S.C. State trustees fumble the ball
Thursday, December 25, 2008The 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
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cherokee wrote on Dec 30, 2008 2:09 PM:
The present Cabinet of President Cooper is still loaded with the "old guard" better know as the "Good Old Boys Club". Until he rids his cabinet of their influence, problems will continue to accumulate.
Guess what! Maybe the Board(?) had a hand in their hiring. But it is a certain fact that the previous two Presidents carried out the act. In every aspect the buck stops with them and their choices have hampered SCSU and the Academic Programs.
To our present and past students, please remember that ypu came to SCSU for its academics. You did not come to play or to be pampered. You came for the knowledge that would carry you into the future.
To our present and future students, demand that further action be taken to remove the shackles from Academics. Do not be beguiled by frills given to you or lies told to you. Your future success depends on it! "
2ndGenerationBulldog wrote on Dec 30, 2008 12:20 PM:
Thursday, February 08, 2007
ORANGEBURG – "South Carolina State University recently named Valerie M. Dinkins as interim vice president for the Division of Institutional Advancement. She previously led marketing, event management and fund development efforts for SC State’s athletics department."
"Under her watch, consistent attendance at Bulldog football games reached a record 15,000 fans during the 2005 season. Dinkins also created, provided marketing expertise and secured sponsorships for this season’s Lowcountry Classic in Charleston, S.C., which yielded a record attendance of 18,000 fans. In addition, she was able to secure more than $190,000 in sponsorships for the 2006 season."
"Dinkins holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from North Carolina A&T State University, and has one daughter, Brionna, a freshman business administration major at N.C. A&T."
Lumus Byrd Becomes Chairman of the Board
http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2008/09/26/news/doc48dc6b040af56950416275.txt
http://clyburn.house.gov/press/pr020531scsutransportation.html
"Congressman Clyburn secured another $10 million for SCSU in the 2002 Appropriations bill for additional transportation programs"
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/348431/sc_world_trade_center_seeks_partnership_with_scsu_to_develop/
http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2008/03/21/news/13015704.txt
What's the update on these stories?
SCSU doesn't have its share of opportunities. For the life of me, I can't figure y'all out. One of the reasons USC and Clemson are able to advance their programs and projects is because they get information on the regular and they make a lot of noise in support of or in protest to things that cast a light on their school. USC and Clemson have the State paper. We could have TheTandD as ours to get the news out there, but also, we need to make some noise when things are and aren't going our way. The few of us who come to this website is not enough to get things moving in a positive direction. Pressure needs to be put on the people at the top to involve us (alumni) in the activities of SCSU. Pressure needs to be put on the Alumni Council to be more active and involved in what's going on. To those who question why some alumni don't give back: What are you doing with the money we're giving? What are the plans for the next 5-10-20 years for the University? When are the alumni going to be included in the discussion (transparency)?
The SC STATE Foundation
http://www.scsu.edu/givetoscstate/scstateuniversityfoundation.aspx "
ICU81 wrote on Dec 30, 2008 12:35 AM:
Reddawg wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:57 PM:
cherokee wrote on Dec 29, 2008 7:05 PM:
Can anyone justify why the records were destroyed?
PS. What happened to the furnishings of the old Presidential Mansion? These were worth tens of thousands of dollars. How about the multiple changes of furnishing in the VIP Suites requested by certain VIP's staying in the Suites? They were not turned in to State Surplus, offered for bids, or destroyed? WHERE ARE THE FURNISHINGS?
Also answer to the question as to several FO firings, the firing of a certain Director of Purchasing, the firing of the Campus Safety Officer and the numerous firings of the Campus Police Chiefs? Were these firings made public?
The public needs to know, especially now.
President Cooper. Why not commission a Special Law and Ethics Panel to investigate what has transpired over the past decade? Just be sure to bring in people from the outside world who are not affiliated with the University. Their finding could positively impact how the State, employers, and the general public feel about SCSU and could alleviate their concerns if it shows that SCSU is beginning to bring those guilty of misconduct and theft into the Light. "
2ndGenerationBulldog wrote on Dec 29, 2008 6:15 PM:
According to the SCSU.EDU website, Valerie Dinkins was named Interim Vice President for the Division of Institutional Advancement. Meaning, she would have oversight of fundraising and development, SC State Foundation (?), alumni Affairs and University relations and marketing. How has her job been. Let her know: vdinkin1@scsu.edu
Anyone have any idea of what the SC State Foundation is? It's housed on campus.
Who's following up on these side and back stories?
