It’s a long story, but Mr. Wonderful is “unavailable” today. The last time I saw him he was at a casino blackjack table. He was winning big and I could not convince him to leave. He said, and I quote, “Luna, you take care of the awards and I’ll take care of business.”  So mercy me, here I am IN CHARGE! It’s a heady feeling and I’m not sure I’m up to it, but here goes:

As I recall, we skipped the awards last week due to Ivan, so the awards today are for the last two weeks of postings.

Third Place goes to One Right, Innumerable Wrongs (with thanks to Invictus for the nomination).

ORIW had good things to say about the message board:  

“…I believe this board is the just about the best thing that has happened in Hattiesburg since the time USM beat Alabama back when Bear Bryant was coaching.  In any case, reading the board has sure been good for me and I've learned a great deal from my colleagues - colleagues I have never met - who have posted from across campus.)”

In a 2-week period where pessimism appeared to reign, it was nice to be reminded of how this board has promoted collegiality and given all of us a forum to express our views. Thanks, ORIW.

ORIW continued by exhorting us to have higher aspirations than merely regaining Tier 3 status and then made the following observation:

“…It will take time, and it's already cost dearly, but I honestly believe that USM can position itself for doing better than its former 3rd tier status if given the proper administrative leadership and the fundamental characteristics which I believe are essential if USM is to become a really great university: shared governance, due process, and academic freedom.”

Here, here!

Second Place goes to Left (formerly “Leaving Soon”) whose pessimistic posting gave much food for thought:

“….How can an administration that drives away faculty of the caliber of Noel Polk, Gary and Mary Ann Stringer, Frank Glamser, and great numbers of other talented and dedicated faculty – an administration hell-bent on destroying academic freedom and shared governance – an administration that evaluates faculty and academic programs on the basis of how much revenue they generate – be seen for anything other than what it is? And yet no power in the entire state of Mississippi seems to have the will to do anything about it, and there are even idiots who persist in saying that the turmoil at USM is all the faculty’s fault.

Folks, there’s a real world out here, a world far too many in Mississippi seem oblivious to or simply don’t want to know about. There’s a world where, while certainly not perfect, people try to do what’s best and have reasonable ideas about how to do it; where you’ll meet educated, informed, articulate, competent people everywhere you turn; where the likes of Shelby Thames and Elliott Pood would never be in leadership positions.

I came to Mississippi wondering how it could possibly be as bad as so many folks elsewhere seem to think; I left wondering how it can ever get any better. I guess you just have to believe in miracles…

First Place goes to Medic Wannabe, who posted about Noel Polk’s departure with an allusion to Dr. Polk’s memorable line about shooting off one’s toes.

As anyone who understands foot care knows, when the great or 1st toe is gone, one cannot balance or walk very well.  Unfortunately, with the loss of Dr. Polk, the English Department and the university will be left tottering around with no chance of replacement.  It's off to the foot specialist and then to the orthotist to have a special shoe, and off to rehabilitation.  This could become very costly as well as time-consuming, and one will never be as agile as before the toe was lost.  I believe the old adage that says that  an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Too bad this administration doesn't understand this.  We'll miss you, Dr. Polk.

So that’s the awards for this week. For the last several days, many people are having technical difficulties getting connected to the board. I do hope that things have been resolved; the message board has been somewhat sparcely populated lately.  

Mr. Wonderful returns next week. Until then, tata!

Sincerely,

Luna (Mr. Wonderful’s #1 Groupie)