C'est la guerre, honey.

Maybe someone who can share first-hand details, and who has nothing to lose (retiring, about to quit anyway, whatever) can share that information in a letter to the editor of their very own.

But what does this tell us??

Right on, Bob. Staff, what did you tell them?

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Originally posted by: Staff Infection
"I have been contacted by Hattiesburg community people who are trying to get USM staff to write letters in support of Dr. Thames. I don't like that kind of pressure."

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Expect a full-court press from the forces of darkness starting now and continuing into April.  "Positive" presidential postings, "positive" university press on the Trent Lott building and economic development, a steady stream of "positive" letters flowing into the board characterizing critical faculty (once again) as a reactionary force to be ignored if possible and contained if necessary, with Thames portrayed as the tough leader needed for the tough times ahead. 

It would be a mistake to read such measures as the desperate acts of a sinking presidency.  Better to see them as a test of mettle and of will -- one which Thames-the-scrappy-bulldog is convinced he can win.  The only real question is, will faculty let him?  Or will they rise to the occasion, and trade blow for blow, until the broken bully retreats from the schoolyard?

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Originally posted by: Robert Campbell

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I don't know which of these is my favorite but you caught my attention three times this week Robert.  I hope my esteemed colleague from the other committee was watching! 

Thames' irrepressible foolishness

I just want to hear some economic development officials try to say "heteroscedasticity."

sheer boondogglishness of Economic Development

Anyone who uses language like this must have a skewed sense of reality...like many of us!

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"   FWIW, I agree completely.  The Nursing fiasco should be easy to document, and I suspect that the "general public" would be VERY interested in this story.  Does anyone know if the HA is working on such a story?  If not, what are the ways in which this story can be drawn to their attention?  Is there somewhere where the most significant facts are easily available?  If so, give me the link and I will mail them to the HA."

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We have a volunteer. Somebody please direct USM Sympathizer to the requested link.

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Originally posted by: The March Hare
"The official nursing NCLEX pass rates and other nursing statistics for 2004 will not appear on the IHL site until March.  "

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What would be helpful is if you can get the NCLEX scores for the past five years and show how much they have declined under SFT's administration.......

quote:

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Originally posted by: Big hyperdermic needle
"I understand that Kevin Walters was made available to Kevin Walters a week or so ago. I'd sure like to see something in tomorrow's newspaper. If it doesn't appear soon I hope somebody will encourage him to do the story. I trust that it isn't being suppressed. "

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I meant to say that I understand that the data was made available to Kevin Walters a week or so ago.

This is evidence of just one part of a recently put together, well organized attempt by local SFT supporters to convince the IHL that SFT's strengths far exceeed his weaknesses.  Expect much more of this.  These people finally realize how ignorant they often sound and are striving to sound more enlightened in their reasoning.

If a similar well-organized effort isn't launched by anti-Thames forces--and this needs to be done primarily by alums and community members as opposed to faculty--then we should all worry.  Getting Thames removed when his contract expires WILL NOT happen without constant pressure.

Who can we start recruiting to spearhead this important effort?

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Originally posted by: friend from Coast
"SFT has also been gathering lists of his accomplishments from staff all over the University. Trying to build a case for how effective and efficient he’s been…"

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And what would those accomplishment be, exactly? Whatever the public thinks none of the current building being completed or brick and mortar initiatives being fulfilled can be part of his legacy -- the Lott center is the closest. It is true that there has been some activity in the grounds/parking area, but that is about it. And the stadium rennovation is a mirage on the horizon. I guess you could count the renovation of Reed Green . . . . and of course the plane.

The privatization of food and bookstore services might very well work -- but it is hardly an original idea. Good or bad, USM has simply been behind on that one.

The consolidation of colleges has so far been pretty much of a bust -- I don't know any college that has become more efficient. Many teaching and grant activities have been squeezed by the absorption of more administrative activities formerly done by centralized administrative offices that have been (or were once) closed. I don't know any Dean that isn't overloaded and is able to pay attention to his/her departments as much as formerly was the case. In some cases the disciplinary nature of departments are only dubiously linked to the college itself.

(Oh, and by the way . . . is it really possible that there is NO Dean who is a woman? If you look through the listing of upper administrators no offices are headed by women accept the Library. Go figure). 

Obviously, we all know what has happened academically in terms of dropping of tiers and our humiliation at the hands of SACs. And we have a severe drain of talent at all faculty levels -- and some staff ones as well.

The captial campaign was completed after it stalled badly during the first two years of the administration when most of the money had already been raised. There have been any number of stupid administrative hires that have had to be retracted . . . . purchases (remember Albertson's?) made that at the moment seem ti be going nowhere. A library that desperately needs funding.

I'm just curious about exactly what FACTS the administration can cite that justify keeping it for another four years. There certainly is a record of lots of activity -- but a pretty poor record of genuine achievement.

 

 

 

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Originally posted by: stephen judd
"I'm just curious about exactly what FACTS the administration can cite that justify keeping it for another four years. There certainly is a record of lots of activity -- but a pretty poor record of genuine achievement. "

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Stephen, it is arguable -- and I have argued thusly -- that the "achievements" you cite are quite likely to be viewed favorably by a male-centric board of trustees that really may have the progressive "demotion" of USM as one of its top priorities.

Here's what could be listed:

• Proved that an institution could submit bogus enrollment numbers, get some good press, retract those numbers & simply have to say, "Oops. Human error."
• Proved that experienced tenured professors can be dismissed by paying them two years' salary & letting them convert to consultants, drawing their pensions. This will pay off in spades whenever faculty "get too far out of line."
• Proved that a USN&WR "tier drop" has no substantial bearing on enrollment, provided admissions standards are lowered (and Ayers ensures that they have to be lowered.
• Proved that a SACS probation won't stop an institution from opening new programs with questionably credentialled faculty.
  
• Proved that the time-honored Mississippi system of cronyism & nepotism is still acceptable to rand-and-file citizens in the 21st centure.
• Maintained the status quo popular perception that Ole Miss & State are better run & have better programs.

I think all of this will play well with the IHL board when it reviews Shelby's performance.

Proved that a USN&WR "tier drop" has no substantial bearing on enrollment, provided admissions standards are lowered (and Ayers ensures that they have to be lowered.

 

worse than lowered.  usm is now admitting students that are currently on suspension from other institutions (including community colleges).