COLUMBIA, S.C. - A private women's college has offered to raise $250,000 a year and take over the research and development duties of the Commission on Women, which had its funding cut by Gov. Mark Sanford.

Columbia College President Caroline Whitson said she watched with concern last year as Sanford cut the $99,955 budget for the commission and directed a committee to study the group's goals.

"The very worst thing to do would be to abolish the Commission on Women," Whitson said, especially given the state's poor record on women's health, safety and job equity.

So Columbia College officials offered to step in and help, and Sanford agreed.

In addition to providing staff and a more permanent home for the commission, the college will train women to take leadership positions, continue studies on women's health and other issues, and coordinate its programs with those at other universities and state agencies.

The commission, established more than 30 years ago to improve the status of South Carolina women, will continue to guide the program, lobby the Legislature and educate public officials.

Sanford will sign a memorandum of understanding between the state, the college and the commission this summer, spokesman Will Folks said.

"Its a wonderful idea, and I was delighted when (the college) made the offer," said state Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester, who serves on the advisory committee studying the goals of the womens commission.

Studies show women in South Carolina are worse off than their counterparts in other states.

South Carolina women make about 70 cents on the dollar compared with men, and the state ranks third nationally on the rate at which men murdered their female partners. The state also ranks 50th nationwide on the number of women elected to office.

If more women were involved in policy decisions, Whitson said, South Carolina might not rank near the bottom of so many indicators on the status of women.

The school already has a leadership institute. College officials want to train women interested in holding elected office and, they hope, increase awareness for womens issues as a result.

---

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com/