Sadness, indifference and relief were among the reactions among South Carolina State University students following the ouster of the university's ninth president.

University trustees voted not to renew Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr.'s contract, which expires in June 2008, during a Tuesday teleconference. He was immediately placed on administrative leave, with his last day scheduled to be Jan. 4.

Most students were surprised by the decision.

"I was definitely surprised, but I don't understand the full situation of what happened to say I agree with what the school did, or I don't," said Dean Moore, a junior political science major.

Moore, a 20-year-old member of the university track team, said Hugine did much to enhance the track and field department and the campus in general.

"I didn't see anything negative about what he was doing on campus. At the same time, I really don't know what he could have done to the people up top," he said. "He was part of the school and our tradition, so I'm definitely sad to see him go."

Hugine received his bachelor's and master's degrees from S.C. State. He served as Student Government Association president during his junior and senior years at the institution.

He later accepted a student-support position at S.C. State. Along the way, he maintained his professorship in mathematics, teaching even while in the position of interim executive vice president.

Dorothy Wheat, a sophomore early child education major, said she also was surprised and saddened by the decision.

"I guess it could be for the better, but I personally think he shouldn't be dismissed yet. He's done a lot of things to try to keep up the campus. Personally, I don't think nobody could come close to him," the 19-year-old said. "It kinda shocked me when I heard about it."

"When I first got here, I didn't see any problems from the way he had the campus set up and everything," said 18-year-old Ron Lyles, a freshman biology major. "He was probably one of the reasons I came here."

Fellow 18-year-old freshmen Brandi Jones and Courtney Stukes said they are convinced the school will be fine once the dust has settled.

"It's obviously a good institution, otherwise I wouldn't have come. I know every university has its problems, but I think it's gonna be fine. We'll be OK," Jones said.

Jamal Brock, 18, said he's somewhat indifferent as a first-semester freshman.

"It doesn't even bother me really. I can't really tell if anything's changed, but it was kind of surprising to me because I wasn't even here when it happened. I don't really know what happened," Brock said.

Sophomore business major Tyrone Gilyard said Hugine was a "cool" president.

"I saw him around campus a couple of times talking to students. I've been in convocation ceremonies where he's given speeches. I'm pretty sure that there's already confusion, but I hope we can move forward to better things. They're already saying it's 'a new state of mind,' so hopefully we will," the 20-year-old Gilyard said.

Trease Hanna, a 22-year-old senior majoring in fashion merchandising, is happy about graduating in May, but not about Hugine's departure. She said the board, however, evidently had its reasons for ousting the president.

"I guess they based it off the education process and what he has done for us as far as education-wise. I say the improvement needs to be in the education process. But, other than that, I think he has done a lot of nice things campuswide as far as its appearance," said Hanna, who started school in 2003, the same year Hugine began serving as president.

Shade Watkins said the whole issue stands to reflect a negative light upon the university and that Hugine's dismissal should not be publicly discussed.

"It's nobody's business. I agree with the university to keep it low and as quiet as possible," said the 20-year-old sophomore child education major.

S.C. State graduate Annie Williams, who now serves as an office assistant at the university, said the president's dismissal was done at the wrong time.

"I know about the controversy with housing and the report. But, to me, it was bad timing if the university is going through the transformation from where it was to the progress it has now. Not to be biased or anything, but he (Hugine) was my professor when I was a student here. .... He had very good leadership skills," Williams said.

She noted that some and alumni and staff were not pleased with many of his early changes.

"Some were like, 'Why are you doing this?' or "Why are you doing that?' When they saw the progress that was coming from it, they were like, 'OK, he's doing his job and what he says.' He had the Democratic debate to come here with the help of (Sixth District Congressman and Majority Whip) Jim Clyburn and got the new living facility for students with help from the U.S. Department of Education.

"That's what I can say about it, but if the board felt like they wanted to dismiss him, then that's what they decided on," Williams said.

Mark Stoney, however, said he was not fortunate enough to receive housing -- or a meal plan -- this semester. The senior criminal justice major from New Jersey said he was consequently relieved at Hugine's ousting.

Six traditional residence halls and three apartment-style complexes -- including the newly built Andrew Hugine Suites, a $42 million, 755-bed facility completed in 2006 -- were available for students to reside in this semester. An increased demand for on-campus housing by upperclassmen and a nearly 35 percent higher freshman enrollment rate this fall semester, however, caused a housing shortage in August.

"People were like, 'You're gonna be all right.' You try sleeping on somebody's couch and not having a meal plan. You gotta be real humble," said Stoney, who was not shocked by the board's decision.

"As long as they bring in somebody better for the job, I don't really have too much to say. Honestly, it's finals week and I couldn't care less," Stoney said. "I'm trying to take my last final and go home. I'm just blessed I that I made it this far."

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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