This website has repeatedly argued that “higher education” – to the extent it exists in South Carolina – is not a core function of government. Yet the Palmetto State’s “Republican” leaders continue spending billions of tax dollars each year on a bloated, duplicative and corrupt higher ed system.
But hey … this ever-escalating investment in … ummmm … “education” … has done such wonders for the state’s economy, right? Right?
Anyway, a case study in unnecessary higher education is the University of South Carolina-Upstate … like, all of it. Seriously, every time we turn around this institution is doing something shady.
The latest example? A major procurement scandal involving a board member at the school’s nonprofit foundation.
According to our sources at the school, a group of concerned citizens is investigating whether Thomas R. “Tommy” Young III – a member of the Spartanburg Commission on Higher Education and former chairman of the USC Upstate foundation – steered school contracts to his family’s office supply company in violation of the state procurement code.
How much money are we talking about?
“Millions of dollars over the past twelve years,” one source familiar with the investigation tells FITS.
FITS is filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with USC-Upstate seeking all invoices paid to Young Office Supply. And apparently we’re not the only media outlet seeking this information.
We’ll be sure to let you know what we uncover …
15 comments
“Millions of dollars over the past twelve years”
Young fella needs to get appointed to Board of SC State and learn a few things.
The cockroach sons of bitches at State steal millions in a matter of months
Takes a while to blow through millions of paper clips.
I hope anyone reading this knows what business to avoid now.
Interesting, Young Office Supply is not on state contract and I thought state agencies, including higher eds, were required by the code to use sate wide term contracts.
USC Upstate is on the list of customers
http://www.youngos.com/company/our-team/design/shannon-mckenzie/
USC Upstate
Other state customers
http://www.youngos.com/company/our-team/design/elisa-aucoin/
Clemson University
Tri County Technical College
My apologies I was confusing them with another company. They are on state contract for wood and metal furniture so there is nothing to see here vis a vis procurement irregularities. Agency’s may buy from state contract without further competition because the competition was done by central procurement at the time the furniture contracts are awarded (there are many other companies that can be used as well). While it may be prudent to get prices from other contract vendors, it is not required by the code although agency policy may vary from agency to agency.
WHAT?
A government official steering lucrative contracts to a family business?
Quick, Aunt Pitty Pat! Get TBG his smelling salts!
Universities doing it? Been so forever.
Sinclair described it in lengthy detail in his broader expose “Goose-step” (1923/24).
Please show me where the state is spending billions of tax dollars on higher education? List each institution and detail how much state money each gets.
Good comment. USC-Upstate receives among the lowest state support of any of our regional schools. Compare it to COC, The Citital, And SC-State. Also Young office Supply has been the low bidder for office furniture. millwork, and the like for years. Personally, it’s leadership is incredibly involved in the Upstate Community supporting dozens of worthy causes from the Chambers, Arts, health care and many others. You’re barking up the wrong tree on this one. Don’t we want strong business leaders involved in guilding our non profit institutions?
It is easy to be low bidder when you are the only bidder. Again, the only bidder is also the high bidder. Sunlight is on the wayyyyyyyyy……..
Just in –
Teacher’s laptops found in school trash bin – screens obscured by permanent marker lesson plan.
Good reporting, Will.
Scum. Somebody should go to jail if that shit is true.
Kickbacks are good, like give me the business and stay at my beach house.