The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 18, 1991, Page 2, Image 2
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
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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
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"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
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iesday, Novembe
sday, November
day, November 2:
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OFF
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^SAVINGS '+4
Giving to the Needy
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Pro Bono Program students like Mike White (lei
for the Harvest Hope Food Bank through Thanksgi
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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."
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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
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)cat (xoldthwait
i
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information, please call 777-7130 or drop by the Cardinal Program
Union in the Russell House, room 209.
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