Legislative Black Caucus asks SC State president to resign

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Legislative Black Caucus is calling on South Carolina State University’s president to resign, saying Thomas Elzey has proven he can’t lead the school past its fiscal woes.

The caucus’ no-confidence vote Wednesday comes one day after a House panel proposed temporarily closing the state’s only public historically black college for a massive overhaul. Leaders of the 39-member caucus wouldn’t give the vote breakdown.

Its chairman, Rep. Carl Anderson, says caucus members were devastated by the closure idea and will work to kill it. But the Georgetown Democrat says the proposal damaged the school’s ability to move forward.

Elzey says he will not resign. He accused legislators of putting politics above students’ interests.

A 7-1 vote later Wednesday advanced the House panel’s proposal to the full Ways and Means Committee.