" Chris' Cloths, again your facts are wrong. SCSU had a budget this past year of roughly $119 million for 4500 students. That averages to $26,444 per student. USC had a budget of $996 million for 41,000 students. That averages to $24,292 per student. Those facts come from the USC and SCSU websites. So in fact SCSU is receiving more money per student than USC. Again, it goes back to how the money is being used and what other aggressive approaches the universities are using in regards to fundraising to maintain and build new buildings. "

" Actually Chris, "SC State’s total budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year is $119 million," which is a few bucks more than the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" that you describe. That's a direct quote from State's website. I'm surprised your all-knowing uncle didn't show you how to use Google. By the way, if you cut the life jacket in half, they both drown. "

" Formerresident, you are causcasian and you went to SCSU. What does that mean? I couldn't let you get away with all these lies.
1). SCSU was established in 1896 not 1890.It was established as a land grant institution.If we would do a little research we would know these things. Clemson was created for some of the same reasons. Though one of the reasons was to give Afican-Americans a chance to get higher education...it doesnt mean it was equal.
2) You clearly stated that if repairs are not needed at places like USC and Clemson it's because of preventive maintenance...this is downright laughable and I applaud you for trying. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand that money has not been increased for maintenace at SCSU for years now. They have building that are historical landmarks and have been dilapidated for 15 years and nothing has been done. If this is a so call state supported school these things should never occur.
3)This is funny as well...though I must give you credit for being somewhat correct. This is why I wish the lottery never existed but thats beside the point.If anyone need to see how funds are allocated from the lottery just visit sceducationlottery.
4)SCSU alumni need to standup and begin giving back to this beloved institution that has giving so much to the city of Orangeburg. Do you guys realize that if it wasn't for schools like SCSU,Claflin,OCTech the city would lose jobs and money. What does that mean? Crime rates would go up which is already out of control.
Chris Cloths you made some valid points and I can see that you have passion for the mistreatment of SCSU and thats a good thing. Trying saying something bad about USC or Clemson and everyone in Oburg would jump to its defense...even if they are wrong. Its sad that this has over 19 post...for what I will never no. People have spun the truth to benefit its purpose which is to demoralize this great school. To bad they dont have alumni with backbones. We at Claflin would never stand for this mess. We dont have to we are private. "

" You are not getting off that easy "for resident" USC's budget is hundreds of millions of dollars. I can't believe I waste my time with you Bozos(sorry). SCSU's budget is hundreds of thousands of dollars. My uncle graduated from USC and is a reporter for a news network in Columbia so i know what I am speaking on as you speculate. So if you miss manage a few million of your hundreds of millions, no one will know. But if your budget is a few hundred thousand if you buy a burger someone will know. I have had this argument with another foolish individual about Katrina and they saw the light. You are talking about laws and policy, which was his argument. But because of policy thousands died in New Orleans. It's because of policy that SCSU doesn't get the money they deserve from this sorry behind state, and that's why students died at South Campus do to a bad old air conditioner. So you can take your policy shove it. I am talking about people and you are talking about POLICY!!!I have fed hungrey white and black people at food drives because I care about people. If a white and a black child are drowing you might say the instructions on the life jacket say for one person only here you go Brad sorry Tyrone. I on the other hand will cut the darn thing in half and toss a section to both. T&D this will be my last comment and I apologize for getting heated. "

" Let me go on the record: I am Caucasian. I attended SCSU and my husband graduated from SCSU. I just wanted to get this out of the way so there are no questions about it later.

Now a few comments to Chris' Cloths:
1) SCSU was established in 1890 -- with the climate of the times African-Americans would not have been welcomed at USC or Clemson. So the "racist white people" (your words) started SCSU. It seems to me that SCSU was started by people who wanted to help African-Americans achieve an education -- remember segregation: laws prohibited mixed education -- if the "racist white people" (your words) really wanted to keep African-Americans down - why would they give them an opportunity to get a higher education?

2) If there are no buildings in disrepair at Clemson and USC that’s because of something called preventive maintenance. We must keeping buildings in good condition from the beginning. If we take the time to fix little things they won't turn into big things. There's also something called priority. Budgeting $ properly so that preventive maintenance can take place -- also -- a question for you: if there IS mismanagement of funds at SCSU - could that be the reason there's not enough $ to repair the campus? I personally WANT to know if money is being mismanaged – there’s no need pouring even more money into a university that is not practicing competent fiscal management policies. If indeed there’s mismanagement then the university will be able to get rid of those it should and hire new employees who hopefully can turn this institution around!

