Correct, in that they did not sit down formally as a group and plan out a way to get USM. They don't have to. The "attitude" has been there all the way back to the mid 60s when USM was "reluctantly" made a third university under General W.D. McCain. USM was told to go do a good job but don't dare ever challenge UM or moo U.

They did. McCain began a furious building campaign and the enrollment mushroomed. Buildings popped up everywhere. Then, USM had the audacity to beat a SECOND ranked Ole Miss (with Archie Manning at the helm no less), and beat them badly. Then followed the first stadium expansion with second decks.
Then came the Bobby Chain IHL years when several midnight "coups" to take programs away from USM was single handed contained by him and absent votes.

All the while, under AKL, USM got way way way below its fair share, only table crums, and the funding formula was tweaked to redistibute appropriations northward, with little objection from Aubrey. The IHL "tolerated" USM and let them drink at the trough and get the crumbs left on the table. However, USM did very well with those crumbs, being probably the most efficient univeristy in America, always tabbed with the label "do the most with the least resources."

See, USM was moving ahead anyway. In research, programs, and we had the population and other demographics. Several schools and colleges were reconized more so that our northern rivals.

The anger at IHL finally got a chance in a weak president in Fleming. What Fleming did or did not do is beyond this thread and wise heads can debate it. But, make no mistake, the chananigans with Nicholson, Klumb, SFT, the bidness community that could profit short term, assorted athletic groups (boy did Fleming mess than one up), politicos, and the military-industrial complex sort of organizations/people (money!), all exploited the situation to coronate SFT.

We all know now and the media knows it was a coronation, a done deal.

No one MET in a group and said: "Who is the best person to drive USM in the ground." They didn't have to. They SFT was their pawn.

They did not have to "plot" a conspiracy, but punishment for the bad faculty who dared to demand a good president during and after the Fleming fiasco was necessary and would be administered no matter how incompetent and corrupt SFT was shown to be. Arms were twisted and a 6-6 vote was forced into an 11-1.

We know Ricci Garret has regretted changing her vote.

Folks, the conspiracy was knowing a bad manager who would change the face of higher ed in S. Mississippi to drag us down. NO, they never wanted the pawn, their tyrant, to go so far as to actually do the unthinkable, lose accreditation.

But they all knew SFT's past history, his two failures at administration and they knew he'd tear this place part. But, they also knew he'd "reward" handsomely those who supported him. There was plenty to go around in the commercialization model to make more than the 9 millionaires he promised. Kickbacks, yes, payoffs and deals, yes. The IHL knew and liked who they knew SFT would reward, and who he would punish.

So, money is in there to, a trade school that trys to grow busineses at the expense of real academics, which would remain the mainstay of Ole Miss and State.

It is so obvious. Of course, SFT only thought he was going to do the best for Southern Miss, to make it "his" idea of what wurl class is.

So, it was a conspiracy by mutual thought, not direct planning. But the antics of Klumb, Nicholson, and SFT's "supporters" shows the answer of why the IHL goes so far to keep this man in office, against all better judgement, and soon to be public outcry from the silent majority (keep my fingers crossed).

This is the most sagacious post I've read on this message board to date.

quote:

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Originally posted by: The scales have fallen
"This is the most sagacious post I've read on this message board to date. "

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I've always said follow the money. This makes lots of sense.

Just a trivial side note. It has been decided that the word "coronate" which is technically a real word, but not really a real word, is not permitted on this board. It makes everyone's skin crawl. Well, ok, it makes all the COAL people's skin crawl. All right, it makes the English teachers' hair stand on end. Whatever. Don't use it. The word is "crown" -- this was resolved on one of those threads the webmaster is trying to hide from Albert.

LVN,

Ah, but the word "coronate" should be used--only in connection with Shelby Thames, and various slimy politicians.

Precisely because it will make educated people's skin crawl.

Robert Campbell

My hat's off to "I'm bAAAck". That post is a keeper & ought to be copied up to one of the "pinned" folders. The "conspiracy" is indeed more of a pervasive attitude & I don't think anybody has done as good a job of explaining it in the (almost) year that this board community has been around. You have it all pegged.

I think Robert Campbell pretty much got my point.