I can feel where Chris' is coming from, but I think his comment has taken a few people off the message that happened to have to come all the way from Guantanamo Bay. How sad is that? We're right here and can't get the story straight. And some of us have access to these people who are f'ing up the school. If I thought some of our Alumni officials had the quehones to confront the school officials, I'd take my issues to them (Alumni officials). But they are either scared to, or think I'm joking when I make my opinion known to them. Or possibly they're burnt out trying to get something done with this crew (university officials). And it's apparent people want to make a change, cause just like me, you all are here everyday to look for and comment on the articles coming out about State. What is it gonna take to move this from talk to action? "
2ndGenerationBulldog wrote on Dec 29, 2008 5:55 PM:
Byrd becomes chairman of S.C. State trustee board
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff WriterFriday, September 26, 2008
"(Maurice) Washington said $490,000 was raised for need-based scholarships during Lowcountry Classic III events, according to early projections. The feature event of the Lowcountry Classic, the football game between S.C. State and Bethune-Cookman, garnered $135,000 in revenue." "
small0408 wrote on Dec 29, 2008 2:37 PM:
norwegian wrote on Dec 29, 2008 9:44 AM:
cherokee wrote on Dec 29, 2008 9:19 AM:
Washington has been the instigator of these problems along with some of his cronies. Just remember that it was they who appointed Hugene and his predecessor.
Both past Presidents acted in concert to lower the standards and expectations of SCSU. Neither side acted alone.
I wonder when the State of South Carolina will require an audit of personal finances of both the past Presidents and Board members? It's certain that someone has profited from their reign? If audited, this audit must go back at least ten years and include interim Presidents also. It would not hurt to include the multiple Vice-Presidents and Directors into the audit.
Reliable inside information suggests that certain Administration officials have benefited from money and State Property converted to personal use. It is also feasible that certain present and past members of the Board have benefited also. And, remember, that it doesn't take a genius to realize that this is true.
If an audit is performed then it stands to be reasonable that any perpetrator should be made to return both money and personal property to SCSU. They should also be charged in Criminal Court under appropriate charges and be banned from any other State employment or affiliation from any State organization.
PS. There should also be an investigation in the awarding of all SCSU contracts, both over $1,500 and, especially, those below $1,500, by both past Presidents and interim Presidents. It is common knowledge that many of these contract awards were tainted. There is a paper trail here. "
vlspeed wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:44 AM:
As far as it SCSU and FAMU playing in Tampa, ain't gonna happen. Years ago the Florida Classic (FAMY vs BCU) was played in Tampa and FAMU vowed never to play in Tampa again due to the way the fans for both schools were treated.
That treatment wwas the primary reason both schools agreed to move the Florida Classic to Orlando. "
fhsmct wrote on Dec 29, 2008 7:27 AM:
According to Hondas press release:
. . ."the ten bands selected to participate in this year's Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for their music scholarship programs--a $10,000 increase over last year. They also will receive an additional $1,000 grant for their participation in the Celebration Tour, HBOB's pre-qualifying event series. In total, $244,000 in scholarship monies will be granted to HBCU music programs through this program for 2008-09."
"This year Honda Battle of the Bands welcomes four new bands and looks forward with anticipation to the return of HBOB's longest running participant, Virginia State University".
NOT the SCSU 101, NOT the FAMU 100, NOT the SU Human Jukebox, NOT the TSU "Aristocrat of Bands" but the VSU "Trojan Explosion" holds the distinction. . . "
fhsmct wrote on Dec 29, 2008 7:13 AM:
1. All the lobbying in the world won't get it done.
Although, in the past, the host cities HBCU bands received automatic bids, the rest of the participants in the annual Honda Band event are determined by on-line voting.
When it has been applicable, many of us have begged, cajoled, etc SCSU supporters to log on to the site and vote for the 101.
Some, like myself and several others I know/am acquainted with, logged on and voted for the 101 MULTIPLE times EACH day during the voting period.
Others, were obviously either uninformed or assumed "we're in because it's the 101" and thus, over these many years, have failed to cast votes (plural) for the 101.
This year, the 10 finalists who out voted us: Edward Waters, Fayetteville, FAMU, Jackson State, Ky State, A&T, NCCU, TX Southern, Va State and 'Skegee
2. It's obvious why we aren't playing A&T, etc al in basketball in large venues such as Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.
Even during the successful Cy Alexander era, we didn't fill SHM's 3,200 for Bulldog roundball events. Our following, in the 19,206 (MNBA)/20,200(College) capacity TWC Arena would be Adele Givens' proverbial Tic Tac in the mouth of a whale!
The same in football: we probably ceased playing the A&T game in Charlotte because it was no where close to selling out.
SCSU fans were there in abundance but the fans on the A&T side were more and more disguised as empty seats.
We didn't put decent numbers in 24,000 seat American Legion Memorial Stadium so how would we justify seeking the use of 73,400 seat Bank of America Stadium?
I'm sure Donnie Shell would love for his employer to host us in BofA but, based on current reality, he could never justify it to them nor other local sponsors.
I also don't think we should waste non-conference football games on the likes of GA State. We can find other opponents to play in the ATL, a city where Bulldog supporters have a successful history of attending games.
Now: I do agree that it's interesting that the Governor has not recognized this year's Bulldog gridiron squad: Mmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . "
abattiste wrote on Dec 27, 2008 6:26 PM:
Chris' Cloths wrote on Dec 25, 2008 12:40 PM: