Liberty and Power: USM under news blackout - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jan 27, 2005

Liberty and Power: USM under news blackout

Date: Jan 27, 2005

Robert:

Email me as soon as you can: truth@FireThames.com

It's important!

Truth

Date: Jan 27, 2005

Robert, yes, I hadn't tracked how silent things have been . . .

and I hear from many directions that letters, noise of all kinds, is important. The IHL Board apparently gauges the level of trouble by the level of noise (which isn't entirely irrational, when you think about it).

I know how tired we all are. I can't tell you how consistent the reports of fatigue, insomnia and general depression are--and if anyone thinks that's overstating, just think about how you might react if not only your job but the very reasons for your job were threatened. Think Rust Belt, and you'll have a (very) rough analogy.

Lift the pen if you can. Lift your voices if you can. Do what you can, or the fatigue will only grow worse as we lose more ground.

NO QUARTER.
Anne Wallace

Date: Jan 27, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"Robert: Email me as soon as you can: truth@FireThames.com It's important! Truth"

truth, what's cookin'? Is there something big you can clue everyone into?

Date: Jan 27, 2005

RE: RE: RE: Liberty and Power: USM under news blac

Date: Jan 27, 2005

RE: Liberty and Power: USM under news blackout

Date: Jan 27, 2005

RC,

Thank you for continuing to care. It's not over.

P.

Date: Jan 27, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Anne Wallace
"Robert, yes, I hadn't tracked how silent things have been . . . and I hear from many directions that letters, noise of all kinds, is important. The IHL Board apparently gauges the level of trouble by the level of noise (which isn't entirely irrational, when you think about it. . .

The town meetings that the Exline strategic planning council is being forced to call to expedite The Plan are going to offer a perfect venue for making a lot of noise, aren't they? The press will HAVE to be there, TV too probably. You can bet that the Dome will do everything it can to close down discussion--up to and including the planting of SFT partisans in the audience, and trying to impose some sort of iron bound, gavel pounding agenda on each meeting. But it is the nature of a town meeting that such manipulations are relatively ineffective; dissent will out, and I bet, hope, it will be utter, utter pandemonium.

The beauty of this is that the Dome absolutely must call town meetings if it wishes to give the appearance of public participation in its planning "process." Why? Public relations, the ne plus ultra of the Thames/Mader machine.

My advice? Press for as many town meeting as possible. Everyone contact Exline. And I do mean everyone. Phone. E-mail. Letters. The whole works. The FS needs to make it clear that just one town meeting is not gonna get it. Press for town meetings in several different venues. There should be outreach to all component groups of the community: students, staff, alumni, town and gown, everybody. On the coast too. At Gulf Park and GCRL

The town meetings are our best chance to really raise hell. And givne the forshortened plannig schedule, they've got to happen in the next month, well before the IHL meet that will decide SFT's, and our, fate.

Civil disobedience anyone?

Date: Jan 28, 2005

insurgent x,

Yes, lots of town meetings. The more often Thames and Exline and Malone and the rest of the crew have to face public questions and public criticism, the better.

And they do need the town meetings, particularly while SACS is watching, so they can put up a semblance of communication with the faculty.

Anne,

Personally, I think that focusing the glare of publicity on the Board is more effective than writing to it. I am reminded of Robin Robinson's claim, not long after taking office, that all of her mail was pro-Thames. That could have been true only if she (or someone in her employ) was throwing the rest of it in the trash. I suspect some Board members are still doing that. They will have to get the message a different way.

Robert Campbell