South Carolina State is being sued by its own foundation. The South Carolina State University Foundation filed a lawsuit against the university in Orangeburg County on Monday, following claims of a pressure campaign from the institution over money, per a report by WIS-TV.
The lawsuit has allegations that date back to an early 2023 request for $75,000 to compensate Alexander Conyers, the acting president of South Carolina State. While the request was initially denied, the foundation complied after what was said to be, “substantial pressure” by the institution.
The filing, per WIS-TV, reads in part,
“This lawsuit arises from a retaliatory campaign by South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers to turn an independent charitable foundation into a compliant source of cash for his own priorities — a campaign that began when the Foundation refused to blindly supplement his own salary From that point forward, what should have been a cooperative relationship between a public university and an independent charitable foundation became a sustained effort by the President, aided by the Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, to seize control of the Foundation’s assets, donor relationships, governance, and voice.”
The lawsuit alleges that the pressure campaign continued, including the request of $1 million by Conyers for athletics and security upgrades. The lawsuit gives examples of retaliation, such as holding conflicting events, a threat to terminate the memorandum of understanding between both entities, as well as stripping the foundation of important protections needed to function.
The legal filing asks the court to overturn South Carolina State University’s decision to end its agreement with the foundation, arguing the termination should be deemed invalid. It also requests an injunction that would bar the university from interfering with the foundation’s fundraising operations and charitable work.
South Carolina State is being sued by its own foundation. The South Carolina State University Foundation filed a lawsuit against the university in Orangeburg County on Monday, following claims of a pressure campaign from the institution over money, per a report by WIS-TV.
