Thank you, Amy and Michael.

Michael, you are missed.

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Albert
"http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050308 /OPINION03/503080324/1014/OPINION Yet another letter from an outsider. It really hurts you guys that the rest of us are moving on, doesn't it? It really hurts you that the rest of us are moving the university forward in spite of your constant onslaughts of backwardness, doesn't it? It really hurts you that the community views all of you as a bunch of whiners, doesn't it? Well, if the shoe fits........"

---

I am more than a little tired of un-American know-nothings assuming to tell me what I cannot do or think about the situation here at USM.  I pasted the Bill of Rights/first 10 Amendments to the US Constitution below.  Albert and those like him need to pay special attention to number 1.  Recall that these rights are taught and discussed in those "liberal arts" courses you hate so much - maybe that is why you fear the Liberal Arts?  Whose the unpatriotic whiner now?

Bill of Rights
Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

I hate responding to Albert, but sometimes he does give us opportunities to make certain points. To wit:

Michael Kimber and his wife, Professor Wilson-Kimber are hardly "outsiders" -- like many other former USM faculty, they were able to leave for much, much greener pastures but I'm sure they left part of their hearts here.

Have y'all noticed that nobody who leaves goes to a WORSE place? Does that say something about the caliber of the people we are losing, that by and large they go to better schools -- we were lucky to have most of them. Our loss.

quote:

---

Originally posted by: LVN
"Michael Kimber and his wife, Professor Wilson-Kimber are hardly "outsiders" -- like many other former USM faculty, they were able to leave for much, much greener pastures but I'm sure they left part of their hearts here."

---

Thank you, LVN. We certainly did leave part of our hearts at USM. That's why we continue to care as much as we do about what happens there.

Actually, members of the academic profession are "insiders" even if in different states.  That's why it's possible to transfer credits from one university to another.  That's why professors elsewhere can claim to have a stake in what happens at USM.

It's folks outside the profession who are "outsiders," even if they are local.

Jameela

Great letters, Michael and Amy.

Robert Campbell