SC

Higher Ed? Or More Welfare Statism?

By FITSNews  ||  An online petition has alleged “third world problems” at the Barton Campus of Greenville Technical College – one of more than thirty totally unnecessary government-subsidized institutions of “higher” learning in the Palmetto State. According to the petition – which has collected nearly 120 signatures – students aren’t…

By FITSNews  ||  An online petition has alleged “third world problems” at the Barton Campus of Greenville Technical College – one of more than thirty totally unnecessary government-subsidized institutions of “higher” learning in the Palmetto State.

According to the petition – which has collected nearly 120 signatures – students aren’t being provided with food options meeting “the nutritional needs of the students, faculty, and staff.”

Ho-hum, right?  That’s what we thought, too … but then we kept reading …

“We have an on-campus residential facility that also does not have access to any food source, outside of the Monday – Thursday lunch vendors,” the petition continued.  “At the very least an on-campus meal plan for our residents must be offered.”

Again … what’s the big deal here?

Hang on … getting there …

“GTC has very low-income students that struggle to get food – some go hungry all day long,” the petition continued.  “Even getting food off campus is an issue as there is absolutely no safe way for anyone to walk to get decent food.  Another issue is no access to cool, sanitary water without having to buy it.  Access to nutritious food and sanitary water is an absolute must for Greenville Technical College and is needed by the students, faculty, and staff.”

Wait … no safe way to get food off campus?

Wow.  We knew there were some bad neighborhoods in “G-Vegas” but that sounds pretty disturbing.

“The kids are put in dangerous situations just to get food and drinks,” one petition signer noted.  “Their safety should be taken into consideration.”

Also problematic is the reference to the school being populated by predominantly low-income students who “struggle to get food” – which leads us to believe this institution is one of many helping perpetuate South Carolina’s thriving dependency economy.

Which isn’t something you want to see thriving … unless you’re a bureaucrat (or in this case a “higher educrat”).

Anyway stay tuned … we plan on doing some more digging to see if these sorts of conditions are prevalent throughout the state’s bloated higher education system.

We would also reiterate our long-held belief that South Carolina’s entire higher education system should be immediately privatized.

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60 comments

Really? September 28, 2014 at 5:12 pm

Gotta wonder why food trucks won’t go there…

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vicupstate September 29, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Good point. The city restricts them from Downtown, but this would be the PERFECT area from them to go. Lots of business for the trucks, and a huge convenience for the students.

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Tunes'n'News September 28, 2014 at 5:37 pm

There was no reason other than some administration vanity project to build dorms at a two year commuter college.

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vicupstate September 29, 2014 at 12:16 pm

If I am not mistaken, they were built by a private foundation that supports the College. Therefore, it was probably just a matter of getting permission to use the school’s land.

I would expect it is a money maker as well. It know doubt helps with recruitment.

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Tunes'n'News September 29, 2014 at 4:03 pm

Greenville Tech recruits? Against what institutions? It’s there. It serves a purpose to people in Greenville County, all of whom are driving distance. Greenville Tech Foundation (a separate 501(c)(3)) built the dorms. As I recall they had issues filling those dorms when they were new because of lack of demand. Then they opened to non-students and had crime issues. No news on that recently, so maybe it has settled down.

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idcydm September 28, 2014 at 5:52 pm

I would think if you are smart enough to go to Greenville Technical College you are smart enough to find food and water.

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Smirks September 29, 2014 at 9:44 am

Time to whip out the ol’ divining rod.

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idcydm September 29, 2014 at 10:21 am

Don’t think even a technical college would know what a divining rod is without Google these days.

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nitrat September 28, 2014 at 6:00 pm

Since when do TEC schools have dorms?

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The Colonel September 28, 2014 at 11:39 pm

Becoming more common. Midlands Tec students who plan to bridge to USC can live in USC forms. It is a “limited” program.

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afmajret September 30, 2014 at 1:38 pm

Point of clarification: ‘Bridge’ program students are USC students (they’ve been provisionally admitted there) who take classes at MTC, not MTC students who live in USC dorms. (I work at MTC and helped set up the records keeping for that program).

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John September 29, 2014 at 10:59 am

Greenville Tech built dorms about 5-6 years ago. Complete waste of money, as there are plenty of apartments near campus.

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Manray September 29, 2014 at 11:32 am

It’s part of the whole tech school empire building campaign of the former president. A huge waste of money!

