HA ARTICLE:022305 - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 23, 2005

RE: RE: RE: HA ARTICLE:022305

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Clyde: Surely you realize that if USM continues to take the path it has taken during the past two years, you will very likely be too embarrassed to hang your USM diploma on the wall. Think about it: this is a "no win" situation for those who take the position you profess. Whatever happens,those who the university was established to serve, the students, are going to be the losers. You mentioned that you took a course in logic. Use use some of that logic to figure this out and you'll see that things do not bode well for the USM's students or alumni.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Logician
"Clyde: Surely you realize that if USM continues to take the path it has taken during the past two years, you will very likely be too embarrassed to hang your USM diploma on the wall. Think about it: this is a "no win" situation for those who take the position you profess. Whatever happens,those who the university was established to serve, the students, are going to be the losers. You mentioned that you took a course in logic. Use use some of that logic to figure this out and you'll see that things do not bode well for the USM's students or alumni. "

Only if the faculty continue to resist the efforts of Dr. Thames to drag you into the 21st century. Change is coming, folks. Where's the guy who loves to quote Bob Dylan: "the times, they are a' changin'."

Date: Feb 23, 2005

"You faculty can't conceive how great he is in the eyes of those of us who used to watch you professors come in to work late, take long lunches, and leave early. "

Come in late -- you must have gone to USM back when there was parking. I got there at 7:30 for an 11:00 class

Take long lunches -- at their desks or at meetings

Leave early -- and go home and work on lessons, research, and grading until midnight.

As for profs not being in their offices, you DID go during their posted hours didn't you.

Like Albert, we would now like you to list the SPECIFIC ways in which Dr. Thames is great. Not why we're so bad, tell us exactly why he's so good. We're waiting.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Clyde
"Only if the faculty continue to resist . . . . .Change is coming."

I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to aspire to change in the direction of MIT or CalTech than in the direction of Hodunk State. But Hodunk State is the direction you're headed.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Clyde,

I really hate to say this but you leave me no choice, you are a total buffoon. The only major that matters!?!?!? Hey, why don't we all go back to school and become polymer scientists, abolish all other areas of study and concentrate only on polymers. Just think, we could converse using poor grammar because no one would care about anything but polymers. Mathematics would not matter because it's not necessary to the only major that matters - polymers. No one would care about ethics, beauty, culture, history, economics, politics, art, music, philosophy and the like because we would all be discussing polymers. We wouldn't need libraries. No need for dialogue. Polymers. And this will make us wealthy beyond our wildest dreams! Wow, money, money, money! This is the profound answer to the question "why are we here?" Polymers!

I guess Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Descartes, Locke, et al were just sitting around waiting on you, Clyde, to come with the answer. How short-sighted and egocentric can someone be? Oh, I forgot, Mr. Thames is your hero. My puny brain now comprehends your higher-level thinking.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Clyde
" Only if the faculty continue to resist the efforts of Dr. Thames to drag you into the 21st century. Change is coming, folks. Where's the guy who loves to quote Bob Dylan: "the times, they are a' changin'.""

Okay, Clyde, I will ask a serious question for a change: How, exactly, is Shelby Thames going to make USM a better university? Or, more to the point, what precisely has he done during his time in office to accomplish that goal? How do you explain the SACS mess? Or the tier drop? Or the loss of national reputation? Or the fact that he had to dispose of almost his entire upper-administrative cadre (the so-called "Kentucky mafia")? What concrete results can you show for Shelby's time in office except a series of huge embarrassments?

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: interested bystander
"Clyde . . . no one would care about anything but polymers."

And soylant green polymers at that!

Date: Feb 23, 2005

The more I look at Clyde's language, syntax, speech rhythms, and all that literary stuff, the more I am persuaded that he is not a True Troll -- he is just having fun stirring the pot. He may even be one of our own. He said "if the faculty continue" not "continues" -- some of you sharp COAL types, what do you think?

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Under Doty's leadership the CoB implemented an Academic Integrity Policy. It works! We also are glad to see immature individuals that pretend to be a student, such as Clyde, moving on. He has so much hate and anger at such a young age. Clyde appears to be a person that will move from one job to another and it will always be someone else's fault. The CoB integrity policy implemented under Doty does help us in making individuals responsible; if not, then they go elsewhere. Always our fault. Our success is now some other university's angry, immature student that will never accept responsibility.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

I may not be able to type. I would have put a s on the end of that if I hadnt been typing so fast.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

But "continue" is more correct, more British, and definitely more scholarly.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Specifically, he's Ahab the Arab's camel. (Contrary to popular belief, Ahab's camel was not named "Joe"...)

