Thames love letter, Jan. 25, 2005 - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jan 25, 2005

Thames love letter, Jan. 25, 2005

Date: Jan 25, 2005

We really, really need more revenue. For those of you who are getting grants, I thank you. For those of you who are assisting those principal investigators, I applaud you. The rest of you need to get down to the streets of New Orleans at every opportunity and turn tricks. This year's budget cuts will be very painful unless everybody pulls his own weight."

Date: Jan 25, 2005

Reading the letter, it's clear that leadership skills and deep thought are thin on the ground in the dome. USM has really tumbled, and is likely irrevocably harmed. If SACS doesn't flush this punk down the drain then all respect for the org is gone.

Date: Jan 25, 2005

I assume the property on Beach Blvd is Tim Hudson's old digs. If it cost 100k to rennovate the house for the Provost, how much will cost to undo the rennovations and make it a coffee house?

Date: Jan 25, 2005

"Dear Colleagues . . . .

We value every employee at Southern Miss and do not want to be forced to consider personnel reductions."

We are "colleagues"???? bullshelby!! We (is this the royal WE?) value every employee???? bullthames! We do not want to be FORCED to consider personnel reductions? Liar, Liar.

Date: Jan 25, 2005

Coffee seems to be the most successful econ development that Shelby has thought up. Maybe we should start a Golden Eagle coffee brand and hang out, franchise our name out of Hot Coffee, MS, go big baby, Hwy. 49 to I-10...D'lo, Wiggins, Goula...let's make some USMoney!

Date: Jan 25, 2005

Should we call it Mocha Jocha????

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Change is Good!

http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20050123.html

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Incredible shrinking gnome!

A quick, semi-scientific analysis using the best computer available outside the Polymer Science Building has uncovered a startling fact: Shelby Thames is getting smaller.

The evidence may be found in the last three letters to his colleagues. Each shows a decrease in the use of the word "I" as compared to the letter before.

Total Words I % of Total

Oct. 25, 2004 2731 45 1.648

Nov. 22, 2004 1586 20 1.261

Jan. 25, 2005 1781 10 0.561

At the present rate, it is possible to predict his complete disappearance by March, 2005.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Hurry, check the statistics on "we" and the bio lab freezers, what if he is cloning himself????

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Maxwell House?
"I assume the property on Beach Blvd is Tim Hudson's old digs. If it cost 100k to rennovate the house for the Provost, how much will cost to undo the rennovations and make it a coffee house?"

Anybody who wants to buy a custom-made Italian marble bathtub, black, barely used, should contact David Taylor of the USM-GC physical plant and make an offer. Opening bids will probably be in the $5000 range, a genuine steal.

Also, note T-gnome's appraisal of the Coast Library situation: the final recommendation of the committee won't be out for several months: that would put it . . . in the middle of May? Between Spring graduation and final registration for Summer? Wouldn't THAT be a surprise?

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Shelby reminds me of actor John Goodman's role in the movie, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou." After whacking George Clooney and his pal unconscious with a tree limb, robbing them and crushing their little toad frog in the palm of his hand, he just said, "It's all about the money, boys," and walked away. Shelby has been trying for more than two years now to club USM faculty and staff into a "cooperative spirit and camaraderie." Watch your toes, boys, he's talking "world-class" again. At best, his "Dear Colleagues" letter is an exercise in tedium and verbosity that rings hollow.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: I witness
"Incredible shrinking gnome! A quick, semi-scientific analysis using the best computer available outside the Polymer Science Building has uncovered a startling fact: Shelby Thames is getting smaller. The evidence may be found in the last three letters to his colleagues. Each shows a decrease in the use of the word "I" as compared to the letter before. Total Words I % of Total Oct. 25, 2004 2731 45 1.648 Nov. 22, 2004 1586 20 1.261 Jan. 25, 2005 1781 10 0.561 At the present rate, it is possible to predict his complete disappearance by March, 2005."

I am in awe of you, I witness! May I be your #1 groupie?

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: off the plantation
" Also, note T-gnome's appraisal of the Coast Library situation: the final recommendation of the committee won't be out for several months: that would put it . . . in the middle of May? Between Spring graduation and final registration for Summer? Wouldn't THAT be a surprise? "

What is it with all the backpaddling? Has anyone ever noticed the dome dwellers to back down on issues so easily? Exline reminds departments of SACS credentialling criteria; Malone apologizes for invading a classroom and browbeating a faculty member; Grimes rescinds the reprimands to faculty members who spoke out on matters of public policy; the group vehemently denies any backdoor plans for an executive MBA program; library renovations, at a minimum, get postponed...

