Fundraising events questioned by Trustee Members
Lee Tant -Special to The Collegian from the Tandd
Issue date: 12/7/08 Section: News
Two South Carolina State University trustees questioned who actually administers the annual Lowcountry Classic football game and related festivities during a Thursday board meeting.
"Who runs this activity? Is it a board activity?" Trustee Walter L. Tobin asked.
Trustee Robert Nance asked, "Is this the chairman's Classic? Whose game is this?"
Trustee Maurice Washington was chairman of the board when the Lowcountry Classic became an annual event three years ago. At Thursday's meeting, Washington gave a presentation on the event and the $505,417 in overall revenue it generated this fall.
The event is held in Charleston to raise money for need-based scholarships. Washington, a Charleston native, said the Lowcountry Classic is run by the university and not the board.
"This is kind of ridiculous," he said in response to Tobin. "The Lowcountry Classic pays for itself. There are no hidden agendas."
Washington said the majority of the committee that organized this year's event was made of university employees. Of the 2008 Lowcountry Classic's 18 committee members, only four are trustees. Washington chaired the committee for this year's event.
"I'm going to make one more ridiculous comment," Tobin said. He inquired about why a packet distributed to trustees regarding the event did not include expenses.
Tobin asked how much the event cost the university and for more detailed information regarding the revenue it generated.
Washington said, "Those are numbers that can be validated."
Chairman Lumus Byrd said the report was not really the accounting he was looking for. He said he is in favor of a more detailed report.
Washington also addressed how the university came to receive $50,000 a year from Charleston County to sponsor the Classic. No contract exists between Charleston County and S.C. State to sponsor the event, he said.
Washington told trustees he managed to procure the recurring sponsorship through his political friends in Charleston. Washington is a former Charleston County councilman.
"Who runs this activity? Is it a board activity?" Trustee Walter L. Tobin asked.
Trustee Robert Nance asked, "Is this the chairman's Classic? Whose game is this?"
Trustee Maurice Washington was chairman of the board when the Lowcountry Classic became an annual event three years ago. At Thursday's meeting, Washington gave a presentation on the event and the $505,417 in overall revenue it generated this fall.
The event is held in Charleston to raise money for need-based scholarships. Washington, a Charleston native, said the Lowcountry Classic is run by the university and not the board.
"This is kind of ridiculous," he said in response to Tobin. "The Lowcountry Classic pays for itself. There are no hidden agendas."
Washington said the majority of the committee that organized this year's event was made of university employees. Of the 2008 Lowcountry Classic's 18 committee members, only four are trustees. Washington chaired the committee for this year's event.
"I'm going to make one more ridiculous comment," Tobin said. He inquired about why a packet distributed to trustees regarding the event did not include expenses.
Tobin asked how much the event cost the university and for more detailed information regarding the revenue it generated.
Washington said, "Those are numbers that can be validated."
Chairman Lumus Byrd said the report was not really the accounting he was looking for. He said he is in favor of a more detailed report.
Washington also addressed how the university came to receive $50,000 a year from Charleston County to sponsor the Classic. No contract exists between Charleston County and S.C. State to sponsor the event, he said.
Washington told trustees he managed to procure the recurring sponsorship through his political friends in Charleston. Washington is a former Charleston County councilman.
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