conspiracy - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 3, 2005

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: conspiracy

Date: Apr 3, 2005

Can someone please supply a link to a previous discussion on this board explaining the difference between "liberal arts" and politically "liberal?" I think it would help this poster.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Last Sad Prof
"Concerned New Student wrote: "...I know so many incoming freshmen at MSU who are majoring in liberal arts areas because they feel that USM is too liberal. " Concerned New Student, I wish you could explain what you mean by this statement. The word "liberal" now has so many different connotations I have no idea what you were trying to tell us. Thanks. "

Yes, I'm really sorry for not being clear.

In the area where I live, most people are very very conservative politically. USM is viewed as a liberal arts school, and a college that accepts lifestyles not accepted by the majority of MS, like homosexuality, agnostics, atheists, ect. This is also the reason why most people will not attend MUW from my region, because it's viewed as the most "gay" school in the state. MSU and Ole Miss have kept the reputation as the school for good Christians to attend, despite the fact that USM has its good share of politically conservative students and professors. This is even more apparent when visiting the campus at USM. People here are just told by family and church leaders that they may be less tempted by "evil" things in schools like MSU and Ole Miss that attract more conservative students.

I hope that is clear enough. It may be skewed because of my perspective.

I would like a link to the thread that explains the difference between liberal arts and liberalism. I am confident I understand the difference, but would like to see what was said.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"for many years, Ole Myth had its very own "dedicated" trustee on the IHL board (La Boauve trustee, I think's the right spelling"

I've seen that term, but I never knew that it referred a "dedicated" IHL trustee for Ole Miss. How stupidly inappropriate.

But If USM ever has a "dedicated" trustee on the college board, that seat should also carry a french name such as the one at Ole Miss did.

My recommendation is that it be called the USM "Laissez les bons temps rouler" IHL trustee so that everyone will know how much fun we're having.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned New Student
" Yes, I'm really sorry for not being clear. In the area where I live, most people are very very conservative politically. USM is viewed as a liberal arts school, and a college that accepts lifestyles not accepted by the majority of MS, like homosexuality, agnostics, atheists, ect. This is also the reason why most people will not attend MUW from my region, because it's viewed as the most "gay" school in the state. MSU and Ole Miss have kept the reputation as the school for good Christians to attend, despite the fact that USM has its good share of politically conservative students and professors. This is even more apparent when visiting the campus at USM. People here are just told by family and church leaders that they may be less tempted by "evil" things in schools like MSU and Ole Miss that attract more conservative students. I hope that is clear enough. It may be skewed because of my perspective. I would like a link to the thread that explains the difference between liberal arts and liberalism. I am confident I understand the difference, but would like to see what was said."

Well, I'm glad someone finally admitted that their fear of homosexuals keeps them from receiving the best possible education and that being tolerant of "gays" means being "liberal." If you think that Ole Miss or State are any less "gay" than you are sadly mistaken. At every large university there is a small minority of gay students and faculty - USM, to hazard a guess, probably has far less than universities in other states. To be tolerant is apparently not a value held by our dear "Christian" conservatives as represented by this poster, but you bet it is a value that any public institution of higher learning does and should promote - read the updated IHL guidelines for an example.

Now I'm waiting for the red-blooded ultra conservatives to admit that what they really have a problem with at USM is that it is the most racially integrated campus in the state. I suspect that plays a far larger role in the decrease of white male students at USM over the past few years than does the "temptation" of being gay. When will white Mississippians stop living up to the stereotype of being, well, white Mississippians?

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Angeline
" Well, I'm glad someone finally admitted that their fear of homosexuals keeps them from receiving the best possible education and that being tolerant of "gays" means being "liberal." If you think that Ole Miss or State are any less "gay" than you are sadly mistaken. At every large university there is a small minority of gay students and faculty - USM, to hazard a guess, probably has far less than universities in other states. To be tolerant is apparently not a value held by our dear "Christian" conservatives as represented by this poster, but you bet it is a value that any public institution of higher learning does and should promote - read the updated IHL guidelines for an example.

Now I'm waiting for the red-blooded ultra conservatives to admit that what they really have a problem with at USM is that it is the most racially integrated campus in the state. I suspect that plays a far larger role in the decrease of white male students at USM over the past few years than does the "temptation" of being gay. When will white Mississippians stop living up to the stereotype of being, well, white Mississippians?"