Is it, as Present Professor indicated last summer, that the president is beginning to act more like a president? Is it that with every new fiasco they grow a little bit smarter? Or is it fear, fear that this administration cannot weather even one more storm?

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Bellwether
" What is it with all the backpaddling? Has anyone ever noticed the dome dwellers to back down on issues so easily? Exline reminds departments of SACS credentialling criteria; Malone apologizes for invading a classroom and browbeating a faculty member; Grimes rescinds the reprimands to faculty members who spoke out on matters of public policy; the group vehemently denies any backdoor plans for an executive MBA program; library renovations, at a minimum, get postponed...

In war, deception is all. You must study this well.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

So you're saying, watch what they are backpedaling about. It does no harm to apologize to Diane S., she's leaving. It does no harm to remind about SACS criteria, that's expected. It does no harm to rescind the rebuke to Watson & Smith, it avoids a lawsuit and Grimes takes the blame anyway. It doesn't hurt to give a few sabbaticals -- let's see who gets them.
What have they backed away from that MATTERS??

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bellwether
" What is it with all the backpaddling?"

Could it have anything to do with the anticipated confidence/no confidence votes?

Date: Jan 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Speculator
"Could it have anything to do with the anticipated confidence/no confidence votes?"

That was certainly my thought but Chicken Soup Lady and Sun Tzu's posts imply that their behavior is perhaps more calculated. Note that on another thread Green Hornet raised the issue of reinstated sabbaticals - that's another example of recent backpaddling. I think they are on the ropes and desperate to prevent another blow-up. A good time to keep the pressure high.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

But keep in mind that Chicken Soup Lady doesn't know anything! Just the usual paranoia kicking in. I did think that Sun Tzu was wise to caution us.
When they do something meaningful (sorry, English profs on the Coast, I know your situations were serious, I hope you know what I mean here) then I'll be impressed.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

It could be the anticipated scrutiny of SACS. Self-preservation, boys, self-preservation. Get SACS off our back, and then let all hell break loose. Faculty, you have one year to get your crap together and escape.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

A listing of some signs that they are about ready to get rid of you:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/SignsThatYouAreAboutToGetTheBoot.htm?siteid=CBMSNHm4180&sc_extcmp=JS_cj06_feb0_advice_hotmail1>1=5938&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=b375657056b74801a2386279da29f7ac-160063764-xh-2

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Sorry: Signs now at:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/SignsThatYouAreAboutToGetTheBoot.htm?siteid=CBMSNHm4180&sc_extcmp=JS_cj06_feb0_advice_hotmail1>1=5938&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=2ecc9c61cce1425f8ac1a0d00d581802-160087208-te-1

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Are these the signs?

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Same signs, different site

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Yes. Same article.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Here is an edited version. You guys are in big ole trouble. But you knew that.

"Signs That Your Career Is in Trouble . . . or That You Are About to Get the Boot

I want to be very clear about one thing. These are not absolute signs of a professional apocalypse. Don't overreact, panic, or work yourself into a frenzy thinking that evil forces are conspiring to get rid of you just because your boss's door is closed, you weren't copied on a memo, or your budgets are suddenly cut. Sometimes it is just business as usual and has nothing to do with you. As Freud once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

If one or two of these things occur, don't pack your bags and head for the exits yet. Be rational and keep things in perspective. You are looking for consistent and dramatic trends.

- Your boss, mentor, or champion leaves or is suddenly rendered powerless.
(this would be your Dean and/or Chair)
- You find yourself increasingly out of the loop.
- You are given a less desirable or lucrative territory.
- Your compensation structure changes dramatically.
- You are watched and micromanaged where you once had freedom.
- You are given new, unattainable goals or targets.
- You get a new boss who comes from the outside.

- You are in a nonrevenue- producing or overstaffed unit.
(Whether you have a critical function or not?)

- You are no longer included in future plans or upcoming projects.
- You are passed over for a promotion.

- Your opinion is now worthless.
- You are reassigned to a lower- profile project.
- You are demoted.
- You are given a "take it or leave it" or "no win" option.
- Management makes your life a living hell.

Date: Jan 26, 2005

Daddy, how did they mange to steal our management guidelines? You tole me that they'd never figger it out.

Date: Jan 27, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Sun Tzu
"In war, deception is all. You must study this well."

"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns, there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns: the ones we don't know we don't know."

Donald Rumsfeld

Date: Jan 27, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Prima Dana
"Daddy, how did they mange to steal our management guidelines? You tole me that they'd never figger it out."

And we'll have fun fun fun until Daddy takes the T-Bird away.

Date: Jan 27, 2005

The Brain Buster!