Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Faulty members at USC Upstate have approved a no confidence vote against Chancellor Tom Moore.
The 96-58 vote Friday came after Moore was given a chance to tell professors what he has done to change since a different no confidence vote was postponed in January.
The vote has no legal binding, and is instead a formal statement by the faculty. University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides said in a statement he thinks USC Upstate is making tremendous strides and plans to come to Spartanburg to meet with Moore and faculty members and discuss the vote.
Moore told faculty members before the vote that he has set aside $100,000 for faulty salaries and is hiring six new tenure-track professors. He said he has improved the school's financial status and apologized for his poor communication skills, according to the Herald-Journal of Spartanburg (http://bit.ly/1Fof28I ).
"I will earn and re-earn your trust and confidence," Moore said. "It's time for us to come together as a university and move forward. I hope you'll move with me and express your confidence in me and the university."
Professors who voted for the resolution say it was needed to show there is a crisis in leadership. Sociology professor Lizabeth Zack said the no-confidence vote shines a spotlight on problems and would help the healing process begin.
"Contrary to the specter of collapse, no-confidence votes actually work," Zack said, by serving as a wake-up call to leadership.
Moore is a "leader who doesn't lead," she said.
After the vote. Moore didn't talk to a reporter. Instead he issued a statement.
"I don't take this vote lightly," Moore said. "I remain committed to this institution and committed to my role as its leader. In the weeks and months ahead, I hope we can come together and focus on students, building our university, addressing the challenges ahead and embracing our successes."
___
Information from: Herald-Journal, http://www.goupstate.com/
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
