Clemson Chess: Who Will Make The Next Move?
A high-stakes game of political chess is being played between warring factions at Clemson University, with top brass on one side and a group of self-styled “University Watchdogs” on the other.
As anger has mounted against the school’s administration, the watchdogs have become emboldened – leading to the leveling of some sensational allegations against some of Clemson’s top officials.
Specifically, several University officials have been accused of making public decisions for personal profit.
The University has flatly, formally and furiously denied those allegations, with the implicated administrators signing affidavits attesting to the inaccuracy of the charges.
Clemson’s top attorney has even gone so far as to call the anonymous Clemson employees who made the accusations “cowards.”
Caught in the middle of the drama is a secret society that multiple sources have confirmed presided over a heated discussion of the accusations last December, as well as a restless faculty that appears to be on the verge of open revolt against the administration of President James Barker.
Oh, and 17,000 students trying to get an education in the midst of all this chaos.
Obviously, both sides have made their opening chess moves, so what’s next?
Well, the University is obviously dug in, but the sheer number of sources (over a dozen) confirming that discussions of the alleged scandal took place at the December “Tiger Brotherhood” meeting leaves little doubt that there is at least some fire to all the smoke.
On top of that, we’ve received literally dozens of additional tips in the wake of the massive exposure these stories have generated, and are currently awaiting receipt of documents related to several of those tips.
In other words, stay tuned … apparently this Clemson-on-Clemson chess match is just beginning.
Comments
By Natasha on March 26th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Sounds salacious.
By TT on March 26th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Care to reveal some of the sheer number of sources (over a dozen)
By Dudley on March 26th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Shouldn’t there be some sort of annual audit process on these universities?
I have to believe regular audits is the best money taxpayers could ever spend on state government.
By franksboy on March 26th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Let’s just continue to hope that truths are discovered behind these outlandish financial arrangements by Mr. Barker and Budddies – unethical hiring/compensation practices involving children and friends children, to “very long term co-workers who know just enough (gotta be that, they sure as heck haven’t left for greener pastures), for romantic “arrangements” to aid the antics of a couple that seem to think they have free license to use their Departments as sexual hunting grounds, to gain polictical statue and the increasingly needed power to feed the ego.
The suit that hopefully will withstand the mounting pressures and loopholes discovered by the Clemson Legal Pit Bulls will help lift some blinders off people and covers off of the truth.
Prof Bednar will convince some others to overcome their fear of the Barker regime and stand with him on bringing additonal facts to light.
Clemson deserves better than this current Administration.
Maybe, just maybe – the University Watchdogs will be successful in working through the cracks of Barkers shields – and be able to cast away those fears that are hiding the injustices being brought upon the good employees of Clemson.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on March 26th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Those taters can’t play chess! This is more like a square dance.
By "OverADozenSources" on March 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
It is astonishing the amount of Clemson “sources” Sic Willie has…but for some reason they never get revealed.
Comical.
By "OverADozenSources" on March 26th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
“Sources” here … “sources” there … “sources” everywhere.
Too bad they are NEVER revealed…
By fitsnews on March 26th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
We do have over a dozen sources – that don’t want to get fired.
In this economy, we’d say that’s a pretty powerful motivation.
We’ll see how it all shakes out. We’re just along for the ride, after all.
-FITS
By Mike on March 26th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Why are some people so amazed that sources of this kind of information want to remain anonymous? Isn’t that pretty much the basis of investigative journalism at all levels? It’s easy to tell folks to “do the right thing,” go public, stand your ground, or some other platitude when it won’t be you losing your job. More likely, defenders of the Clemson status quo are simply feigning amazement, in the slim hope they can shame some of the sources out, get them fired, and make this go away (again).
By Nan on March 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Yeah and why do you think they opened I-Car. Financial incentives, perhaps?
Dirty, dirty, dirty.
Aren’t the President and Provost supposed to be leaving? Didn’t they say they wouldn’t stay more than 10 years?
By peterbog on March 26th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Dudley:
There are audits done. The external audit is performed by a large national accounting firm and is limited to ensuring the financial data is properly provided on the annual financial statements. They do not get into issues of whether an action is in accordance with public policy or not. So if something is not illegal, ie. high adminstrative salaries, they don’t get involved.
Internal audits are done, but these are by employees of Clemson that certainly must have some anxiety about looking into things that may be contrary to the “administrative spin”….so limit what they look at to what the Trustees or Administration wants them to look at.
What the University critically needs since it has fired or intimidated the “watch dogs” is a review by the Legislative Audit Council. These audits are performed at the request of the Legislature. So if you want a real audit done at Clemson, let your Legislator know that you believe it is time for such and audit to be conducted!
