Resident Gnome of the Dome - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 19, 2005

Resident Gnome of the Dome

Date: Apr 19, 2005

It's entirely possible that the Dome Gnome may be a lame duck--pardon the mixed metaphor--after this week's IHL meeting. Commissioner Crofts told me yesterday that he has been collecting so much info on the misadventures of said gnome that he'd decided he simply couldn't invite folks to Jackson for any more of the sort of f2f interviews he granted the faculty senate executives week before last. It makes sense that the reason he had to say no was that some sort of deadline has been set for an official pronouncement on Thames' fate. Since it is customary for the board to review presidential performance at the end of the third year of a four year contract one can hope that SFT will get his comeuppance on Thursday afternoon: his contract will expire in March 2005.

Date: Apr 19, 2005

Sorry, that should be, SFT's "contract will expire in March 2006," not 2005, obviously.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Although I agree that hope springs eternal...and that his contract may thankfully not be extended beyond next year's term expiration...

Comissioner Crofts told you? And you reported it on this website? I sense FUD.

Shelby's evaluation is not on the IHL agenda for this week. Placing it on the May agenda is most likely to be President-elect Virginia Shanteau Newton's job. That would make sense if they are not planning to take him out this year (which appears to be the case at this point) because it would allow Roy Klumb to save face and VSN to start her term with what is likely a priority for her.

Thanks for the encouraging words but, meanwhile, I am still coughing into my hand...bull$&*#.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Iceman
"Although I agree that hope springs eternal...and that his contract may thankfully not be extended beyond next year's term expiration...
Comissioner Crofts told you? And you reported it on this website? I sense FUD.
Shelby's evaluation is not on the IHL agenda for this week. Placing it on the May agenda is most likely to be President-elect Virginia Shanteau Newton's job. That would make sense if they are not planning to take him out this year (which appears to be the case at this point) because it would allow Roy Klumb to save face and VSN to start her term with what is likely a priority for her.
Thanks for the encouraging words but, meanwhile, I am still coughing into my hand...bull$&*#.

"

I just checked the mayonnaise jar over on the porch of Funk & Wagnall's and here's my prediction:

April IHL meeting -- no news on SFT
May IHL meeting -- The VSN and DCM show take over IHL. VSN puts new IHL model on the table.
June IHL meeting -- new model confirmed. Commissioner takes larger role.
July 1 -- stick a fork in him. We have roast Gnome for dinner. Shelboo is finita.

Maybe I'm just a girl wearing rose colored glasses. And, maybe I'm wrong. But a bunch of you sure hope I'm prescient, so don't go jumpin' up my skirt.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Iceman
"Although I agree that hope springs eternal...and that his contract may thankfully not be extended beyond next year's term expiration... Comissioner Crofts told you? And you reported it on this website? I sense FUD. Shelby's evaluation is not on the IHL agenda for this week. Placing it on the May agenda is most likely to be President-elect Virginia Shanteau Newton's job. That would make sense if they are not planning to take him out this year (which appears to be the case at this point) because it would allow Roy Klumb to save face and VSN to start her term with what is likely a priority for her. Thanks for the encouraging words but, meanwhile, I am still coughing into my hand...bull$&*#. "

I can corroborate Iceman's take on this. Dr. Crofts has been burning up the phone lines talking to people on campus, including mid and low level administrators. One interesting question posed is whether Dr. Thames' contract should be renewed (or at least the answers given would be interesting). Even though this is not overtly on the agenda for this week, it may indeed be a topic for dicussion this week under "personnel." This info comes from people who should and do know. The situation seems in flux at the moment, but my take is that even Dr. Thames does not have a clear indication of how this will all pan out this week (or long term).

Date: Apr 20, 2005

"Iceman" and "Iceman may be Right" are just SCH spreaders. (I made up a new one: Security Certainty and Hope.) But like FUD, SCH is just misinformation. It is like a FUD time bomb that will have a delayed effect. Do you really believe these posters have knowledge of private phone conversations of the Commissioner?

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
""Iceman" and "Iceman may be Right" are just SCH spreaders. (I made up a new one: Security Certainty and Hope.) But like FUD, SCH is just misinformation. It is like a FUD time bomb that will have a delayed effect. Do you really believe these posters have knowledge of private phone conversations of the Commissioner?"

WTF?

I questioned whether someone (hope springs?) who had knowledge of private conversations with Commissioner Crofts posting that info on the board and then speculated based on the published IHL agenda and the well known change in board leadership. What misinformation? We're on the same side Reporter so I repeat, WTF?