C.) Lottery funds support MERIT-BASED scholarships – one must meet certain grade point requirements to qualify. Lottery funds also support Need-Based grants. One can receive a Pell Grant & a lottery funded Need Grant at the same time. If you are interested in learning more go to http://www.che.sc.gov/studentservices/scholarship_brochure.pdf. The monetary amount of the lottery scholarship is not enough to “pay for education in full” (your words).

I want to see SCSU get back on track and grow. I love my flower garden and to make plants produce many more flowers I must selectively prune branches that are not producing and trim others to branch out. This same “pruning” at SCSU may be needed to help the university grow and become stronger. "

" It's sad that Chris' Cloths has to resort to name calling in all of his posts. It shows he or she is more about disrespecting others than intelligently discussing the issues. Wofford and Furman are both private schools who receive no state money so don't include them in the discussion. The other schools prioritize their needs and use the state money accordingly. They also have aggressive fundrasing through alumni and others to get their needs met. I find it hard to beleive that SCSU students are not getting lottery money especially since I personally know of some who are getting the money. Blame is unproductive. SCSU needs to pattern their fundraising efforts much like the other schools mentioned. "

" Well confused minus or sum. There is hope in Rev, Pflegers words. I am talking about his points that rich white folks think they just woke up rich. I am talking about owning a farm, a little store,etc. Guilt has reared it's ugly head and her or his name is Convict_sum. You probably listen to Sean Hannity I mean Panties, who dissed Rev. Wrights church because it's called a black church. Like SCSU being a black college. Saying if white people did that it would be racist. Well racist white people built SCSU so we wouldn't or couldn't attend USC and the like. BET was 49%white owned. Name one buliding at USC, Clemson, Wofford, Furman, or C or Charleston that badly needs repair? Duh none. And then this idiot said something about Hugine having a check on his desk. Did he pocket it-No. Nothing to do with Nothing. I have 4 month old checs here from Discover. I am merely saying invest some of that state money in SC State. Stop giving SCSU students 300$ pell grants so they don't qualify for the lottery money when well to do white kids at USC are having their education paid for in full with lottery funds. I know all the games sir. SCSU is a internationally known university and should start being treated as such-in education and sports. What team gave USC their most turnovers in a game LSU, Georgia, no SCSU got 5 from them. "

" To mysonsdad: I have a great deal of respect for your response to mr/ms cloths. You answered his/her outrageous post with civility and logic. Two things this person is obviously incapable of understanding or crafting. If this person believes in what Rev flagrant says, then there is no hope of a rational discourse. Theft, graft, and illegal activities know no color, santa cloths would be well served to remember that. "

" I find it odd, Chris' Cloths, that you attacked me when I made observations that are based on fact instead of opinion. The amount of money appropriated for the state supported schools is in direct proportion to the number of kids enrolled in the schools and the needs. I agree that SCSU needs to upgrade the buildings. They were in bad shape when I attended there 15 years ago. My point was that some of the buildings (like the new baseball stadium, Colonial Center and Williams-Brice) are improved through major donations from supporters of the athletic dept., not the General Assembly. Those are the facts. I support any amount of money that can be secured for SCSU to improve their facilities but at the same time we need to ensure the money being gven is used wisely without any impropriety. "

" Hmm. Question is: Why would SODEXHO pay this money to the University? Next question is: Why wasn't the check deposited as it should have been?

Next question is: Why did SODEXHO have a hard time paying its employees in December, 2007? Was the reason being that the check(s) were finally deposited?

SODEXHO is the company hired by the Board of Trustees and SCSU to provide Facilities Management services to the Campus. They also were hired to provide meal services and to operate the campus bookstore.

The original plan was that they would "save" the University maintenance monies.

Hey, How about the person fired for complaining about checks not being deposited properly? Maybe she does have a valid case? "

" Okay, let's call a spade a spade: Hugine has said, on the record, he didn't start this (& I believe him).

More importantly, if the investigators interview him, I expect him to have the good sense to be truthful or face the consequences if he isn't.

It has been my experience that, in instances like this, when folks are quick to point fingers or place blame, they are usually trying to deflect attention away from themselves.

