SCSU trustees spent thousands on travel to games, conferences
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer Sunday, June 22, 2008During a 10-month period from July 2007 to April 2008, South Carolina State University trustees spent $24,669.61 on travel and accommodations to attend national board conferences, board meetings and football games, according to university documents.
For state Rep. Jerry Govan, the expense “just doesn’t look good,” especially considering the 6 percent tuition increase students will face next year.
“I’m not sure that it sends parents or students the right signal, particularly in these harsh economic times,” he said.
The Times and Democrat first submitted a written S.C. Freedom of Information Act request on March 27 to review the S.C. State board’s travel records. Under FOIA laws, an organization has 15 business days to issue a response to an information request.
After repeated calls to S.C. State officials and their attorney Charles Boykin regarding the request, The T&D was allowed view the board’s travel expenses on June 13.
Outgoing Board Chairman Maurice Washington called The T&D’s reporting on travel records an unnecessary and unprecedented witch-hunt.
“This act by The Times and Democrat is becoming old and dated and we are ready to be positive,” Washington said.
The records show that during the 10-month span, Chairman-elect Lumus Byrd spent $9,210.78, almost double the amount spent by any other trustee. That includes expenses for trips to Colorado and Virginia to attend Bulldog football games.
The university gave Byrd permission to travel to five away football games last season at a cost of $4,073.62, according to records released through the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. The following is a breakdown of how much the university paid for Byrd to attend football games last season:
* $783.96 for airfare to the Air Force game in Colorado.
* $558.09 for airfare to the Bethune-Cookman game in Daytona, Fla.
* $436.80 for airfare to the Norfolk State game in Virginia.
* $1,421.06 for airfare to the Hampton Game in Virginia and a room at the Newport News, Va. Marriott Hotel.
* $873.71 for airfare to the Howard game in Atlanta.
Reached by phone, Byrd said he had no comment other than to say the expenses were above board and transparent. Byrd will take over as chairman on July 1.
Byrd was not the only trustee to use university funds to travel to away football games last fall. Washington, Vice Chair Jonathan Pinson and Dr. Shirley P. Martin did as well.
Documents show that plane tickets were purchased for Washington and Pinson to attend the Air Force game, and Martin was compensated $630.45 for driving to both the Bethune-Cookman and Hampton games last season.
A document shows that a plane ticket was purchased for $727.61 for Washington to attend the Air Force game, but Washington said he did not attend that game.
“When I do attend, I normally arrive on my own gas and my own dime,” he said.
He said it is not his job to monitor the travel of other trustees, but rather it is the duty of the administration. Both former President Dr. Andrew Hugine and current interim President Dr. Leonard McIntyre approved the expenses for trustees to attend football games. Some of the expenses were not approved until months after the games.
Speaking for himself, Washington said that trips to football games are appropriate if a trustee is acting in an official capacity such as meeting with alumni groups.
“We have to be visible,” he said.
At the board’s June 2007 retreat at the Charleston Place Inn, Washington checked into a $679.31 VIP hotel suite with university funds for a three-night stay.
Washington, who lives in Charleston, said he did not want to bring board activities into his home and he needed to be on-site to meet with professional staff as chairman.
Aside from Byrd, Board Vice Chair-elect Dr. John Corbitt and Dr. Shirley Martin spent the most university money for travel among the university’s trustees, spending $4,334.30 and $4,164.99, respectively.
Byrd, Corbitt and Martin attended two Association of Governing Boards conferences during the 10-month period in Boston and Arlington, Va. The AGB has over 1,200 member colleges and universities and seeks to advance the practice of citizen trusteeship, according to its Web site.
In total, $6,701.90 was spent on airfare to send the three trustees to those conferences.
On his way back to his native Greenville from visits to campus and board meetings, Corbitt checked into the Columbia Courtyard Downtown USC Hotel for the night on three occasions with university funds totaling $382.95. Corbitt declined comment on the issue when reached by phone.
Trustees Martha Smith and Karl Green did not spend any university funds for travel during the period.
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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fhsmct wrote on Jun 29, 2008 8:36 AM:
Last I checked, events at SCSU are and should be of local interest.
If I'm not mistaken (and, in this instance,I'm not), the T&D is one of the few, if not only, news publications that accepts for publication articles written by the local college's Public Affairs and Sports Info staffs.
Then, everyone will be complaining that the T&D failed in it's responsibility to report the news and keep you informed as to what's what.
If the school isn't submitting articles about the good, inviting the paper's staff to cover same, exactly whose fault is that? I know of very few, if any, newpapers who don't welcome leads for articles that will be of interest to their readership and thus help sell papers. . . "
fhsmct wrote on Jun 29, 2008 6:00 AM:
I have no problems with a board member spending $$ if their expenditures result in an influx of funds, in kind donations, etc for the school.
In this case, that has not been anywhere close to the situation. As ammter of fact, it's been far from it!
Again: Our school: When right, to be kept right; When wrong, to be made right!
AND, before you say anything: you appear to be a South Carolinian (and, at risk to myself, assume you are a tax payer) so it's your school, too . . . "
got2know wrote on Jun 28, 2008 9:29 AM:
cedyas wrote on Jun 26, 2008 9:04 AM:
watching wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:12 AM:
By the way, ask USC fans how they feel about The State always printing up negative stuff about the athletics program and the latest player arrest. SCSU is in Orangeburg, so of course they'll get the primary focus of the T&D, just like USC gets the focus of The State.
P.S. Claflinbro - your school's day is coming especially when it's still ineligible for Division II membership. "
mysonsdad wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:37 AM:
fishburg wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:23 PM:
T&D give us data from similar organizations so we may make an inform decision.