Excuse me, but no where in my post did I indicate that I shared the views of the majority in my region. In fact, I am agnostic and accept, not tolerate, homosexuality. Nor did I indicate that none of the other state universities had no homosexual students. I am very aware of several at both MSU and Ole Miss that are distant contacts of mine.

And yes, the fact that there is a larger minority population at USM does play a role in most people's decisions, now that you mention it. But it doens't play a role for me, as a minority student.

Please do not speculate on what my opinions or motivations are unless I state them.

As for your question on when white Mississippians will stop acting like white Mississippians, I don't really have a strong answer. All I can say is the ignorance of the North and the stereotypes that is fed through the media only helps spread the behavior. I highly suspect that when people stop expecting white Mississippians to react as extreme conservatives, then they will eventually stop. In a sense, today's culture in Mississippi is very much a self fulfilling prophecy from my point of view. Which is, admittedly, limited and inexperienced.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned New Student
" Yes, I'm really sorry for not being clear. In the area where I live, most people are very very conservative politically. USM is viewed as a liberal arts school, and a college that accepts lifestyles not accepted by the majority of MS, like homosexuality, agnostics, atheists, ect. This is also the reason why most people will not attend MUW from my region, because it's viewed as the most "gay" school in the state. MSU and Ole Miss have kept the reputation as the school for good Christians to attend, despite the fact that USM has its good share of politically conservative students and professors. This is even more apparent when visiting the campus at USM. People here are just told by family and church leaders that they may be less tempted by "evil" things in schools like MSU and Ole Miss that attract more conservative students. I hope that is clear enough. It may be skewed because of my perspective. I would like a link to the thread that explains the difference between liberal arts and liberalism. I am confident I understand the difference, but would like to see what was said."

Thanks Concerned New Student. I think some didn't read your original post and mistakenly thought you had the opinion about USM being more "liberal". More and more I realize that in Mississippi "Liberal" has a very different meaning than in other places. It use to be a "political" term, but here it is really much more a "religious" term referring to how someone interprets the christian bible. People seem to just accept what their preacher says without the preacher having to debate someone with the opposite opinion. Sometimes it all reminds me of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Last Sad Prof
" Thanks Concerned New Student. I think some didn't read your original post and mistakenly thought you had the opinion about USM being more "liberal". More and more I realize that in Mississippi "Liberal" has a very different meaning than in other places. It use to be a "political" term, but here it is really much more a "religious" term referring to how someone interprets the christian bible. People seem to just accept what their preacher says without the preacher having to debate someone with the opposite opinion. Sometimes it all reminds me of the Taliban in Afghanistan."

Your welcome. I've tried several times to reply to this comment, but it's hard for me to. I want to express the problems of how religion works in MS, especially elements of it where I live, but I don't feel I can accurately give an opinion since I am very very biased and quite bitter over it. So, I understand your feelings, but I won't get into details because the anger would be unwarrented.

Date: Apr 3, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Concerned New Student"

Your welcome. I've tried several times to reply to this comment, but it's hard for me to. I want to express the problems of how religion works in MS, especially elements of it where I live, but I don't feel I can accurately give an opinion since I am very very biased and quite bitter over it. So, I understand your feelings, but I won't get into details because the anger would be unwarrented."

Your post reminded me of something that happened to me when I was a senior in a catholic high school in New Orleans. Friends were planning to attend Tulane University and were told by a teacher to beware the philosophy students because they will get you all confused. That was when I realized how threatened they were of rational inquiry. It was a threat to the belief system to reason logically. I think some of this is going on with Mississippi students, teachers and parents.

Looking at the situation this way may help us understand SFT. Universities are a threat to the culture, but required for modern jobs. Thus students don't want to be educated (those people in Liberal Arts forced you to think!), but rather "trained". In fact if we do it on line student won't even have to talk to those bad professors.

Date: Apr 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned New Student
"Again, this is pure ignorance on my part, but you're leading me to believe that all of the money that a public university gets, on the whole, is from the state of Mississippi. Doesn't alumni funding account for a huge amount of funding? Also, on the board, so many people talk about the "business" of running a university, but I simply don't understand, at this point, how money is being raised within the universities. Please clarify for my own understanding.

As for the enrollment numbers: How many students in MS simply cannot travel an extra few hours to get to the univerisity they want to go? I guess my initial reaction is highly biased because I come from a pretty wealthy area of the state where most students have to travel within a few hours to attend the university they want to. Also, this weekend I met an unexpected amount of incoming freshmen from LA and AL. I didn't expect the out of staters.

