University touts successes in athletics, academia
Gamecock alumni, students, faculty and staff took over the Statehouse on Wednesday to encourage the Legislature to keep the University of South Carolina in mind when they decide how to distribute state money.
Carolina Action Network sponsored the event that USC spokesman Wes Hickman described as a "grassroots advocacy day." Dubbed Carolina Day at the Statehouse, the gathering took place two weeks after President Harris Pastides requested $40 million from a House subcommittee for higher education and nearly a month after USC released a study showing the university had a $4.1 billion impact on the state.
"We believe there is money this year, maybe for the first time in several years, and we've got to make the case for why an investment in Carolina is an investment in South Carolina," Pastides said.
The day began as Gov. Nikki Haley recognized July 1, 2011 as official Back-to-Back Championship Day and gave a framed Gamecock flag, which flew over the Statehouse after the baseball team won its second consecutive championship, to the university.
The flag will hang in coach Ray Tanner's office as long as the office is big enough, Pastides said, adding that few people have wall space in their office for two flags.
"If he can't hold it in his office, maybe he'll ship it to me," Pastides said jokingly.
After being recognized in the lobby of the Statehouse, the baseball team also received accolades on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Along with the team, about 200 USC supporters, including USC board of trustees members, alumni, students from satellite campuses and other university affiliates, overtook the Statehouse.
Bert Poozer, a 1960 USC alumnus, helped found the Inn at USC along with his company, which manages the inn. Poozer said he wanted to help the university in every way he can.
"I'd like to be down here and kind of schmoozin' around — if that's the word for it — with the legislators, trying to promote their giving us a little additional funding," Poozer said.
Students joined the effort to celebrate the university's accolades in hopes of raising state funding.
"At USC we need help to do some things, and it is very important that they rally behind us, because we are a very important part of the state," said Keeanna Samuel, a fourth-year criminal justice student at USC Upstate.
Trey Walker, USC's director of state relations, noted the advocates who gave up their day to go to the Statehouse to tell their Carolina story. Walker hoped that the university representatives would have a chance to engage their local legislators and tell them about what's going on at Carolina.
"We've got a great story to tell," Walker said. "We're getting bigger, our students are smarter, the quality of education is getting better and it's a fantastic school. We are the flagship university of the state and it is our mission to lead."
For the 2012-13 year, the University of South Carolina requested a recurring fund of $5 million for Palmetto College, an initiative that would enable USC students with associate degrees — or a credit equivalent — to earn their baccalaureate degrees online.
USC also requested non-recurring funds of $10 million for the law school, $5 million for research lab equipment and $20 million for deferred maintenance projects at all eight campuses, $15 million of which would go to the Columbia campus. The university has about $300 million in deferred maintenance needs, according to an estimate Pastides gave the House subcommittee two weeks ago.