzanne Turner
Winthrop University
Three congressional districts
2nd District, Seat 2 Donna Tinsley
3rd District, Seat 3 Janet R. Smalley
4th District, Seat 4 Leland Cox
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Rep. Olin Phillips, Chm. /s/ Sen. Warren K. Giese
/s/ Rep. Becky Martin /s/ Sen. Maggie Glover
/s/ Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn /s/ Sen. Thomas Alexander
/s/ Rep. Jesse E. Hines /s/ Sen. Linda Short
THIRD READING BILL
The following Bill was read the third time and ordered sent to the House of Representatives:
S. 934 (Word version) -- Senator Hutto: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN ALLENDALE COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE CERTAIN VOTING PRECINCTS IN ALLENDALE COUNTY, DESIGNATE A MAP NUMBER FOR THE MAP ON WHICH LINES OF THESE PRECINCTS ARE DELINEATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICS OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD.
By prior motion of Senator HUTTO, with unanimous consent
SECOND READING BILL
The following Bill, having been read the second time, was ordered placed on the third reading Calendar:
S. 1104 (Word version) -- Senator Martin: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL DAY MISSED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, BY THE STUDENTS OF A SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PICKENS COUNTY WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED DUE TO SNOW, ICE, OR INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, IS EXEMPTED FROM THE MAKE-UP REQUIREMENT THAT FULL SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DUE TO
Printed Page 1647 . . . . . Friday, March 26, 2004
EXTREME WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BE MADE UP.
By prior motion of Senator MARTIN, with unanimous consent
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:20 A.M., on motion of Senator PATTERSON, the Senate adjourned to meet next Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at 12:00 Noon.
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