Here's an analogy (however imperfect) to further explain my argument:

Suppose you have three children, all of whom are close in age and are very respectful of your wishes. Suppose that you live in an isolated community where you are a successful businessman, but you have no access to professional services. You decide that, in order to be a successful clan, you need a doctor, a lawyer, and an accountant in the family. The three children agree. The oldest child goes to med school, the second child goes to law school, and the third child becomes a CPA. Things are going well for the family -- the doctor tends to all of the family's medical needs, the lawyer represents the family in any and all negotiations, and the CPA handles the family's finances, bookkeeping, and taxes. The children do all this in addition to servicing their other clients. One day, the CPA decides that he or she wants to become the family lawyer. The lawyer says "No way. That's my job." The CPA says, "Maybe I'll try medicine." The physician says, "No way. That's my job." Finally you have a family meeting to discuss the situation. Arguing ensues, and you express your desire that the CPA remain an accountant, because only with everyone filling his or her role can the symbiotic relationship continue in good stead. Is this a conspiracy, or is it simply the desire of the majority that each will hold up his or her end of the bargain? Of course, this would call for a utilitarian view of the situation and would require the CPA to subordinate his or her desires so that the common good could be advanced.

While this may sound like socialism or communism to some, it is exactly the type of dynamic that enables many groups to function well.

Now, RC's suggestion is pertinent here: Should USM remain "third place," even though it may offer better programs than Ole Miss or State? That is, of course, a question for the IHL to answer; it is not a question that any person or persons on faculty or administration to answer alone. It may lead to a decision you may not like, but that's the deal you made when you were chartered as the University of Southern Mississippi...you are bound by the IHL's decisions.

I agree with Invictus and scm--I'm bAAAck's rendition of the conspiracy theory should be pinned at the top of this board.

Robert Campbell

 

The Rock Says:

Know your role and shut your mouth.

I'm not saying that I'm bAAAck doesn't tell a compelling story, but the fact remains that what he's saying is very much like the following from "So I Married An Axe Murderer" (apologies to Mike Myers):


Stuart Mackenzie:
Well It's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, called The Pentaverate, that control everything, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually in a secret colorado mansion known as The Meadows.

Tony Giardino:
So who's in this Pentaverate?

Stuart:
The Queen, The Vatican, the Gettys, the Rothchilds, and Colonel Sanders before he went tits up. Oh how I hate the Colonel, with his wee beady eyes and the smug look on his face.... Oh, you're gonna buy my chicken! Oh!

Charlie Mackenzie:
Dad, how can you hate the Colonel?

Stuart:
Because he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly, SMARTARSE!

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Originally posted by: Invictus
"Over the years, I've seen UM & State allowed to "pick off" any program that started to "look good" at USM. Duplication of programs was allowed but only when the two "flagship schools" wanted to duplicate something at USM."

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Invictus, it was not just the two "flagship schools" that were allowed to "pick off" USM programs resulting in duplication. A doctoral program in psychology is an example. Now there are four (Ole Miss, Ms State, Jxn State, USM). I am aware of the Ayers decision, of course, but the IHL's action did help proliferate program duplication. I say this not by way of giving an opinion. I am simply stating a fact. 

quote:

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Originally posted by: It's a fact
"Invictus, it was not just the two "flagship schools" that were allowed to "pick off" USM programs resulting in duplication. A doctoral program in psychology is an example. Now there are four (Ole Miss, Ms State, Jxn State, USM). I am aware of the Ayers decision, of course, but the IHL's action did help proliferate program duplication. I say this not by way of giving an opinion. I am simply stating a fact. "

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Ole Miss was first, many years ago. Then there was USM, followed by Mississippi State and Jackson State (I'm not sure which of those latter two came first). If I'm not mistaken, all of them offer an APA-accredited program in one subdiscipline or another. I know of no adjacent or nearby state that supports than many at their public institutions.

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Originally posted by: asdf
"Could you share a few examples for those of us who are new to USM?"

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"It's a Fact" mentioned the doctorate in psychology.

I'll limit myself to areas in which USM is supposed to have the lead role: education.

Probably a lot of folks at USM aren't aware that there is another de facto doctorate in higher ed admin in Mississippi. Ask around about the Midsouth Community College Fellowship Program & Ned Lovell's group at State. This is a better example, IMO, of a program that should be at "the normal college."

Another great "steal something from the teacher's college" example is the "RCU" at Mississippi State that develops the "framework" curricula for all community college vocational-technical programs.

Moreover, students at both MSU & UM may major in elementary or secondary education. Again, following on MB's analogy, only the normal college should have these programs, if one of the others gets law & medicine & another gets engineering.

Getting out of the strict "normal college" role, I note also that State was permitted to pick off some marine science programs when it became obvious that USM was having a fair bit of success with them.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Let me count the ways
"So let's see what we have here. Stinky cheese man mentioned communication. It's a fact mentioned psychology. And now Invictus mentions education and marine science. Any more?"

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Stinky cheese man mentioned journalism.