Wofford students in the South Carolina Innocence Initiative and pre-law program took
a guided tour of the new Spartanburg County courthouse this spring. Wofford College photo
Wofford launches groundbreaking program to help review wrongful conviction claims
in S.C.
Adapted from information provided by Wofford News Services
Wofford College continues to solidify its reputation as a leader in wrongful conviction
work in South Carolina. Beginning this fall, Wofford students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in this
critical field through a new case review program that is the first of its kind in the state.
The
South Carolina Innocence Initiative at Wofford College will launch a formal case review process, allowing undergraduate students
to examine claims of innocence submitted by incarcerated individuals across South Carolina. The program is designed to provide
meaningful, real-world experience while addressing a pressing need within the state’s criminal justice system.
The initiative is led by Dr. Dawn McQuiston, professor of psychology, who has spent over 20 years working in the
wrongful conviction space. Her expertise has been pivotal in innocence hearings and has contributed to the exoneration of
wrongfully convicted individuals in South Carolina.
“Typically, this kind of case review
is handled by law students,” says McQuiston. “They review trial transcripts, police reports, witness statements
— all to identify potential errors or new evidence. But in South Carolina, there hasn’t been a consistent mechanism
for even law students to contribute.”
Currently, most innocence claims in South Carolina
are funneled to the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence in Durham. Under the new partnership, the Center will continue
to receive initial claims and send follow-up questions to the inmates. However, responses and related materials will now be
forwarded to Wofford for review by student teams.
“Our role is to comb through hundreds
of pages of documents and identify anything significant — new evidence, overlooked information, or inconsistencies,”
explains Ellie DiPrima ’26, an economics and philosophy double major from Easley. DiPrima serves as the program’s
first student coordinator for case review. “If a case meets the high standard required to be considered for further
action, we summarize the findings and send our recommendation back to the Center.”
DiPrima
emphasizes that the slow pace of overturning wrongful convictions isn’t just a legal or bureaucratic issue — it’s
also a labor issue. “There simply aren’t enough people doing this work,” she says. “It’s so
much work, so much material, and it’s tedious. But it’s something you don’t have to go to law school to
be able to do. So, getting undergraduates involved is the best of both worlds,” she says.
Since
joining Wofford in 2013, McQuiston has introduced students to the complexities of wrongful convictions and broader criminal
justice reform. She founded the South Carolina Innocence Initiative in 2022 and has organized campus events featuring exonerees,
attorneys, and nonprofit leaders in the field. Wofford students have also represented one of the few undergraduate contingents
at the annual Innocence Network Conference.
In May 2024, Wofford hosted the inaugural South Carolina
Innocence and Justice Conference, further signaling the college’s commitment to justice reform and regional collaboration.
“This new work will provide students with a way to turn knowledge into practice,” McQuiston says. “We
have spent a couple of years laying the foundation for this work by teaching students the causes and consequences of wrongful
conviction and through meeting exonerees and lawyers, and now students get the opportunity to take action by assisting in
real cases of potential innocence.”
Honoring freedom: Spartanburg Juneteenth celebration
to feature educational events and gala
Spartanburg Juneteenth, Inc. is proud to announce a week-long
series of events commemorating Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the
United States. This year’s theme, "Power in the Past, Strength in the Future", coined by the Smithsonian National
Museum of African American History and Culture, will be brought to life through a variety of educational and engagement activities
and a formal gala honoring the resilience and contributions of Spartanburg County's African American citizenry and communities.
The Origin and Meaning of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th,
marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced
the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of all enslaved people. This was more than two years after President Abraham
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in the Confederate states.
Juneteenth
is a powerful reminder that freedom was not granted equally or immediately, and it stands as a symbol of African American
perseverance, cultural heritage, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality.
Engagement
Activities
Throughout the week leading up to Juneteenth, the community is invited to
participate in a series of educational events designed to deepen understanding and spark dialogue, including a race seminar,
jubilee worship service and shopping.
The week will culminate in the Juneteenth BEC Gala
on the evening of Friday, June 20th, held at the Chapman Cultural Center. This formal event will feature a high-end runway
fashion experience, live performances by local musicians and singers and an art display by a nationally recognized visual
artist, an awards tribute to community leaders and changemakers, dinner and dancing in celebration of Black excellence and
unity. Spartanburg Juneteenth invites all members of the community to join them in honoring this historic day. Whether through
learning, reflection, or celebration, Juneteenth is a time to come together and reaffirm our shared commitment to freedom
and equality for all. Everyone is welcomed! Visit www.spartanburgjune teenth.com for information.
USC Upstate athletics claims highest conference cup finish in program history
Isle
of Palms - With a steady rise over the past five years, USC Upstate has captured its best conference cup finish in school
history.
The Big South Conference announced the final rankings for the George F. "Buddy"
Sasser Cup Trophy for the 2024-25 season and USC Upstate finished the year with a fifth-straight top-five finish, marking
the best five-year stretch since moving to Division I, placing third of the nine institutions in the Big South. The Spartans
finished fourth of the nine institutions last year, fifth of 12 Big South schools two years ago and fourth of 11 institutions
three seasons ago. This third-place milestone encompasses the Spartans' two conference memberships since making the move to
Division I in 2007-08.
