By FITSNews || Two members of the Clemson University Board of Trustees – one of them a former statewide elected official – are employed by companies that receive annual contracts from the University worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, FITS has learned.
Even though the contracts were “competitively” bid, critics want the two trustees to step down from their posts – or have Clemson find other vendors for the contracts in question.
The two trustees involved in these questionable deals are former S.C. Lt. Gov Bob Peeler and John N. “Nicky” McCarter. Peeler is a glorified lobbyist with Waste Management Inc., which has contracts with the University valued in excess of $100,000 annually. McCarter is CEO of Defender Services, which is said to have contracts with the school valued in excess of $600,000 annually.
Peeler is obviously well-known in South Carolina political circles. He served two terms as South Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor before being defeated in the 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary by Mark Sanford. His brother, Harvey Peeler, is the Republican “Majority” Leader in the State Senate an an ardent supporter of Clemson.
McCarter himself is well-known for the way he basically bought his way onto the Clemson board two years ago, doling out thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to S.C. lawmakers who turned around and voted to support his candidacy. McCarter and two other trustees are running for reelection in 2010.
Peeler is not up for reelection until 2012.
In an odd perversion of taxpayer-funded governance, a majority of the thirteen-person Clemson board is comprised of “self-perpetuating life members,” in accordance with the will of Thomas G. Clemson.
In a recent report on trustee conflicts, Harvard professor Richard P. Chait said that having schools give out contracts to trustees was “exceedingly ill-advised.”
“It doesn’t set the right ethical tones,” Chait told the Chronicle of Higher Education.
We agree.
In fact, it could very easily be construed that the reason these two trustees have tolerated glaring examples of Clemson’s administrative excess and mission creep over the years is simple: the University has been padding their pockets.
By Checking in March 15, 2010 at 11:14 am
I would be willing to bet that Mr. McCarter gives a great deal of that back to Clemson via IPTAY, and endowments. He had those contracts prior to being a board member. And if the school wants to reward one of it’s own that offers a service the University needs, I simply see no problem with that, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their decisions, which I highly doubt it does.Chances are, the school gets that money back. This looks like FITS making a story out of a real non story.
By Moniker Lewinsky March 15, 2010 at 11:16 am
Carter is not only a crook who uses Clemson to line his pockets (so he can line the pockets of legislators in exchange for their votes), but he’s also a redneck and lout. Peeler is a notoriously classless individual.
Both are perfect fits for Clemson.
By Darth March 15, 2010 at 11:42 am
Anyone wanna check some of USC’s on again off again board members, including some that have bragged that they “can buy their seat back at anytime”?
By Toyota Kawaski March 15, 2010 at 12:12 pm
34-17
By CNSYD March 15, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Captain Renault is shocked to find that contributions to legislators’ campaigns could influence their votes. This is a first in the annals of politics in SC or anywhere else for that matter. Now exactly which former USC east trustee resigned because he was being indicted? I bet Michael Mungo has never contributed to a legislator’s campaign. Why is Mack Whittle no longer the head bubba at Carolina First? At least Clemson’s BOT does not contain one Mark Sanford.
By No Name March 15, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Both Boards are filled with conflict and ego.
This state wide depression will flush all these ass holes into the open as they all turn on each other trying to avoid the glaring fact that after all this bullshit about building our universities into world class expensive institutions and I mean expensive…in the face of a depression …the degree means nothing…and all at the expense of a higly inflated tuition….a tuition that went to keep all these educrats in gravy on Lake Keowee.
I think the Men of Clemson were hoping Wilkins would have the balls to start calling bullshit on all this cronyism. We shall see.
By Moniker Lewinsky March 15, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Wilkins doesn’t care as long as they do what he wants on the Board, which primarily means promoting the football team, controlling the Town of Clemson so as to protect athletes from being arrested for their criminal conduct, and capitulating to Premier Barker’s campaign to make, I mean fake, Clemson into one of the nation’s Top 20 college and universities according to US News & World Report. They are all drowning in orange Kool-Aid.
By really???? March 15, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Give it up FITS. Show me the bids from the other companies before you come with this week crap. If the contracts in question were the most expensive bids then we can talk, if not then quit with the Clemson hating.
By CNSYD March 15, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Moniker Lewinsky, please provide the evidence of all this football player criminal conduct that is being ignored by the “Town of Clemson”. If you have none, then go back to your BJ.
By fromupstate March 15, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Once again I am thoroughly underwhelmed by FITS “dirt digging” when it comes to Clemson University. The sad part is that I’m sure this, like others articles, is “dirt” dug up by a disgruntled Clemson employee that was passed on to Sic Willie.
Did it occur to you that you should check to see how longer Defender Services has had the contract? How long Waste Management has had the contract? How long Bob Peeler has been employed with Waste Management?
Oh wait….. I forgot… that would prove the depth and legitimacy of this article is thinner than a Mark Sanford alibi.
I know you’re fully capable of finding a good scoop…. you have proven that on several occaisions, you just seem to be extra lazy when it comes to Clemson.
