For whom the bell tolls - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 25, 2005

For whom the bell tolls

Date: Feb 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: FYI
"This just in from the campus of LSU. The annual meeting of the John Donne Society is underway. Scholars from England (Oxford, Kings College/London), Finland, the Netherlands, and Canada join others from the USA. American schools include Yale, Stanford, Williams College, Texas/Austin, Maryland, Virginia, Texas A & M (guess who)--to name just a few--and USM (Jameela ). For whom the bells tolls? It tolls for USM."

I don't think any of these schools truly qualify as "wurl class" universities. How many of them have polymer programs? How many of them have upper-level administrators who were once presidents of community colleges in Kentucky? How many of them have experienced the excitement of the threatened loss of accreditation? How many have undergone an exhilarating tier drop? Besides, what are all these people doing hanging out with a malefactor like Gary Stringer, who, according to one poster to this board, never did a lick of work while he was at USM?

Date: Feb 25, 2005

This is so sad....the John Donne Society used to meet at the USM Gulf Park Campus. More lost economic development opportunities for USM!

Date: Feb 25, 2005

It met there for the first 19 years of its existence. This is its 20th anniversary. English department members told me that the folks from other parts of the country really enjoyed being on the coast--gave them a different picture of Mississippi. All gone now...no more conferences of any sort under the friendship oak.

Date: Feb 25, 2005

Hi, it's indeed a wonderful group of people here.

Ironically, while we're elsewhere talking about John Donne and not thinking much at all about "economic development," we're in a gorgeous new building funded by a wealthy LSU alum who headed a Fortune 50 company. One side of the room is decorated with photos of him of the last several US presidents.

What goes around comes around. Or, as John Donne said,

"No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manner of thine own or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee" (Meditation 17).

And Gary Stringer is looking fine, thank God.

Jameela

Date: Feb 25, 2005

I bet Shelby never expected, a year ago, that his fortunes, a year from then, would have sunk so low and that Gary Stringer's would have risen so high. Gary is (as in the past) respected immeasurably for his scholarship, but he is now also seen throughout the world (this is not an exaggeration) as a martyr for academic freedom -- a man who was willing to stand up for his principles and who, without seeking it, has won even more admiration than he had already enjoyed. He has a job at a much better school, where he will bask in the kind of high regard he so richly deserves.

Meanwhile, Shelby Thames has brought huge dishonor to himself and huge embarrassment to his school. He is virtually unemployable as a college president at anywhere other than USM, and even his continued employment there has become an increasing liability to his supporters and a real threat to the institution he claims to serve. To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one.

Fate works in mysterious ways; who, a year ago, could have predicted this precise and tremendously ironic outcome for these two men?

The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word.

Date: Feb 26, 2005

Bravo USM Sympathizer. Could not agree more. How about sending that to the media. What a loser that damn gnome is, not to mention all his cronies!

Date: Feb 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
". . .The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word. "

Forget about it!

Date: Feb 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"... To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one. "

Maybe the "University" of Phoenix?

Date: Feb 26, 2005

He'd run the University of Phoenix into the ground, too...

RC

Date: Feb 26, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"He'd run the University of Phoenix into the ground, too... RC"

I agree with Robert; the U of P is actually very successful at what it does and is VERY good at marketing itself. SFT has not only failed as a university president but has failed even at public relations.

Date: Feb 28, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I bet Shelby never expected, a year ago, that his fortunes, a year from then, would have sunk so low and that Gary Stringer's would have risen so high. Gary is (as in the past) respected immeasurably for his scholarship, but he is now also seen throughout the world (this is not an exaggeration) as a martyr for academic freedom -- a man who was willing to stand up for his principles and who, without seeking it, has won even more admiration than he had already enjoyed. He has a job at a much better school, where he will bask in the kind of high regard he so richly deserves. Meanwhile, Shelby Thames has brought huge dishonor to himself and huge embarrassment to his school. He is virtually unemployable as a college president at anywhere other than USM, and even his continued employment there has become an increasing liability to his supporters and a real threat to the institution he claims to serve. To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one. Fate works in mysterious ways; who, a year ago, could have predicted this precise and tremendously ironic outcome for these two men? The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word. "

As we approach the first anniversary of the attempted firings, this post deserves a big kick every day.

The bizarre thing about all this is that Shelby and his minions have never realized that the faculty wants to help. We understand financial strain. We would have been proud to have been part of reorganization. We would have helped to develop new, imaginative programs. Most of us approach teaching with missionary zeal and consider our finest achievements to be those realized in our students. God help us every one.

Date: Mar 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I bet Shelby never expected, a year ago, that his fortunes, a year from then, would have sunk so low and that Gary Stringer's would have risen so high. Gary is (as in the past) respected immeasurably for his scholarship, but he is now also seen throughout the world (this is not an exaggeration) as a martyr for academic freedom -- a man who was willing to stand up for his principles and who, without seeking it, has won even more admiration than he had already enjoyed. He has a job at a much better school, where he will bask in the kind of high regard he so richly deserves. Meanwhile, Shelby Thames has brought huge dishonor to himself and huge embarrassment to his school. He is virtually unemployable as a college president at anywhere other than USM, and even his continued employment there has become an increasing liability to his supporters and a real threat to the institution he claims to serve. To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one. Fate works in mysterious ways; who, a year ago, could have predicted this precise and tremendously ironic outcome for these two men? The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word. "

Getting closer to the anniversary. Kick.

