Tuesday, February 26, 2008
S.C. State trustee hopefuls say they'd welcome audit
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer | Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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COLUMBIA - A panel of state lawmakers voted to approve all the candidates for seats on the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees Monday after grilling them about the Orangeburg institution.
The only incumbent trustee to go before the panel, Sky Foster, was asked directly about the high turnover of presidents at S.C. State over the past 20 years.
"When facts are in front of you, you make decisions based on those facts," Foster told Rep. Olin Phillips, D-Cherokee, chairman of the Legislative Screening Committee. Foster said she could not comment on the recent ouster of former SCSU President Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. because of legal reasons.
Foster was one of seven trustees to vote against renewing Hugine's expiring contract in December. The board tapped Dr. Leonard McIntyre to be interim president while engaging in a national search for a permanent replacement.
She was elected to fill an unexpired term on the board in 2007, and is up for re-election this year. Foster is facing two challengers for her seat, Lancelot D. Wright and Ronald Hannigan.
Each candidate for the SCSU Board was asked if he or she would approve of an audit of the board, and all including Foster agreed they would welcome such an audit. State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, has been clamoring for an audit of the board since Hugine's dismissal, claiming trustees benefitted from contracts they voted to approve.
Phillips asked Foster if Hugine's ouster could harm SCSU's reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2010. She said the proper staff is in place across the campus and the controversy surrounding Hugine's dismissal should not affect accreditation.
Wright is the president and CEO of National Direct Home Pharmacy, which he said employs many graduates of S.C. State. He said he would bring diversity and the ability to build relationships to the board.
Hannigan is a native of Bennettsville and retired educator. He, in addition to several members of his family, is a graduate of SCSU. Hannigan said he has experience working with budgets and would be a good ambassador who would get SCSU back on its feet.
Candidates vying for trustee positions at other public higher education institutions were barely questioned after giving the panel a brief statement. However, all candidates for SCSU Board seats were asked multiple questions. Phillips said the reason for the heavy questioning was to ensure that SCSU would continue to grow and be the viable institution that South Carolina needs it to be.
Six candidates alone are vying for the vacated seat of former trustee Col. John Bowden. Only Dr. Walt Tobin Sr. is up for former trustee Charles Williams' seat. Both Williams and Bowden resigned in protest following their fellow trustees' decision to oust Hugine.
Phillips said the election for SCSU trustees will likely be held in May. In the meantime, the candidates will seek support from members of the General Assembly who will vote on the three spots.
The following is a look at what candidates vying for Bowden's seat said before the panel:
* Robert Nance
Nance is the son of the iconic former SCSU President Dr. M. Maceo Nance. He said the university is a place he holds dear to his heart, noting that he has worked closely with it in his capacity as U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn's district director. He told the panel he helped the university with two fund-raisers that garnered $1.7 million in donations.
"I have the knowledge and experience to begin working immediately," Nance said.
Nance said the university has had a lack of stability because of the recent trend of presidents coming and going from the university.
"I would like to serve to bring stability," he said.
Responding to a question about the SACS accreditation from Phillips, Nance said the SACS committee will definitely take a look at the high turnover of the university's presidents.
* Diane Talley
Talley is a graduate of SCSU and has a 20-year career in the education field. She said her experience in education will give her insight into the inner workings of the university.
In terms of fund-raising, Talley said it is important to seek donations from the local business community. She said she wants to serve on the board to have the opportunity to give back to her alma mater.
"The thing I love about SCSU is it has a strong history of producing great young people," she said.
* Ben Spearman
Spearman is a resident of North and has been in the telecommunication industry the past 25 years. He said SCSU has the unique opportunity to capitalize on the new economic development around the Interstate 95 corridor.
Spearman said he wants to serve to allow SCSU to take a lead in transportation planning in the state.
* Bryan Jeffries
Jeffries has his own law practice based in Orangeburg, where he was lived the past three years. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he told the panel he has a variety of experience in serving on boards.
Jeffries cited his strengths as strong communication skills, possessing the ability to resolve conflicts and bringing a fresh perspective to the governing body.
"I want to be an advocate for the university in this critical time in its history," he said.
* Rico Snell
Snell is a 1995 graduate of SCSU and a native of Orangeburg who currently resides in Richland County.
He said his 15 years in corporate banking will help bring financial structure to the university. Snell said it is time to create a new legacy at SCSU.
"I would welcome the opportunity to serve my hometown," Snell said.
* Leslie McIver
McIver lives in Horry County and has a 40-year career in education. He is a graduate of Claflin University, but his wife and five brothers all attended SCSU.
He is a former member of the Conway City Council and currently serves on the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments.
McIver said he can build consensus at the university. He told the panel he had discussed SCSU's ups and downs with a friend from Conway and discovered the trustee spot was open through his brother.
* The following is a look at Walt Tobin Sr., who is the only candidate going Williams' former seat:
Tobin is an alumnus of S.C. State and is a retired school administrator. He is a former superintendent of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5. A native of Blackville, Tobin said attending S.C. State was a transforming experience for him.
Tobin told the panel he has had a continuing relationship with the university since his graduation. He said he knows the issues, needs and assets of the university.
"Its an opportunity to give back," Tobin said of his candidacy.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.
