1) Sources are disgruntled Clemson employees whose motives are questionable. There has been no attempt by any of the sources or this site to validate the claims.

2) Chain of title to real estate exists in public records. Closing documents are signed at lawyers offices then filed with the county for everyone to see. This alleged conspiracy to hide the public records would involve attorneys, banks, title agents, and public officials across all of these supposed transactions. Quite an impossibility to erase all of these transactions from public record.

3) Per Greenville Online, other news sources, and public record, Clemson Academic Ventures owns the educational support facility that is being built for the benefit of the Bridge Program students and staff. It has nothing to do with the residences so any claim to that effect further proves that these accusations are simply false rumors started by ignorant sources with the intent of stirring up controversy.

4) As for claims that the requiring Bridge Students to live at Highpointe is somehow illegal consider the fact that they have been required to live at their current residences for the last three years of the program and have simply outgrown the housing there hence the need to move to Highpointe. Similarly, Clemson freshman are required to live on campus. The intent is to provide a structured environment with live-in RA’s and staff to ensure Bridge Students are able to successfully transfer to Clemson as sophomores. It is a proven transfer system and the Bridge program is a win-win for the students and the institutions involved.

Clemson is on the defensive and deservedly so. They (the Admin) hasn’t been on the side of “right” in anything lately.

This top priority of being the “center fold school” in the latest issue of US News & World Report that seems to be prize that this administration is seeking and Barker’s claim to fame according to many new reports just doesn’t ring true. What has been done – if facts – to achieve that goal. The very folks that voice their disgust with Barker, the educators, are the ones that his admirers critcize. “Why are the egg heads after Barker?” Those are the people that fulfill Clemson’s mission. Barker is no more than a talking head who, at his point, let his head swell beyond the point of fair, reasonable and honest management.

In this “helmscondogate”, I agree that if there were nothing of substance hidden there, everyone should have – and further – WOULD HAVE stayed at arms length. And, as a side note, it is hard to fathom that this is “surprise” news to Steadman, Barker and the rest of that very close to the vest group.

Too much denial, too many half excuses – signed affidavits?? – and just what would make anyone think that was the truth?

If you can turn your head to emotional rape, physical mishandling, sexual attacks – then condone retalliation because the victim made by the book reports – let badgering and bullying continue until the victim was beaten into mental submission – while not lifting a finger, making a call, asking a question – why would you tell the truth on an affidavit?

And Sic Willie, if you can find a way that I can own one of those condo’s and get a guaranteed rate of return on it — let me know.

Isn’t there some analogy about getting into the mud with a pig that’s appropriate here? And yes, emails were flying around campus today.

-FITS