$ figure - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 14, 2004

$ figure

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mandy Stringer
"This is the first time I've seen this message board in months, but returned after hearing about the latest, which is horribly sad news. Excuse me if this has been addressed, but has anyone pointed out that between the $500,000 to clean up the SACS mess and the S/G thing, Shelby has cost the university over $800,000? That in itself is reason enough to fire him. "

And $23,000 of that amount could have funded the summer graduation which has been cancelled. What a way to give the summer graduates, their parents, friends, and other relatives the back of the hand.

Date: Dec 14, 2004

I was furious about the $23,000. You know, Lisa Mader makes $70,000. By my lights, that's at least $23,000 too much. See, I can snap MY fingers and find money too!! Mover over, Roy!

Date: Dec 14, 2004

Don't forget the salaries to the Kentucky cabal--maybe someone else knows the total; we know Angie D. made $150K. (I'd guess $300K easily wasted on these three positions.) Then there's the Pileum "contract" that managed to skirt around the state bid process.

Date: Dec 14, 2004

Isn't Dana Thames salary a little above average for her position?

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mandy Stringer
"This is the first time I've seen this message board in months, but returned after hearing about the latest, which is horribly sad news. Excuse me if this has been addressed, but has anyone pointed out that between the $500,000 to clean up the SACS mess and the S/G thing, Shelby has cost the university over $800,000? That in itself is reason enough to fire him. "

Mandy, the S/G thing cost USM more than mere money. It cost USM its reputation.

NO QUARTER

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: undergrad 2
"Isn't Dana Thames salary a little above average for her position?"

No it isn't. It's A LOT above average for her position. Figure in the merit raises and the MIDAS award, and she is being paid royally to continue to screw up.

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Grandparent
"And $23,000 of that amount could have funded the summer graduation which has been cancelled. What a way to give the summer graduates, their parents, friends, and other relatives the back of the hand."

Actually, as a faculty member I am grateful that we no longer have a summer graduation. I don't care if it cost zero dollars to put on. Out of State, Ole Miss, and us, we were the only faculty that had to put on rented (out of our pocket) monkey suits in 100 degree heat and listen to some speaker who couldn't motivate or inspire a room full of drunken sailors simply for your pleasure and entertainment. We don't get paid enough to be sweltering scenary. Thank god we joined the rest of the academic universe and dumped another wonderful USM tradition. Now if we could only have the same length semester as the rest of the world!

Date: Dec 14, 2004

thank you close to the scene of the accident--we're shortening the semester next year!

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"thank you close to the scene of the accident--we're shortening the semester next year!"

SCM--love ya man! I know about this, but, like everthing else here, seeing is believing.

CSA AKA Toady

Date: Dec 14, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: Close to the scene of the accident

Actually, as a faculty member I am grateful that we no longer have a summer graduation. I don't care if it cost zero dollars to put on. Out of State, Ole Miss, and us, we were the only faculty that had to put on rented (out of our pocket) monkey suits in 100 degree heat and listen to some speaker who couldn't motivate or inspire a room full of drunken sailors simply for your pleasure and entertainment. We don't get paid enough to be sweltering scenary. Thank god we joined the rest of the academic universe and dumped another wonderful USM tradition. Now if we could only have the same length semester as the rest of the world!

Basket case (aka Close to the scene of the accident), I never enjoyed graduation either. I doubt that many faculty members enjoy it. I found many of the speakers boring and uninspiring. Sometimes I had to sit in my seat when I needed to be in the John. But I never missed a graduation during my many years in academics. Attendance at graduation is the very least faculty members can do for the students and their parents. I must confess that I get very impatient with faculty members who openly express your sentiments. Summer graduation at USM should be dropped if there is an insufficent number of students to warrant a summer ceremony. But the reason USM gave for dropping summer graduation was monetary. Like selling its soul for a lousy $23,000 savings (many things at USM these days seems to be monetary). There are many times when I would have much preferred to begin my summer vacation just as soon as I turned in my class grades, but I remained for graduation. That was my obligation and I did it willingly. Now go out and buy yourself a cap & gown. It's cheaper over the long run than renting one each time. Consult your accountant to see if it is income tax deductable in your particular case.

Date: Dec 15, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Faded tassel
"Basket case (aka Close to the scene of the accident), I never enjoyed graduation either. I doubt that many faculty members enjoy it. I found many of the speakers boring and uninspiring. Sometimes I had to sit in my seat when I needed to be in the John. But I never missed a graduation during my many years in academics. Attendance at graduation is the very least faculty members can do for the students and their parents. I must confess that I get very impatient with faculty members who openly express your sentiments. Summer graduation at USM should be dropped if there is an insufficent number of students to warrant a summer ceremony. But the reason USM gave for dropping summer graduation was monetary. Like selling its soul for a lousy $23,000 savings (many things at USM these days seems to be monetary). There are many times when I would have much preferred to begin my summer vacation just as soon as I turned in my class grades, but I remained for graduation. That was my obligation and I did it willingly. Now go out and buy yourself a cap & gown. It's cheaper over the long run than renting one each time. Consult your accountant to see if it is income tax deductable in your particular case. "

Just bought one. So you are saying that at USM the faculty should feel more obliged and willing and docile than any other CRE univeristy? Sorry. Don't buy it (but I might if I can get a tax deduction). Many universities have one graduation per year, and I don't think the faculty are any less obliging. In fact, I use my breaks not for vacation, but to work with students (that's when I help them publish and catch up on thesis and dissertation work). My last vacation of more than two days off was five years ago.

Date: Dec 15, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: CSA
"So you are saying that at USM the faculty should feel more . . . docile than any other CRE univeristy?"

Evidently lots of USM faculty members are, in fact, more docile. Faculty members elsewhere would not tolerate the type of abuse to which the USM faculty has been subjected for the past year or so. Too many have been too silent for too long. I find it difficult to believe that the USM AAUP rolls are not so packed that it would take a pickup truck to haul around the membership roster alone; and that attendance at the AAUP meetings is not so great than it would be necessary to book the Shelby Thames Polymer Science Building Auditorium in which to hold the meetings. Most large and medium-size universities require its faculty to attend commencement on a rotating basis if there is more than ceremony per year. Being required to attend graduation is the least problem the USM faculty has.

Date: Dec 15, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Faded tassel
"Evidently lots of USM faculty members are, in fact, more docile. Faculty members elsewhere would not tolerate the type of abuse to which the USM faculty has been subjected for the past year or so. Too many have been too silent for too long."

I'm afraid that you're looking at the results of a "sorting out" here, with faculty still at USM too discouraged to continue "educating" the IHL, local and state newspapers, alumni, and elected officials on the broader impacts of SFT. Look at the number of former faculty who have "voted with their feet" -- where's Babs when you need her, because it's the end of another semester?

New (untenured) faculty are too busy working like mad to make sure their c.v. will get them out of Hattiesburg, and the vast majority of "experienced" faculty have left or retired (I'd guess that the number of remaining "experienced" faculty is less than 200). And, in a situation where tenure doesn't mean anything, and the state board refuses to pay attention, would it be surprising to have a "foxhole mentality" in which faculty try to do their jobs the best they can?