USC and the rest of the state felt a punch to the stomach when the law school was dubbed a third-tier institution a few months ago. As it was criticized for its inadequate facilities and crumbling instruction, we felt a little bit of our pride crumble, too.
That’s why we were excited but simultaneously a little apprehensive when USC hired Henry McMaster, a former South Carolina attorney general, to take care of obtaining the funds we will need to restructure and renovate the law school.
As the flagship university of the state, the state of the law school is unacceptable, and this is McMaster’s chance to help turn things around for us. He has the connections to do exactly that.
McMaster’s primary job is to raise millions so we can bring back a better quality law school for the students and for the state. He must also build those relationships with alumni who no longer trust the direction of the law school. We want to see the prowess of an ex-politician help us gain connections and successfully build these relationships. That’s why we’re paying him $7,500 a month for a position that’s not full-time.
The longer our law school stays where it is, the more its legitimacy as an institution will decline.
McMaster may have lost to Gov. Nikki Haley in the South Carolina election primaries a while ago, but this is his chance to do something Haley will likely never do: give us the money we need to improve our higher education.
If McMaster brings home the dough, the investment will be well worth it.