Remember, more doctors smoke Camels than any other brand.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Business One
"Under Doty's leadership the CoB implemented an Academic Integrity Policy. It works! We also are glad to see immature individuals that pretend to be a student, such as Clyde, moving on. He has so much hate and anger at such a young age. Clyde appears to be a person that will move from one job to another and it will always be someone else's fault. The CoB integrity policy implemented under Doty does help us in making individuals responsible; if not, then they go elsewhere. Always our fault. Our success is now some other university's angry, immature student that will never accept responsibility. "

Didn't Dr. Thames tell you to get to work on an executive masters degree in business? Get to work on it. Ive been at 1 job for 4 years and been promoted 2 times. Got that one wrong huh? Youre probably one of those whos been at Southern Miss for 20 years and got nothing to show.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Time for a serious but related question: (although I note that Clyde has yet to answer the other serious questions asked him by USM Sympathizer and others.)

Will a person with a degree in polymer science thereby get rich? Wouldn't you get a job? What is instrinsic in this degree that guarantees wealth? Did Dr. Thames actually make all his money, or did he inherit it (I honestly don't know, I'm not from here.) Why is a person with a polymer science degree more likely to make money than, say, a person with an accounting degree, or a published novelist?
I would be interested in some serious scholarly analysis here. (Where is Austin Eagle when we need him?)

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Clyde
" Didn't Dr. Thames tell you to get to work on an executive masters degree in business? Get to work on it. Ive been at 1 job for 4 years and been promoted 2 times. Got that one wrong huh? Youre probably one of those whos been at Southern Miss for 20 years and got nothing to show."

OK Clyde --

I'm getting from your posts that you don't work at/for the university. If that is true then at least come out into the open and use your name. The only reason most posters on this board use noms is because they worry about retribution from the administration that signs the check . . . . or they worry that if they have a past connection to the university there may be some nasty repercussions to friends or relatives.

On the other hand, folks on this Board (lazy faculty and staff if you like) pretty much don;t have the means to do anything to you. And frankly, 98% of 'em aren't even nasty enough. Not nearly as nasty as an administration that summarily fires people, locks people out of their offices, demotes people who disagree with it -- all while making sure to take care of their own no matter how corrupt, dishonest, or incompetent.

So cut the crap and identify yourself.

Otherwise folks, there is no sense dealing with this person who wants to wear a mask, throw around irresponsbile statements and accusations without evidence, and doesn't want to take any responsbility for it.

I'll be happy to meet you in any place of your choice to have a civil dialogue face to face. My office is TAD 201E.

If not . . . melt away.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
"98% of 'em aren't even nasty enough. Not nearly as nasty as .... "

Speaking of nasty, do you recall when USM used the term "The Big Nasty" for its football? Maybe we gave up that slogan a little prematurely.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Nasty is as Nasty does
"Speaking of nasty, do you recall when USM used the term "The Big Nasty" for its football? Maybe we gave up that slogan a little prematurely. "

A new tradition - USM: The Big Nasty

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Nasty is as Nasty does
"Speaking of nasty, do you recall when USM used the term "The Big Nasty" for its football? Maybe we gave up that slogan a little prematurely. "

Are you sure you're not talking about the "Nasty Bunch"?

Nasty Bunch! Nasty Bunch! Naaaaasty Bunch!

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"Will a person with a degree in polymer science thereby get rich? Wouldn't you get a job? What is instrinsic in this degree that guarantees wealth?"

The question is if a person gets a degree in polymer science. In fall 2003, the USM polymer science department was reported in the Fact Book as having 168 undergraduate majors, sufficient to rank as the 5th-largest department in CoST, after biological sciences, the school of engineering technology (several majors), criminal justice & computer science. However, the polymer science department is reported as having awarded only twelve BS degrees in 2003-2004. That's 7% of the fall enrollment & that ratio ranks dead last among all departments in CoST.

For comparison, biology awarded 113 degrees (14%), engineering tech awarded 140 degrees (17%) & criminal justice awarded 58 degrees (17%). The only majors that awarded fewer BS degrees than polymer science were science/math ed (11 degrees, 38 majors, 29%), geology (5 degrees, 37 majors, 14%) & physics (4 degrees, 20 majors, 20%). The chemistry department is only slightly smaller than polymer science & also awarded 12 degrees (for an 8% ratio & next-to-last rating).

They must recruit well, I guess...

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: SMTTT/Nitchampburg = I Need L'Hopital's Rule!!
" Are you sure you're not talking about the "Nasty Bunch"? Nasty Bunch! Nasty Bunch! Naaaaasty Bunch!"

