CLEMSON, S.C. — Groups of Clemson University students are studying South Carolina dairy farms, neighborhood planning and human sentiments as the school tries out an idea to make research a requirement for all undergraduates.

Clemson officials have said requiring research of undergraduates will move the university toward its goal to become one of the top-20 public universities. The idea was pitched to the school’s trustees last July.

Under the proposal, all students, except freshmen, would work on small research teams under the leadership of a faculty member, doctoral student, emeritus mentors or alumni.

This spring, 36 pilot groups of undergraduate students have taken on a variety of projects ranging from how the architecture and planning of a neighborhood could encourage physical activity to a study of the movement of horses. Another group attempted to stage a production of the medieval literary classic, ‘‘The Decameron.’’

Body found in

debris from razed building

FLORENCE, S.C. — Florence County authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found among debris from a demolished apartment building.

The body of Kelly McCray, 47, was discovered at a landfill Saturday morning by a bulldozer operator, Coroner Don Reynolds said.

Investigators think McCray died at some apartments that were torn down Saturday.

‘‘We have reason to believe that he was inside when the structure was torn down, and when a load of debris was hauled away to the landfill, he was in among it,’’ Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said. ‘‘Why he was in (the apartment) at the time, we don’t really know at this point.’’

Former first lady

says graduates have choices

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former first lady — and current first mom — Barbara Bush told Columbia College graduates Saturday they shouldn’t feel limited by the homemaker lifestyle she chose in the 1950s or the career-at-all-costs track that followed in the 1960s and 1970s.

Bush, the wife of President George Bush and mother of current leader, President George W. Bush, said the group of nearly 240 graduates at the all-women’s college would produce several doctors, attorneys, congresswomen and U.S. senators. She also hoped some would be teachers, nurses ‘‘and even some stay-at-home mothers.’’

‘‘There’s a better balance for each of you,’’ Bush said. ‘‘You have the freedom to be whoever you want because we’re getting better at respecting each others choices.’’

Bush remembered when she spoke at a Texas A&M commencement and heard from one graduate’s family who recounted how a young child gushed about hearing the mother of the president of the United States.

‘‘I heard George Washington’s mother,’’ Mrs. Bush recalled. ‘‘I might think that was funny if I didn’t look like George Washington,’’ she quipped.

Marion County

Detention Center guard arrested

MARION, S.C. — A Marion County correctional officer was arrested for purchasing a prescription painkiller from an undercover agent.

Timothy Tarte, 46, of Marion, is charged with unlawfully purchasing pills of the painkiller Lorecet. He was caught Wednesday during an operation of the Marion County Combined Drug Unit.

Tarte was released on bond the next day.

Marion County Sheriff’s Inspector Kenny Davis said Tarte was fired from his job at the Marion County Detention Center shortly after his arrest.