HA: Klumb says Thames stays - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 1, 2005

HA: Klumb says Thames stays

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Great article...many good quotes. Here's the most troublesome one:

"We have no president in waiting," Klumb said. "We can't go back to Dr. (Aubrey) Lucas. We have no one in our system that can sit in that chair. We have no one at USM that can sit in that chair. We can't sit here facing a death bill from SACS without a president, without a leader. It doesn't make sense to me."

(my bolded text). What a ridiculous statement. Absolutely ridiculous. I can name 10 people off the top of my head at USM alone who could "sit in that chair" and do a much better job than Shelboo! Roy Klumb...what an idot.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Did anyone else notice that USM spokesperson Lisa Mader was conveniently out of town (yet again unreachable for comment)?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Can the FS vote No Confidence in IHL/Klumb?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"Great article...many good quotes. Here's the most troublesome one: "We have no president in waiting," Klumb said. "We can't go back to Dr. (Aubrey) Lucas. We have no one in our system that can sit in that chair. We have no one at USM that can sit in that chair. We can't sit here facing a death bill from SACS without a president, without a leader. It doesn't make sense to me." (my bolded text). What a ridiculous statement. Absolutely ridiculous. I can name 10 people off the top of my head at USM alone who could "sit in that chair" and do a much better job than Shelboo! Roy Klumb...what an idot. "

The most telling statement about ole Roy and his posse at the IHL is his idea of a leader

"without a leader" Does Roy think a great leader lead us to SACS probation?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Klumb said . . . "We can't sit here facing a death bill from SACS without a president . . ."

I find it pretty scary when the IHL president uses the phrase "a death bill from SACS . . ."

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Klumb seems to think a vote of no confidence will call for the immediate removal of Thames, what if, instead, it calls for the IHL Board to start a search for a new president to take Thames's place when his term runs out in a year? The HA and Klumb presume to know what the unpassed resolution already says - they obviously have no idea.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Klumb says they have NO backup plan? They have an almost 70 year old president with a bad heart and nobody has a clue what they would do if he keeled over?? They would have to shut down USM??

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Chicken Soup Lady
"Klumb says they have NO backup plan? They have an almost 70 year old president with a bad heart and nobody has a clue what they would do if he keeled over?? They would have to shut down USM?? "

I know, it's so ridiculous. Sounds like a no confidence vote in Jay Grimes from the IHL if you ask me!

Date: Feb 1, 2005

The answers to a couple of questions ought to be easy:

(1) The Faculty Senate should ask the Board to replace Thames immediately with Richard Crofts. Crofts is already monitoring USM's accreditation situation for the Board. He is only an interim commissioner.

(2) Now that Klumb has come out with this kind of preemptive strike, the Senate should not hesitate to vote no confidence in him. Those on the Board who supported Thames in the past can scapegoat Klumb for their own bad judgment, if they wish.

I'm assuming that the Senate can pass the gut check and vote no confidence in Thames. I hope it can.

Robert Campbell

Date: Feb 1, 2005

I thought it significant that Klumb did NOT say SFT was doing a good job. He always said that in the past. He also only mentioned the problems of replacing him NOW. He left next year and contract renewal wide open. Maybe I hope too much, but I think the Board is trying to say they are getting the message. Klumb even said the words, "Klumb said faculty voices would be heard by the College Board, which oversees the state's public four-year universities." I suppose they hope if they have received the message the FS will think there is no need to send the message.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

I am remembering a thread from a few days ago where various folks noted that the president of the IHL board has no more power than any other board member. It appears to me, for good or ill, the board president commands a "Bully Pulpit" -- at least this one does.

How inappropriate for a board president to declare in advance how the board will act.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Advocate
"http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050201/NEWS01/502010301/1002"

It is important to note that there is at least one positive thing in this article: "Klumb said faculty voices would be heard by the College Board." That statement is so "Un- Klumb-like." He did not defend any of the president's actions. He did not say the president is doing a good job. It is as if he is saying that anybody in the president's chair is better than nobody in that chair. What was quoted is not a ringing endorsement by any means, but it is a remarkable change from his past comments. Perhaps there have been some meaningful discussions at the IHL level. Perhaps things are getting through to them. Klumb's statements, as cited here, may not express precisely the sentiment of all of us, but what he does say is a welcomed change from what we have heard in the past. He says that faculty voices will be heard? Faculty senate, give the IHL something to hear. This does not seem to be the time to back off. To repeat: "Klumb said faculty voices would be heard by the College Board." Time will tell.

NO QUARTER

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Perhaps someone has jerked Klumb's chain.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Walt Cain's a piece of work, huh?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

anyone know whether the IHL board met with the SACS consultant?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Students for SGA Reform
"Walt Cain's a piece of work, huh?"

Yep. He's still talking about that small vocal minority. He's another Nixon.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
" (1) The Faculty Senate should ask the Board to replace Thames immediately with Richard Crofts. Crofts is already monitoring USM's accreditation situation for the Board. He is only an interim commissioner. "

From your mouth to God's ears...

Date: Feb 1, 2005

The great thing about Klumb is that he can't keep his mouth shut, and every time he opens his mouth, he just spits again into the soup. It won't be long before the pot can't hold any more spit.

Keep your remarks coming, Roy! Every time I read what you have to say, I feel more determined than ever to help send you and Shelby packing!

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Incredulous
"

Yep. He's still talking about that small vocal minority. He's another Nixon."

