quote:

---

Originally posted by: M.Dies
"I think the faculty members need to identify our friends and supporters. We need to get the Faculty Senate with the generous assistance of the AAUP to draw up a statement of principles addressing faculty tenure,Shelby Thames.accreditation,student appartments,etc. We could get our faculty leaders to send them to various businesses and professions. Those who signed on would have our support. Those who refuse could be placed on a list and we could refrain from visiting them. "

---

There have been other threads discussing the divided community that is our home.  This is a terrible shame.

While I am disappointed that some business and professional leaders continue to support an administration that is quickly breaking the university, I believe that they have done so because the kind of "news" that the administration feeds them.  It must be tough to sort out all of the reporting on the events at USM over the last two and a half years.  On the one hand, you hear that Shelby Thames is supported by the IHL board, who supposedly know their "business."  You might not fully understand the nature of academics or what it is that professors really do all day.  You might just become convinced that the whiny, lazy faculty are simply trying to take advantage of a president who has such obvious support.  All of the news that has been released officially from the university through PR has either been glowing (USM enrollments are growing, etc) or attacking of faculty (recall Angie Dvorak threatening to sue anyone who questions her credentials) (recall Shelby Thames referring to Professors Gary Stringer and Frank Glamser as criminals).  Think about it!  How would someone who is not an insider sort this all out?

It wasn't until it became patently obvious that things were not going as they should at USM (SACS probation) that the general public became privy to the realities of the education here.  Then you have weird statements like Roy Klumb saying this SACS stuff is really technical (it isn't really).  So, officially, the business leaders are fed one line, and unofficially through great reporting of the Hattiesburg American and others, public hears the other side.  But then they hear that the Hattiesburg American is just out to get the Thames administration. 

It's really hard, even now, to sort out without insider knowledge.

While I agree that everyone has a right to spend their money where they want, I think we should first try to explain to our friends and neighbors in the community just how we see things.  Reasonable people can reason together.  I know that this can be uncomfortable.  But let's try this.  I think, eventually, we can all fight for what is best for higher education in south Mississippi and what is best for our future.

Amy Young

The historians among us may be able to explain who the original "M. Dies" was.

RC

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"The historians among us may be able to explain who the original "M. Dies" was.
RC"

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by: LVN
"Friends, may I politely repeat my sincere belief that the original post was sarcastic? And it was sarcastic in a not particularly friendly way, but made a definite point."

---

This may be sarcasm, LVN.  But I put the troops on alert today because I believe something is coming down soon.  The PUC only met for an hour today and I hear the faculty gave SFT an earful.  The PUC will not meet again until May. The provost search committee met at 4 pm with SFT and Exline.  We are waiting for summaries of this while we hear rumor of other news getting ready to break.  And on top of that the business community recommended that the public read this board (which I welcome).  I'm glad everyone who responded supported freedom rather that tactics of suppression. I'm too busy to appreciate the literary styles. 

Now back to the trenches and stay alert!