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Cleveland St. September 28, 2014 at 6:25 pm

There’s a BILO across Faris Road from the campus, restaurants in the immediate vicinity on S. Pleasantburg, and a Publix 3 blocks away on S. Pleasantburg.

Anyone who can’t get eats near the Barton Campus ain’t trying very hard.

Lived one mile away for two years. Apts. and condominiums galore in the vicinity.

I was there when the campus apts. were built.

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SCBlues September 29, 2014 at 6:12 am

“Anyone who can’t get eats near the Barton Campus ain’t trying very hard.”
I think the point is affordable options on campus – and that the options on campus are neither affordable or healthy.

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Really? September 29, 2014 at 8:50 am

BI-LO isn’t affordable?

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vicupstate September 29, 2014 at 12:12 pm

The Bi-Lo closed about a year ago, give or take. Publix is still a mile or so away. If you lived on campus and didn’t have a car, it would be a hassle to get groceries, but there is a bus line that runs through. Publix can be pricey though on some items.

Crossing Pleasantburg on foot at most times of the day is a little hazardous. Six lanes and plenty of traffic and speeding, no crosswalks to speak of either. Faris is no better at times.

Still, an adult, should be able to handle it. A pain in the ass, sure, but not destitute.

Will, this area is not ghetto either. Sure there are some low income areas on the back side of campus but there is no need to be in that area anyway, the commercial corridor is the other direction and plenty safe.

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euwe max September 28, 2014 at 7:05 pm

Education doesn’t do anything for anyone.. unless you pay for it out of your own pocket – just ask .. um Jefferson.

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nitrat September 29, 2014 at 8:39 am

Extract from Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe

Paris Aug. 13. 1786.

I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowlege among the people. no other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom, and happiness.

http://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/1283

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euwe max September 28, 2014 at 7:05 pm

In a libertarian universe, if you wanted an education, you’d just buy someone that’s educated.

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Bible Thumper September 29, 2014 at 9:25 am

In a liberal universe, you wouldn’t be allowed to pay more for an educated person than an uneducated person.

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idcydm September 29, 2014 at 9:27 am

You’re wrong, in a liberal universe, someone else would be paying.

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Smirks September 29, 2014 at 9:45 am

In a conservative universe, you just borrow the money for college from your wealthy parents.

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Bible Thumper September 29, 2014 at 9:49 am

In a conservative universe, everybody would have wealthy parents.

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Smirks September 29, 2014 at 10:00 am

lol…

BinklyTellsTheTruth September 29, 2014 at 3:50 pm

Because anyone without wealthy parents would be in prison, dead or deported.

idcydm September 29, 2014 at 10:09 am

You’re right but in the liberal universe wealthy parents still want someone else to pay.

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euwe max September 29, 2014 at 10:37 am

In a liberal universe, heroic efforts would be made to educate people to their maximum potential, so that they wouldn’t fuck over their fellow man for petty concerns like “having the most coconuts.”

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Digger Nick September 28, 2014 at 7:37 pm

120 signaures? … wow. I guess if you are so retarded that you have to attend a crappy technical school, you are too stupid to find a sammich and a drink machine.

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Christian LeBlanc September 28, 2014 at 7:38 pm

Gee whiz, I live less than a mile from GTC’s Pleasantburg campus. Within a mile radius there’s a BK, a Waffle House, a Publix, a convenience store, chicken fast food, a veggie restaurant, Frodo’s Pizza lunch buffet, and I drink tasty Greenville watershed water out of my tap.

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Cleveland St. September 28, 2014 at 7:49 pm

Mmm, mmm… good Pizza at Frodo’s

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southmauldin September 29, 2014 at 4:53 pm

I went to Frodo’s today. 5 slices, a salad and a ton of tea for $8.25. Just have to do a little Frogger across Pleasantburg Drive.

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Cleveland St. September 29, 2014 at 5:09 pm

Gonna catch “Sarah’s Kitchen” next time I’m in Greenville at lunchtime!

Meat and three with iced tea.

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Centrist View September 28, 2014 at 11:34 pm

As stated in the petition, an issue seems to be low income students, and their ability to afford meal. I have a child currently attending GV Tech. who told me of a boy whose Dad is in jail and the Mom is probably in jail. The boy is pretty much on his own and the dorm is his full time residence. He is applying for food stamps.

