Well, we all know that BJ isn't Seeker!

With all due respect, Mr. Johnson, I doubt that the complaints to SACS will be "unfounded" -- unfounded means that someone dreamed them up. No one who will be complaining dreamed up this particular nightmare.

Why don't you be a mensch and give your invitation to Dr. Henry? That would prove that you are a fair and honorable man.

As for the construction, does the name "Horace Fleming" ring any bells with you?

As for the meeting on Thursday, you may see a progressive agenda. I, and others, see the ruination of Aubrey Lucas' life-work, and the transformation of what was once a decent small university into a trade school.

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Originally posted by: W.J. Johnson
"The rumors that are circulating that Thursday's meeting at the Coca-Cola offices is closed to all faculty is completely untrue.  What is true is that seating space is limited, and the number of faculty invited to attend will be limited to a very small number in order to accomodate external constituents and USM supporters.  I was asked to attend on behalf of all College of Business faculty.  While I cannot do so, my invitation is proof that faculty will have seats at the affair.  I don't know who may attend in my stead.  I think this meeting is very important, and business sector interests need to be heard at this critical juncture in Southern's history.  I wish that I had been able to accept the invitation. I would also point out here the danger for Southern in stirring up trouble with the SACS people.  I know some of you are eager to see Dr. Thames fail, but sending unfounded accusations to SACS will only make you look worse and will do nothing to advance the school you work for.  This kind of trouble making is what private sector supporters of Southern are so disgusted about.  With so many rumors being spread, it's shocking to me that any building plans have ever gotten off the ground in during Dr. Thames tenure there.  That so much construction and increases in enrollment are happening is testimony to his leadership.  "

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Mr. Johnson, sir,

 

If you are legitimately concerned that SACS accreditation might be skewed by unsubstantiated rumors, I think you can rest easy on that account.  SACS is going to require rigorous proof, and in any case its sole concern is for a member institution to demonstrate that it is operating under the demanding standards of academic institutions.  As far as I can tell–and someone can correct me if I am wrong–SACS is not otherwise concerned with personnel.  As long as the university is properly carrying out its academic mission–which should not be confused with economic goals–then we could probably have Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck in the dome.

 

As other posters have noted here and elsewhere, there are so many legitimate complaints that can be made about well-documented administrative abuses that rumors are hardly necessary even were anyone to dislike Dr. Thames without cause, and in any case such rumors would wither away for lack of proof under the hard glare of inquiry.  As far as your very general claim of “so many rumors being spread,” I’m afraid that you need to produce some proof that it is not itself an unfounded rumor.  What rumors, specifically?  Spread by whom?

 

If, however, by “the danger for Southern in stirring up trouble with the SACS people” you mean the accreditation equivalent of “You can’t tell the doctor that Daddy hit you because they might take him away,” then you have another problem with which we can’t help you.

 

Jameela Lares

quote:

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Originally posted by: W.J. Johnson
" I was asked to attend on behalf of all College of Business faculty.   "

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So you claim that you were "asked to attend on behalf of all College of Business faculty?"  By whom, and on who's authority?  You sir, are not a representative of the COB faculty.  We don't even know who in the hell you are.

 

First off, a disclaimer: I am definately not the poster called Seeker. Seeker says he works in Richmond. I neither work nor reside in Richmond. But today someone sent to me the lead article on the front page of a recent issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The sub-headline of this article was "VCU officials aim to return research and development to the forefront of efforts."

"Virginia Commonwealth University officials plan to hire more than 80 new research faculty over the next six years and invest millions . . . If we want to move up in the national ranking of research universities, we have to have good quality people in numbers . . . About a third of VCU's $582 million budget for fiscal 2005 is from research and development dollars, school officials said. This fiscal year, research and development dollars, school officials said . . . Under the research growth plan recently approved by the VCU board of visitors, the medical school is aiming to move up to 45th place on the NIH rankings by the year 2011. To reach that goal . . .  VCU will have to invest about $112 million over the next six years . . . $87 million for the salaries of 86 new full-time research faculty over six years;  $12 million in infrastructure improvements to support that staff; and $13.2 million to pay the tuition, fees and stipends of the 80 doctoral students who will work with those faculty researchers . . . about $15 million is earmarked for the first year . . ."

My comments:

1. Extramural research and the arts/humanities are not mutually exclusive at at VCU. For many years, VCU has maintained and supported vigorous programs in the liberal arts, including the performing arts, in the humanities, and in business. Those programs continue to thrive in the midst of this effort to cataput VUC's medical school up in the rankings.  

2. VCU's move "upward" is not dependent on gearing everything toward economic development. It is doing it the traditional way.

3. VCU has no football team.

4. VCU is moving "upward" even in the midst of a strong bevy of competing state-supported institutions of higher education in Virginia  (e.g., William & Mary, University of Virginia, Virgnia Tech, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University).

4. VCU's move "upward" is being done without the benefit of Coca-Cola Cowboys convening at a closed meeting that excludes those who know best what a university is all about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Originally posted by: Fan of the Richmond Spiders
"3. VCU has no football team.  "

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WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

How can it be a real university without a football team?

 

Seriously, a great post; many thanks!

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Originally posted by: Jameela Lares
"one of the great novels about modern academic shenanigans, C. S. Lewis's That Hideous Strength, has as its central characters a sociologist and a John Donne scholar."

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How prophetic! USM = modern academic shenanigans. Gary Stringer = John Donne Scholar. Frank Glamser = Sociologist

 

 

The Faculty Senate routinely goes into "executive session" and closes the meeting to the faculty and the public.  That is a FACT.  If you do not believe me, ask Myron Henry.  The fact that you are not aware of this FACT demonstrates that you do not know what goes on here.

A public body cannot close it's meetings except to discuss impending litigation or personnel matters.  The FS does not have any employees, so it cannot legitimately close its meetings to discuss personnel matters.  It cannot sue or be sued, so it cannot legitimately close its meetings to discuss impending litigation.  Every time the FS closes its meetings, it is violating the Open Records Act.

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
" I suspect that Albert, tired of being exposed as a chicken, has merely switched his moniker.  He and Mach certainly SOUND like the same person (i.e., long on accusations, short on coherent defenses of Shelby)!  "

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PS:

The only thing that makes me doubt this theory is that I am not sure that Albert would know how to spell "Machiavelli," or know who Machiavelli was.

btw... I don't know who Albert is.  I always post under this name and stand by what I say.

"I suspect that Albert, tired of being exposed as a chicken, has merely switched his moniker.  He and Mach certainly SOUND like the same person (i.e., long on accusations, short on coherent defenses of Shelby)!"

Not likely - Albert is just a confused little person that likes to stir things up among the faculty.  Mach, on the other hand, is a much more mean-spirited individual that flares up on this board from time to time, just like a bad herpes infection....