Here are some excerpts:

"Closed" Meeting to boost USM a contradiction

...Every resident should be aware of the economic and cultural impact Southern Miss has not only on the community but on the state as a whole.  The University, in fact, has an office of public information and public relations for that specific purpose.  The action taken by the friends of the University seems to reflect a lack of confidence in the University's office of information and public relations.  In truth, the meeting was focused not so much on the "future of the University" as it was on the future of the University's President.  Members of the group have, in fact, already been courting members of the College Board, pushing for a five-year renewal of Dr. Thames' contract when it expires next year.  Members of the sponsoring group made a mistake in closing the meeting to the media.  Word of the decisions made in the "closed" meeting were being circulated among the media within a half hour of adjournment.  The "secret" meeting is an example of the type decisions made in and around the University that raise the usual question: what is there to hide?  These truths should be considered by the decision makers in and around USM:

1. Closed meetings ... generally are poor public policy ....

2. It should not be necessary to have a meeting of "friends" ... to decide to make the community aware of good things going on at the University.....

3. Sponsors of meetings . .. should never attempt to mislead the public as to the reason for the meeting....

4. There is no reason to mask a meeting designed to support the President ... Thames has made significant contributions to the University and to the community and he should be and is recognized for those contributions.

5. There have been difficult administrative issues over the last two years .... These should be addressed by the College Board ....