SC

S.C. State Leader Gets … A Raise?

Earlier this week we wrote about the latest scandal at S.C. State University, a chronically mismanaged “historically black” school located in Orangeburg, S.C. S.C. State is a disaster, people … with corrupt leaders running big deficits that get passed on to you, the taxpayers. The school’s leaders have also flat…

Earlier this week we wrote about the latest scandal at S.C. State University, a chronically mismanaged “historically black” school located in Orangeburg, S.C.

S.C. State is a disaster, people … with corrupt leaders running big deficits that get passed on to you, the taxpayers.

The school’s leaders have also flat out lied to state officials about its deficits – yet S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley decided to give them a $6 million bailout anyway.

Amazing …

Thomas J. Elzey (above, left ) – S.C. State’s president – should have been run out of his office a long time ago.  But this is South Carolina, where big government’s corruption and/ or incompetence is invariably greeted by taller stacks of taxpayer cash.

Just this week it was announced that Elzey – who already makes $202,000 a year (not counting his benefits package or the $25,000 annual housing allowance he receives) – got a $50,000 bonus for receiving a “satisfactory” annual review.

For those of you keeping score at home, Elzey’s bonus alone is roughly $8,000 more than the median South Carolina household  makes in a year.  In fact his annual housing allowance is $1,000 more than the state’s per capita personal income.

Unbelievable …

If such ridiculousness sounds familiar, it should.  Rewarding failure is nothing new in the Palmetto State – where corrupt bureaucrats running underperforming agencies or institutions are routinely incentivized for their failure.

And yet we’re shocked when nothing changes …

Thomas Elzey is not  doing a “satisfactory” job at S.C. State.  He’s doing a terrible job.  In fact if this school was in the private sector, it would be out of business within a decade.

But that’s exactly what should happen.  South Carolina taxpayers have no business subsidizing a bloated, duplicative and dysfunctional higher education system – especially not if they’re going to bitch and moan about shortages for things like highway funding.

Seriously … Haley and state lawmakers just agreed on a $25.1 billion budget (the largest in state history).  How on earth is there not enough money for the core functions of government but plenty of money to blow on raises for incompetent bureaucrats?

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34 comments

Inciteful July 9, 2014 at 10:14 am

SCS President Elzey should be given an honorary doctorate from his own school, fired, and sent out in the real word to get a job. He would quickly discover that a SCS degree of any kind is worthless. He wouldn’t get hired. He would finally be hoisted on his own pitard.

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Squishy123 July 9, 2014 at 10:23 am

Why do university presidents get housing allowances? If they want the job, do they not earn enough to pay their mortgage? Do they not get a house provided to them on campus?

This is why the state should just tell SCSU, “You’re on your own, good luck.”

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Halfvast Conspirator July 9, 2014 at 10:29 am

SCSU ought to roll up a used doublewide and park it out back of the student union.

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The Colonel July 9, 2014 at 11:17 am

It’s a game of one upmanship when hiring “elite” positions like university presidents. In order to attract “world class leadership”, universities are forced to roll out huge compensation packages. Come to think of it, why did Elezy get a housing allowance?!?

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Inciteful July 9, 2014 at 11:32 am

Colonel, do you consider Glenn McConnell “elite”?

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The Colonel July 9, 2014 at 11:36 am

Why certainly sir, he’s an elite member of the elite Confederate Very Special Forces.

McConnell elite? Hell no, in fact he’s barely qualified. Being a Confederate General doesn’t qualify one for much.

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Squishy123 July 9, 2014 at 2:08 pm

You know if that bastard could get away with it, he’d find six more seamen and take the Hunley out on one more patrol with him at helm.

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The Colonel July 9, 2014 at 2:13 pm

We should only be so lucky…

Inciteful July 9, 2014 at 3:26 pm

Those seamen best know how to swim and take air tanks with them. Perhaps we should send some C of C board members
for the job. They’ve already shown they’ll do anything for “their” leader.

Fat Greg Dulli July 9, 2014 at 10:31 am

Elzey is enjoying those reparations.

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Bible Thumper July 9, 2014 at 10:38 am

who already makes $202,000 a year?
Actually $302,000.

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Fat Greg Dulli July 9, 2014 at 10:42 am

To not give him free housing, a bonus and a raise would be racist.

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GrandTango July 9, 2014 at 10:54 am

This is old news. Commenting on the status quo, instead of working to STOP it, is why we’re in the mess we’re in. FITS constantly bashes the voices against this type of absurdity. Sanford, while FITS worked for him, actually snuck around and extra-funded SC State while denying other projects for ALL South Carolinians.

Anyway, this is passé: Check out pertinent political news here (what may be happening to turn the tide): http://scdigest.blogspot.com/

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Neo Con Job July 9, 2014 at 12:41 pm

BigT’s gotta dream…Ben Carson! LMAO!

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Squishy123 July 9, 2014 at 2:09 pm

Emily is just begging people to visit her blog, nobody visits it on their own so she comes over here and posts advertisings, whereas others have to pay for advertising on this site.

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Mike at the Beach July 9, 2014 at 5:22 pm

Tacky, no?

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idcydm July 9, 2014 at 11:00 am

Those who can do, those who can’t teach. Those hallowed halls, by nature, are full of those who can’t.

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catfish July 9, 2014 at 11:17 am

Close that piece of shit today.

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24" rims and bling July 9, 2014 at 11:31 am

I can’t believe he didn’t get a Chrysler 300.

