Carolina Day highlights the impact of higher education

Students, alumni and staff celebrated Carolina Day on Tuesday at the Statehouse and the Pastides Alumni Center. 

The annual event brings together Gamecocks from across the state to support higher education and advocate for the University of South Carolina to lawmakers. 

Attendees early in the day listened to the university President Michael Amiridis describe the impact USC has across the state and what they needed to tell elected officials later in the day.

“For our alumni, we need to talk about the people you can actually help with your expertise,” Amiridis said. “In terms of our students … talk about what you hope you will do when you graduate. You are the faces. And you are also the voices that our elected officials need to hear today.”

A big focus point of the event was to highlight the importance of keeping tuition constant among all students, even with increasing inflation. 

Tuition rates have remained the same for the past six years because of support from the Statehouse, Amiridis said. 

Amiridis also advocates for tuition freezes.

“It’s very critical for me,” Amiridis told the Carolina News & Reporter later. “It’s the No. 1 priority. Without affordability, access is meaningless.” 

Amiridis’ speech captured what the university should focus on, said P.K. Krajacic, the associate dean of undergraduate medical education at the School of Medicine. 

“It was motivating, and it was along the lines of what our priorities are as a university,” Krajacic said. 

Some members of USC’s student government went to Carolina Day to show appreciation to the S.C. General Assembly for its support of higher education.

One of those was Emily Rabon, a South Carolina resident and a senior history and political science major. 

“Part of the reason that I can attend USC is because of their support through the Palmetto Fellows scholarship program,” Rabon said. “And so we’re all here just to say ‘thank you.’”

Another student wanted to tell lawmakers about the importance of their work, emphasizing how it personally affects him and his fellow students. Lester Lewis is a junior criminal justice student and a student government member.

“We’re going to share our personal stories and how we’ve been affected – about the investments they’re advocating for, and … the scholarships that they continue to provide for us and (how they’re building) a better future for the University of South Carolina.”

USC research economist Joseph Von Nesson spoke about the school’s economic impact during a lunchtime gathering. 

“When we go through all the data, we come to a simple bottom-line conclusion,” Nessen said. “USC is a major economic driver and a very strong competitive asset for the state of South Carolina.”

He showcased the economic impact that alumni have on the Midlands. Their economic output is estimated to be $4.2 billion, Nesson said. 

The economic impact of the university is satisfying but may be much larger because of the uncaptured contribution from the School of Medicine, Krajacic said.

“I think that impact is bigger,” Krajacic said. “I’m particularly interested in the impact that we produce in the medical school, not just our students that provide healthcare hours (in the community) as their training, but also the people that stay and practice in South Carolina.”

Amiridis, who was participating in his third Carolina Day, said it feels great to see the positive trends under his leadership.

“It has been a great ride so far,” he said. “Our numbers speak for themselves. You have heard me talking about enrollments, research, development and infrastructure. It’s great, right?”