More than ever participate in Carolina Day at Statehouse
Ray Tanner wasn’t keeping close tabs on National Signing Day Wednesday afternoon.
Like most USC fans, the athletics director was “anxious” to see how many linebackers the Gamecocks would sign, but he and other top university brass had their eyes on another prize — state funding.
It was Carolina Day at the Statehouse, USC’s annual effort to lobby state legislators, which came a week after administrators requested $41 million in state funds from a House budget subcommittee.
Hundreds of students and alumni from each of the USC system’s campuses flooded the Statehouse to meet with legislators, and offices and colleges set up booths in the lobby to show off their work. USC mascot Cocky visited both chambers to be recognized.
More volunteers — 350 — turned out for visits than ever before, university spokesman Wes Hickman said. Their time was worth about $38,000.
“I could have given that speech 30 times, and it wouldn’t have been as impactful as having 30 students or 30 alumni in their offices,” USC President Harris Pastides said.
USC also hosted Attorney General Alan Wilson, governor’s office staff, seven representatives and four senators at a $15-a-plate lunch in the Capital City Club across the street.
The university’s messages focused on a general conversation about the need for higher education funding, Pastides said, but it has been increasingly shifting to getting money for specific initiatives.
That was reflected in the projects USC requested allocations for — Palmetto College, a summer semester, funding disparity among campuses and deferred maintenance — and the strategy represents a shift from the early years of his presidency, Pastides said.
“It’s really changed from, ‘We need our money back’ — that was the old message — to, ‘We’ve got some good ideas, and we hope you’ll fund them,’” Pastides said.
State allocations for USC have fallen from $225 million when Pastides became president to $100 million now.
Whether that tactic will work remains to be seen, but Pastides thinks it will define USC’s legislative requests for the coming years.
This year, he said he was encouraged by his conversations with legislators and the suggested allocations for Palmetto College and “on your time” graduation in Gov. Nikki Haley’s executive budget.
“That’s very unusual. Most governors start with nothing, and then it takes the House and the Senate to add money,” Pastides said. “We hope to get more, but it’s a great sense of support.”