Univ. of South Carolina president resigns after plagiarism controversy

The president of the University of South Carolina resigned Wednesday night, days after delivering a controversial graduation speech marred by plagiarism allegations.

On Monday, Bob Caslen apologized for using parts of a speech by retired Navy Adm. William McRaven in last week’s commencement ceremony without proper attribution.

McRaven is the Navy SEAL who oversaw the mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

“I am truly sorry. During my remarks in our weekend commencement ceremonies, I shared a well-known quote from Admiral William McRaven and failed to cite him as its original author and speaker,” Caslen wrote in a letter to students and alumni earlier this week.

“I was searching for words about resilience in adversity and when they were transcribed into the speech, I failed to ensure its attribution. I take full responsibility for this oversight,” he added.

An earlier ceremony was also marked by an embarrassing moment, according to local CBS-affiliated television station WSCS-TV. Caslen congratulated new graduates of “the University of California,” but quickly corrected himself after the audience began to murmur.

“Carolina, sorry about that,” he said.

Caslen offered to resign on Sunday, but the school’s board of trustees refused to accept it.

On Wednesday night school officials announced that the board had accepted his resignation, and that it would go into effect Thursday.

“After focused discussions with President Bob Caslen, University of South Carolina Board of Trustees Chair C. Dorn Smith III, MD has announced that President Caslen has tendered his resignation. Chairman Smith thanked President Caslen and his wife Shelly for their service to the university during the challenges of the last two years,” a statement obtained WSCS-TV read.

In this July 22, 2019 file photo New University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen answers questions from reporters in Columbia, S.C. (Jeffrey Collins/)

The board also announced that former President Harris Pastides would serve as the interim president, and that “a search for a permanent president will be initiated immediately.”

According to the school’s website, Caslen is a retired Army lieutenant general and former superintendent and president of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

He served as the University of South Caro­lina’s 29th president.