Yes, it's the "Nasty Bunch," a nickname first coined for the Southern Miss defense in the late 70s-early 80s. Former Southern Miss defensive coordinator/head coach Jim Carmody was known as "Big Nasty."

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"

The question is if a person gets a degree in polymer science. In fall 2003, the USM polymer science department was reported in the Fact Book as having 168 undergraduate majors, sufficient to rank as the 5th-largest department in CoST, after biological sciences, the school of engineering technology (several majors), criminal justice & computer science. However, the polymer science department is reported as having awarded only twelve BS degrees in 2003-2004. That's 7% of the fall enrollment & that ratio ranks dead last among all departments in CoST.

For comparison, biology awarded 113 degrees (14%), engineering tech awarded 140 degrees (17%) & criminal justice awarded 58 degrees (17%). The only majors that awarded fewer BS degrees than polymer science were science/math ed (11 degrees, 38 majors, 29%), geology (5 degrees, 37 majors, 14%) & physics (4 degrees, 20 majors, 20%). The chemistry department is only slightly smaller than polymer science & also awarded 12 degrees (for an 8% ratio & next-to-last rating).

They must recruit well, I guess...
"

Can somebody please explain to me the difference between chemistry and polymer science? It seems almost all of our polymer scientists (including Thames) have chemistry degrees.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Clyde
"I got a good job and I majored in the only major that matters.....polymers."

There is no way you majored in polymer science and liked Thames. When I was a polymer major, everyone hated Thames. There were so many urban legends about him in the program, how he once flunked an entire class of graduating seniors and made them come over the summer to take his class, how he would leave his car in the handicap spot behind the building and have his graduate students really park it so he did not have to walk, how he once posted cash reward posters around the building if someone would tell him who ratted to campus police and got him ticket because he was parked in the handicap spot, the number of stories about people who ****ed him off (by not giving him proper respect in the elevator) and he sabotaged potential jobs, the yelling at students for congregating in the hallways, the yelling at the department because someone chipped the front stairs of the building, and there are plenty more. The faculty was scared of him (had one admit it directly to my face that he would not do anything that might make him even remotely mad). The students hated him. We used to call his lab the empire and when someone accepted a job in the lab we all lamented that they had gone over to the dark side (we were science nerds).

There were a few chosen ones in his research group that liked him. Oh, that must be it, you must have worked for him. Do you have a paint job now? Did he call in a favor and get you a high paying job?

Funny you picked on the business profs. When I was a major, one of the things they used to tell you was that you should get your MBA afterwards if you wanted to make the good money in lab management. I guess one busy prof was all it took to scare you away from the big bucks. By the way, did you really find the polymer profs that much better? I could never see anyone in that department without first scheduling it with one of their secretaries. We used to proudly boast to prospective students touring the building that there were only 2 classrooms in the building because the focus here is research. Funny, polymer just doesn’t sound like this magic major where the undergraduate student is the main focus of faculty.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Clyde is a camel
"Specifically, he's Ahab the Arab's camel. (Contrary to popular belief, Ahab's camel was not named "Joe"...)
"

Once again, I am so proud of the cultural literacy on this board.

Don't look Ethel! But it was too late . . . . .

Date: Feb 23, 2005

I think you've got your songs mixed, foot soldier. Ray never would have let that camel moon Ethel by the produce.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Golf Ball/Garden Hose Euphemism
" Can somebody please explain to me the difference between chemistry and polymer science? It seems almost all of our polymer scientists (including Thames) have chemistry degrees."

Polymer science is basically a subspecialty of chemistry, much like someone who majored in biochemistry. I think of it as a cross between organic chemistry and chemical engineering.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

Are we sure that Clyde isn't Albert? The writing style is very similar, and Albert hasn't been heard from in a while?

By the way, Ray's song is "Santa Claus is Watching You" where he has a reindeer named Clyde.

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Ray Stevens' A&R Man
"I think you've got your songs mixed, foot soldier. Ray never would have let that camel moon Ethel by the produce."

Did the Camel moon Fatima? (I think I might spit my RC co-cola on the keyboard . . . )

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: former polymer major
"Polymer science is basically a subspecialty of chemistry, much like someone who majored in biochemistry. I think of it as a cross between organic chemistry and chemical engineering. "

When you were there, were there any of the famous bathroom shenanigans such as occurred at Gulf Park?

Date: Feb 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: former polymer major
"Polymer science is basically a subspecialty of chemistry, much like someone who majored in biochemistry. I think of it as a cross between organic chemistry and chemical engineering. "

Thanks, fpm.