Haley's move replacing university trustee angers students

COLUMBIA, S.C -- COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's decision to replace Darla Moore as a University of South Carolina trustee drew protests from students Wednesday, many of whom turned to social media to vent their frustration.
Meanwhile, Haley also has moved to place new members on the boards of the College of Charleston and Winthrop University.
And USC's newest trustee, Lexington attorney Jim Cofield, a political contributor to Haley who was named to the board by the new governor, heaped praise Wednesday on Moore, as did Haley's spokesman.
Moore, a multimillionaire financier who has pledged $70 million to USC and another $10 million to Clemson University, was appointed to USC's board in 1999 by then-Gov. Jim Hodges. "A lot of students were kind of shocked by this," said Taylor Cain, a senior who is student body vice president at USC.
As of 6:30 p.m., Cain and more than 1,000 other people had "liked" the Facebook page "Students for the Reinstatement of Miss Darla Moore." "I'm not sure if the group can accomplish the reinstatement of Ms. Moore, but we wanted to show support for her and disappointment with the decision of Gov. Haley," Cain said.
Haley's spokesman, Rob Godfrey, said the governor replaced Moore with Cofield because she wanted to get "a fresh set of eyes to put in a critical leadership position." Moore was one of two members of the USC board appointed by the governor.
The other, Mark W. Buyck Jr. of Florence, served on USC's board from 1987 to 1999 and is in the midst of a second stint on the board that began in 2003.
Godfrey said Haley has reappointed Buyck, who - like Cofield - contributed to her gubernatorial campaign.
Given Buyck's long tenure on the board, Cain questioned Haley's explanation that she was replacing Moore with Cofield saying he represented a fresh approach. Cain said replacing Buyck would have offered the same fresh approach that the governor said she was seeking.
Godfrey said the governor retained Buyck because, in extensive talks, he "conveyed to her shared priorities and shared vision for the board and the university." College or university board positions are among the many spots a governor can fill.
In addition to replacing Moore with Cofield, Haley has put new members on the boards of Winthrop University and the College of Charleston.
Haley's move to replace Moore raised eyebrows among legislators at the State House on Wednesday - with many questioning Haley's handling of the move. But legislators said filling such positions is the Republican governor's prerogative.
"Elections have consequences," said state Sen. Brad Hutto, a Democrat. "Clearly, the governor can choose who she wants to."
Cofield contributed $4,500 to Haley as she campaigned for governor.
Buyck contributed $3,500 to Haley's campaign on July 26, 2010, according to State Ethics Commission records. Buyck previously had contributed to Henry McMaster, who finished third in the Republican Party's gubernatorial primary before becoming one of Haley's enthusiastic supporters.
Moore gave money to Republicans and Democrats last year but did not contribute to Haley's campaign. She contributed to the campaign of Jim Rex, the former superintendent of education who lost the Democratic Party's gubernatorial primary to Haley's general election foe, Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen.

Godfrey said Cofield, like Buyck, shares Haley's vision for USC and its board.

"Each governor deserves the chance to appoint board members that share his or her vision to a board," Godfrey said. "Ms. Moore has done a great deal for USC. It's our hope and belief that she'll continue to do so.

"Tommy Cofield is a well-respected attorney, businessman, husband and father that understands and shares the governor's vision - to focus on our new higher education funding formula, to accept more in-state students and to lower tuition on South Carolina families." Efforts to reach Moore Wednesday were unsuccessful.

While Moore was mum, others spoke out on her behalf, blasting Haley and praising Moore.

"Shouldn't we as USC students stand up for the largest donor in our school's history?" one student asked in a Facebook post. "Someone organize some type of USC rally at the State House on behalf of Ms. Moore, quick! Nikki Haley needs to not only read and hear what we have to say, but see that we really mean it!" Other students noted Moore's departure decreases the number of women on the USC board to one, Rock Hill attorney Leah Moody.

"How can a board not representing our diverse population make sound decisions for this institution moving forward?" another student asked in a Facebook post.

Cofield, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from USC, said he had not previously sought election to USC's board by legislators, who name a majority of the schools trustees. He would not say if he approached Haley about the post.

Instead, he praised Moore.

"Ms. Moore is a true treasure to South Carolina," Cofield said. "I admire her very much. She's a classy individual. I don't see myself as replacing her. I don't think she can be replaced.

"The bottom line is the governor asked me to serve, and I was happy to serve."

Staff writer John O'Connor contributed.