Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VE K VOL. LXV No. 45 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA. S.C. 29208 FEBRUARY7,14 Allegations Denie Source a West T< BY DOUG WILLIAMS AND BILL GRANT About a week ago, a source close to South Carolina politics said he was sure USC President Thomas F. Jones had been pressured into leaving office. He added although no one was talking about it at the time, the facts were bound to start coming out in the not-too-distant future. MONDAY NIGH T, the slow road to truth may have begun. A source close to the situation revealed that Gov. John C. West and Chairman of the USC Board of Trustees T. Eston Marchant initiated a movement to have Jones removed from his position. However, as no one has come forth to verify the statements, the source's contentions remain largely unconfirmed. "I think he (West) and Marchant worked very closely on, this," the source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said. "West tried to influence University policies, but Dr. Jones wouldn't let him. So West had to go through Marchant." WHEN TIE substance of the interview was made known to Marchant, he categorically denied each point. "To my knowledge, there was nothing sinister, no conspiracy to remove Dr. Jones from office," Marchant said Tuesday. "My conscience is clear and so is that of those Board members I have talked to lately." Although West would make no comment, Marchant said any efforts to remove Jones on the part of West were "totally foreign to his nature. Gov. West does not dictate policy, although he does have some control over the money we get." AS CHAIRMAN of the state Budget and Control Board, West is definitely intereested in at least one important phase of the University's operations: the budget. And in view of USC's expansion during the past decade, quite a bit of state funds have fallen into the University's coffer. Despite Marchant's denial there was no effort either inside or outside the legislature that he knew of, the source said there were indications as early as Jan. 4 that Jones might be forced out. "But he is a perceptive man," the source continued. "Hie threw them for a loop by resigning. But the Board meeting on Jan. 4 was when it started." It seems that, true to his letter of resignation, Jones did step down without any outside pressure. However, though no overt pressure had been applied to him, it seems that February was the month it was to begin, according to the source. "'I don't believe it was worth it to him to see the University he hnd d TiesMc o esig Analysis worked so hard to build just fall apart," the source added. TRUE TO the pattern that everyone has followed, Marchant further denied this. "As far as I know, Dr. Jones' letter speaks the truth about his reasons for resigning," Marchant said. "He wanted to get back in the teaching and learning process. "There was no threatening of him," Marchant continued. "We never had any disagreements which resulted in animosity. I've never been ugly to him; there have been no cross words between us. While stating that there was no "concentrated effort within the Assembly to remove Jones from office," Marchant did admit the USC president did have his enemies in the legislature. "Anytime you're in a position similar to his, someone's always disagreeing with the way you are doing things and you'll run into static. "THERE ARE people within the General Assembly that are not friends of the University." As to any efforts to have Jones removed, Marchant said "it just isn't there." Because the University is so financially tied to the state government, the USC president, no matter who it might be, is serving at the grace of the Board. And since the Board members are elected by the General Assembly, the president, no matter how good his intentions may be, is an swerable to the Legislature to more than just a minor degree. Furthermore, despite West's statements at the contrived press conference Tuesday The Gamecock learned he did have some knowledge of attempts to have Jones removed. "The reason they want him out," the source said, "is because he is too honest. Honesty has no place in politics. I'm not sure what they want, but they want something." The indications are that Jones not only did not see eye to eye with certain legislators, but with some of the Board members. The source said a definite personality conflict between Jones and Marchant did exist, though the chairman,onice again, denied th'e statement completely. C'ONCEIINING; THI E selection of William HI. Patterson as per manent president, the source in timated the choice was made in order to have an individual in the position that would abide by directives put to him. "Dr. Pat terson is nobody's 'yes man'"~ Marchant countered. "He is an atble administrator. We had a one hour conversation about him in which both faculty and student participated." Yet a further source indicated [hat there was some talk about ['Onsidering Paterorn the any rchant nation Jones' resignation was released tc the media. If this was the case then Patterson's selection was nol made with haste, but rather hac been considered for more than thf one hour Marchant said. As politically oriented as the situation appears to have become the source said West's politica] ambitions are directly involvec with Jones' dismissal. He said, despite West's statement at the press conference Tuesday, thai West was seeking a U.S. Senate position. The source also said Marchant, who has been involved in the National Guard in the past and now holds a brigadier-general rank wants to be adjutant general. WEST GREETED the questior of his political future with a folks3 tale about going back to Camder and patronizing a lake that has no been properly fished in a fev y ars. Marchant, though admitting h, stays "in touch with the politica scene for the benefit of the University," said he had no plans. The idea of him seeking the ad jutant general struck him a: amusing. Despite all the denials, ther does seem to be some fact to the premise that Jones' stepping dowr was not something that cropped ul over night. State House source: are beginning to secretly admi that something was going on perhaps as much as six month: ago. And although Marchant is of the opinion that an hour's discussior with one student, one facult3 member, and the remainder of the Board was enough to come to unanimous conclusion abou Patterson, it still does not explair why USC Information Services ha( ready information on the provost nor does it explain why there wa. talk by at least one Board membei of Patterson the day Jone: resigned. Unfortunately, the only peoplE sticking to their origina: statements are those who appeai to be directly involved: Marchant West and an isolated number o legislators and Board members Of course, Jones is also adherinc to his letter of resignation. That however, is quite understandable. Tom Jones has done an awful loi for USC, and the institution means quite a bit to him. If he was tc reveal the true story, the reper cussions on the school he has worked so hard for might be toc much. BUTthe issue no longer appears to be whether Jones was forced out of office, either by direct or in direct methods. The question now is why. And the political and educational ramifications of that answer might not be overly conducive to the future ambitions of the people involved. i 4rwYM : Ike .. Though they may not be partners in humanity yet, these two do exemplify the innocence of youth. Give them a few years and who Staff photo by Co USC Fres Dies In Ann Louise Bryan, a 19-year old USC freshman, died Tuesday after falling from the roof of Bates House dormitory. The death, which occurred shortly after 11 Tuesday morning, has been ruled a suicide by Richland County Coroner Cecil Wiles, and marks the second aerial death from the Bates dorm in five months. According to Capt. Grover H. Lynch of the Campus Police. Bryan fell from the outer edge of the south west portion of the 10-story men's dorm. As of Wednesday atternoon. the Campus Police and other sources have put together these series of events leading to Ms. Bryan's death. At around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Bryan left her home in Forrest Terrace Apartments where she lived with her parents. After riding her bicycle inito campus, Bryan had an English class at 9:30 , but it was not determined whether she attended it. knows? She might be the Jane Fonda of her era and he the Bobby Riggs of his. In all probability, they'll both be roller derby stars. urtney Dicely hman ftes Fall At around 11 a.m. Bryan was seen locking her bike at Bates, after which she got on the elevator with one other person according to police reports. The other student said he got off on the ninth floor, having had no coversation with Bryan, and that she remained on the elevator which continued upward. As far as has been determined, that was the last person to see Bryan. An investigation by the Campus Police and the County Coroner shows that Ann proceeded to the Bates' rooftop sundeck alone. It has also been determined by officials that no other persons were on the sundeck at the time. Authorities report that no note of intention was found at the scene; however, police did find Bryan's shoulder pack containing a text book and checkbook on the roof. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at D)unbar Funeral Home in Columbia followed by burial in Sumter Catholic (Cemetarv.