Attention Alumni Association Leaders - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 23, 2005

Attention Alumni Association Leaders

Date: Mar 23, 2005

Excellent point/suggestion.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

I'm reading. And I'm not the only one, I promise.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: alumni board member
"I'm reading. And I'm not the only one, I promise."

Great to know there are some on the alumni board who are visiting this board; thanks very much!

Date: Mar 23, 2005

If a business shut down with the result that 227 jobs were lost I can imagine that the powers that be would raise holy heck, as it were. SFT has lost local business 227 jobs and counting. Let's do the math. 227 faculty positions at a minimal average salary of 40,000 a year would equal 9,080,000. The local tax base lost that income: this is a proven fact. Further, the spouses, children and relatives who worked in this economy now do not. Further, the relatives, friends, spouses and others who spent money in this economy now do not. If I were a small business owner and I saw 227 high paying jobs (median income here is something close to 24,000) leave the area and I knew the multiplier number and I saw my customers leave by the score I would be angry.

The Gang of Ten who met at Warren Paving are not by local standards small business. They have contracts with one guy, SFT. But all those whom SFT drives out drain actual dollars, actual money both from the local tax base, and local business. Don't the local business folks realize their pockets are the ones that have the biggest hole now?

Alumni Association members tend to run many of these small businesses. This current president is hurting you most of all.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: alumni board member
"I'm reading. And I'm not the only one, I promise."

I'm glad your are here, alumni board member. However, I really don't think there is anything left that the Alumni Association could do. So much damage and ill will exist, I think some want to get out from under this IHL Board so badly, that even removing Thames at this late date won't change them from leaving. What it will do is help keep the new faculty here who just came in. For a long time USM was only a "stop over" for young faculty to spend 2 years building a resume before moving on. Under Lucas we got them to start staying. Now it going to take a great effort to keep these new faculty (not to mention getting them interested in supporting athletic programs).

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: simple math
"If a business shut down with the result that 227 jobs were lost I can imagine that the powers that be would raise holy heck, as it were. SFT has lost local business 227 jobs and counting. Let's do the math. 227 faculty positions at a minimal average salary of 40,000 a year would equal 9,080,000. The local tax base lost that income: this is a proven fact. Further, the spouses, children and relatives who worked in this economy now do not. Further, the relatives, friends, spouses and others who spent money in this economy now do not. If I were a small business owner and I saw 227 high paying jobs (median income here is something close to 24,000) leave the area and I knew the multiplier number and I saw my customers leave by the score I would be angry.

The Gang of Ten who met at Warren Paving are not by local standards small business. They have contracts with one guy, SFT. But all those whom SFT drives out drain actual dollars, actual money both from the local tax base, and local business. Don't the local business folks realize their pockets are the ones that have the biggest hole now?

Alumni Association members tend to run many of these small businesses. This current president is hurting you most of all.
"

Nice analysis! Thanks.

The sad thing is that most of the "Gang of Ten" would probably continue to get the contracts even if Shelby Thames was out- unless there was some "issues" with awarding contracts. If they were fairly bid - who cares who is the President?

Amy Young

Date: Mar 23, 2005

complimenti.
In any case, the Gang of Ten is not relevant to this issue. Its the small business folks who depend on customers walking in off the street that matter. In short, the service economy of restaurants, hair salons, drycleaning, gift stores, booze places, and the like. When 227 jobs (and counting) with the muliplier factored in that regularly spend money in places like that leave it is a problem for the service economy folks. So, in short, the point is that SFT is creating real economic pain in a real sector of a very real economy and that sector is entirely divorced from the Gang of Ten's economy which is, as you show, a static economy not dependent on fickle consumers with disposable income. No one likes those upper middle class jobs to leave and yet SFT is a genious of getting precisely that cohort to scram.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: simple math
"If a business shut down with the result that 227 jobs were lost I can imagine that the powers that be would raise holy heck, as it were. SFT has lost local business 227 jobs and counting. Let's do the math. 227 faculty positions at a minimal average salary of 40,000 a year would equal 9,080,000. The local tax base lost that income: this is a proven fact. Further, the spouses, children and relatives who worked in this economy now do not. Further, the relatives, friends, spouses and others who spent money in this economy now do not. If I were a small business owner and I saw 227 high paying jobs (median income here is something close to 24,000) leave the area and I knew the multiplier number and I saw my customers leave by the score I would be angry. The Gang of Ten who met at Warren Paving are not by local standards small business. They have contracts with one guy, SFT. But all those whom SFT drives out drain actual dollars, actual money both from the local tax base, and local business. Don't the local business folks realize their pockets are the ones that have the biggest hole now? Alumni Association members tend to run many of these small businesses. This current president is hurting you most of all. "

Excellent post; thanks!

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: simple math
"complimenti. In any case, the Gang of Ten is not relevant to this issue. Its the small business folks who depend on customers walking in off the street that matter. In short, the service economy of restaurants, hair salons, drycleaning, gift stores, booze places, and the like. When 227 jobs (and counting) with the muliplier factored in that regularly spend money in places like that leave it is a problem for the service economy folks. So, in short, the point is that SFT is creating real economic pain in a real sector of a very real economy and that sector is entirely divorced from the Gang of Ten's economy which is, as you show, a static economy not dependent on fickle consumers with disposable income. No one likes those upper middle class jobs to leave and yet SFT is a genious of getting precisely that cohort to scram."