Also from my point of view, because most students around me are able to travel to whatever state school they want to, they're not choosing simply based on the programs. They're choosing based on the character of each individual university. I know so many incoming freshmen at MSU who are majoring in liberal arts areas because they feel that USM is too liberal. It's not what's happening at USM that draws them to other schools as much is it is the character of USM (which actually attracted me, go figure) and where their parents went."

What good questions, New Student.

As it happens, I recently had the opportunity to talk with a recruiter from the University of Mississippi. The UM folks are emphasizing the legislative cutbacks, but they have hit an interesting positive (i.e.,spin): they point out that their chancellor is such a great fund raiser that they have a large number of endowments to supplement the lost state revenue. They also throw out some statistic that now escapes me, to the effect that UM is among the 350 or so best endowed universities (or public universities) in the USA. Also, something like 80 to 85% of the student body at UM receive financial aid. The inescapable conclusion is that budget cutbacks will hit the rest of us harder than Ole Miss.

Your point about proximity to a university no longer being as important as it once was is also germane. The recruiter mentioned that there will be something like 100+ freshmen at UM next year from one particular high school in Dallas. That is more than will enter from any Mississippi high school. Certain people really do want to go to Ole Miss.

It might be more accurate to say that they really do want to go to Oxford. The town is so small (about 13,000, I think) and so close to campus that it is almost like going to school at Disneyland (Small Town USA). Because Oxford is totally dependent on UM, there could be little town/gown conflict. If there is any, "gown" wins.

BTW, the recruiter also "bragged" about holding enrollment at about 12,000, so as to keep the small-to-medium size campus feel -- you know, the old "you're a name, not a number" appeal.

I'm going to hazard the opinion that someone (particularly someone of the parental persuasion) would send a student to Oxford, not so much for the conservative orientation of the education (or religion) that might or might not be afforded, but because of the quiet, small town atmosphere in which the school is located and the good academic reputation of the school, in general. After all, they do "shelter" the only Phi Beta Kappa chapter in Mississippi (lest anyone forget.)

You mentioned that it was the character of USM that attracted you. Would you mind amplifying that comment? Was it the character of the school only, or the community as a whole? For that matter, maybe it was the region. I have always found south Mississippi to be attractive, with the mix of the rural, conservative mind set in such close proximity to the culture of urban New Orleans, one of the most European cities in the USA, I'd say. Anyway, what drew you to USM?

Date: Apr 4, 2005

UM is the only public university with Phi Beta Kappa. Millsaps has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter (the first in MS).

Date: Apr 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
" You mentioned that it was the character of USM that attracted you. Would you mind amplifying that comment? Was it the character of the school only, or the community as a whole? For that matter, maybe it was the region. I have always found south Mississippi to be attractive, with the mix of the rural, conservative mind set in such close proximity to the culture of urban New Orleans, one of the most European cities in the USA, I'd say. Anyway, what drew you to USM? "

Well, that's actually a hard question to answer without upsetting opinions here I think. I guess I should just open this with saying that I don't know everything or much at all about USM other than what has been given to me by secondary sources like friends, teachers or other adults.

Over the years, for one reason or the other, I've formed an opinion that's highly different from the area around me. I come from a very small town where chruch attendence determines, on a large part, socital standing. It's also a place where most people form their political opinions based solely on what their parents and pastors say. Personally, I love to read the news and investigate things online that spark any type of interest. From that love, I've formed a politically liberal view point. I am well aware, however, that this is typical of kids my age, and is likely to change in the future :P

Anyway, because of my local environment, I originally wanted to go out of state. I felt the need to leave the too-tight arms of Mississippi southern culture that I felt no part in. I'm not interested in the lastest Christian band, the picnic in the local park, country music, how to do the perfect Attache poof, what son/brother/nephew/father is giving up his God-given right to go to Iraq, sheep shows, 4-H, ect. I have lived in the South my whole life, but writers like JK Rowling, Garth Nix, George Orwell, Ralph Ellison, Phillip Pullman, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Sylvia Plath, and Orson Scott Card (just to name a few) helped me feel as if I belonged somewhere else. I went through a period when I was disgusted with everything southern.

That changed at the beginning of this year, however. The fear of leaving my home so quickly and paying so much for an education that I could get in MS made me first look at state college. My attention was initially drawn by USM because it was thought of as the most "liberal" in my area. But, as I researched it, I was most excited by the writing program, as well as the open atmosphere. Today, and everyday in my government classes, especially, I have to constantly defend my position with no acceptance and little tolerance from my classmates and teachers. I realize it will sometimes be this way, no matter where I go, but maybe USM will be a little better to me.