Leave a Comment | Default | Large
COLUMBIA - A panel of state lawmakers voted to approve all the candidates for seats on the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees Monday after grilling them about the Orangeburg institution.
The only incumbent trustee to go before the panel, Sky Foster, was asked directly about the high turnover of presidents at S.C. State over the past 20 years.
"When facts are in front of you, you make decisions based on those facts," Foster told Rep. Olin Phillips, D-Cherokee, chairman of the Legislative Screening Committee. Foster said she could not comment on the recent ouster of former SCSU President Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. because of legal reasons.
Foster was one of seven trustees to vote against renewing Hugine's expiring contract in December. The board tapped Dr. Leonard McIntyre to be interim president while engaging in a national search for a permanent replacement.
She was elected to fill an unexpired term on the board in 2007, and is up for re-election this year. Foster is facing two challengers for her seat, Lancelot D. Wright and Ronald Hannigan.
Each candidate for the SCSU Board was asked if he or she would approve of an audit of the board, and all including Foster agreed they would welcome such an audit. State Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, has been clamoring for an audit of the board since Hugine's dismissal, claiming trustees benefitted from contracts they voted to approve.
Phillips asked Foster if Hugine's ouster could harm SCSU's reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2010. She said the proper staff is in place across the campus and the controversy surrounding Hugine's dismissal should not affect accreditation.
Wright is the president and CEO of National Direct Home Pharmacy, which he said employs many graduates of S.C. State. He said he would bring diversity and the ability to build relationships to the board.
Hannigan is a native of Bennettsville and retired educator. He, in addition to several members of his family, is a graduate of SCSU. Hannigan said he has experience working with budgets and would be a good ambassador who would get SCSU back on its feet.
Candidates vying for trustee positions at other public higher education institutions were barely questioned after giving the panel a brief statement. However, all candidates for SCSU Board seats were asked multiple questions. Phillips said the reason for the heavy questioning was to ensure that SCSU would continue to grow and be the viable institution that South Carolina needs it to be.
Six candidates alone are vying for the vacated seat of former trustee Col. John Bowden. Only Dr. Walt Tobin Sr. is up for former trustee Charles Williams' seat. Both Williams and Bowden resigned in protest following their fellow trustees' decision to oust Hugine.
Phillips said the election for SCSU trustees will likely be held in May. In the meantime, the candidates will seek support from members of the General Assembly who will vote on the three spots.
The following is a look at what candidates vying for Bowden's seat said before the panel:
* Robert Nance
Nance is the son of the iconic former SCSU President Dr. M. Maceo Nance. He said the university is a place he holds dear to his heart, noting that he has worked closely with it in his capacity as U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn's district director. He told the panel he helped the university with two fund-raisers that garnered $1.7 million in donations.
"I have the knowledge and experience to begin working immediately," Nance said.
Nance said the university has had a lack of stability because of the recent trend of presidents coming and going from the university.
"I would like to serve to bring stability," he said.
Responding to a question about the SACS accreditation from Phillips, Nance said the SACS committee will definitely take a look at the high turnover of the university's presidents.
* Diane Talley
Talley is a graduate of SCSU and has a 20-year career in the education field. She said her experience in education will give her insight into the inner workings of the university.
In terms of fund-raising, Talley said it is important to seek donations from the local business community. She said she wants to serve on the board to have the opportunity to give back to her alma mater.
"The thing I love about SCSU is it has a strong history of producing great young people," she said.
* Ben Spearman
Spearman is a resident of North and has been in the telecommunication industry the past 25 years. He said SCSU has the unique opportunity to capitalize on the new economic development around the Interstate 95 corridor.
Spearman said he wants to serve to allow SCSU to take a lead in transportation planning in the state.
* Bryan Jeffries
Jeffries has his own law practice based in Orangeburg, where he was lived the past three years. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he told the panel he has a variety of experience in serving on boards.
Jeffries cited his strengths as strong communication skills, possessing the ability to resolve conflicts and bringing a fresh perspective to the governing body.
"I want to be an advocate for the university in this critical time in its history," he said.
* Rico Snell
Snell is a 1995 graduate of SCSU and a native of Orangeburg who currently resides in Richland County.
He said his 15 years in corporate banking will help bring financial structure to the university. Snell said it is time to create a new legacy at SCSU.
"I would welcome the opportunity to serve my hometown," Snell said.
* Leslie McIver
McIver lives in Horry County and has a 40-year career in education. He is a graduate of Claflin University, but his wife and five brothers all attended SCSU.
He is a former member of the Conway City Council and currently serves on the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments.
McIver said he can build consensus at the university. He told the panel he had discussed SCSU's ups and downs with a friend from Conway and discovered the trustee spot was open through his brother.
* The following is a look at Walt Tobin Sr., who is the only candidate going Williams' former seat:
Tobin is an alumnus of S.C. State and is a retired school administrator. He is a former superintendent of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5. A native of Blackville, Tobin said attending S.C. State was a transforming experience for him.
Tobin told the panel he has had a continuing relationship with the university since his graduation. He said he knows the issues, needs and assets of the university.
"Its an opportunity to give back," Tobin said of his candidacy.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.
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We need some folks who can pull some sponsors our way as well as help w/ fundraising....
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