Simple Math: Perhaps Dr. Malone

would welcome you as a guest lecturer in his ED Finance class.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

That would be an ED finance class taught by a polymer scientist?

Date: Mar 23, 2005

Isn't Bob Pierce a big pro-SFT guy?

Date: Mar 23, 2005

What kind of answer do you really think you will get? Do you think Bob really has much choice in being a big SFT man or not? For what it is worth, rumor has it that Bob was at one time looking to leave Southern Miss.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Financial Alchemy
"That would be an ED finance class taught by a polymer scientist?"

Yes indeedy. Dr. Malone, the polymer scientist, teaches an ED Finance class (he has taken a few undergraduate business courses, which of course qualifies him to teach ED Finance). So much for SACS and credentialing and all that silly stuff.

Date: Mar 23, 2005

Isn't that the class where students were told to find some business accounting or business finance book and read it before the class started (in lieu of prerequisites?)

Date: Mar 24, 2005

kick

Date: Mar 24, 2005

Ticket Holder,

I would like to echo ABM's post. At a recent Alumni event that I attended there was ample talk (kind of round table discussion if you will) about the situation, and the consensus was that Thames might have some good ideas, but he is no leader and should be removed.

Also, regarding Bob Pierce, I have stated on this board that he works for Thames, and has no choice but to publicly support him, even if he doesn't privately. However, I bet Thames would have a hard time firing Pierce even if he did come out against him. Kinda like a Jeff Bower situation (Just my opinion).

Date: Mar 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Alum
". . . Also, regarding Bob Pierce, I have stated on this board that he works for Thames, and has no choice but to publicly support him, even if he doesn't privately. . . ."

I agree, USM Alum. In the several conversations I have had with Bob over the last few years, he has never said a bad word about SFT. I want to emphasize that: he was in no way critical of his boss.

That said, MY PERCEPTION is that his concern for USM (he says "Southern Miss") was great, his support for SFT less than enthusiastic.

Maybe I was reading more into his demeanor than he intended.

Date: Mar 24, 2005

ABM, when Shelby leaves office I will return to paying my dues. I know of three other colleagues where I work who will do the same.

As an alumnus, I want a president who makes me proud to support the university. Right now, support for the university unfortunately is interpreted as support for a guy that I thought from the git-go had no business being an administrator at any level. USM needs a leader with real people skills, skills that apply professionally when dealing with faculty & other administrators & skills that make alumni proud to support an institution with "classy" leadership.

What I care about is the image that the leadership projects. And no matter how many "feel good" full-page ads the university runs disguised as "concerned citizens" things, USM is not projecting a good image from the top. (I'll note, too, that virtually everything on that feel-good list is something that was either begun under another administration or something that was accomplished by faculty & students, in some cases in spite of administrative bungling.)

I want my alma mater to have a president who has a modicum of class. That would be a start. I want somebody who can make me want to support USM again, not someone who tries to "convince" me to support USM or makes me feel like I "have" to support USM.

Date: Mar 24, 2005

BRAVO! Invictus. You certainly summed up the thoughts about Dr. Thames as the President of USM for the students, as well as I suspect, most of the faculty. Thanks!

Date: Mar 24, 2005

ram,

Just a follow-up after yours and subsequent posts. I can't imagine that Pierce, or people in recruitment for that matter, are enjoying Thames' presidency as far as attracting new members and recruits. Whether or not the numbers show it, I bet Bob and recruitment have a lot of explaining to do when they visit people and speak at events. Their jobs can't be easy right now, especially, given the pressure that the little twit probably puts on them to get new people (of course none of this is his fault).

Date: Mar 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Alum
" I can't imagine that Pierce, or people in recruitment for that matter, are enjoying Thames' presidency as far as attracting new members and recruits. ... Their jobs can't be easy right now, especially, given the pressure that the little twit probably puts on them to get new people (of course none of this is his fault)."

I imagine you are right and expect the same goes for the USM Foundation. Unlike anglers, they don't talk much about the ones that got away.

It is telling that in all of the propaganda that has been released lately, nothing has been said about growth of alumni membership. If there had been any increase during the last few years, it would have been much publicized, don't you think?

Date: Mar 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"It is telling that in all of the propaganda that has been released lately, nothing has been said about growth of alumni membership. If there had been any increase during the last few years, it would have been much publicized, don't you think?"

E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T point!

Date: Mar 24, 2005

There is no doubt that if numbers had been up in the Alumni Assoc., Mader would rush that to the press as she did when enrollment numbers went up an astounding 92 students in a poor attempt to combat the fact that SACs probation would hurt enrollment. As it is, staff members that I have heard recently, mainly athletic staff, at different engagments and even on the radio are calling us the largest university in the state again, having 16,000 students even though I have not seen anything yet that verifies that. Go figure!

Date: Mar 24, 2005

The Economic Development department continues to use 16,500 but everyone is immune to its hyperbole at this point.

Date: Mar 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Googler
"Yes indeedy. Dr. Malone, the polymer scientist, teaches an ED Finance class (he has taken a few undergraduate business courses, which of course qualifies him to teach ED Finance). So much for SACS and credentialing and all that silly stuff."

Do we know that Dr. Malone's grades in those ED finance courses support his teaching of the courses? Sorry . . . . I have taken calc classes but I'm not quanlified to teach math . .