BR "
ICU81 wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:16 PM:
www.priceline.com "
mysonsdad wrote on Jun 24, 2008 3:22 PM:
For those of who who are downing the T&D, prove that they are maliciously "going after" SCSU and sue them. I would think the facts are on the T&D side. "
fhsmct wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:48 PM:
Surely you jest?!
Had the Board of Directors raised any significant amount of moneies for the school, then the numbers cited in the article would be miniscule.
However, when the last Board President (currently still a Board member), in previous statements to the T&D and other media outlets around SC, proudly boasted as to how much money had been raised by the board, further investigation revealed that, far and away, the vast majority of the monies the Board was claiming responsibility for raising came from the football games (and ancillary events) in Charleston!
I work in the field of aviation: the prices published for some of those airline tickets appear to be 1st Class seats. Why can't they travel coach? Currently, in todays military, General officers are flying commercial, in coach seats, sans aides de camp!
And, a overnight stop/stay in Columbia, at school expense, on a trip from Orangeburg to Greenville doesn't seem questionable?
Then, unless ethics have changed, Board members claims that it's not their responsibility to police themselves nor their spending is ludicrous and boarderline criminal!
Our school: When right, to be kept right; When wrong, to be made right! "
Claflinbro wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:35 PM:
SweetHomeCarolina wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:33 PM:
Chris' Cloths wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:02 PM:
elcid87 wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:50 AM:
ATL4SCSU wrote on Jun 24, 2008 10:04 AM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 24, 2008 8:22 AM:
However, readers must realize that SCSU has many problems which seem to originate with the attitude that some of the top officials are beyond the law. This applies equally with the Board of Trustees and certain unnamed officials in Columbia.
SCSU has been plagued for decades with top officials who have been corrupt and have stolen thousands of dollars from the university. State required audits have proven that this is a fact. The "Good Old Boys" attitude has played a key role in this affair. In this, the Board of Trustees is equally guilty by their actions.
The T&D is not on a 'witch' hunt. They are doing their job. "
compaq wrote on Jun 23, 2008 8:57 PM:
foosballplayer29115 wrote on Jun 23, 2008 7:49 PM:
These people were elected by the legislature to run the scgool in a sound financial manner. Maybe those who defends them are on free rides and no money come out of their pocket to go to school or eat on campus. Wake up, these people are educated that stole from the taxpayers of SC. As far as the T&D on a witch hunt I don't see it. Follow the paper and you will see that they are so loyal to SC State that it stinks. Local schools are sucking hind behind the coverage of SC State. When and if the T&D realizes a small percentage of its subcribers care at all about SC STATE will never happen. We the other people tolerate this sorry paper because it is the only one in the area. LETS ALL BOYCOT . That seems to be your MENTALITY. "
got2know wrote on Jun 23, 2008 7:17 PM:
Claflinbro wrote on Jun 23, 2008 6:57 PM:
SweetHomeCarolina wrote on Jun 23, 2008 6:50 PM:
BULLDOGDIVA wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:36 PM:
ICU81 wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:18 PM:
supporter wrote on Jun 23, 2008 4:02 PM:
Since no crime was committed and the story only bring about malaise and negativity, it is a drag on the university and its potential for forward movement.
The new president should have a chance of success with full support of alumni and this community. At least give him a honey moon! "
SweetHomeCarolina wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:39 PM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 2:02 PM:
As of yet, SCSU hasn't cleared any land for the building. "
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:52 PM:
Question: Was the ticket used? If it was, who used the ticket? If it was Washington, where was he at the time of the game? If it wasn't him, then fraud was committed since the person who used it didn't have the proper authority to do so?
If it wasn't used, why wasn't it canceled? At least most of the money would have been recovered. "
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:45 PM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:38 PM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:35 PM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 1:32 PM:
It was started, some land cleared, but has been idle for more than a year. Will SCSU ever see it completed? "
confisus_sum wrote on Jun 23, 2008 11:52 AM:
scsucitizen wrote on Jun 23, 2008 11:22 AM:
cherokee wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:06 AM:
Trustees Martha Smith and Karl Green did not spend any university funds for travel during the period.
These two must be commended. Poo-poo to the others! "
abattiste wrote on Jun 23, 2008 3:32 AM:
agape wrote on Jun 22, 2008 7:35 PM:
There is absolutely no excuse for such reckless and inconsiderate spending.
Our board members are using their status and positions as career advancements in politics, as well as to feed their egos to feel important.
They are not approaching their positions as service to the students, faculty, and the community.
Lets not forget that board is there to serve.
We need to start demanding and expecting good service from our board members.
Marsha "
baldtiger wrote on Jun 22, 2008 5:07 PM:
supporter wrote on Jun 22, 2008 4:10 PM:
reddawg wrote on Jun 22, 2008 2:34 PM:
something out of this. This is small for such
a large business like SCSU. This is an attempt
to turn away the University support and funding
and charity. With the Job, business and role
these people play, they should have a travel
and lodging package. This is only fair and we
can not operate cost free and expect service.
This is only a small amount for this business. "
fhsmct wrote on Jun 22, 2008 1:04 PM:
tas wrote on Jun 22, 2008 10:53 AM:
hoyabull wrote on Jun 22, 2008 10:44 AM:
claflinbro wrote on Jun 22, 2008 8:11 AM:
traveler wrote on Jun 22, 2008 4:31 AM:
All but Smith and Green should, in good faith , tender his or her resignation....shame on them !!! And then to have a tuition increase...If I were a parent of a SCSU student, I would request an executive hearing on this waste , fraud and abuse on the part of the trustees. Am I right in assuming that the parents of the students are expected to "trust" these trustees to have the best interests of their children in mind ? What a joke ! "