Runey seems as if he's oblivious. They play by the same rules? Isn't this what the proposal is all about? The fact that BE can either select or have a student from any region that they please is not playing by the same rules. If anyone would like to challenge that statement, I am willing to listen. I see that as being the one simple factor that gives this, and other private schools an unfair advantage. To base our similarities on the fact that both public school and private school parents pay taxes is ridiculous. You pay state and federal taxes because you live in SC.
The athletic program at BE is exceptional, and likely will be for years to come. They run a clean and successful program that I am nearly certain does not recruit students based on their athletic abilities. These qualities all shine a positive light on the program and its athletes, and this post is to in no way contend with the fairness or quality with which BE athletes compete, or the fact that their parents pay taxes to the state that they live in (for Mr. Runey's sake).
The fact is that the availability of students that can legally attend BE, is limited only to how many they can hold. Emerald, on the other hand, is limited to a population in a determined geographical zone. note the differences in those two description. These are NOT the same RULES.
And, as far as this being a "sour grapes" issue, Emerald supporters have been calling for this action for a few years now. That includes the time before and after the Emerald men's team defeated the bishops in 2004.