FYI…. Clemson is one of SEVERAL schools that contracts with both Defender Services and Waste Management…….. Oh and as far as Mr. Chait’s standards…. I’m sure Harvard has NEVER EVER entered into a contract with a company that employed a trustee. Nah… can’t imagine that has EVER happened….. Either I need to start expecting less of FITS or you guys need to start giving me more.
By Joseph Reynolds March 16, 2010 at 8:52 am
Hmm..Defender Industries….
why does that name ring a bell in connection with Clempson????
Oh yea…thats the same crew that spent so much money buying lpayers in the late 1970′s and early 1980′s that Clemspson came close to getting the death penalty.
I wonder what the NCAA would say about their continued involvemment with the same school they dragged down 20 years ago?
I mean, C’mon..
can a Tiger change its stripes????
Can anyone say “Lack of Institutional Control”?
By Moniker Lewinsky March 16, 2010 at 9:54 am
Why is anyone in the know at Clemson considered “disgruntled” simply because they decide to cross the thick orange line and speak the truth? The Pride of Pickens County suffers from such a severe case of insane delusions of grandeur that it can’t accept criticism from one of its own as anything other than lies from a disgruntled employee. Surely no sane person could criticize the college that has produced the most prominent racists in South Carolina history, they think.
That hick school is a corrupt body politic that has agreed among its members to present a false image to outside world at all costs, spreading its delusional self-perception in the belief that others will buy it. Premier Barker has laughably announced that Clemson is better than Princeton,Yale, Harvard, and every other school in the United States. They rest their pride in Clemson based on these baseless beliefs while the rest of the world laughs at them. Their “awesome” basketball team has never won an ACC Tournament title, their “awesome” football team hasn’t won its pitiful football conference title in the lifetime of a typical Clemson undergraduate student, and yet the Clemson faithful insist their teams are the best on Earth. Crazy, and sad, really, to see a school that once flirted with prominence now shrilly insisting it is the “best” simply because it says so.
By fromupstate March 16, 2010 at 11:08 am
Moniker Lewinsky….. thank you for your opinion of Clemson athletics. Since you clearly speak from such a high pedsastal, I can’t help but be curious as to what institution you cheer for. Please share with group.
Clearly you pull for one of the most accomplished athletic programs in American history. Do share…..we are all curious.
By CNSYD March 16, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Moniker Lewinsky, if you can remove the penis from whichever orifice you presently have one (or more) inserted, please inform us of the names of the “most prominent racists in South Carolina history”. BTW Ben Tillman did not attend Clemson. If you say Strom Thurmond, then be prepared to contrast him with other government officials from SC, elected and/or appointed, of the same era about whom the same charge can not be made. As with other posters over the years on this site you make all sorts of allegations of wrongdoing, yet you have never produced evidence to a law enforcement agency. Why is that?
By Moniker Lewinsky March 16, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Don’t cry, Taters! The truth hurts!
By Moniker Lewinsky March 16, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Ah, the old Bill Clinton method of attacking your critic rather than refuting their allegations. A sad but predictable response from a Clemson-educated mind.
CNSYD, I wasn’t thinking of Ben Tillman, although he was one of the greatest racists in American history as well as a member of Clemson’s original Board of Trustees (the annointed ones, not the ones elected to represent the taxpayers who help support the school). I do contend that Strom Thurmond was one of the “most prominent” racists of his or any other era in South Carolina history. You can not seriously contend he was not, so you warn me that I must “contrast him with other government officials from SC, elected and/or appointed, of the same era about whom the same charge can not be made.” That’s a poor attempt at deflection from my point, which is that when you look at the history of this state and ask which of its citizens were among its’ most PROMINENT racists, Strom nearly stands alone. Read my post again if you don’t think my point was the prominence of the racist in the State, not his mere existence as an elected official. Strom based a presidential campaign on racism, for God’s sake. How much more prominently could he have made his racist views?
Back to another point I made: the insane delusions of Clemson Nation. Try your best to follow my question, and then answer the question as asked, if you can. Do you agree with President Barker that Clemson is better than every other college and university in the United States? Incidentally, this is a test of your own sanity. If you fail, you might get an honorary degree from Clemson. If you pass, you might gain some measure of respect on this site.
By Moniker Lewinsky March 16, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Oh, and as for allegations that Clemson police treat Clemson’s “student”-athletes with kid gloves in order to protect their tax base and jobs, I base my claims on statements to that effect from Clemson students alumni. To the extent a Clemson Tiger’s word carries credibility, my allegations have merit.
By really???? March 16, 2010 at 4:33 pm
ML…it is the President’s job to think he has the best school in the world. Moron.
By Yes.really March 16, 2010 at 6:36 pm
really????,
If anyone here is a moron, it is most certainly you. The job of a university president is to represent his school in a dignified manner in front of his peers. Barker is a child and unfit to serve as the president of any university. He is not a scholar, does not know anything about scholarship, and attempts to hustle nearly everyone with whom he comes in contact. He has surrounded himself with ass-kissers who do nothing but tell him how great he is, and he actually appears to believe it. You have no clue.