The official minutes of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees are maintained by the Secretary of the Board. Certified copies of minutes may be requested by contacting the Board of Trustees’ Office. Electronic or other copies of original minutes are not official Board of Trustees' documents.

The Executive Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met Thursday, March 22, 2001, at 9:10 a.m. in Room 204 of the Carolina Plaza.

Members present were: Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Chairman; Mr. Herbert C. Adams; Mr. James Bradley; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. William C. Hubbard; and Mr. Michael J. Mungo, via telephone. Other trustees present were: Mr. Robert N. McLellan and Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.

Others present were: President John M. Palms; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer J. Lyles Glenn; Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Allan Barber; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Interim Budget Director, Office of Budget and Finance, Robert E. Bugbee; Director of Athletics Michael B. McGee; and Director of Public Affairs Russell McKinney.

Chairman Whittle called the meeting to order and invited those present to introduce themselves. Mr. McKinney indicated that no members of the media were in attendance. Chairman Whittle stated that notice of the meeting had been posted and the press notified as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda and supporting materials had been circulated to members of the Committee; and a quorum was present to conduct business.

Chairman Whittle directed attention to the agenda and recognized Dr. McGee.

1. 2001 Football Ticket Price Request: Dr. McGee stated that he had drafted a letter to President Palms, dated January 12, 2001, recommending a football ticket increase of $2 per game for each of Carolina's home games. He indicated that the current price of $20 per game was the lowest in the Southeastern Conference, due in part to the fact that the season ticket prices had not increased since 1994.

   Mr. Stepp explained that Executive Committee approval of this increase would constitute an action on behalf of the full Board. Mr. Bradley moved approval to increase the football ticket price for each of Carolina's home games by $2 as described in the materials distributed for this meeting. Mr. Adams seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

2. Other Matters: Dr. Palms explained to the Committee that at 11:30 a.m. Governor Hodges had scheduled a meeting to announce a plan to restore state appropriations to all South Carolina institutions of higher education for the upcoming fiscal year which, if passed by the Legislature, would eliminate the previously proposed 15 percent budget reduction. Dr. Palms would be able to allay USC students' concern regarding the possibility of a substantial tuition increase if this plan was adopted. Dr. Palms thanked everyone for their efforts to rally support in the Legislature.

There were no other matters to come before the Committee, and Chairman Whittle declared the meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary