Comments on: Clemson Board Needs Fresh Blood, Accountability

By: sorepaw

sorepaw — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:31:31 +0000

Whatever you think of Gene Troutman personally, applauding the present Clemson administration for trying to make sure no one knows where the money is going just invites more mismanagement in the future.

Maybe one of alleged supporters of Clemson on this comment thread could explain how encouraging mismanagement helps the university carry out its mission.

By: Eye on the Tiger

Eye on the Tiger — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:11:34 +0000

Some of the nasty reactions on this blog appear to be from Clemson fans, who should remember fan is short for fanatic, and that truly supporting Clemson may be completely different and even opposite from supporting people at the university who engage in misconduct under the university’s name. I think Clemson as defined by the students, parents and alum who provide money to the university , badly needs stewards, not fans. I think that Clemson, as defined by the people receiving all that money, badly need fans, and desperately fear stewards, which is why they gave Troutman the boot when he started figuring out where the assets were actually going. If you really care about Clemson, become a steward and make your support of Clemson come with accountability.

By: whahoppened

whahoppened — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:04:09 +0000

And another big round of applause for a great Clemson Man – Mr. Chalmers Eugene Troutman – seems to be holding on despite all of the underhanded tactics, illeagal maneuvering and ludicrous behavior of Mr. President Barker and his inbred, butt kissing, whiny cirle of ugly and manipulative JERKS.

Hang on Eugene!! The real, honest and true Clemson people are pulling for you.

GO TIGERS!!!!!! Defeather the GameCocks!!

By: CNSYD

CNSYD — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:41:10 +0000

Stayonthem, once again you mix apples and oranges. Barracks are naval base facilities not shipyard facilities. Now Bldg 590A was part of the shipyard. It was used for offices only. As I previously told you, the state has done zero maintenance. When I left the yard in 1993 Bldg 590A was not in the condition described here. The shotgun statement “brownfield” provides no information as to what or where. Lacking specifics it is spurious. IRT Troutman getting his job back, what is he smoking? He thinks his actions are how to do that? I doubt the member of the BOT who got him the job would spit on him today.

By: ClemsonU

ClemsonU — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:16:11 +0000

Troutman is a disgruntled FORMER employee who was FIRED by the Board of Trustees. Obviously, it is now impossible for him to make an unbiased and objective statement(s) regarding those who fired him.

Go Tigers!

By: Stayonthem

Stayonthem — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:53:08 +0000

I did not cite any video as evidence of that. But here is a URL for a press release from Clemson itself.

http://www.clemson.edu/newsroom/articles/2008/july/CURI-Architect.php5

As far as Troutman goes, I believe he just wanted his job back. There are plenty of other witnesses, such as Scott Ludlow, who can confirm the “team player” crap that Barker and his inbred administration attempt to impose on anyone who exercises independent judgment. The administration has gotten away with it for so many years now that it has become second nature.

By: CNSYD

CNSYD — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:24:27 +0000

Troutman is just trying to extort money from Clemson. Why is he given a platform? According to the Legislative Manual, 3 terms are up in 2010. One is the only woman on the board (and by the way she is not a Clemson graduate). One was only elected last year to fill an unexpired term. The third is a long time trustee. So who does Troutman think is going to bump them off? Also, as Troutman makes a big deal out of Mr. Clemson’s will, 7 outvotes 6 everytime. The legislative opposition to the will was not because of governance but because USC grads in the General Assembly did not want competition. That is why Ben Tillman put the chicken curse on USC.

By: CNSYD

CNSYD — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:08:11 +0000

Stayonthem, I reviewed the Post and Courier video you cite as “evidence” of a contaminated shipyard. To begin with NONE of what was shown in the video was located in the shipyard. It was located at the naval base. Big difference. Maybe not to outsiders like yourself but very notable for those who worked there for decades. The state of SC has done zero maintenance as have the tenants. What do you expect after 14 years of neglect? The largest environmental “problem” cited by the film is a former dry cleaning building. I challenge you to find any dry cleaning facility in the state from that era that would not have the same situation.

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:16:40 +0000

I believe the truth is some where in the middle here. I have been the lone crusader against a government entity that was/is corrupt. It nearly ruined me financially and emotionally. It took a couple of years, but I suddenly realized that the pot I was stirring did cause some changes in that system for the better. More and more folks are now seeing maybe I wasn’t just a disgruntled lone gunman out here. Troutman will cause some changes for the better at Clemson. It may not go as far as he wants, but it will change.

By: Stayonthem

Stayonthem — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:23:12 +0000

Why does Clemson need greater accountability? Here is a re-post from a couple of weeks ago.
——————–

The Clemson administration and Board of Trustees appear to be following recent behaviors seen on Wall Street very closely. The Troutman case is just one instance of a broader pattern of incompetence, arrogance and ignorance. For instance, in the past couple of years:

1) The university administration, with no consultation from faculty or staff, imposed five-day work furloughs on all personnel. Furloughs equated to an approximate 2.5% pay cut.

2) University administrators continued a pattern of awarding themselves massive pay raises amid the downturned economy, prompting the faculty senate to pass a resolution indicating lost trust in the administration. Some of the largest pay raises went to administrators who were technically retired, and those administrators continue to receive excessively high salaries. They are akin to the Saturday Night Live character “The thing that wouldn’t leave.”

3) The university president rated Clemson above every other university in the country on the peer assessment portion of the US News survey, bringing national embarrassment and ridicule to the university.

4) A local real estate developer and recent member of the Tri-County Board of Directors developed an apartment complex where a large portion of students enrolled in the university bridge program are “encouraged” to reside.

5) The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched an investigation into Clemson University after a whistle-blower reported serious infractions in the area of animal research.

6) The university continued to develop its ill-fated “Restoration Institute” on a contaminated Naval Shipyard in North Charleston.

7) The university paid a football coach in excess of $3 million to find another job.

Those are a few items that come to mind.