Prior-approval clause in proposed contract concerns Sanford

By JOHN MONK

jmonk@thestate.com

Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday he wants to examine provisions in the proposed contract between Clemson University and the Hunley Commission that would require Clemson professors to obtain the commission’s prior approval before speaking or writing about the Hunley submarine.

“Obviously, we would want to look at any provision like that,” said Sanford, who as governor is chairman of the five-member State Budget and Control Board, which oversees numerous state financial and administrative functions.

“We believe that sunshine is the ultimate disinfectant in any political process,” Sanford said.

The contract will become effective when and if the Budget and Control Board formally approves giving Clemson $10.3 million from the sale of state bonds to begin construction of a Hunley-centered campus in North Charleston. That approval could come as early as the board’s June meeting.

Under a proposed deal between Clemson and the Hunley Commission, Clemson is to carry out the long-term preservation of the Hunley — a process that could cost Clemson up to $800,000 a year and last for years.

Preservation is a lengthy, uncertain process involving removal of sea salts from the vessel’s iron hull. If not properly preserved, the vessel can turn to a pile of rust. Clemson professors will be involved in the preservation process.

In a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, defended his commission’s seeking censorship rights of what Clemson professors say and write about the Hunley.

The reason for that provision, said McConnell, is that there might be “proprietary ramifications” to what professors want to say. Also, McConnell said, he would hate for Hunley comissioners “to read about a major discovery” without knowing about it first.

McConnell did not explain why, if the provisions pertained to only narrow circumstances, they were written in sweeping language so as to cover all Clemson speech and scholarly publications about the Hunley.

Clemson president James Barker said earlier this month: “We felt like this idea of clearing with them publications that we would do makes sense to us. It was not restrictive in terms of academic freedom. We don’t see it that way.”

Senators interviewed Tuesday showed little appetite for asking McConnell probing questions about his stewardship of Hunley projects. Nor did they suggest an independent group, such as the Legislative Audit Council, perform an in-depth audit of Hunley finances.

Audit requests must be made in writing from at least five members of the Legislature.

Sen. John Land, D-Clarendon, said no senator questions McConnell’s honesty or dedication to the Hunley project.

“In fact, I thought The State’s stories were very complimentary, Land said. “They showed how he put the money together for the Hunley.”

Without McConnell, and his determination to do the best he could for the historically significant submarine, the Hunley would not have been raised and be as far along as it is, Land said.

Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Williamsburg, said he found the State’s series “refreshing and very educational.” He did not criticize McConnell.

Speaking of The State newspaper’s projected $97 million cost of the various Hunley submarine projects, Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, joked, “Somebody told me that we had redefined the term ‘boat full of money.”’ Jackson declined further comment.

Other senators, such as Sen. Chauncey Gregory, R-Lancaster, declined comment.

Reach Monk at (803) 771-8344.