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And I have one other question that I'd like to ask you, sort of hot issue, as it relates to concealed weapons. There is a possibility if the bill that's now -- has been introduced, if passed, may give students the right to bear arms on campus or to carry a concealed weapons. Would you address that issue and the issue of funding?
A. Yes, sir. The -- first the weapon issue, at Coastal, we haven't discussed that just -- but we just started preliminary talks about that because we didn't think it was an issue. I don't think anybody did until just recently.

Of course, throughout the country there's always been the threat of weapons on -- on school grounds and universities, and we have talked about that in the past. The only thing that I can think of is -- and it's also been mentioned before, is that -- is that we have a -- talked about having metal detectors in certain buildings, and, of course, another expense, and that sort of thing. I'm afraid that's all I can offer there.
Q. But if the law passes and students are allowed to bear arms on campus or to carry concealed weapons, as an individual board member, what do you feel or what is your feelings as it relates to that?

Any of those that -- and has to go the periodic meetings, predetermined meetings, those that don't make their major or don't make their mind up, then, you know, of course, academically you're also looking at that, you have these reviews early in their education.

This particular university is also real close to a tech school. We also are working with that school with those individuals who are planning to take majors in this university. Did I answer your question?
Q. Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any other question for this gentleman? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR GLOVER:
Q. Mr. Barnette, how important are the affirmative action goals at Coastal to you, personally, I mean, and what do they mean?
A. To me, personally, I think that everybody needs to have an equal opportunity. In the business that I'm in that is what we look at. That's -- that's something that I feel very strongly about. The opportunities for me have been great and I think that -- I do see this from time to time, there are those that aren't as fortunate as I have been. I want to make sure that everybody gets the opportunities equally.

At Coastal, we have discussed that on several occasions. It's something that we need to discuss often quite frankly. Personally, again, I think that -- I think it is very important to me, and I think that I'm knowledgeable in the subject and have practiced it in the past.

Number two would be realistically you need to look at community. I think the community being a lot of commuting students and the community's commerce, industry, the tourism is a definite factor in this. And I think if the graduation rate is -- is the lowest of any four-year institution in the state, you've got to realistically look at it and see that most of these students may be working jobs, and it's prolonging their education there. They're co-oping, so to speak.

I'm not sure that you can realistically solve that problem there. Commuting, people that is -- that are extending their education from -- from a relatively four-year program into a five or six. Specifically, you know, that -- that is a problem that can maybe only be resolved by raising the academic standards.

And also as a coordinator, former coordinator of academic advising, I think that if you can capture these people or these students the first year, get them to declare a major as soon as possible, and then get advisors to

That's a -- that's a tough question to answer, but specifically again maybe raising the academic standards to get in school, number one. Number two would be academic advising as soon as possible.
Q. I'm delighted to hear that you've got the experience of working with academic advisors. Do you feel like they're properly trained to and motivated to work with the students or is this something extracurricular that to someone is a burden?
A. Okay, from -- from the past, my experience has been it's a burden for -- for a professor, instructor, a teacher there at the university. That's in addition to what their normal work load. They would have to take a specific number of students in their -- hopefully, just in their discipline and try to coach them so to speak in there and keep them focused in that particular area. That's one thing.

At Clemson, we do have specific working with student athletes, we have the funding there from -- from our boosters or gift type, but we've got money that we can focus and hire just advisors for that specific area. And, you know, that's just an advantage we have there.

Back to your question, there would be additional burden to the professor, instructors.
Q. I guess just a comment. I really would hope they wouldn't perceive it as a burden because it's so important to the young people in our colleges and universities.
A. I agree with you.
Q. I would hope somehow they could be inspired that even though they're given these names that would not be a perfunctory meeting of "nice to see you" and let's get on to the next person.
A. I agree with you. It -- you know, they may look at it as a burden. I hope it wouldn't be. I hope there would be a more interpersonal relationship there that they would develop with that student.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any other questions of the gentleman? Senator Glover.
SENATOR GLOVER: Thank you.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR GLOVER:
Q. Mr. Green, why are you interested in serving on Coastal's board? And while answering that, I notice that you are an assistant coach. In

Going from a junior college to Coastal, that's my school, and then getting my master's degree at a major university, in my own career, teaching and coaching at a high school level, and then moving to a junior college and then having this opportunity at Clemson University, I see some parallels.

I see Coastal growing and the future looking great and I want to jump on board. I want to maybe have some insight from my own experiences to try to help Coastal in their direction and their future.

