Questions linger about Richland 1 school board candidate’s ‘firing’ from Allen U

Three years after Lady June Cole was reportedly fired from her job as Allen University president, it’s still unclear exactly why Cole — who is now running for Richland 1 school board — was let go.

Cole told The State it was “not completely correct” to say she was fired from Allen University. Rather, it was “a mutual decision between me and the board,” Cole said.

“Nothing happened. There was no scandal,” Cole said.

In September 2016, two sources told The State that Cole had been fired. Other media also reported she had been fired.

When pressed for details about her departure from Allen University, Cole said it was “in the past,” and that she wanted to talk about her candidacy for Richland 1 school board.

Preceding Cole’s firing, students had protested nonworking air conditioning in classrooms and the library and delayed financial aid payments, according to WLTX and Free Times. It’s unclear if the issues raised by the students played a role in her departure.

Cole began at Allen University in 2013 and left in September 2016. After her departure, no explanation was given.

Because Allen University is a private school, Cole’s personnel file, correspondence surrounding her departure from Allen University and other key documents are not obtainable through the S.C. Freedom of Information Act.

Allen University, one of South Carolina’s historically black colleges and universities, had an enrollment of 736 in 2018, according to a report from S.C. Independent Colleges & Universities, a non-profit that advocates for private colleges in S.C.

Cole is running against four other candidates to fill the at-large seat that opened after Darrell Black resigned in September. The election will be held on New Year’s Eve, which has created an increased need for poll workers in the county, according to an article from The State.

The State reached out to Allen University, the African Methodist Episcopal 7th District (which oversees Allen University), and eight Allen University board of trustee members. None could be reached for comment, although a spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, Rachel Stein, responded to say Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat, did not have any information on Cole’s departure from Allen University.