Saturday, October 1, 2016
Members present:Karl Folkens, Glenn McCall, Jane LaRoche, Kathy Bigham, Sue Rex, Janet
Smalley, Tim Hopkins, Shane Duncan, Don Long, Randy Imler, Donna Glenn Holley, Ashlye
Wilkerson, Tim Sease, Scott Middleton, and Dan Mahony (ex officio).
Members absent:Julie Fowler
Representatives present:Beth West, Student Representative; John Bird, Faculty Representative
Representatives absent:None
Others present:Kimberly Faust
The Board of Trustees met on Saturday, October 1, 2016 on the campus of Winthrop University,
Rock Hill, SC.
Public Comment
There were no requests for public comment.
Call to Order
Chair Folkens called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.
Report of the Chair of the Board
In response to the recent student demonstration in the Tillman lobby, Chair Folkens
read the following prepared statement.
The Winthrop University Board of Trustees remains committed to a campus that is diverse
and free of bias.
We commend President Dan Mahony's "Winthrop Plan" which places among its highest priorities
expanding the diversity of the university's faculty, staff, and students.
And we must acknowledge that state law prohibits changing the name of Tillman Hall
without approval by the state legislature by a supermajority vote, an outcome that
appears unlikely at this time. Instead of focusing on matters beyond our control,
such as the name of Tillman Hall, we applaud the work of student groups such as Visible,
the Unity Roundtable, the Council of Student Leaders, the Winthrop chapter of the
NAACP, the Gentleman's League, and the work of staff and faculty across campus who
have provided support for diversity and social justice initiatives.
We also look to the work of the Campus Heritage Group, which recognized that limiting
the discussion to Tillman Hall would not allow a broader reflection on Winthrop University's
progress as an institution and would miss an opportunity to educate the campus community
on the complex issues surrounding race and difference. We applaud the goal of the
Campus Heritage Group, which is to identify and act on campus initiatives that are
achievable, will have long term impact, and will reflect Winthrop's culture of diversity
and tolerance.
As the Board of Trustees we resolve to move Winthrop forward in a manner that will
repudiate the discrimination of the past.
Executive Session
Glenn McCall moved with a second from Kathy Bigham that the Board meet in executive
session pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-70(a)(1) for the purposes of discussion of
employment matters involving certain former university employees.
The vote was unanimous. Kimberly Faust, John Bird, and Elizabeth West were invited
to remain for the executive session. Donna Holley moved the Board end executive session,
Sue Rex seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. No actions
were taken in executive session.
Adjournment
Janet Smalley moved to adjourn the meeting with a second from Jane LaRoche. The vote
was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly A. Faust, Secretary to the Board
