University of South Carolina Libraries
# r Volume LXX Mo. 15 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Oct. 1 , 19BO ^ r iii, _ <jri< By Nancy Richmond Staff Writer A former Russell Hoi pmnlnvpp whn save hp \i J J -~-"J " * treated unfairly plans take his grievance to state after his appeal x denied by USC Presid James Holderman. 'I didn't ask for i made no willful up or ultimately Phil Crocker, forn Russell House ni{ manager, filed a grievai petition Aug. 8 charging t Russell House Direc Thnmac flffc t ro ci t nH K A A IV/111UO V/iVO 1.1 VU WVI 1 unfairly. Crocker appea before the USC Peer Revi Board Sept. 11, but tl voted unanimously agai him. Holderman rejec Crocker's grievance S< 23. "I'm pretty disappoin Russell House Direct Phil Crocker one-day retreat or informing O >vanc about it," said Crocker. "I i contacted President j Holderman to find out why, i use but I was told I would not be vas allowed to read his 1 to decision." : the Crocker said he will go to vas the State Board of Grievance ent next. He said he may have a better chance before the his resignation, and I ' attempt to set him bring his downfall.' -Tom Otts 1 ier board since it isn't part of $ht the university, nee Crocker's main grievance hat was a one-day suspension tor without pay ordered by Otts lim because Crocker did not m/\/4 r? /> r* /4 4 am icu ctiicuu d icucdl, V/IWKCI' iew said the retreat was not in hey his job description, and it nst wasn't specified as manted datory. ?pt. "The whole thing was basically a setup," said ted Crocker, adding that he was WMmm nr Thrtmnn Df#c cfli/c htt naua suspension for not attending a tts of his absence. never approached directly and told what would happen if he didn't go. After the trip was over, Otts made it mandatory, said Crocker. Otts said Crocker was suopciiucu UCtdUdC UC UIU not attend the retreat. He said memos were distributed to each staff member to explain the retreat. He said it was stated clearly that if circumstances prevented any employees from going, they should inform him. Otts said Crocker did not tell him he did not plan to attend. CROCKER SAID he did not go because of a conflict wi^h his classes at Midlands TEC. He said he was also against the retreat because it was an overnight trip 25 miles from Columbia, and he would not have been com pensated for travel and time. He said the trip was scheduled for a week before his exams. He also objected because beer and wine had been bought for the trip. Crocker said his imrnHiofn cnnnrincnr T U7 II1VUIUIV oupv.l V IOUI t 1 , TT . Tillman, knew he would be in class, and gave him permission to miss the retreat. The grievance also stated that Crocker could not get compensatory time. Crocker said Otts told him full-time salaried employees could not receive comp time. But urocKer saia ne Knew some salaried employees who were receiving it. Otts said compensatory time is given iri some cases when an employee works more than 60 hours a week. "That kind of work dictates compensatory time periodically," he said. The grievance also complained about Crocker's annual performance review, which he later found isn't subject to the grievance procedure. The review is used for awarding pay raises. Employees receive a 0, 3, 4 or 5 percent raise. Crocker said he received a marginal review and a 3 percent raise. He said the review was unfair because the other senior staff members received 4 percent I |||flMB^HHH tf??> : : >:> c r 1" ' " 7! r--,7 - " ~\~"7- Lri; W ^ll^ > g^PBiiilPlliliiw tition and 5 percent raises. He was the lowest-paid senior staff member in the Russell House, he said. OTTS SAID he did not know whether Crocker was the lowest paid staff person, but: "We are part of a state personnel system, and do not 'The whole thing setup. / was label maker. / asked too i have a lot of choice and discretion." He said, however, that he has a policy of keeping personnel decisions private. So he is sure he did not tell anyone anything about Crocker. According to Crocker, Otts and Tillman did not like his attitude. He said they were never around when he sx ShSbbsp ' Phil Crocker is the forn Russell House who lost his the university. i reje< worked, so he feels they a fa rated him on their attitudes resi toward him. will "I was labeled as a or troublemaker. I asked too dou many questions," said 0 Crocker. He said he once the questioned the price of a pre slide presentation of the got Russell House. The price auc ? whi was basically a J.eg ed as a trouble- pre nany questions.' ir -Phi! Cro thai was listed as $200, but it aga turned out to be $850. adn Otts said he got along with was Crocker and did not label him a troublemaker. He also ^ said Crocker "had been in the same job for a long time, and the thrill of the job had worn off." Otis said he does not agree that Crocker's problem was ner night manager of || r grievance case against ijj I 1 i S2CHfB?l&Ml?HE(v^: _v \-: -, ^||BMiBasS^g3^^j: .- r: ;ffi; l(^:.^ ^ v:'-; ' :ted itup. "I didn't ask for his ignation, and I made no ful attempt to set him up ultimately bring his /nfall." 'tts said he was not sure of costs of the slide sentation, but "once we into it, we had to buy lio visual equipment ch cost money." He said re was no negligence with ard tn thp rn<;t of fhp sentation. M THE GRIEVANCE, cker said he tried to show I Otts had a vendetta inst him. He said Otts litted that Crocker's pay i below regional and see Grievance, page 5 IMP' v. Today at I : icn : 1 p I J # Soccer v, >????.*** M A * * ' luiiinn. m a eld at the comer of leyward and u inter streets, 4 nou Student senate leeting. Callcott octal Science enter Rm, 015, 5:30 mi Film - "The ea Hawk,"starring !rroi Flynn as a washbttckling pirfce, Matinee at 2:30 .m., 75 cents. hows at 7 and 9:30 ?? ?i tU<M f*? Weather oday; Cool with ccasional rain, tighs in the 60$, ow$ in the $0s. liursday: Clearing fetea and some unshine. Highs in w mid-709, tows in | '^SfiMiin in i