The 2:30 graduation was quiet. Only one Arts and Letters student could be seen turning down the opportunity to shake Thames' hand. (Yes, Thames was back from SACS today.) Another student had an "Impeach Thames" sticker on her mortarboard. There was no mention of any recent events.

Unusually, there were no board members, state representatives, or local politicos present. In fact the platform appeared to be quite empty.

Margaret Loesch, the speaker, spoke of lessons she's learned in her many jobs over the years. Although intended to be funny, the faculty did not seem amused with lessons such as "You can always be replaced" and a number of others that suggested you should suck up to your boss to get ahead in the world.

Thames did NOT end the ceremony with his signature "Southern Miss to the Top!" cheer.

The program also contained a first: an ad insert for "TWO PERFECT SOUTHERN MISS GRADUATION GIFTS," reminding graduates that they can still get tickets to Placido Domingo in April and that a CD of "A Southern Christmas" by the USM Symphony is available at the Symphony Office.