By Scott Miller
Staff Writer

Two trustees at South Carolina State University resigned in disgust over the firing of former President Andrew Hugine.

Retired Col. John Bowden and Charles Williams filed their letters of resignation this month.

“It’s just contradictory to everything that’s going on at the university. We’ve got record enrollment, outstanding construction of facilities,” said Williams, who’s served on the board since 1986. 

He called the board’s decision to fire Hugine another example of members inappropriately trying to micromanage the university.

“That school has struggled and struggled and struggled, and then you start to turn the corner and things are looking good, and you fire the president on the damn telephone. That’s just tacky to begin with,” Williams said, referring of the vote that took place via conference call.

“To this day, I still don’t understand what they did or why they did it,” he said. “I disagree with the way the board conducts itself.”

Bowden, who has served on the board since 2004, declined comment, saying, “I don’t want to make a big to do about it.” He referred questions regarding his decision to his resignation letter.

The Charleston Regional Business Journal filed a request for the two resignation letters under the Freedom of Information Act late Thursday but hasn’t received a response.

The university’s Board of Trustees voted not to renew President Andrew Hugine’s contract in December, citing a performance evaluation that charged the president with losing the trust of his staff and failing to advance academic performance, among other criticisms. Both Bowden and Williams voted against firing Hugine.

Board Chairman Maurice Washington has defended the decision, despite criticism from university alumni and state lawmakers.

He said the board lost confidence in Hugine’s ability to lead and to improve academics at the university.

Both Bowden and Williams were appointed by the state Legislature as “at large” members representing the state. It’s unknown when lawmakers will appoint their replacements.

For more on this story, see a special report in the Charleston Regional Business Journal.