President has eyes on Orangeburg improvements

Claflin University’s president looks to play a key role in developing the Orangeburg community.

“I feel as if an HBCU in a majority African American city, we have a civic and moral responsibility to uplift the community,” President Dwaun J. Warmack said in a news conference on April 6.

Warmack told student reporters about his goal of developing the downtown area and creating more amenities for students and the public.

One way the university plans on growing the Orangeburg community is by investing in it.

Claflin’s Center for Social Justice has been located in the downtown area since 2020. According to Warmack, the university has plans to acquire more buildings in the downtown area.

"We have about 29 sort-of capital projects happening right now,” Warmack said.

 “We're developing a robust master plan that will help us with planning for the next 50 years.”

The plan includes:

●    A 150-unit student apartment complex on railroad corner.

●    A new biotech building.

●    Renovations to residence halls.

●    An alumni center.

●    A welcome center.

●    Repurposing the historic downtown Kress building.

Warmack believes the growth will attract major investors.

“It's going to transform Orangeburg forever,” Warmack said.

One change rising on the campus is the new student center, which is expected to be finished in November, Warmack said.

Several amenities of the center will be open to the public, such as the movie theater and ballroom.

Eateries in the student center will include Papa John’s, Qdoba, Starbucks and a convenience store.

Warmack said the student center will have multiple study spaces and an EA gaming space.

The financial aid office, admissions office and other student affairs will also be located in the new building.

“We don't want the Claflin shuffle where students have to run from this place to that place,” Warmack said.

Another plan the university has in place is to gain partial access to Goff Avenue, a busy street located in between two of Claflin’s residence halls.

“There's a lot of things that happen on that street that our public safety don't really have the power to adjudicate,” Warmack said.

He said that one of his major concerns is fast cars.

“It's a crisis waiting to happen,” Warmack said.

Warmack proposes that the university have control of the road when college is in session. He hopes to partner with Goff Avenue residents to make sure they still have access to their homes.

“My goal is to have electronic access; they can come in and out as needed,” Warmack said.

Also mentioned at the news conference:

●    Claflin has not raised tuition in four years and will not be raising it for the 2023-24 academic year. “I don't believe in raising student tuition for the sake of raising tuition,” Warmack said.

●    Claflin’s composite financial index (CFI) is a 10, one of the highest scores, Warmack said.

●    Claflin has increased its endowment by 100% since 2019, Warmack said.

●    Claflin has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. “I think what makes us special is the family environment and having that small classroom, and I refuse to compromise that for a dollar,” Warmack said.

●    Claflin intends on doubling campus enrollment throughout the next 3-5 years. “Our growth will be online,” Warmack said.