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Pressur question Board suspicious, afraid to inquire By The Associated Press USC trustees who say they were suspicious about James Holderman's conduct told a newspaper it was nearly impossible to raise questions about the former USC president Yet some of the trustees now wonder why they didn't ask more questions about the controversial ex-president, The Charlotte Observer reported in Sunday's edition. "One thing I didn't think about was.. . that he could put somebody in a position where they couldn't resist, because of his position and power," former trustee and current USC Development Foundation President Paul Goldsmith said. "I'd never thought about him maybe victimizing somebody." Four former male interns have alleged that Holderman offered them gifts in exchange for sex. Holderman has denied the allegations. He did not return messages left at his home Sunday by The Gamecock or The Associated Press. USC President John Palms is investigating the accusations and whether any USC officials hindered students' attempts to complain of Holderman's alleged overtures. Holderman resigned in May 1990 amid controversy over his spending. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to receiving extra compensation and no contest to state ( tax evasion charges. He is serving five years' probation and 500 hours of community service. "A person's sexual preference is their own business, unless it involves abuse of power," Goldsmith said "That m mp ic thp L^P\/ thinrr ...? ? kvr ll?V *U MIV IVVJ Ullilg in this." The Observer said it interviewed more than half of the 22 trustees. Many said Holderman's dynamic personality, his lofty goals, fundraising efforts and his ability to bring celebrities to the Columbia campus reduced the desire to question him. Trustee Eddie Floyd of Florence said he tried in 1987 to get the board to order an audit of what he v considered questionable financial ii BA c: R ml V# OF UNIVER Wedn Thur Frl P3 IS I iv.-. e kept is away "I was ridiculed by the others. I was sort of isolated, like maybe I had betrayed the trustees by making a big stand." Eddie Floyd Trustee information supplied by Holderman. "I was ridiculed by the others," Floyd said. And for a long time afterwards, "I was sort of isolated, like maybe I had betrayed the trustees by making a big stand." Holderman's successes led the trustees to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially when he complained that his enemies were spreading false, malicious gossip about him. Trustee William Hubbard of Columbia quoted Holderman as telling him, "I don't understand why people are saying that I'm a homosexual. Don't they understand what this does to me and my wife and my children?" Trustees Herb Adams of Laurens and Michael Mungo of Columbia say Holderman said similar things to them. "Maybe that was his method . . . of disarming folks and defusing any rumors or thoughts," said Trustee Charles Simons of Aiken. For most of the 1980s, Holder- 1 man admirers dominated the board. Those included former chairmen Markley Dennis of Moncks Corner and Othniel Wienges of St. Matthews. Dennis, who served as board ' chairman from 1978 to 1984, said recently he never thought to question Holderman's taking the interns on frequent trips. "I felt like he was doing it for the best interest of the university ? never one time for Dr. Holderman," said Dennis, who retired from the board in 1990. Some trustees say those leaders deflected all attempts to question Holderman too closely on anything. And Holderman had the support of other powerful people in South Carolina, including former Gov. Robert McNair. Hubbard said no board member vould have dared ask for an nquiry. bus: INCS ?DER YOUR AT THE SITY BOOKS iesday, Novembe sday, November day, November 2: Sl^ OFF ALL _GOLD RINGS^i w/co"Pon ^ ^SAVINGS '+4 Giving to the Needy ... . - 4- - > / ' " ' , ' ; .. ..... - ~ ' Ar<Hve~ ^ * tftM. . ' Pro Bono Program students like Mike White (lei for the Harvest Hope Food Bank through Thanksgi a?- -w -< Holderman 3y The Associated Press Former USC President James Holderman wrote a hot check for more than $1,000 as payment for airplane trips, said Solicitor Dick Harpootlian. Holderman, who is on probation, wrote the check as payment for trips from Columbia to his Florida home, [he solicitor said. Holderman, reached at his Jacksonville, Fla., residence, called it an "oversight." "It's been paid. I can't understand that," he said Sa:urday afternoon. Holderman then ended the :onversation. Tom Hudson, spokesman for the state Department 3f Probation, Pardon and Parole Services, said Holdernan was trying to resolve the problem with US Air. Harpootlian sent a letter to the probation department, saying USAir told him Thursday about the bad :heck Holderman wrote on a Florida bank account. "It concerns me that a probationer of this renown is participating in this kind of conduct," Harpootlian said. "The public is interested in seeing contrition, fhis doesn't indicate contrition on his part." m !| Bo. fSofl I > Tickets. I [ For more ?] , ! HH WEtW S Thank PEI m for your cont W A the KA & 3 m W Jail-A-Thon ^0r ^ Stmrsr : STORE r 20 ' CXi ^ i ^j9 ' ?* ^ %* i , /? 4^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Greg Rickabaugh/The ft) and Jim Franklin will be conducting a food drive in the lobby of the school room iving. , writes bad check Holderman earlier this year pleaded no contest to 81 tax evasion and guilty to receiving extra compensation while he was USC president He resigned from that position in May 1990 amid controversy for his lavish 'NPftiy vm spending. The charges against him stemmed from money he ilPpi received from a prominent Columbia law firm he helped with one of its clients. He was sentenced May 28 to five years' probation and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. He has been developing a motivational course j lor state prison inmates unuer uie state j-?cparuiieni ui JM Correction Holderman had completed some of the work at his a Jacksonville residence, but now he works at the Department of Corrections headquarters in Columbia, Hudson said. Holderman also has been going through divorce proceedings with his wife, who recently filed court I documents saying he was behind on support he is supposed to pay according to their separation agreement. Holderman ork iasifli 1 GET IN THE RING WITH THE EDITORS OF iCTou SP|N MAGAZINE ^ iggBte ? Use your disillusion. |f? V Express your views on i m** SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK'N'ROLL WF and the upcoming Presidential campaign . An edited version of the forum will appear in the March 1992 SPIN. ribution to RUSSELL HOUSE THEATRE X2 annual fundraiser MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 DA 7:15 P.M.-9:00 P.M. " I November 19,1991 ; |lr< Carolina Coliseum | ^ General Public <h-| A AA I )cat (xoldthwait i :>n Sale Nov. 4 at the Coliseum and all S.C.A.T. Outlets. | information, please call 777-7130 or drop by the Cardinal Program Union in the Russell House, room 209. j * A*