By LUCAS DAPRILE AND EMILY BOHATCH | The State | Published: May 11, 2021 COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tribune News Service) — A powerful state senator publicly called for the resignation of University of South Carolina President Robert Caslen following plagiarism and a slip of the tongue during his commencement speech. On the Senate floor Tuesday, S.C. Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, called on Caslen to resign. Harpootlian, whose district includes the University of South Carolina, said his phone and email were filled over the weekend by professors, staff and students who were concerned about the Saturday commencement speech. "If he is the military man of honor that I think he is, he will resign," Harpootlian said.