By cat on March 26th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
be entertained
By Biggie Tea on March 26th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I’m still a little skeptical of this story, but maybe I’ll be proven wrong. But the story fits posted a while back on the salary increases among some high up in the Clemson administration is a really big deal that I’m surprised hasn’t caused more controversy in the mainstream press. Especially considering that Clemson has ordered staff to take some unpaid leave because they are supposedly out of money. I think a story contrasting the plight of some janitor or landscaper doing without a few days pay while a lawyer in Clemson’s counsel’s office gets a double digit raise wouldn’t make the Clemson higher brass look very good.
By Scott on March 26th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
For anyone interested in the truth consider the following facts:
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.
By slick on March 26th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
The clemson legal counsel is now commenting anonymously on a blog? Way to go Sic. They are scared. Do not let your foot off the gas because you will find what you are looking for. Start with MMO in Columbia and get them to locate the RFP awarded to Tom Wikopp. You will be shocked to discover it isn’t there because it does not exist.Dig to the bottom and you will find this goes all the way to the top.
By franksboy on March 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
NO Scott, it’s not disgruntled employees who’s motives are questionable – the sources are good, dedicated, hard working and honest employees who question the motives, the dishonesty, the hidden agenda and the personal greediness of the Clemson Administration. The sources are those who live in fear of Barker’s Administration retalliation and bullying if they dare speak the truth. The sources are the vast majority of Clemson employees who have suffered harassment, discrimination and hostile acts by those who have been appointed at Barker’s pleasure to run roughshod over the policies and procedures that suppose to guide a once proud and honorable institution of higher learning in the great State of South Carolina.
Clemson employees, called “Cowards” by your Mr. Steadman and now called “Ignorant” by you are the people that made Clemson the fine University that it was before Barker was even a student and, hopefully, will return to once he is the ex-President. May they continue and survive any attacks by you, Steadman (if you are not Steadman) and the rest of the Administration to fight on and rid the University of the infamous Barkers Buddies and make future Clemson students and alumni proud while returning the workplace at Clemson to the fair, equal, safe and honorable place that they all deserve.
By franksboy on March 27th, 2009 at 9:42 am
By the way, hope you got to hear/read Barker’s budget address – it’s completely laughable, cover “his rear” BS – starts off by saying that there’s an Elephant in the room that he knew they were aware of by recent media coverage and emails on salary increases and increases in his staff. He went on to say that thre were no actual increases in his staff, it was simply that no one understood his reorganization. There were no increases just realignment. Then – get this – his answer to the salary increases – All of them are completely OK and justified because the Clemson BOT approved all of them. He said that they were all in line with peer institutions, that the IT $300K+ was marvelous because he was one of the top guys in the country. And that the increases were done in differnet economic times so that alone justified any actions that he took and besides that the BOT approved everything. All in all the old “the facts are incomplete and the statements are misleading” REASON that has been given for every bad decision/judgement, act of NEPOTISM and show of favoritism by him and his administration.
By hurtalumni on March 27th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I was a former employee of the University and was sooooooooooo happy when I left. I was fed up with what I was seeing by the upper administration of this university. I am a Clemson alumni and I can remember before the Barker days. It was quite different. Now and for the past 10 years of Barker’s tenure at Clemson, things have gone dramatically downhill, all in the name of uplifting Barker and his “yes men.” They have gone to great lengths to hide, manipulate, and ruin what was once a great university. I have seen firsthand the efforts they go to to get what they want, whether or not it’s for the good of the university. I have seen him ruin reputations of good employees who have spoken out about how Barker and his cronies run the budget. I have seen them fire a man who had the guts to stand up to them, and try to change the system so that proper auditing could be implemented. And they not only railroaded him out of town, but kept filling their pockets at the expense of the students (higher tuition – all the while having millions sitting there), the faculty and staff (some upper administrative assistants make more than a lot of our faculty and forget the staff….they are a non-entity at Clemson). The staff have been crapped on for years and they are the mainstay of the academic community. Believe me, if the staff didn’t get things done, that place would fall apart!! If a good union organizer was really interested, he/she could come into that place and organize the staff in a skinny minute. The staff are just terrified of losing their jobs and won’t speak out until they are given some type of immunity from losing their jobs. So those of you who don’t work at Clemson, or may have worked there before Barker’s tenure, your opinion means nothing to me. Until you’ve walked in the shoes of employees at Clemson, you will never understand the outright arrogance and coldness this Administration has shown. Keep up the pressure because things will never change until the faculty, staff, and students come forth, and they will in droves once they know it’s safe.
By CUAlum85 on March 27th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I said it before, I’ll say it again – those people who really love the University are the ones who are willing to stand up and point out the stink when they see it. I see stink in Sikes that has been there too long now!
Faculty and staff I have spoken too recently feel exactly as has been stated – they are in fear for their jobs even if they only get a 2% pay increase while the fat cats in Sikes see double digit increases in spite of adding no value to the University.
It’s unfortunate that some alumni seem to believe that Barker has added value to their diplomas because he seeks a Top 20 ranking (no matter how arbitrary that ranking is!!). They fail to realize and/or give themselves the credit they deserve for adding the value themselves!
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