Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VR K VOL. LXIV No. 71 UNIVERSI'TY OF SOUTH CA ROLINA. COLUMBIA. S.C. 29208 Aug. 1, 1974 Alumni By Scott Kearns Gamecock Staff Writer Last Saturday's mail brought a surprise to numerous University of South Carolina alumni when they received a letter from "USC Alumni For Bryan Dorn." The letter, which appeared in a "Bryan Dorn For Governor" envelope urged them to vote for Dorn in the July 30 democratic gubernatorial run-off, and was signed by Tommy Suggs, who was listed on the letterhead as "chairman" of the "USC Alumni For Bryan Dorn." The letter immediately sparked a wave of controversy and many of its recipients complained to the USC Alumni Association that their right to privacy had been violated. Among other things, the letter ex pressed Dorn's continuing interest in University affairs, saying, "Congressman Dorn has been a friend of the University for many years. Most recently, of course, he was in strumental in the establishment of the new medical school in Columbia. Such support for Carolina is not new for him. For example, his legislative efforts allowed the addition to Williams-Brice stadium. He has been honored by our Alumni Association for his efforts." The letter went on to say, "His respect for the University, however, is most clearly manifested in the fact that his daughters, Olivia and Debbie, have chosen our school for their un dergraduate education." Apparently though, some were unimpressed and many felt the mailing list used for the letter had been ob tained from the association, and that it might represent illegal use of an official Alumni mailing list. However, Edwin R. Little of the Alumni Association stated that his organization had not released the mailing list. "We never release names and addresses other than for alumni reports." he said. Little added that authorization for the mailing list had to come from "higher authority." Little further commented that he had received numerous calls concerning the letters, but was unable to identify the person responsible for authorizing release of the list. According to the University's Policy and Procedures manual, mailing lists are available to recognized public services at a cost to cover printing and expenses through Computer Services. However, Dr. Nicolas P. Mitchell, vice president for administrative services was unable to identify who authorized release of the list when first asked. Six names, apparently the "USC Alumni For Bryan Dorn," appeared on the letter: Caroline McKissick Belser, Chairperson of the USC' Bone,d of List Use N. P. Mitchel (40 Michael J. Mungo Women Visitors and wife of for University President J. I McKissick; Carl L. Brazzell, president of Atlantic Pepsi-Cola tling Company, Inc.; W. W. "Hoc Johnson, Chairman of the Board President, Bankers Trust of Sl Carolina; Dr. Frank C. Owens Columbia physician, past s senator and past mayor Columbia; Jonathan P. Pearson, a law student; and Tommy SuggE former USC football hero and now South Carolina National Bank. Much of the controversy started v some of the letter recipients conclt that the letter was an official dorsement of Dorn by the Alu Association. However, USC Alu Association director, Dick Little, "The association has in no way, sh or form endorsed any candidate for 1974 elections." But details of the " Alumni For Bryan Dorn" organize remain sketchy. "Hootie" Johnson wasn't exa sure when the committee was forn but said he had agreed to sign the le just last week. The only intent of letter was to "make ourselves knov he added. Carolyn Belser said, not sure, but I think it might have t a bad thing to send it out to alu members. " dlnDorn! .. Bryan Dorn Dr. W. H. Patterson Edwin R. Little Tommy Suggs, whose signature appeared on the bottom of the letter, wasn't sure who wrote the letter or where the mailing list was obtained. "My involvement was limited to signing a letter for Bryan Dorn," Suggs mer said. tion Jonathan P. Pearson said that the vice committee was "a very, very loosely Bot- designed organization" and he had no tie" knowledge of who wrote the letter or and where the mailing list came from. )uth , a No one is sure who wrote the letter, tate but Dwight Drake and Bill Spann, Dorn of campaign officials acknowledged USC mailing the letter out of their office. . a According to Drake, he told Tommy 'ith Suggs "to get the best alumni list available," but he added he did not rhen know where the list eventually came ided from. en mni Spann said, "We take all respon mni sibility for anything mailed out in a aid, Bryan Dorn envelope, but we do not ape' take responsibility for anything we do the not know about." USC tion Crawford Cook of Cook, Ruef and Associates, Dorn's campaign manager, s aid he was not aware that the letter ty had been sent out. tter "I can guarantee you that Bryan the Dorn has not sent a letter to any 'n," university mailing list," he said. I'm een According to the South Carolina rnni Attorney General's office, there is nothing illegal in buying an official ail-Out University mailing list. And Barry Rosen, Assistant to President William Patterson said it's a common practice to sell mailing lists, adding, "We regularly sell the list to eleemosynary (charitable) organizations." Sig Huitt, director of USC's In formation Services, added that the University regularly sells mailing lists. According to Huitt, the lists are available in any specification desired and any variation of lists can be bought. The only restriction, according to Huitt, is on staff lists, which are not available. Although he could not identify who authorized release of the list when first asked, Dr. Mitchell later acknowledged that he was responsible. "I authorized the selling of the list," he said. Mitchell sold the list to USC Board of Trustee's member, Michael J. Mungo at the normal four cents per name, he said. Mitchell stated that he did not know what Mungo intended to do with the list, saying, "He simply asked for the list and got it; it seemed to be a normal request. He (Mungo) indicated that he would like to have a list of Richland County ex-Carolinians." Mitchell added, "there was no intention of in volving the Alumni Association." The organization's title, "USC Alumni For Bryan Dorn" is "misleading" he said. According to Little, his office received three requests for alumni mailing lists, but all of the requests were denied. One of the requests had come from Dorn workers, but Little refused to issue it. According to Little, there are 37,000 names . on the Alumni Association mailing list and about 10,000 of these are from Richland County. Mungo purchased the list through the office of USC's President, but said he did not know the exact number of names on it. He has not yet received a bill from the University. Although Mungo said he donated the list to Dorn's headquarters, he does not know the name of the person he gave it to, or the name of the person who wrote the letter. "I gave it to a person who was addressing and mailing envelopes, a person working for Mr. Dorn...and I have no idea whatsoever who wrote the letter." Dr. Patterson acknowledged that he had obtained the list for Mungo adding that it was not an unusual procedure. "We don't advertise it as a standard procedure, but it is," Patterson added. According to the USC President, the list cost Mungo $366 and included 9,150 -names of USC graduates ini the Richland County area.