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fixer

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other Independent article
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Thames' supporters pushing College Board


Dignitaries from Washington to the State of Mississippi assembled in Hattiesburg on February 24 for groundbreaking ceremonies for the $22 million Trent Lott Center to be constructed on the campus.....


And, while ground was broken with golden spades as work was begun on the world class economic development facility, there was "groundbreaking" also going on within and among the several hundred dignitaries who enjoyed a luncheon at the Lake Terrace Convention Center as well as the campus activities.


The "groundbreaking" that took place at both the site of the center and at the convention center was focused on a campaign to assure USM President Dr. Shelby Thames an extension of his contract which expires next year.


Sources close to the College Board and the University said local business leaders who support the controversial President spent time during the ceremonies to "break ground" with members of the College Board who were present for the Lott celebration.


Sources said Scott Ross, a former legislator and now a practicing lawyer in West Point and a member of the College Board, was a special target of Thames' boosters.


One source, who asked not to be identifed, said Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph of Hattiesburg was one of the Thames supporters pushing Ross for a commitment to support a contract extension.


"If I were a young lawyer, I wouldn't want a Supreme Court Justice to put that kind of pressure on me," the source said.


Ross, expected to support a contract renewal for Thames, told The Independent he believes the state's universities should focus on technology and instruction related to free enterprise rather than continue a focus on liberal arts.


And, he called Thames the best example Mississippi has of an entrepreneur leading a state university.  He suggested that the College Board should use Thames as an example in its selection of executive officers of the other universities.


Some Board members have expressed concern about the leadership at Southern Miss because of the conflict last year between the administration and faculty, with the Faculty Senate both last year and this year voting "no confidence" in the President.


That conflict, which was concluded with two tenured professors forced out, together with the December announcement that the University had been placed on probation by SACS, led to Thames' being called before the Board.


Within recent days a campus conflict between the College of Business and the University Provost has added to the Board's concern about the leadership of the University.


Sources close to the University said Thames' supporters in the Hattiesburg business community, including Randolph, have begun a campaign to lobby College Board members to commit to a five year extension of Thames' contract when it comes up for review next year.


Board President Roy Klumb of Gulfport has declined to comment on Thames' future with the University but has said the Commissioner of Higher Education, who works under the Board, has been instructed to review the total situation at Southern.



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Ray Folse

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quote:
Originally posted by: fixer
"Thames' supporters pushing College Board Dignitaries from Washington to the State of Mississippi assembled in Hattiesburg on February 24 for groundbreaking ceremonies for the $22 million Trent Lott Center to be constructed on the campus..... And, while ground was broken with golden spades as work was begun on the world class economic development facility, there was "groundbreaking" also going on within and among the several hundred dignitaries who enjoyed a luncheon at the Lake Terrace Convention Center as well as the campus activities. The "groundbreaking" that took place at both the site of the center and at the convention center was focused on a campaign to assure USM President Dr. Shelby Thames an extension of his contract which expires next year. Sources close to the College Board and the University said local business leaders who support the controversial President spent time during the ceremonies to "break ground" with members of the College Board who were present for the Lott celebration. Sources said Scott Ross, a former legislator and now a practicing lawyer in West Point and a member of the College Board, was a special target of Thames' boosters. One source, who asked not to be identifed, said Supreme Court Justice Mike Randolph of Hattiesburg was one of the Thames supporters pushing Ross for a commitment to support a contract extension. "If I were a young lawyer, I wouldn't want a Supreme Court Justice to put that kind of pressure on me," the source said. Ross, expected to support a contract renewal for Thames, told The Independent he believes the state's universities should focus on technology and instruction related to free enterprise rather than continue a focus on liberal arts. And, he called Thames the best example Mississippi has of an entrepreneur leading a state university.  He suggested that the College Board should use Thames as an example in its selection of executive officers of the other universities. Some Board members have expressed concern about the leadership at Southern Miss because of the conflict last year between the administration and faculty, with the Faculty Senate both last year and this year voting "no confidence" in the President. That conflict, which was concluded with two tenured professors forced out, together with the December announcement that the University had been placed on probation by SACS, led to Thames' being called before the Board. Within recent days a campus conflict between the College of Business and the University Provost has added to the Board's concern about the leadership of the University. Sources close to the University said Thames' supporters in the Hattiesburg business community, including Randolph, have begun a campaign to lobby College Board members to commit to a five year extension of Thames' contract when it comes up for review next year. Board President Roy Klumb of Gulfport has declined to comment on Thames' future with the University but has said the Commissioner of Higher Education, who works under the Board, has been instructed to review the total situation at Southern."

According to SACS' "Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement" (Sec. 3.2.4): "The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious or other external bodies, and protects the institution from such influence."


Do you consider this "undue influence" from external bodies?



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Ray Guy

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Kick

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Lord Vader

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I love Pittman's "unnamed source." I wonder who it was? Probably one of the flunkies he has in Jackson. The lack of a name in this case takes away from the credibilty of the article. This is just my humble opinion, though.

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Reporter

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quote:
Originally posted by: Lord Vader
"I love Pittman's "unnamed source." I wonder who it was? Probably one of the flunkies he has in Jackson. The lack of a name in this case takes away from the credibilty of the article. This is just my humble opinion, though. "
Rember Watergate?  Most of that involved unnamed sources.  The Hattiesburg American's policy is they don't print information from unnamed sources.  I'm glad we have a paper that does.  If they print false information they won't be around long.  But this may be necessary if the state and university is being run by "secret organizations" who have power but are not accountable.

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Invictus

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quote:
Originally posted by: Ray Folse
"
According to SACS' "Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement" (Sec. 3.2.4): "The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious or other external bodies, and protects the institution from such influence."
Do you consider this "undue influence" from external bodies?"


While I have repeatedly stated that I don't view the "Coca-Cola Soireé" as undue influence at this point, the actions of Justice Randolph could very well be viewed as undue influence, particularly when directed at a practicing attorney (Ross). If there were documentation of this, I believe SACS would be extremely interested.

However, you may rest assured that there is no documentation of Randolph's actions ... documentation that could ever fall into the hands of SACS, that is.

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Lord Vader

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There's a reason why you should never use unnamed sources, you never know if they are real or not. How much controversey still surrounds the information that Woodward and Bernstein published? How much more creditible would their already awesome peice of journalism have been if they had named a few of the sources? I realize some of their sources had to be nameless because they might be hurt, fired or disappeared.
There are some cases for this, and I admit given the situation they should be taken advantage of. You just need to use careful judegement on the use of unnamed sources. Talking about a college board decision in my opinion isn't one of those situations. Mr. Pittman uses them entirely too much in his articles to keep his writing credible. Talk to any journalism professor and they'll tell you over use is a very bad thing.

We are all entitled to our opinions. They are like belly-buttons...we all have them.

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truth4usm/AH

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quote:
Originally posted by: Lord Vader
"There's a reason why you should never use unnamed sources, you never know if they are real or not. How much controversey still surrounds the information that Woodward and Bernstein published? 

Yes, but it got Nixon out of office and the mission was accomplished, wasn't it?  I'm all for whatever works (stretching the limits, but not breaking them).


Originally posted by: Lord Vader


We are all entitled to our opinions. They are like belly-buttons...we all have them.


Yes, and this message board is full of them, yours included! (opinions, not belly-buttons, that is).



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Lord Vader

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I was just informed by someone they didn't have a belly button....so I guess they have no opinions....

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