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SCBlues September 29, 2014 at 6:07 am

“As stated in the petition, an issue seems to be low income students . . .”
Poor people do not deserve food or water.

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idcydm September 29, 2014 at 9:28 am

One sarcastic comment deserves another…Let them eat cake.

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John September 29, 2014 at 11:01 am

These are adults, not children. I am glad they are furthering their education, but this is not elementary school. The school is not obligated to feed them.

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BinklyTellsTheTruth September 29, 2014 at 3:46 pm

Nope, but society is. You either feed them there, or feed them with food stamps at the grocery story, or feed them at the homeless shelter. One of those three places actually has a chance to help the kid get out of the poverty and get job. Doesn’t it make sense to help them do that so they aren’t on food stamps the rest of their lives? Otherwise, it seems like you’re saying… you’d rather pay for their “welfare state” forever than do something to help them make it on their own, but then reserving the right to despise them for being on welfare. Frankly, that’s kind of hateful.

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sparklecity September 30, 2014 at 11:30 am

You forgot to mention the “Middle-Eastern” place tucked away behind the old Crystal Shop (damn good fafala {sp} and other stuff).
Tanner’s still there too????
BTW, I’m a proud GTC alumni (Engineering Technology class of 1977) and went on to get a 4 year degree. out of state.
The two years I attended G-Tec were the best two years of higher education I had. At that time, we had state of the art (for 1975-1977 that is) equipment and labs. In fact the state university I attended after G-Tec allowed me to skip a number of labs due to the fact that they did not have enough resources (i.e. lab equipment) for the students and signed me off so they could instruct others that were not at my level of expertise….This was all due to the training i received at G-Tec.
FITS is just plain wrong about Technical Education Colleges in SC.
South Carolina pretty much sucks concerning education but the Technical Education College system in South Carolina is one of the best (if not THE best) in the nation.
it is one of the few things concerning education South Carolina should be proud of.
Now back to the point. I know things have changed in the area since I attended but these ‘students” way off line. I don’t know if they have a school cafeteria now (there was nothing like that back in the day) but I do know they now have student housing (wish they had it when i was there) and I understand there has been some trouble at the student housing complex.
They wouldn’t try this BS if Dr. Barton was still living. He’d tell them to fuck off (and rightly so!!!!!!!.)
I donate annually to the G-Tec fund and don’t send a fucking dime to the out of state university where I earned my BS degree….That’s how strongly I feel concerning G-Tec.
Big shout out to Grennville Water too – some of the best (and purest) water in the nation comes out of the taps. I know, we used to test it as part of our lab classes. The water is so soft, you can use the water to refill batteries (if you still do that sort of thing……)

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Christian LeBlanc October 2, 2014 at 10:33 pm

Yeah Pita House! I eat there, but it’s not a budget place.

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Christian LeBlanc October 2, 2014 at 10:34 pm

Tanner’s too.

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sparklecity September 30, 2014 at 11:30 am

You forgot to mention the “Middle-Eastern” place tucked away behind the old Crystal Shop (damn good fafala {sp} and other stuff).
Tanner’s still there too????
BTW, I’m a proud GTC alumni (Engineering Technology class of 1977) and went on to get a 4 year degree. out of state.
The two years I attended G-Tec were the best two years of higher education I had. At that time, we had state of the art (for 1975-1977 that is) equipment and labs. In fact the state university I attended after G-Tec allowed me to skip a number of labs due to the fact that they did not have enough resources (i.e. lab equipment) for the students and signed me off so they could instruct others that were not at my level of expertise….This was all due to the training i received at G-Tec.
FITS is just plain wrong about Technical Education Colleges in SC.
South Carolina pretty much sucks concerning education but the Technical Education College system in South Carolina is one of the best (if not THE best) in the nation.
it is one of the few things concerning education South Carolina should be proud of.
Now back to the point. I know things have changed in the area since I attended but these ‘students” way off line. I don’t know if they have a school cafeteria now (there was nothing like that back in the day) but I do know they now have student housing (wish they had it when i was there) and I understand there has been some trouble at the student housing complex.
They wouldn’t try this BS if Dr. Barton was still living. He’d tell them to fuck off (and rightly so!!!!!!!.)
I donate annually to the G-Tec fund and don’t send a fucking dime to the out of state university where I earned my BS degree….That’s how strongly I feel concerning G-Tec.
Big shout out to Grennville Water too – some of the best (and purest) water in the nation comes out of the taps. I know, we used to test it as part of our lab classes. The water is so soft, you can use the water to refill batteries (if you still do that sort of thing……)

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euwe max September 28, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Papa John’s?

