Unless the Clarion-Ledger is deliberately picking weak or dopey letters (something that editors have been known to do...), Shelby is having trouble finding advocates on the Letters pages.

Robert Campbell

Snippets from previous HA (not CL) editorials by Mr. Openshaw:

...As for the student demonstrations, let's face it: students worldwide are notoriously famous for actively demonstrating in favor of or against whatever the flavor of the month happens to be.

Finally, I say let the administrators administrate, the educators educate, while the students endeavor to graduate.

(March 24, 2004)

...Dr. Shelby F. Thames is a fine man and an inspirational leader. I am incredibly proud that he is our university's president and commend him for standing strong....

(May 11, 2004)

...Mr. Gilmore asks: "Why should we as taxpayers fund USM's athletic programs and facilities?" Well, unless you as a Hattiesburg resident are planning to spend a bunch of nights in local hotels and motels, the only time the tax will ever affect you is when you go out to eat. I bet you 1 percent of my annual salary that you won't even notice your $30 tab at Buffalo Wild Wings is now $30.30!...

(Sept. 7, 2004)

Could he be this person?

http://www.filmbug.com/db/343054

Here's a little blast from the past from our friends Truth4USM and Googler - obviously dated but relevant nonetheless.

Originally posted by Truth4USM on 3/28:

"Here is the text of an email that I just sent to Janet Braswell (H'burg AM) and Riva Brown (Clarion Ledger)--(I personalized the one to Riva, though you're seeing the one I sent to Janet):
Janet:
 
I’m an alumna of USM, and want to know if someone at the American can do a compare/contrast piece on some issues there that relate directly to USM’s accreditation.
 
#1:  Dr. Jim Hollandsworth was forced out of his history classes in October 2003 due to presumed accreditation issues.  Although he had published 3 books in the History field and had an undergraduate degree in history, his graduate degrees were in Psychology.  The former administration (with Fleming as president and Myron Henry as provost) deemed him fit to teach these classes with the approval of Chuck Bolton, History chair.  He was taken out of the classroom in the middle of the semester, and subsequently decided to retire as result of this action (saying the decision was made “in a very arbitrary, capricious manner, this blanket statement without consulting faculty, this abrupt announcement that I’m not qualified to teach a course I’ve been teaching for three years," he said.—from a Student Printz article dated October 2, 2003).  You can read the full article on his firing at:  http://www.usm.edu/printz/archives/10022003/index.html
 
And here is the one on his retirement:  http://www.usm.edu/printz/archives/11202003/index.html
 
 
#2:  Ken Malone was hired in November 2002 at Chair of the newly-created Economic Development Department with NO national search.  He has NO business degree (not even a B.A. in business; only degrees in Polymer Science), NEVER held an academic appointment and was NEVER tenured anywhere else.  This is unheard of in academic circles.  Here’s a link to his resume for you check on it here:  http://www.usm.edu/idv/files/CVRes/KenMaloneResume.pdf 
 
The question to investigate is this:  why was Dr. Jim Hollandsworth effectively “barred” from teaching in the history department, even though he had demonstrated knowledge on the subject through his publication record (and had at least an undergraduate degree in History) and concurrently held a tenured appointment in Psychology, while Ken Malone is rewarded with a chairmanship when he has NEVER published one single article in the field of Economic Development nor does he posses any degree in the field NOR has he EVER held a tenured appointment anywhere?  How is this going to affect accreditation for USM?  As you can see, this is an area that needs a full investigation by the Hattiesburg American as it directly relates not only to accreditation, but to Shelby Thames’ leadership style.
 
Please let me know if there is any way I can help you with this.  If you need to contact me directly, I can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX."

Posted originally by Googler on 3/28: 

"I believe a #3 could be added to this.... Dvorak is on the faculty in the Department of Economic Development teaching GRADUATE level courses and does not have an ACADEMIC background in the field."

Damn, you people are going to make a Democrat out of me yet. Just don't tell my son I said that . . .

Truth,

It may be time to send that Hollandsworth/Malone letter once again--to Kevin Walters.

The underlying issue hasn't gone away.

Happy New Year,

Robert Campbell

We must continue to dig.  This Board is such a powerful vehicle for change.