Melissa:

Thanks for your bravery and for you and everyone else who has taken on the Giant!  We've got your back...the end is nigh (let's hope!).

Keep on keepin' on,

Truth

I've heard it'll be in Fed. Court in Hattiesburg. In spite of the delays of the legal eagles of Adams and Reese, Judge LeMelle prevailed that this one is good to go. Historians, she filed Aug. 5 or 6 of 2002 - was she the first one to file after SFT was named Prez?  He purposely left her name off the tenured/promoted and non tenured/promoted list that summer and waited until the end of July to single her out and not offer a contract. According to what I've read - he contacted her Aug. 23 when she sent a certified letter out that she could not begin teaching classes without some type of contract and wanted to discuss the matter with her privately. When her attorney responded that they'd talk but Chaze would be included - he sent another certified letter stating he was disappointed that she "refused to talk" to him "alone" and that he was terminating her as of May 2003. However, she was notified on Sept. 28, 2002 that her insurance/benefits etc. was cancelled as of Oct. 1 2002. Impressively, she realized early on that her bitterness is not with USM as a whole but the nepotistic duo of Thames Inc. and the IHL.  Melissa, if I've screwed this story up - please show up at the Coming Out party scheduled for some time in the futureand we'll get it all straight. Otherwise, see you in Court (can we designate a cheering section?). Thanks for your comments yesterday too. The state of Arkansas is lucky to have you.