Date: Mar 1, 2005

Kicking for Frank, Gary, and all of the fine faculty members (past and present) at USM.

Date: Mar 1, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I bet Shelby never expected, a year ago, that his fortunes, a year from then, would have sunk so low and that Gary Stringer's would have risen so high. Gary is (as in the past) respected immeasurably for his scholarship, but he is now also seen throughout the world (this is not an exaggeration) as a martyr for academic freedom -- a man who was willing to stand up for his principles and who, without seeking it, has won even more admiration than he had already enjoyed. He has a job at a much better school, where he will bask in the kind of high regard he so richly deserves. Meanwhile, Shelby Thames has brought huge dishonor to himself and huge embarrassment to his school. He is virtually unemployable as a college president at anywhere other than USM, and even his continued employment there has become an increasing liability to his supporters and a real threat to the institution he claims to serve. To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one. Fate works in mysterious ways; who, a year ago, could have predicted this precise and tremendously ironic outcome for these two men? The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word. "

Bob Jones University, no research, no tenure, no original thoughts and institutional frozen in the middle ages. Might be just the place.

Date: Mar 2, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I bet Shelby never expected, a year ago, that his fortunes, a year from then, would have sunk so low and that Gary Stringer's would have risen so high. Gary is (as in the past) respected immeasurably for his scholarship, but he is now also seen throughout the world (this is not an exaggeration) as a martyr for academic freedom -- a man who was willing to stand up for his principles and who, without seeking it, has won even more admiration than he had already enjoyed. He has a job at a much better school, where he will bask in the kind of high regard he so richly deserves. Meanwhile, Shelby Thames has brought huge dishonor to himself and huge embarrassment to his school. He is virtually unemployable as a college president at anywhere other than USM, and even his continued employment there has become an increasing liability to his supporters and a real threat to the institution he claims to serve. To all the Shelby supporters out there: which school, seriously, would EVER consider hiring Shelby Thames as its president given his current track record? Please name just one possibility -- just one. Fate works in mysterious ways; who, a year ago, could have predicted this precise and tremendously ironic outcome for these two men? The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word. "

Lest we forget that a university is the faculty. No quarter!

Date: Mar 2, 2005

I do find it interesting that no SFT supporter has ever really tried to answer the question I posed in this post. Similarly, none of them has ever seriously tried to answer Robert Campbell's challenge that they try to offer a substantive defense of Shelby. I suspect that their silence is eloquent in its own way.

For what it's worth, I recently had an exchange with a well-informed person in the media in Mississippi. This person said that it is now exceedingly difficult to find people who will speak "on the record" in defense of Shelby. (The person also said, however, that people who in the past had been highly critical of him aren't quite as critical now as they once were. The person wasn't sure why this change had taken place.)

In any case, I found it very interesting that Shelby now seems to have few defenders willing to link their names publicly with his. Maybe that's why we are only hearing, on this board, from trolls who try (lamely) not so much to defend him as to attack his opponents.

Date: Mar 2, 2005

If I ever get to the University of Phoenix

Date: Mar 2, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Tugboat Larry
"Please don't sully the good reputation of the University of Phoenix. I'm a major donor to that fine institution."

And I was a major donor to the University of Southern Mississippi - I donated my blood, sweat, and tears. But then I discovered that my dean didn't seem give a s**t about anything but his own hide.

Date: Mar 2, 2005

RE: For whom the bell tolls

Date: Mar 2, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
" This person said that it is now exceedingly difficult to find people who will speak "on the record" in defense of Shelby. (The person also said, however, that people who in the past had been highly critical of him aren't quite as critical now as they once were. The person wasn't sure why this change had taken place.)
"

A medical person I see, whose mother is a faculty member, told me that he was afraid for USM to dump SFT "the way things are right now -- it might make it worse." I did my best to politely counter that, but that might be one part of the answer.

Date: Mar 2, 2005

The sad thing for Shelby Thames is that he will go down in history (to the extent that he is remembered at all) as a loser in all the various senses of that word.

Keep kicking. No Quarter!

Date: Mar 3, 2005

Shelby waves from his cart.

(It’s small and is thus like his heart.)

We hope that his wave

Means that someday this knave

Will get in his cart and depart.

Date: Mar 3, 2005

today's kick

Date: Mar 3, 2005

Seeing this picture makes me wonder: has Shelby ever been a Shriner?

Date: Mar 3, 2005

My great-grandfather was a founding member of Al-Chymia Shrine in Memphis. My late father in law was a Shriner and a Shrine clown. I sincerely hope SFT is not affiliated with that organization.

Date: Mar 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Just curious
"Seeing this picture makes me wonder: has Shelby ever been a Shriner?"

Probably not, because even though the Shriners also ride around in funny little cars, they also do things to help people.

Date: Mar 3, 2005

My recently passed uncle was also a shriner. Shelby Thames does not know the meaning of service.

Date: Mar 3, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Just curious
"Seeing this picture makes me wonder: has Shelby ever been a Shriner?"

I've never seen him wear a funny hat, except at commencement. And a mortarboard is not a fez.