2008 Woodie Awards
Dirty Laundry: Columnist digs up audit council reports, ties presidential airfare to candy bars and spin cycles
Corey Brunk
Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: Opinion
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I believe history is important. Everyone should know where they're going and where they're coming from. I have decided to make history the topic of my final article.
Across Oakland Avenue, Dacus Library and the archives contain exactly what I found: history.
The 1996 South Carolina Legislative Audit Council Report and The Fretwell Report are 11 years old. However, the information is pertinent when considering where Winthrop is heading today.
The Fretwell report was conducted by the Chancellor Emeritus of UNC Charlotte, E. K. Fretwell Jr. and Harry H. Arnold (Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs retired and former assistant secretary of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees). They made observations and placed together steps "which could bring about a more positive future for Winthrop." Instructions were to "be prepared to take necessary steps soon!"
What were some things noted in the Fretwell Report? Campus leadership was brought up. To quote Fretwell and Arnold, "Reaction on campus to the president's present style of leadership is almost completely negative." How has that changed in a decade? I'll let you be the judge of that.
The consultants also pointed out the vote of no-confidence found in President DiGiorgio. There were a recorded 151 for the motion, 13 against and 11 abstentions. That sounds like a staggering amount of people who didn't believe DiGiorgio was doing his job. I wonder what that vote would look like 11 years today, if a no-confidence resolution was sought.
It wasn't all bad. Eleven years ago students were satisfied with their courses and how the faculty was willing to help them learn, much like I believe the students feel today. It was even stated that when DiGiorgio first arrived at Winthrop that the quality of students increased and Winthrop's image became better known. Some people even said they actually saw DiGiorgio from time to time during his first two years.
But the report didn't have too many up-sides. Believe it or not, Winthrop had money problems 11 years ago. The report said "it remains clear that state-appropriated funding for Winthrop has not kept pace with inflation. As a result, Winthrop and other South Carolina institutions have become more reliant for revenues on student fees and tuition." Imagine that. The saying still goes, if you're a college in South Carolina and you're not USC or Clemson, no one cares about you.
Across Oakland Avenue, Dacus Library and the archives contain exactly what I found: history.
The 1996 South Carolina Legislative Audit Council Report and The Fretwell Report are 11 years old. However, the information is pertinent when considering where Winthrop is heading today.
The Fretwell report was conducted by the Chancellor Emeritus of UNC Charlotte, E. K. Fretwell Jr. and Harry H. Arnold (Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs retired and former assistant secretary of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees). They made observations and placed together steps "which could bring about a more positive future for Winthrop." Instructions were to "be prepared to take necessary steps soon!"
What were some things noted in the Fretwell Report? Campus leadership was brought up. To quote Fretwell and Arnold, "Reaction on campus to the president's present style of leadership is almost completely negative." How has that changed in a decade? I'll let you be the judge of that.
The consultants also pointed out the vote of no-confidence found in President DiGiorgio. There were a recorded 151 for the motion, 13 against and 11 abstentions. That sounds like a staggering amount of people who didn't believe DiGiorgio was doing his job. I wonder what that vote would look like 11 years today, if a no-confidence resolution was sought.
It wasn't all bad. Eleven years ago students were satisfied with their courses and how the faculty was willing to help them learn, much like I believe the students feel today. It was even stated that when DiGiorgio first arrived at Winthrop that the quality of students increased and Winthrop's image became better known. Some people even said they actually saw DiGiorgio from time to time during his first two years.
But the report didn't have too many up-sides. Believe it or not, Winthrop had money problems 11 years ago. The report said "it remains clear that state-appropriated funding for Winthrop has not kept pace with inflation. As a result, Winthrop and other South Carolina institutions have become more reliant for revenues on student fees and tuition." Imagine that. The saying still goes, if you're a college in South Carolina and you're not USC or Clemson, no one cares about you.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
J A
posted 11/30/06 @ 1:47 AM EST
Heh... I was a student at Winthrop through the mid 90's, and occasionally wrote an article for the Johnsonian. I remember doing some research for the original article on the "vending machine" scandal back then. (Continued…)
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