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Date Published: March 19, 2004
Mixed reactions to USC Sumter expansion
Students pleased with vote
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Chris Moore / The Item
Students walk to class Thursday morning at USC Sumter.
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By KRISTA PIERCE
Item Staff Writer
kristap@theitem.com
Raymond DeChecchi, 54, will graduate from the University of South Carolina this spring with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Although all his classes were taught on the University of South Carolina Sumter campus, DeChecci’s degree will be awarded by USC Columbia, as part of the university’s distance degree program.
Soon, diplomas like DeChecci’s could be a thing of the past because USC Sumter has permission from the state Legislature to transition to a four-year school. The Legislature voted by an overwhelming margin Wednesday afternoon to override Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of the South Carolina Life Sciences Act, a piece of legislation that included four-year status for USC Sumter.
As news spread across the campus Thursday morning, students and faculty celebrated the vote and looked forward to the benefits that would come with four-year status.
“We’re tickled pink,” said Margarita Vedders, a sophomore business administration major as she hurried across campus to her next class. “We’re happy we don’t have to make a drive to Columbia. Finally, after all this time debating this issue, it’s here.”
Chatting with a classmate outside the student union, DeChecci said students who were upset by Sanford’s veto and adamant opposition to the change were beginning to circulate petitions in support of four-year status, just as the Legislature was voting to override Sanford’s veto.
“Now, we just hope Sorensen (Dr. Andrew Sorensen, president of USC) doesn’t do anything to delay it,” DeChecci said.
On Thursday afternoon, Sanford announced plans to possibly challenge the bill in court, indicating that the transition students were anticipating Thursday morning might not be so smooth.
USC Sumter Dean Dr. C. Leslie Carpenter was unavailable for comment on the issue Thursday, said Julie Brown, his executive assistant.
Inside the student union, Brandon Shade, a freshman biology major, talked with friends between classes. Shade said he was glad to hear about Wednesday’s vote.
“One of my professors told us this morning in class that they got enough votes to override the veto,” he said. “It’s great. It’s a great place and it has a lot of potential.”
His friend, Heather Casselman, a business major from Manning, said the change would give her the opportunity to stay home to earn her bachelor’s degree. Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Casselman had planned to transfer to the Columbia campus. Now, she says she might stay put.
“It’s exciting,” Casselman said. “I know they’ve been struggling for this for years. It will open up a lot of opportunities.”
“Honestly, I like it,” said Jeremiah Perry, a freshman who hasn’t decided on a major, as he played a game of pool with friends between classes. “One of my teachers told the class about it this morning and said all the professors will be happy today.”
In his office, one of those professors, David Decker, said he was thrilled to hear the news Thursday morning at a meeting of the S.C. Cotton Museum board of directors in Bishopville.
“As a four-year school, we can better meet the needs of the community and that’s the bottom line,” Decker said. “The fact that students work eight hours a day shouldn’t stop them from getting a bachelor’s degree. ... It’s clear the winner here is Sumter and the surrounding counties, Clarendon, Lee and Kershaw.”
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April 14, 2004
