Losses by Academic Unit (3/29/05) - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Losses by Academic Unit (3/29/05)

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Chambers in History is not going anywhere - ask him.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

It's interesting how stable the COST units have been.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Correction: Geoff Jensen was in History.

Look at what History, English, and Music have lost (3 biggest depts. in COAL, I imagine).

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Friends:

I suspect this post should exist on another "Sad" thread. Anyway, as a member of the ever-shrinking English Department, I am, quite simply, sad beyond words. I've gone through many emotions over the last couple of years--anger, frustration, despair, depression, a rare blast of giddy hope, helplessness; but today, looking at the threads and messages that remind me of the losses in my home department, I am grief-stricken. We've lost incredible, truly incredible amounts of wisdom, scholarly integrity, pedagogical skill and love for teaching, institutional devotion, and human caring. I've lost friends. We've lost programs. We've lost coverage areas. Not all of these losses can be solely attributed to the Thames administration; but most of them can, and the administration certainly played some part in virtually every departure. Many of these people never expected to leave. Most are not, as Stephen Judd reminded us on another thread, junior faculty moving on from their first jobs. Indeed, it is worth pointing out that the English department on the Hattiesburg campus has almost NO junior faculty. Last year, our most "junior" colleague was someone up for tenure--we were not authorized to hire for something like five years (we were able to make a couple of new hires for this year, and have a couple more folks coming in for next--thankfully!). This means that we are lacking a whole generation of new, fresh, developing scholars. And with the departure of folks like Gary, Noel, DC, Kim, David, and Anne, we have also lost a vast portion of our senior folks--with all that such loss entails.

When I arrived at USM in 1994, I was so happy to come to the office--so much energy, so much intelligence. Now, I trudge in to echoing hallways--a manifestation not only of the concrete losses, but also of the problem in morale that has sends many people home to do their work without the static of institutional misery.

I certainly hope that the IHL has seen the light and that we can begin rebuilding soon. Right now, all I can think about is how much rubble there is around me--and how unnecessary it all was and is.

No quarter, people.

Ellen Weinauer

Date: Mar 29, 2005

The Criminal Justice Department also lost William Banks Taylor.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: looky
"It's interesting how stable the COST units have been."

It's usually the poets, writers, artists, and humanists who resist tyrants. Stalin and Hitler had less trouble getting scientists to develop their weaponry. The relatively few scientists at USM who have taken a public stand are to be commended.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Rudy Sirochman from the Physics Dept. left USM and began at Georgia State in Fall 2003.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Innagodadaeagle
"Rudy Sirochman from the Physics Dept. left USM and began at Georgia State in Fall 2003. "

That would put him on the '02-'03 list.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

Some of these people left on a positive note or are retiring. We have to be careful how we print such lists.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reasons
"Some of these people left on a positive note or are retiring. We have to be careful how we print such lists."

The list is not entitled "People Thames Ran Off"... it's okay.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reasons
"Some of these people left on a positive note or are retiring."

But many USM retirees left on a sour note. I am one of those. Don't assume that all retirees see happy bluebirds flying and chirping over Nitchampburg.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Retiree
"But many USM retirees left on a sour note. I am one of those. Don't assume that all retirees see happy bluebirds flying and chirping over Nitchampburg. "

Okay, this gave me my afternoon chuckle...Mr. Wonderful and Co., this is my nomination for the week so far!

Date: Mar 29, 2005

I agree with Retiree that many (or most) faculty retired because they were worn out trying to fight the evil force that has control of USM. Some were not near age 60 but retired because they had 25+ years in the system. When one no longer has joy in his or her heart, it is time to say bye. Some of those on the retired list will be returning to academic positions later on. There are still universities where the administration believe in and practice shared governance and the faculty enjoy going to work! Whether folks move to higher tier, same tier, or lower tier is really irrelevant. They have left USM for greener and more plesant pastures!

Date: Mar 29, 2005

oops. Make that pleasant pastures! My mind was way ahead of my fingers.

Date: Mar 29, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
" Okay, this gave me my afternoon chuckle...Mr. Wonderful and Co., this is my nomination for the week so far!"

Duly noted. It will bring a smile to Mr. Wonderful's face

Date: Mar 29, 2005

I didn't know that Ray Scheetz had retired. He's a great teacher & a first rate gentleman. I will never forget his mycology class -- he's a guy who could make molds, mildew & fungi an inspiring topic.

We tend to focus on these lists as negatives & certainly many of the early retirements are negatives. But these lists are also tributes to people who spent their careers doing good things as teachers, researchers & mentors to hundreds of students.

