Robert Caslen resigned as president of the University of South Carolina on Wednesday, bringing his short but controversial stint at the helm of the state s flagship public university to a quick end.
By LUCAS DAPRILE AND EMILY BOHATCH | The State | Published: May 11, 2021 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tribune News Service) A powerful state senator publicly called for the resignation of University of South Carolina President Robert Caslen following plagiarism and a slip of the tongue during his commencement speech. On the Senate floor Tuesday, S.C. Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, called on Caslen to resign. Harpootlian, whose district includes the University of South Carolina, said his phone and email were filled over the weekend by professors, staff and students who were concerned about the Saturday commencement speech. If he is the military man of honor that I think he is, he will resign, Harpootlian said.
By LUCAS DAPRILE | The State | Published: May 12, 2021 (Tribune News Service) A retired top military official from whom University of South Carolina President Robert Caslen plagiarized a portion of his speech says no apology is necessary. According to NBC News, retired Navy Admiral William McRaven said in a statement, Bob Caslen is one of the finest and most honorable officers with whom I ever served. I was flattered that he thought my words were worth repeating and he certainly doesn t owe me an apology. McRaven s statement follows an apology from Caslen after the USC president plagiarized several sentences from McRaven in his Friday graduation speech. During that speech, Caslen also mistakenly referred to USC s graduates as those from the University of California.