Before resigning from his post as president of the University of South Carolina due to plagiarism allegations, Bob Calsen sent over 3,800 emails, which have now been obtained by the Post and Courier. The emails reveal Caslen’s dissatisfaction with the university community.
In one email, Caslen praised a colleague for remaining at UofSC. “I can’t help but comment on this community and its hostility. By far the most hostile and destructive community I’ve ever been a part of. Not sure how anyone can stand being here,” wrote Caslen.
Speaking to the Post and Courier in an interview on Thursday, Caslen said that he still feels this way, even five months later.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would never have gone to the University of South Carolina,” he said. “If I were a member of the South Carolina community, I would ask myself, ‘Why does a guy like him who’s been in all these different communities throughout his entire life, feel this way about our community?’ ”
Caslen allegedly plagiarized his May commencement speech, in which he called the school the “University of California.” This email was sent around the same time, when he was enveloped in controversy.