The fact that USM is so near to the coast and New Orleans matters just as a "plus" for me. What mattered most in my happiness with USM was when an English professor told me point blank about the problems going on at USM when I first visited around November (if I remember correctly). He didn't explain much, but warned me that the English program was going down. I guess this should have discouraged me from coming, but I felt attracted to the defiance. Just writing it makes me feel bad, because that's not a very good reason to come to USM. But I genuinely feel that if I am there, then maybe I can have a small part in pulling the university out of this mess. I want to be one of those majors in the College of Arts and Letters, a part of the numbers that somehow show the world that it still matters. Art means so much to me, especially writing, and I can't think of a better way to spend my energy than to help keep it living at USM. I haven't even taken a class at USM, but the people (both students and faculty and some administration) makes me love it already.

Wow, I sound strangely innocent and idealistic. But it's what first came to my mind. Sorry for being long winded.

Date: Apr 5, 2005

Concerned New Student,

I hope you'll look me up when you arrive at USM.

J Lares, Associate Professor of English

Date: Apr 5, 2005

To CNS: Ditto what Dr. Lares said. There are many of us in the English department who oftentimes feel despairing about what is happening to our university and, yes, our department--very very hard hit indeed--but who try against difficult odds to teach our best, publish our best, and serve our students and colleagues with energy and commitment. I want also to say that we have recruited (never shilly-shallying around about the difficulties, let me make plain) some excellent new folks. This in no way begins to replace our losses, or even begin to make up for them. But new energy is new energy, and a good thing.

NO QUARTER!

Ellen Weinauer

Date: Apr 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned New Student
"Wow, I sound strangely innocent and idealistic. But it's what first came to my mind. Sorry for being long winded"

Not at all, or at least not inappropriately so. Sounds to me as if you have made a thoughtful choice. I congratulate you.

Because you are thoughtful and much closer to the issue, let me raise with you the question of education vis-a-vis indoctrination. You mentioned that some of your peers were perhaps indoctrinated (if I may put words in your mouth) by their parents, pastors, etc. Yet it appears that you have escaped that indoctrination. I cannot help but be curious how you managed. Do you think more critically of those ideas that others either accepted without thought (or who, after thought, arrived at a different conclusion)? Were you indoctrinated by someone other than pastor and parents? Are you not apprehensive that you might face further indoctrination?

I don't mean to put you on the spot, but this is an issue that seems to be important to a lot of people, this fear that the young will be indoctrinated at university. Your point of view would be appreciated.

(BTW, I realize that the short answer could be, "I read." If you want to leave it at that, that is okay with me.)

Date: Apr 5, 2005

CNS,

You are the kind of thoughtful, thought-PROVOKING student whom teachers love. I say this not because you identify yourself as "liberal" (I have had "conservative" students who have exhibited many of the same traits you do); I mean, instead, that you are clearly a person who takes ideas seriously, who cares about pursuing truth rather than merely confirming (or conforming to) comfortable prejudices, and that you are willing to constantly question -- not only others but also yourself. In other words, you are seeking real education, not just a degree. You will flourish at any college worthy of the name. Best wishes to you! If only more students were like you!

Date: Apr 5, 2005

I will be sure to meet everyone who requested if I can find time near the beginning of the semester :)

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
" Not at all, or at least not inappropriately so. Sounds to me as if you have made a thoughtful choice. I congratulate you. Because you are thoughtful and much closer to the issue, let me raise with you the question of education vis-a-vis indoctrination. You mentioned that some of your peers were perhaps indoctrinated (if I may put words in your mouth) by their parents, pastors, etc. Yet it appears that you have escaped that indoctrination. I cannot help but be curious how you managed. Do you think more critically of those ideas that others either accepted without thought (or who, after thought, arrived at a different conclusion)? Were you indoctrinated by someone other than pastor and parents? Are you not apprehensive that you might face further indoctrination? I don't mean to put you on the spot, but this is an issue that seems to be important to a lot of people, this fear that the young will be indoctrinated at university. Your point of view would be appreciated. (BTW, I realize that the short answer could be, "I read." If you want to leave it at that, that is okay with me.)"

I'm fine with answering your question, the problem is, the answer is a little vague and very involved. So I hope you're in for a read.