"This is a really important step for USC Upstate to continue
to climb Sasser Cup Standings. It is a testament to the hard work and care of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for
continuing to raise the bar every year," said vice chancellor and director of athletics Matt Martin. "We have been
consistently ascending the standings over the last 5 years and this year, on the strength of four conference championships
in women's soccer, men's golf, softball and baseball we achieved this new high! I am so proud to be a Spartan!"
USC Upstate's best finish as a member of the ASUN Conference (2007-2018) came in 2011-12, placing sixth out of the
league's then 10 institutions.
The Spartans in 2024-25 were solid on both women's and men's
side, finishing third in the Men's All-Sports Standings and fourth on the women's side. Upstate's women achieved a tie with
last year's result for the highest finish since 2020-21 when they also finished fourth. The Spartans were led by Big
South championships in softball, women's soccer and women's outdoor track and field and volleyball posting the most points.
On the men's side, the Spartans ranked third and were led by championships for men's golf and baseball and once again men's
track & field achieved a runner-up finish at the Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships – for a second
straight year - to lead the Spartans on the men's side.
Clemson University wants to contract with the Medical University of South Carolina hospital
system for a new student health center on campus, which would replace the 56-year-old Redfern Health Center. Clemson
photo
Clemson University to contract with
MUSC Health for new student health center
By: Jessica Holdman, for SC Daily Gazette
https://scdailygazette.com/
Clemson University
wants to contract with the Medical University of South Carolina hospital system to build and run a new student health center
on campus.
A legislative oversight committee gave the initial nod recently to the $73 million
project, which the Upstate college says will help hold down student health care costs and replace its aging facility. The
project still needs approval next week from a five-member financial oversight panel chaired by the governor.
It could mark MUSC’s second such arrangement at a South Carolina college and the first outside of Charleston.
The proposal is modeled after MUSC’s relationship at The Citadel, according to documents provided to the Joint Bond
Review Committee.
Clemson’s existing Redfern Health Center is 56 years old, built when the
university had a student population of just 6,700. Since then, Clemson’s enrollment has increased four-fold, yet the
college has not expanded or renovated the center since it was constructed.
Plans call for the
Medical University Hospital Authority to spend $61 million to help build the new, 90,000-square-foot center, with Clemson
chipping in $3 million, and a pair of federal grants covering the remainder.
If Clemson were to
pursue the project alone, it would have to pass the cost on to students, the school wrote in its proposal.
Instead, Clemson will simply turn over to MUSC the existing health fees charged to students when they enroll. As
part of the deal, that fee will stay flat for the first five years of operation, potentially saving students more money on
health care.
According to Clemson, student health care costs have been escalating since the COVID-19
pandemic at an average rate of 6% per year.
Students currently pay $182 per semester. There will
be an additional $66 fee for any students who stay on campus for the summer session.
That fee
covers the cost of doctor’s visits, counseling, and telemedicine urgent care, according to Clemson’s health services
website. It does not cover prescriptions, vaccinations, lab tests, X-rays, psychiatric treatment, gynecological exams, routine
physical exams or procedures, such as stitches.
MUSC will bill students for those additional services
“in a manner that does not burden Clemson students or their families but is expected to generate additional revenue,”
according to documents provided by the two organizations.
Students who are on their parents’
insurance policy can continue to use that coverage. MUSC will bill the insurance company.
“All
students will continue to have access to student healthcare regardless of their financial status,” according to a joint
letter from MUSC and Clemson.
It will also bring an end to Clemson’s current, “archaic”
billing model for health services, which withholds diplomas and prevents students from enrolling in classes if they have an
outstanding medical bill. A Clemson spokesman did not immediately respond to questions from the SC Daily Gazette about that
policy.
MUSC will reinvest any excess revenue back into Clemson Health.
The
school and the hospital system expect to sign the 30-year deal in January 2026 and complete construction in July 2027. At
the end of the lease term, MUSC will transfer ownership of the facility to Clemson.
In addition
to health care for students, Clemson and MUSC also plan to work together on more health-related research projects, as well
as joint degree programs.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits name Chad Costello as Head Coach and General Manager
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits recently named Chad Costello as Head Coach and General Manager.
Costello
comes to the Upstate from the Rapid City Rush, where he served as Associate Coach, leading the Rush to an 18-10-3 record during
his tenure. Previously, he was the bench boss of the Allen Americans, where he led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances
in 2023 and 2024 and compiled 70 total wins in his two seasons at the helm.
Costello's teams
are known for their fast and hard play, mixing old school competitiveness with new school developmental philosophy.
As a player, the 38-year-old from Johnston, Iowa won two Kelly Cups with the Allen Americans and was a three-time
ECHL Most Valuable Player award winner. He donned the captain's "C" for the Americans in 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2021-22.
His number 13 was recently retired by the Americans.
The Swamp Rabbits organization welcomed Coach
Costello, his wife Ashley and their four children to the Upstate, beginning an exciting new era of Swamp Rabbits Hockey.
The 2025-2026 season begins on October 17, 2025 as the Swamp Rabbits will host the Utah Grizzlies at Bon Secours
Wellness Arena.
For more information or for tickets, visit https://swamprabbits.com/