Now, the other part of your question, our graduation rate for women basketball players at Clemson is about four and a half years. It is greater than -- I mean it's better than the average student at Clemson, and I think it's because of academic advising. We're keeping an eye on them, and they're not allowed to take classes outside
-- well, they're -- a few outside their curriculum, but not a wasted -- not a -- the fat is cut away in their academic curriculum.
Q. And final question, the affirmative action goals of your -- of the university, how important are they to you and what would you do in that area?
A. Okay. I personally believe in equal opportunity and just be aware and sensitive to that. I think I am now. I work with one other male specifically in our department there and six females.
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. -- Representative Inabinett.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE INABINETT:
Q. Mr. Green, I have the same question -- questions that I had for the previous other candidates with respect to funding for colleges and universities as it relates to proposed cuts and students carrying concealed weapons on campuses. How as a board member would you be able to address those concerns?
A. That's a tough question. I think there's only three areas that I specifically think we will -- we should explore. One would be raising fees for the students. Number two would be the corporate world, touch that, get in that. Clemson University is the greatest example of that. And number three would be through participation of alumni. Clemson

Those would be the three areas as a board member that I think we ought to explore. Again, fees and alumni and the corporate world from -- because I really see that if you touch the corporate world, that's a big one, that you get a co-op program or some funding from them, then you're going to send your best students back to them as an employee.
Q. What about the issue of concealed weapons on campus?
A. Okay. I pray that that don't get passed. If it does, it's sad. That would just put you at the mercy of -- of people that may not be mature enough to understand or to carry concealed weapon.

I don't know as a board member that we can address that issue if it's passed and then set up any type of regulations other than -- and I'm not even sure that having metal detectors would be a cure from -- from that. But I think maybe -- definitely in the athletic realm, I know from experience metal detectors have -- have been an item there that -- that can -- could stop concealed weapons coming into the athletic arena.
Q. If it becomes the law, then metal detectors really would have no use, but for some reason I seem to feel that there should be some sort of control. A student driving a car at school, to school or a bicycle, there's designated parking areas. There's some do's and don'ts, and I guess that's the gist of my question. I'm trying to find out how as a board member an issue or concern of this magnitude at least to me would be addressed by college and university board members?
A. If we could set up regulation, I'm all in favor of that. And, again, I hope and pray that that don't happen. But if it was, I would definitely be in favor of setting up some regulations and restrictions according to concealed weapons.
Q. Thank you, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: I might state at this point, of course, that the federal and state law both prohibit -- in fact, it's a felony for anyone under 21 to have possession of a firearm. Senator Giese.
SENATOR GIESE: I don't think you need to worry about the legislation that it's in right now in the context of this conversation because you first have to prove that you have a need, and I can't -- to carry this gun and I can't believe that somebody can prove that there's a need to carry a gun on campus.

The second thing that's been mentioned, anybody today that's over 21 years of age can carry a pistol in the glove compartment of his car in the state of South Carolina. That's legal right now. So I don't think you need to worry about how you're going to take care of that problem

And there are many ways that we are going to promote to -- to help in this because when I went -- when I went on the board in '89, the State was funding us by 52 percent. And, of course, you know it's down to 30 something percent now. And we've -- we've made it since then from '89 where we were funded 52 percent, we're down in the thirties, so we were -- we've always had a way of making it in hard times.
Q. Thank you, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, sir.
A. Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Next we have Mr. George Williams. Mr. Williams, will you raise your right hand please.
GEORGE WILLIAMS, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
MR. WILLIAMS - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q. Mr. Williams, do you have any health related problems the screening committee should be made aware of that would cause -- prevent you from serving on the board in your full capacity?
A. None.
Q. Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend board meetings on a regular basis?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you have any interest professionally or personally that present a conflict of interest because of your service on the board?

Setting up standards and making sure that entrance standards are maintained, that students come in with the proper academic standards is important. Students that -- remedial will have to pick up those skills someplace else before they come to college. When they come to college, they have to be college material and have to be ready to go to work and ready to get into the curriculum, follow the curriculum, go to classes on a timely basis and get out.
Q. I certainly appreciate your enthusiastic response, too. It's right on point.
A. Thank you very much.
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Inabinett.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE INABINETT:
Q. I have the same question as it to relates to funding. Would you address that issue?
A. Funding, Mr. Inabinett, I think that's -- I was thinking that the State of South Carolina would find it is that education is one of the most important products that we can give to our youngsters, that funding would not be cut to the point that worthy boys and girls would not be able to be educated.

The future of our state depends on an educated local citizenry, and if we're going to grow, if we're going to absorb the industry, if we're going to get into the technology, it's important that we put the funds there to make sure that they go to school and that they bring in the kind of industry that we need.

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