Does the president of Clemson University have a potential conflict of interest if his family owns the land on which future off-campus student accommodations are going to be built?
The facts, as reported by The Greenville News: “As a proposed student housing development along Keowee Trail in Clemson moves through the planning process, community members are concerned about the family of Clemson University President Jim Clements profiting from the university’s decision not to add more on-campus housing.”
Greg Smith is Clements’ brother-in-law, and Clifton Smith is Clements’ father-in-law. The Smiths are investors in land where a student housing development is proposed. The land has more than doubled, reaching a price of $5.4 million after being purchased for $2.6 million in 2015.
Custom home builder Kevin Collins partnered with Greg Smith, whose lake house he built, and Clifton Smith to build student housing on the seven parcels of land along Keowee Trail. The city’s 2014 Comprehensive Plan listed the property as one of seven areas possibly fit for such high-density development.
Clements told The Greenville News that he was not part of the Smiths’ decision to invest in the property “in any way, shape or form.”
“I want people to know that Jim Clements has zero to do with any decision I make in what I invest in, including this,” said [Greg] Smith, who has founded multiple companies and invests regularly in start-ups. ”There was no information given to me for this. It was all done independently.”
While university enrollment is growing, Clemson officials are not currently planning additional student housing, so a market for private housing developments has developed near the campus.
Is it fair to expect the very highest level of behavior, perception and optics from a university president who is, arguably, the ‘ambassador’ not only of Clemson University and Clemson, but also of the national collegiate community, when he spends time at the White House, in the full glare of national media attention?
Is it not fair to accept President Clements, his family and the developers at their word when they say there has been no interaction between them? Indeed, wouldn’t it rather be fair to suggest that it would be surprising if there had not been interaction?
The university has recently decided not to build any more on-campus student accommodation for the foreseeable future. Would it be fairer to suggest that the president’s family should simply refuse to build off-campus student accommodation, so as to avoid even the smallest perception of a conflict of interest? Should free enterprise truly be allowed to be free, without hindrance?
Is it fair to define the word “interaction?” Is it fair to ask if there wasn’t even the hint of a conversation between family members? Is it fair to wonder why the president’s family members own development land near the university? Is it fair to wonder if knowing who owns the land is going to put an intolerable pressure on municipal and university authorities when it comes time to hold discussions and grant permissions?
Is it fair to ask why Clemson faculty are not taking more of an interest in this subject, rather than focusing their attention on a petition to rename Calhoun Honors College? Is it fair to question why Clemson City Council is not delving more deeply into the whole issue of off-campus student accommodation? Is it fair to wonder why CUSG has not become involved?
Is any of this a conflict of interest? Is any of it important? Isn’t it, in fact, rather silly of a freshman student to be writing such an op-ed about the folks who hold power over his continued presence and progress within the Clemson family? Or, is it the case that all of us who make up the Clemson family should strive every day to be the very best example we can set for our students, our faculty, our staff, our local community and colleges all across the nation?
[Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial policy or position of The Tiger.]