I'm growing up, and finally, parents aren't the evil ones anymore. I've often questioned myself on why I'm just a tad different from my peers: we're all intelligent and we all question. So why do we come to different conclusions? I guess it all comes down to value systems. Most people are indoctrinated, like you said, with an idea. Oddly, these people actually agree and accept with their indoctrination, and hope to continue it through their own children. It started with their parents, then their churches, then their peers, and finally our school. The missing link between my peers and me lies in the parents aspect.

My mother and father met during the Vietnam war. My mother was Buddhist when she met my father, and he was like every other southern boy of his day: fiercely southern Baptist. Due to her value system, my mother tried her best to convert to Christianity, but she didn't lose her set of eastern ideas. She took all of her kids to chruch every Sunday, but there was no belief system in the house. In fact, she told me point blank when I was around seven that the Bible was written by men.

When I moved to Mississippi from Louisiana, I was immersed in a church-like society. I felt social pressure to go to chruch, so I went to one of the larger three Baptist chruches in town, until a particular Sunday school class that taught the twelve year olds about dating and marriage. The teacher explained that Christians shouldn't marry anyone of a different race or religion (something my friends have denied recently). I got upset and asked her if that meant I was the product of evil. And while she didn't say that, I felt it. Of course, I was twelve, and you all know how kids are at that age.

So, pure bitterness fueled my thinking against my society. It was first that they told me I didn't conform before I decided that I had no part in it. Soon after, my father came back into my life, and while he still claimed he was Christian, he would ask me a ton of questions that still make me wonder if he's either agnostic or atheist. Questions like whether or not predestination could be true, or the limits of the universe. My philosophical side was nurtured without the need of a book to explain certain mysteries. I became comfortable with the questions, and the possibility of the exsistence of alternate answers that wasn't provided in a religion.

My race helped me identify with the Asian population at my school, and while most of the Koreans here are Christian, the Indians still value Hinduism. I learned a little about the religion through pure friendship, and began to question certain ideas being taught to us in school. Around that time, I also began to read more mature literature (stuff with chapters, yay :P). I picked up Harry Potter, and into the publishing of the third or fourth book, protests against the novels erupted in my town. When I debated against a multitude of people, I was finally able to vocalize the fact that the Bible couldn't be used for evidence in several cases. I also began to do my own independent research, which led to me internet communities.

Through meeting new people in the internet communities and my research (which moved from Harry Potter to other things), I became really exposed to a lot of different ideas that most kids my age didn't have. Not only did I have my parents, peers, and teachers to discuss ideas with, I had a gay man in North Carolina, an activist in California, a publisher in Canada, and a game designer who also works with the US military. Forums full of intelligent debate with people my age or older began to take more and more of my interest. I'm not a complete internet junkie now, but you better believe my early high school years were spent in this text-filled world.

Well, there you have it, my mind's life journey and why I think I'm different from the normal eighteen year old in Mississippi. At this point, I don't think that those who are already free thinking can allow themselves to be indoctrinated. I think that my information could quit possibly be fed to me through a filter of sorts. But if I don't trust what I have right now in my life, then what am I left with? My method, at this point, is to question everything, even myself, numerous times, and accept little to nothing as truth. And like everything in my life, I doubt that this method will stand up forever.

Date: Apr 5, 2005

An excellent post, Concerned New Student. I suspected the general struggles you went through when I earlier wrote, "People seem to just accept what their preacher says without the preacher having to debate someone with the opposite opinion. Sometimes it all reminds me of the Taliban in Afghanistan."

I had gone through similar awakening earlier in life, but suspect I was somewhat older than you when it happened. Thanks again for making this a very interesting thread.

Date: Mar 8, 2006

I'm bAAAck wrote:

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).

Actually IB, your version of the theory is one that I have been considering and discussing with others for quite some time. Good job of detailing it out . . . .

Date: Mar 8, 2006

Stephen, note dates. This thread is being spammed.

Date: Mar 9, 2006

Looks like the Webmaster took care of the spam, thanks. However, it's interesting to note that a year ago, the top post on this page, we were still have the "Liberal Arts" vs. politically "liberal" discussion that came up again yesterday.

Sometimes being on this board feels like fighting kudzu.

Date: Mar 9, 2006

LVN wrote:

Looks like the Webmaster took care of the spam, thanks. However, it's interesting to note that a year ago, the top post on this page, we were still have the "Liberal Arts" vs. politically "liberal" discussion that came up again yesterday. Sometimes being on this board feels like fighting kudzu.

Forget the board, just being at USM is like fighting kudzu...

In fact, I believe even this kudzu discussion is one we've had before.