I, for one and speaking as a student, would support a No Confidence vote in Walt Cain.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: David Johnson
" I, for one and speaking as a student, would support a No Confidence vote in Walt Cain."

Yes, he's about as worthless a leader as there ever appeared. How obvious that he determines and salutes the man who butters his bread. He should be totally ashamed at presenting himself as a keeper and producer of the mindset of campus students, let alone faculty, when he has absolutely no single solitary clue as to what is going on. He has shown himself to be a complete "blithering idot" just like his boss.

The smell gets horrible on some Tuesdays and Thursdays. He'll regret those comments one day, but until then, I choose to cast stones. Come what will.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Klumb knows that if SFT can hang on just a bit longer he will be handed the greatest gift a tyrant can hope for -- a bona fide crisis, in this case the fiscal train wreck about to befall the universities (and every other public good in "no new taxes" Barbouric Mississippi). Thames will wield the money club with abandoned vengeance, consolidating and quite possibly closing programs, smashing his perceived enemies by slashing and "reallocating" essential resources toward the greatest "return on investment" (i.e. to those with their heads furthest up his rump). Klumb will loudly applaud the "painful but necessary" austerity measures exacted by "the right man in the right place at the right time."

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Voice in the wilderness
"To repeat: "Klumb said faculty voices would be heard by the College Board." Time will tell."

He didn't say which faculty voices would be heard. The Hattiesburg American seems to have no difficulty finding faculty who think Thames is OK. In fact, they found at least one senator who will not vote "no confidence." It would be even easier for Klumb to locate this quislings.

Klumb was basically telling the Faculty Senate to go jump in the lake.

I think it would send an even stronger message if the Faculty Senate voted to disband itself tomorrow.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

i have to agree with invictus on the point of which faculty the board would listen to. however, as i've said on other threads, the senate hasn't done a particularly good job of communicating to faculty, even via e-mail.

i asked a question to which i got no answer--anyone one know whether the IHL met with the SACS consultant? i have a source who ought to know but doesn't know--too busy working on SACS compliance.

anyway, here's why i asked. Klumb's comment does seem different in tone. my wild speculation is that the SACS probation has changed the attitude of some key players. for years Thames has generally had his way--he was the proverbial 500 pound guerilla. I heard stories of him slamming his fist on a dean's desk, even when he was a "mere" faculty member. He knew who had power over him--and was contrite and compliant (to a degree). Otherwise watch out. When appointed president he knew who his bosses were and only worried about them, namely the IHL. As long as the board supported him and he made them happy, he was comfortable doing what he did. However, along comes SACS. Suddenly, he understands that SACS trumps the IHL. He has a new boss--one he can't politic and can't intimidate. In fact, the consultant told a story about a university who had a very politically connected judge teaching (note JD's are not a terminal degree). Politically connected to the president of the US. The university told SACS we can't do anything about him not having proper credentials--you do it. SACS did it. He no longer teaches there. My conclusion--SACS can even trump the president of the US.

Again, pure speculation.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

Just because Klumb wasn't quoted in the article as saying Thames is doing a good job doesn't mean he didn't say it. The writer could have easily left that out.

Date: Feb 1, 2005

scm,

From his comments in the Hat Am today, Klumb does seem much more afraid of SACS than he was 6 weeks ago.

And, yes, the reason Thames didn't take SACS seriously from 2002 through the end of 2004, and kept ignoring the warnings, is that he didn't want to believe that any such body could set rules that he, Shelby Freland Thames, was obliged to follow. Klumb probably "thought" the same way.

Similarly as far as the AACSB is concerned. Which is why I think any scheme on Thames' part to unload the College of Business to MSU, or break it down until it's deaccredited, only dates back to October 2004 or thereabouts. Before that time, Thames pumped up the Economic Development program, etc., not because he thought it would undermine AACSB accreditation, but again because he didn't believe that the AACSB had any power over USM.

Robert Campbell

Date: Feb 1, 2005

i never bought one of those stories about the college of business. i think they were trying to figure where to place the dissected pieces of the economic development program. there are still serious SACS credentialling issues with that program (and others i might add; at least one in COAL).

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: freedom4usm
"Klumb knows that if SFT can hang on just a bit longer he will be handed the greatest gift a tyrant can hope for -- a bona fide crisis, in this case the fiscal train wreck about to befall the universities (and every other public good in "no new taxes" Barbouric Mississippi). Thames will wield the money club with abandoned vengeance, consolidating and quite possibly closing programs, smashing his perceived enemies by slashing and "reallocating" essential resources toward the greatest "return on investment" (i.e. to those with their heads furthest up his rump). Klumb will loudly applaud the "painful but necessary" austerity measures exacted by "the right man in the right place at the right time." "

Sadly, I think this observation is right on the mark. That's why you have to get out while you can. This state is practiically dismantling it education system before our eyes. And the issues, therefore, are larger than Thames, as bad as he is. Its nuts. But, hey, y'all got the flag-- Whoo! Hoo! rebel yell and all the Bull***t

Date: Feb 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i never bought one of those stories about the college of business. i think they were trying to figure where to place the dissected pieces of the economic development program. there are still serious SACS credentialling issues with that program (and others i might add; at least one in COAL). "

Will the review of distance education by SACS include a review of the credentials of people teaching in the various distance learning programs?

Date: Feb 1, 2005

credentialling is credentialling. distance education will be included.