A South Carolina House subcommittee has rejected a bill that would have removed the South Carolina State University board.
The House Higher Education subcommittee voted down the bill by a 4-1 margin on Tuesday. The lone dissenting vote belonged to Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, who sponsored the legislation.
“It’s very unfortunate that the subcommittee did not take a close look at what the majority of people are saying,” said Govan, an S.C. State alumnus.
But subcommittee Chairman Rep. B.R. Skelton, R-Pickens. says members thought Govan’s bill wasn’t in the best interest of the university.
“It would destabilize the university at a time when it needs stability,” Skelton said via a telephone interview.
Govan introduced the bill after S.C. State trustees removed former President Andrew Hugine in December. The bill would remove the current trustees by July 1 and set up a new process for electing them, giving S.C. State alumni the chance to select six of 13 board members.
Before the subcommittee took a vote on his bill, Govan tried to amend it so it would mirror a bill introduced by Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman. The subcommittee refused to make the change.
Matthews’ bill would not eliminate the current board, but would allow the S.C. State National Alumni Association to select three board members.
Govan said he offered the amendment to make the bill less controversial and to accommodate those that are already campaigning for two open S.C. State board seats. No second was given to the amendment, according to Skelton.
Govan believes the subcommittee members had their minds made up well before the votes were cast. Govan said he did not like Clemson alumnus Skelton acting as if he knows what is the best interest of S.C. State.
“That was totally offensive to me,” Govan said.
Skelton said he was acting in the best interest of the university’s faculty, staff and students by voting against the legislation. He said the bill would ultimately leave the university without any tenured trustees while it is looking for a new president.
During a Feb. 27 subcommittee hearing, S.C. State Board Chairman Maurice Washington alleged the legislation was a retaliatory response to Hugine’s removal. Govan said he simply wanted give the university’s stakeholders more say in the institution.
“I really believe it was a right-headed decision. We (the board) support the committee’s decision,” Washington said of the vote.
Based on his interpretation of testimony given on Feb. 27 by S.C. State alumni, faculty and students, Skelton felt they did not want a completely new board.
Govan said the subcommittee ignored the fact that in excess of 1,500 alumni signed a petition saying they felt differently.
Despite recent setback, Govan said he will urge alumni and friends of S.C. State to contact other lawmakers regarding the bill.
Govan said he will decide on his next course of action in the next few days.
“I’m disappointed but not surprised by what happened. I believe in the final analysis, justice will prevail because we stand on the right. We will not give up,” Govan said.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.