Case in point: during the latter stages of the Hugine controversy, Board Chair accused Hugine and the Alum NAA President of leaking their discussion(s) when, it later became clearly apparent the Chair had been the source of the leaks.

Smalls really needs to keep his personal animosity(s) out of this . . . "

" Well mysonsmom or dad or whatever you are. What about the Colonial Center? Who paid for that? What about the new Public Heath building? What about the new dorms? Mysonsdad don't start that alumni crap when we know whos backs that rich USC alumni got that way from. This is what Rev. Pfleger was talking about, but people want to bury their heads in the sand, or call him a reverse racist because he speaks the truth. SCSU reperesents this state on a consistant basis as far as making the NCAA tournament in the last 15 years Mysonsdad. You will say the conference is easier, well tell USC to join the MEAC or SWAC. Oh yeah, the one time they made the tournament they got blown out by a SWAC school in Southern U. But still got the colonial center built. Maybe they can join the SIAC with Claflin. So don't tell me my3sons about whats going on in this shady world we live in-get your facts str8 before you talk to me. "

" Chris' Cloths Why is it always a conspiracy theory when it comes to SCSU having problems or a race issue. Why isn't it just plain and simple they didn't do they job right. Why can't these folks be made to take or share in the blame from not doing they job right. Need I remind you that Hugine held a $200,000 check from Sedexho for nine months when it should have been in a bank. "

" Tsk, Tsk. The Finance Department isn't the only place to look for wrong doings, but it is a good start.

Mr. Pascoe should look at the University as a whole, especially at the Administration level, and at the Board of Trustees role on campus.

More importantly, he should investigate as to why certain people have been allowed to resign or have been fired because of sticky fingers or because of other ethical breaches of conduct. "

" It's sad that Chris' Cloths has to bring race up in this issue and also is deflecting blame onto the government. Race is not an issue in this; suspected illegal activites is the issue.
The new baseball stadium at USC is not paid for by the General Assembly (our taxes); instead it is paid for by members of the Gamecock Club who donate the money. Maybe SCSU should have a capital campaign to improve their buildings. Alumni need to step up instead of blaming. "

" What Ethics Commettee checks the state's practices and distribution of state funds. SCSU is the third most popular university in the state of South Carolina. So why don't we get third most popular state funds. Something evil is going on at the state level. It's always blame and convict the small guy who takes one extra SCSU Tshirt. What about the guy Gervias Street that knows SCSU needs renovations to SHM, Truth, Manning, Hodge, and other important buildings, but says hey, they will be ok. USC doesn't need a new baseball stadium, but sense we just don't like SCSU(race)let's build a new baseball stadium for them anyway. Govt officials sound like that 911 operator that got fired-"I really don't care what happens at SCSU". "

" WHAT A LOW BLOW JOHN SMALLS! DON'T BLAME DR. HUGINE. HEY, MAYBE THIS IS THE REASON HE WAS LET GO, BECAUSE HE QUESTION SOME OF YOU ALL SPENDING HABITS. IF YOU ALL WERE HANDLING BUSINESS LIKE YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO, MAYBE THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. "

" here you all go again commenting needlessly on things that you all as spectators haven't any knowledge about... let the inspectors perform their jobs without having to see your uneducated speculations. thank you "

" If no wrong has been done, no revenge can take place. Let the chips fall where they may. Maybe one day we'll get some folk up there (faculty, staff and board of trustees) that genuinely care about the institution and its students.

If no wrong has been done, no revenge can take place. Let the chips fall where they may. Maybe one day we'll get some folk up there (faculty, staff and board of trustees) that genuinely care about the institution and its students. Let us all remember..."the needs of the many far out weigh the greed of a few." If there are crooks up there,...sick-um Pascoe.

PS: If there are criminal wrong doings discovered, please let the feds handle it and maybe our local politicians will not try and cover it up. "

" What a shame. If is not one thing, it is another at S.C. State. Now they are trying to blame Hugine for their own shortcomings...I think before long we are going to get some response to the rumors we are all hearing in the community that this paper probably cannont print yet.. "

" Maybe the state should take over the running of SCSU like it does failing school districts. This is my alma mater but enough is enough. A wipeout of the entire board and administration is necessary at this point. "

" Hugine may not have liked how the Board got rid of him, bu I never thought he would take his revenge against the SCHOOL.......

very sad "

" Different year same ..... "