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Iceman
" WTF? I questioned whether someone (hope springs?) who had knowledge of private conversations with Commissioner Crofts posting that info on the board and then speculated based on the published IHL agenda and the well known change in board leadership. What misinformation? We're on the same side Reporter so I repeat, WTF?"

Oops! Sorry, I attributed the statements to the wrong posters. My apologies.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Friends,

Given the situation, we muat WAIT and see what happens. We've been doing this every month the IHL meets. We can't do anything else except wait and be patient.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"Oops! Sorry, I attributed the statements to the wrong posters. My apologies. "

Whew, thank you!

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Carnac the Magnificent
" I just checked the mayonnaise jar over on the porch of Funk & Wagnall's and here's my prediction: April IHL meeting -- no news on SFT May IHL meeting -- The VSN and DCM show take over IHL. VSN puts new IHL model on the table. June IHL meeting -- new model confirmed. Commissioner takes larger role. July 1 -- stick a fork in him. We have roast Gnome for dinner. Shelboo is finita. "

The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceeding fine.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

Iceman's and Carnac's extrapolations are sound except for their failure to account for the rush Commissioner Crofts seemed to be in when I, in fact, did speak to him Monday. If said proverbial fork was not being being prepared for the Gnome until July, one would think that there would be considerable time available for Dr. Crofts to compile, consult and question his almost limitless number of sources on the USM debacle. He has to realize that the sooner a search starts the better.

Maybe we should have a betting pool or something. My money's on tomorrow PM. Odds are higher than for July dates, but not much.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: hope springs
" ... My money's on tomorrow PM. Odds are higher than for July dates, but not much."

I have $100 that says you are wrong about tomorrow PM. I would gladly pay much more to have you be correct. Too bad we can't buy that outcome.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

I was told July 1, but I cannot vouch for my source, who in turn could not vouch for theirs. I wanted to be hopeful, but I am taking Green Hornet's always sage advice and attempting to be patient.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
""Iceman" and "Iceman may be Right" are just SCH spreaders. (I made up a new one: Security Certainty and Hope.) But like FUD, SCH is just misinformation. It is like a FUD time bomb that will have a delayed effect. Do you really believe these posters have knowledge of private phone conversations of the Commissioner?"

Reporter-

I am also on the same side as you. As posted, the commisioner has surveyed many folks on campus. I do have knowledge of one conversation. Please don't ask me to out myself. But these are just conversations, and may have zero to do with outcomes. Does this make sense?

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Iceman May be Right
" Reporter- I am also on the same side as you. As posted, the commisioner has surveyed many folks on campus. I do have knowledge of one conversation. Please don't ask me to out myself. But these are just conversations, and may have zero to do with outcomes. Does this make sense?"

Unfortunately, it does. Oftentimes when administrators are involved, conversations and employee involvement is all show...to make it look like employees/faculty are participating when, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Iceman May be Right
" Reporter- I am also on the same side as you. As posted, the commisioner has surveyed many folks on campus. I do have knowledge of one conversation. Please don't ask me to out myself. But these are just conversations, and may have zero to do with outcomes. Does this make sense?"

I apologized in an earlier post for attributing statements to you and Iceman that were in error. I too will be patient and wait to see what will happen. I sure don't think anything will happen tomorrow.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

I stick by what I have said the past three months. The interjection of Croft into the mix along with the publicly verified contacts with faculty at USM is the beginning of the process that will remove SFT from the presidency of USM. Croft along with some Board members and other presidents in the system do not want to continue to have SFT and USM the constant focus of the IHL Board. The support for SFT has slowly and silently declined and those that are left are now more shrill in their comments. While it may not be this upcoming board meeting that ejects the Fat Boy, the process will be accelerated. There are details such as when to start a search, where to put SFT so that his supporters will not revolt, and how to handle the upcoming SACS accreditation, the real one, not the one year probation. What will be interesting is what the faculty will be asked to do to facilitate the process.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

The vote is tomorrow pm. Hate to say it, it's a done deal with the deck stacked for Shelby. Expect a triumphant announcement out of the Dome tomorrow evening. Shelby was up in Jackson last night entertaining the board members with fine food, heavy weight politicians and bidness leaders. The literal message given to the board members was "Don't let the inmates run the asylum". Hate to say it, but inspite of the efforts of this board or maybe I should say to spite the efforts of those here they will vote for Shelby. They CAN NOT appear to be backing down from faculty pressure.

Date: Apr 20, 2005

What vote? On what? He hasn't had his evaluation yet. There's nothing for them to vote on.