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Thomas July 9, 2014 at 11:58 am

His bonus, his salary, his school’s 6 million dollar bailout all came out of the SC General Fund. The General Fund coming in at 6.3 billion dollars in 2013 is funded by instate Sales/Use tax revenue and income tax revenue. No biggie. Just raise the sales tax at the county level one penny at a time.

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Philip Branton July 9, 2014 at 12:35 pm

Ya know………we wonder why Mr. Wil Folks does not actually go down and get an interview with the student body president of this fine university and ask some great questions on camera..? Matter of fact, get a conference with the student body presidents of Clemson, USC, SCSU, The Citadel, College of Charleston, and Columbia College and have a “study session”…!? Call it “Fitsnews Advanced Political Reactions”…….

We wonder if any of this bonus cash can be used to buy some “party favors”…?

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Libb July 9, 2014 at 1:11 pm

“…president – should have been run out of his office a long time ago.”

FWIW Mr. Elzey (who was a Citadel VP prior to taking the SCSU position) became president in June 2013…perhaps you’re confusing him with his predecessor, Dr. Cooper.

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Lowcountry July 9, 2014 at 6:16 pm

Fits, didn’t Elzey just get the job? I don’t think he’s been there more than a year? I am not in anyway condoning any of this but your supposition that he should have been run out a long time ago is bogus. He inherited this mess. Fact check please before you go trying to tarnish someone’s reputation. Now is that long enough merit a raise? That’s debatable. I’d like to know what he’s done to fix the mess.

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Bill July 9, 2014 at 6:35 pm

There was a scandal at Citadel involving President Elzey. Will, make a few calls.

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Kyle July 9, 2014 at 7:51 pm

I heard the same thing from an excellent source. My friend told me that, evidently, no background check was performed by SC State on the new pres.

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Barbarossa July 9, 2014 at 6:51 pm

“Three hundred sixty five degrees… burning down the house” A house that the General Assembly should have burned down 50+ years ago.

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Miss'ya Dr. Lewis July 9, 2014 at 7:33 pm

I’m amazed that no one ever brings up how the mediocre “powers that be” at SCSU recently ran off one tough, no-nonsense, student-oriented, highly responsible leader (Dean of Science and Engineering I think) who was building the nuclear engineering program at that school. And by building, it meant he had to rigorously cut out those students who couldn’t make it (“they need to major in something else”). He was building a program with a reputation of student employability and reliability so that the next cohort of students could get jobs too. This in a state and region rife with nuclear plants, existing and under construction, needing competent persons to run them (even if not design them). A highly respected former career nuclear engineer at one of the national labs (Oak Ridge NL I believe). Ph.D., PE, and as clear-headed a person I have ever met. And what did the two-bit self-serving “it’s all about US” academic bureaucrats do? Make it impossible to continue to work effectively, of course. Like not a few agencies, SCSU should be decapitated. Fill several tiers of top management from outside, not just one or two. And make them tough, no nonsense (“take no prisoners”), and mission oriented–that is to say for this case, student and state oriented.

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Christian LeBlanc July 9, 2014 at 9:57 pm

I’m surprised that black schools can survive the white schools competing with them over the best prospects.

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Real Men Get Off Their Butts July 10, 2014 at 1:19 am

Blah! Blah! Blah. Instead of mouthing off all the time on this website, why don’t you whinny little whimps make you up some signs and go out in front of the Statehouse and protest?? You want attention? Then go get some. Otherwise, just stay here and cry a river.

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Big Pleaser July 10, 2014 at 2:38 am

Really dumb thinking, or the product of inbreeding too deep. I don’t know for sure which applies. “Some” white folk are really funny when they really want something and are too scared ask or pay full price. Always looking for supplemental income from the market because they can’t qualify for government programs. They strategically devalue the desired item, use alliances to insure that the item hits rock bottom, move quickly to acquire it from the governing body, infuse with ill gotten gain often called inheritance, and finally rebranding as new with fresh white paint. Could this be what is happening here with SC State? Let’s see location, location, location!!! SC stop devaluing your own assets no matter how insignificant you think they may be from your venue. The same asset could be a life changer from the venue of another. They pay taxes and deserve to see it directed into their venue as well. Inept boards and management will come and should go quickly. SCSU family thanks for taking the high road and ignoring the haters. I know all too well how it hurts to see these articles and comments about our beloved University. Continue the momentum, you know what is really happening. Stay strong!!! SCSU82

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Louveteau July 10, 2014 at 5:43 pm

spoken like a true SCSU product

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Shutterdown July 10, 2014 at 11:10 am

I gotsta gets it in salree since e’breebodies lookin for us folks takin bribes. Jeezus, an nows I gots to pay tax on de monee too. Wheird dey park dat ‘300 inniway? Kin I atlees gets a gas card?

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Slartibartfast July 11, 2014 at 3:08 am

“Stick close to your desk and never go to sea
And you may become ruler of the Queen’s Navy..”

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YouKnowMyName July 12, 2014 at 5:03 pm

“I’m hoping that now we can move forward,” Govan said. “Of course, I’ve
maintained all along that this was a situation that was based on the
allegation of poor judgment by an individual and not a university that
has such a strong history and lineage of serving this state and nation.
The fact that he has been found guilty of improprieties should not
condemn or damn an institution which has some 30,000-plus alumni not
only across the country, but the world.”

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