My hat's off to Raymond Scheetz, one of the best doggone professors I ever had!

Date: Mar 29, 2005

I'd like to add that there are other former students who could probably say the same thing about every other person on this "departure" list.

Date: Mar 30, 2005

I don't think the University will ever recover from the loss of these wonderfull teachers and scholars. We are destined to wallow in the dark depths of academic mediocrity.

Date: Mar 30, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Man
"I don't think the University will ever recover from the loss of these wonderfull teachers and scholars. We are destined to wallow in the dark depths of academic mediocrity. "

I don't know if it's safe to say that the University will never recover, but it will take many, many years.

Certainly some of the newer members of the faculty have the potential to become figures like many of the names on this list & certainly there are folks still on staff who are wonderful teachers & scholars.

But it will take many years for USM to rebuild a faculty with the experience & expertise to match that which it has lost.

The sooner SFT is out of the dome, the sooner USM can begin to rebuild!

Date: Mar 30, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Man
"I don't think the University will ever recover from the loss of these wonderfull teachers and scholars. We are destined to wallow in the dark depths of academic mediocrity. "

I agree with Invictus; do not despair.

Date: Mar 30, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: memorial wall
"Losses by Academic Unit, August 2003-present Accounting: Marvin Albin Art: Harold Van Houten Biology: Stephen Ross; Raymond Wayne Scheetz Chemistry: David Creed; Kenneth McMurtrey Child & Family Studies: Judy Kinney; Thomas Webb CISE: Sheila Alber; Douglas Feldmann; Perrin Lowery; Jessie Palmer; James Siders; Gloria Appelt-Slick; James Wharton Community Health: Ibrahim Ibrahim; Amal Khoury Criminal Justice: Michael Smith Economic Development: Mark Goodman; Bill Sisson Economics: Tyrone Black; Frank Whitesell EducAdmin: K.B. Malear; Warren Ortloff; Harold Shoemaker ELI: Audrey Blackwell; Gail Hamwi English: David Berry; Tamara Harvey; Kim Herzinger; Susan Malone; Noel Polk; Mary Robinson; Gary Stringer; Mary Villeponteaux; Anne Wallace; David Wheeler Finance: Roger King; Doowoo Nam; Walton Taylor Foreign Languages: Luz Marina Escobar Geography: Donald Williams Geology: David Patrick History: Curtis Austin; Doug Chambers; Hayley Froysland; Terry Harper; Brian O’Neil HPR: Terry Kinney International Business: Len Trevino Library/Information Science: Rosemary Chance; Jerri Hall; Dolores Jones Management: Billie Allen Marine Sciences: Julia Lytle; Thomas Lytle; Denis Wiesenburg; Robert Willems Marketing: Dan Fisher Mass Communications & Journalism: David Goff; Linda Goff; Yohan Yssel Mathematics: Beverly Janice Davis; Mylan Redfern Music: Marta Hofacre; Michael Kimber; Sharon Lesback; Wilbur Moreland; Mary Ann Stringer; Martha Tisdale; Stanley Waldoff; Marian Wilson-Kimber Nursing: Raylawni Branch; Wanda Dubuisson; Joseph Farmer; Sharyn Janes; Jeanne Morrison; Sarah Powell; Betty Sylvest; Vickey Walley; Bobbie Sue Whitworth NFS: Wayne Billon Philosophy & Religion: Forrest Wood Physics: Ray Folse Political Science: James Lea; Gail Lucas Polymer Science: Gerald Mattson; Oliver Smith Psychology: Theodore Christ; Ron Edwards; Greg Eells; Vincent Fortunato; Jim Hollandsworth; Geoff Jensen; Jake Levy; Linda Mae; Daniel Randolph; Lillian Range; Paul Siakaluk Sociology: Frank Glamser Speech & Hearing Sciences: Richard Saniga Theatre and Dance: Rebecca Dyer; Brian Hapcic; Frank Kuhn Tourism Management: Tanya Ruetzler"

I posted this on another thread but it should have gone here.

Someone told me that Jerold Waltman of Political Science can be added to the COAL list - to Baylor University.

Date: Mar 30, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Man
"I don't think the University will ever recover from the loss of these wonderfull teachers and scholars. We are destined to wallow in the dark depths of academic mediocrity. "

Which is exactly what Mississippi Southern is supposed to be: a mediocre normal college south of I-20. I'll be glad when the IHL finally busts Mississippi Southern back to its rightful teacher college status.