anyone see WDAM news tonight? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Sep 8, 2004

anyone see WDAM news tonight?

Date: Sep 8, 2004

I just caught the tail end of it - they did report that Noel Polk is leaving after 27 years at USM for MSU because he could not stand to work at USM with Shelby as president. I came in late on the story and am eager to hear how it started off and any additional details. I'm sure it'll be repeated at 10 PM.

NO QUARTER!!!

Date: Sep 8, 2004

There was nothing about any attempts to fire Noel. The report said something to the effect that Noel was unwilling to continue to work in this place as long as Shelby Thames was at the helm; that he was still angry at the treatment given to Stringer and Glamser, and that after devoting 27 years to the place, he could not abide conditions under the present administration. The report described Noel as a prominent scholar (or similar terms) and said that he regretted that events led him to make the the decision that he felt he had to make. This is obviously not verbatim, but I think I have the gist of it. Others can fill in the gaps.

Date: Sep 8, 2004

The piece was very nicely done pointing out that Noel was going to State to edit a prestigious journal and to teach in the English department. They said he was very sad about leaving, but that he could no longer work in the present climate at USM. It was also said that he was very unhappy about what had happened to his colleagues last spring. All of this was in the words of the presenter, not Noel, although a clip of Noel was shown. There was no mention of termination. All of this is paraphrased and my best recollection. Someone else might have a better report.

Date: Sep 8, 2004

I saw the entire thing. Dr. Polk looked sad - not defiant, angry or beaten. The report said he would be going to MSU as editor of a journal. Said that he could not teach at USM while Shelby Thames was president.

Date: Sep 8, 2004

What a huge loss for USM...I'm glad that WDAM had the sense to report it. Any bets on whether or not the HA will pick up on it? What about USM's PR dept.? Will they say it's 'perfectly great' that USM is outsourcing its faculty members to other MS universities now?