Univ of SC trustees blistered for secret trip, coach buyouts
Source: Associated Press
Univ of SC trustees blistered for secret trip, coach buyouts
By JEFFREY COLLINS
March 29, 2022
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A small group of powerful lawmakers is refusing to approve reelection bids for five University of South Carolina trustees.
The lawmakers are upset over $10 million loaned to the athletic department out of regular funds to buy out a football coach’s contract and a secret plane trip they took to meet with a candidate for university president who flamed out after 22 month s on the job.
The five men have all served the board of the state’s flagship university since at least since 2010. Just in the past three years, they dealt with a divisive presidential search where the governor got involved and threatened the school’s accreditation, sexual harassment lawsuits and paid close to $20 million to fire coaches in high-profile sports — one of the biggest amounts in the country.
“The university in my opinion has finally reached a level of a dumpster fire,” said Rep. Kirkman Finlay, a Columbia Republican.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-sports-football-education-south-carolina-7296daea4b49b868c498086ba6edab56