University of SC calls special meeting to vote on new president

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The University of South Carolina has announced trustees will hold a special meeting Friday to discuss hiring a new president.

Trustee Charles Williams said Gov. Henry McMaster pushed for the quickly called meeting to hire retired Army three star general and West Point Superintendent Robert Caslen to be president.

Caslen was one of four finalists in April, but trustees postponed a vote after students and others protested his lack of qualifications and a comment that binge drinking was a big factor in sexual assaults.

Groups of students, faculty and Democratic state senators say the meeting is unfair because trustees agreed to reopen the presidential search and it is being held when many students aren’t on campus.

McMaster has not publicly spoken about his role in Friday’s meeting.

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