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Bible Thumper September 28, 2014 at 8:43 pm

Pita House

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sparklecity September 30, 2014 at 11:41 am

That’s the “Middle-Eastern” place I was thinking about (behind the old “Crystal Shop” Thanks Thumper!!!!!!!
it wasn’t there when i was there(1975-1977){too bad too} but we did have the old Dunkin Do-Nuts,Tanner’s and the Old Phoenix Inn with the best buffet in Greenville.
if you couldn’t eat good there just give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Plus The Phoenix Inn had the most beautiful girl in the world as a hostess. She would take your breath away. i still remember her after almost 40 years!!!
Honestly, she was the best looking young woman I have EVER seen in the flesh.
I took a girlfriend there one time and she said,”if a man don’t look at her he’s queer”!!!!!!

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TontoBubbaGoldstein September 28, 2014 at 8:52 pm

At the very least an on-campus meal plan for our residents must be offered.

TBG wonders what “At the very most…” would encompass…

Room Service.
Lobster.
Steak.
Dom Perignon.
Hookers, blow and firetrucks.

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Blasphemy! September 29, 2014 at 12:36 pm

Firetrucks? Surely, the TBG has heard the refrain, “Let the muthafucka burn!” in my favorite party song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0urHkJmcZY4

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Blasphemy! September 29, 2014 at 12:38 pm Reply
Bible Thumper September 28, 2014 at 9:13 pm

What’s to complain about? Greenville is a higher education libertarian Shangri-La. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US without a public four year university; USC Upstate is the closest.

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Good point! September 28, 2014 at 10:02 pm

Time to fire up some more taxes and fix it!

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sparklecity September 30, 2014 at 1:03 pm

You mean USC-Spartanburg don’t you?????
I absolutley refuse to refer to it as anything else.
The rebranding of USC-Spartanburg and Spartanburg Tec to Spartanburg Community College (what a fucking joke!!!) happend about the same time and was a result of some dude sporting a short white beard who was then Chancellor of USC-Spartanburg (who was a shyster from the start!!!!!!!)

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shifty henry September 28, 2014 at 9:37 pm

For every student with a spark of brilliance – there are about ten with ignition trouble.

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shifty henry September 28, 2014 at 9:48 pm

An eight-year old was giving his kid brother some advice as the younger one was about to enter the halls of academe. “Don’t learn how to spell ‘cat’, because if you do, after that the words just get harder and harder!”

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Yelsewh September 29, 2014 at 7:39 am

Pack a lunch.

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major major September 29, 2014 at 8:44 am

Another issue is no access to cool, sanitary water without having to buy it

Are we talking about Greenville or Calcutta here?

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idcydm September 29, 2014 at 9:17 am

Makes you wonder if there are no drinking fountains or restrooms on campus, or is bottled water now becoming a right?

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vicupstate September 29, 2014 at 12:18 pm

A gross exaggeration, which undermines their entire argument. There are water fountains and Greenville water quality is the best in the state, as I understand it.

Must be a slow news day, if Will gave them an article.

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Bible Thumper September 29, 2014 at 9:29 am

I believe all the dorm rooms have kitchens. The real issue may be transportation.

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Manray September 29, 2014 at 11:34 am

The Pita House is right across the street from campus — some of the best food in G’ville.

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sparklecity September 30, 2014 at 11:56 am

Low Income????????
I know a shit-load of kids that are middle class attending G-TEC and the nursing program has CONSISTENTLY been rated as one of the TOP nursing programs in the state and the South
There is a shit-load of middle-class kids attending G-TEC for their first two year of college before they go off to Clemson, University of South Carolina,etc. let alone the Associate Science degrees or trade diplomas and not a single one of them is starving.
Hell, go over there and try to find a parking space during class time for crying out loud…..
This petition is plain BS from what sounds like pampered whining “I’m too good to drink some of the best water in the nation (if not the world) from a fountain” as far as I’m concerned.
Like i posted earlier, if Dr. Barton was still running the place (I mistakenly posted he was dead) he’d tell them to fuck off in a New York minute and rightly so!!!!!

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