Tuesday letters: USC needs to drop the arrogance

To quote the eminent philosopher and theologian Jeremiah Wright, “the chickens have come home to roost,” apparently, for the University of South Carolina.

Just recently, the university was granted the right by our esteemed City Council to permanently close the portion of Greene Street in front of Russell House; previously, it was allowed to disallow left turns off Assembly Street onto Greene Street. All apparently to protect (accommodate) students who lack the ability or common sense to navigate city streets by paying attention to their surroundings. (Texting, anyone?)

Now, the powers-that-be at USC are whining about a proposed 15-story private student tower along South Main Street that will cast a “nasty shadow” on the Horseshoe and other historic sites. This from a cast of characters who not only inconvenience Columbia’s drivers but recently constructed the Darla Moore School of Business edifice, and are in the process of constructing student housing along Devine and Park streets, all of which are the most unsightly examples of architecture imaginable. The arrogance of alumni director Jack Claypoole’s remark that “what we’ve done is identify a building that we feel is an eyesore” is laughable.

As a 1977 graduate of USC, I believe it is high time for the USC community to dismount from its tax-funded high horse and become a less selfish member of the community. Its “our way or the highway” mentality needs to end.

Columbia

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 7:39 PM.