COLUMBIA S.C.
Allegations of micromanagement by the leader of the South Carolina State University board has led an Orangeburg lawmaker to propose a bill to dissolve the board and appoint a new one.
Democratic Rep. Jerry Govan’s bill would fire the current board in July and elect 12 new members six picked by lawmakers from congressional districts and the others picked in a manner chosen by the university’s national alumni association.
Govan, an alumnus of the university, said he is drafting the bill after hearing people say the board tinkers too much in the day-to-day running of the school. He also is considering a request for a legislative audit of the university.
A number of powerful graduates of South Carolina State have been unhappy with the school’s trustees since they fired president Andrew Hugine last month.
Board chairman Maurice Washington said the trustees have not done anything outside the scope of their duties and can’t understand why Govan would file his legislation.
“But it is the authority of the General Assembly to elect trustees to public higher education boards. Whatever the results of this bill, we simply will abide by it,” Washington said. “We won’t have a choice.”
