The recent rebuke by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an independent agency, of South Carolina State University is concrete evidence that the board of trustees fumbled the ball continuously.
One event that demonstrates a combination of failed standards simultaneously is the annual Low Country Classic Football Game, which is billed as a major fundraiser. For the past three years, the former chairman, Maurice Washington, has personally moved a scheduled home football game from Orangeburg to his home city of Charleston. Additionally, he personally serves as the chairman of the classic's committee, combining the failures of fundraising, oversight of the athletic program and separation of distinct roles.
As the chairman of the committee, Mr. Washington has yet to provide the transparent accounting of over $500,000 generated this year. No one, not even the current board, knows how much money was profited after expenses such as stadium rental, concert performers, security, etc. Without these numbers, how do you make an intelligent analysis of the pros and cons of the event? I do find it encouraging that newly elected board members Robert Nance and Walter Tobin have challenged Washington's obscure accounting.
In fact, after last year's Low Country Classic, I requested details of revenues generated and spent and was outright denied and told the money was turned over to a private foundation affiliated with the university. As chairman, Mr. Washington blatantly ignored public laws and university bylaws. Under his leadership, the board of trustees failed to comply with the most basic tenet of transparency, the release of the university's bylaws as required by the Freedom of Information Act. My official request for the bylaws from March 2008 has never been granted.
Mr. Washington either doesn't have the capacity to understand how his actions severely undermine South Carolina State University or he doesn't care. Both are equally dangerous.
-- Alex "Herc" Conyers, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba