The parents and friends of the person who was murdered should have a voice...I wonder how they feel about Raines getting a college scholarship. Also, I assume he's still on parole?  That will add to the educational environment of a class.  Any coach who might be inclined to party with students could take him along as a body guard.

quote:

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Originally posted by: ram
"I hesitate to get into the Raines fray; I am of two minds and have not yet concluded anything.  Not that my conclusions will mean doodly-squat."

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Like ram, I have schizophrenic tendencies ("of two minds", sometimes 3 or 4). But seriously, what makes the Raines scholarship issue so compelling is that it does tear us between the belief (hope) that juveniles who commit crimes can turn their lives around & the belief (hope) that the university should use scholarship money to reward kids who don't need to turn their lives around.

I agree with ram: our conclusions won't mean doodly-squat. This appears to be a done deal. I hope -- for the sake of that 4-star linebacker and the University of Southern Mississippi -- that Raines is a terrific ballplayer, a class sportsman, a model student & a good citizen who shows us all that Coach Bower really did right by offering him a second chance.

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Originally posted by: Salesperson
"Interesting, I was bothered more by his first reported post where he verbally attacked the faculty.  That post was not mentioned although Bobby Chain seemed to reference it or at least bring it to mind.  Of the three controversial Toy posts discussed on this message board, it is his diatribe about "lazy faculty" and erroneous growth that calls his foundation leadership into question."

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You are absolutely right about this, salesperson.  And it is one more reason why the foundation is floundering.

How does one become president of a university foundation? By making big "pledges" or by actually forking over cash?

I'd be perfectly willing to assign a million dollar insurance policy if I got to be president of something. (Of course, I would renege on the deal after I got tired of being a president...)

And if all it takes is a pledge card, bring 'em on! I'm big on never paying pledges

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Originally posted by: Toying with an idea
"How does one become president of a university foundation? By making big "pledges" or by actually forking over cash? I'd be perfectly willing to assign a million dollar insurance policy if I got to be president of something. (Of course, I would renege on the deal after I got tired of being a president...) And if all it takes is a pledge card, bring 'em on! I'm big on never paying pledges "

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I've heard that there are several large pledges that have been made but that nothing ever came of them.   The one that comes to mind is the famous "crying because I love Southern Miss" so well incident.    That occurred under Fleming but there supposedly are others.  Anyone know anything?

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Originally posted by: Just an opinion
"The folks at EagleTalk seem to be strangely silent about Toy's apology.  Maybe they only read the sports pages."

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Do you suppose they became aware that they could be held accountable for what they say in their own little beer and testosterone driven world?

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Originally posted by: Dr. MaderMathRevisited
"PHOENIX!!!"

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Hey Doc,  I have just been lurking about for awhile.  Have not been too chatty.  But I got stirred up some about that Foundation fellow's sweeping and ill thought out comments about buildings, faculty, rifles and whatnot. I went to UT Austin fpr my middle degree, you see. 

 Do you think that your Mader Math services will be needed now more than ever since your mentor is leaving for different mathematical opportunites?

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Originally posted by: Phoenix
"Do you suppose they became aware that they could be held accountable for what they say in their own little beer and testosterone driven world?"

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There is something wrong with beer & testosterone? You don't hear me bashing white wine & estrogen, do you?

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Originally posted by: Invictus
" There is something wrong with beer & testosterone? You don't hear me bashing white wine & estrogen, do you? "

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It is well known that sufficient beer, when mixed in measure with testosterone,  can bring about toxicity in the blood stream, which then affects the brain.  Symptons include statements such as  "My car can go faster than your car", "Here, hold my beer and watch THIS! .....(soon hear sirens coming towards the incident), "My president can whup your faculty", etc.     

I believe that  wine and estrogen also has an effect.  However, from news, police and emergency room records, postings on Eagle Talk,  Darwin awards, etc., it appears to have fewer widespread sconsequences. I have often heard that this combination may allow men and women to live together in harmony.  And, if "humankind" is to survive, may actually help to that end.  

In a time long ago (before the dark shadow of SFT blotted out the sun over USM), various factions of the university, foundation, athletics, faculty senate, faculty members, and USM supporters in the community coexisted and collectively worked to make this University better. Of course there were always differences of opinion and frictions between support groups. Members of these groups had varying ideas about what USM should do and how it should be administered. It may be difficult for many to recall, but it operated very similar to the other universities in Mississippi and surrounding states. Now you have a successful investment firm owner/manager writing a letter of apology over thoughtless statements made on a USM athletic web sight. We have major conflicts between the academic side of the university and the athletic side, when in the time long ago, the relationship between the two was better at USM than at any university I have taught (4 in all). We have university representatives who suggested a boycott of a restaurant owned by the father of one of our athletes for campaigning against a tax that would hurt his business, and faculty who have boycotted a restaurant (and other business) because the owner/operators trashed faculty as lazy and generally no account. The President and his minions routinely lie about the number of students, the number of faculty, and the amount of money the University may or may not have or spent on items that would make Michael Jackson look rational. The turnover of administrators is the best run operation on campus and most faculty have bought a roadmap to guide them out of Hattiesburg.

To achieve this remarkable change, the Board first had to rig a search. Ever since, the Board has been up to their butts in alligators trying to defend, fix, or repair what SFT has screwed up. I can observe all of this, but what I cannot figure out is who in the heck is gaining from this cluster (fill in word)? Will whoever is writing this script ever come forward and explain the moral of this story is? It is only fair that if I have to live this nightmare, I should know what bad thing I have done to deserve it.

Perhaps the collective wisdom of this board can solve this mystery and soon.

cossack,

unfortunately we may not "know" until someone writes the followup to Exit 13. 

on rueben mees, keep in mind that reporters are kept on a leash.  the reporter can only go so far as the editor allows.  when heaping praise on the reporter, keep in mind that the editor just may have lengthened the leash.  changes in the length of the lease may be telling us something.  we shall see.

imcompeto et malicio

Hey Cossack,

Did you ever read the May, 1999 Report of the Task Force for the Enhancement of Athletics at the University of Southern Mississippi?

Work the plan and plan the work.

Not really an answer to your question but it's more than an aside.  The members of the task force are an interesting mix of past and current Shelby supporters.  Robert McLaughlin, then listed as President of Cahaba Capital, was among them.

Very telling statement in the overview, "The Task Force believes that the University Athletic Department can position itself to achieve 'top 20' status in the nation in overall academic achievement and athletic competition within the next five years."  Top 20???

With all the "world class" hype, Shelby tells them what they want to hear and they believe him.  One of the best things we can do is to continue to point out that he is lying to his friends and supporters.

To reinforce some of the points that you made about collective goals, another statement from the conclusion, "The University of Southern Mississippi can continue to make it possible for students to pursue their dreams of a distinguished education and an opportunity to excel on the fields of athletic competition."

Six years later...how 'bout dem Eagles?

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Originally posted by: Cossack
"In a time long ago (before the dark shadow of SFT blotted out the sun over USM),

"

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Ah Hah!! Well, at least I know where & when, if not who!

(Sorry fellow posters, it's an inside joke.)

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Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"cossack,
To answer your question on the cluster (fill in the blank) happening at USM we need to ask ourselves:  WHO has the most to benefit from SFT being president? 
(a) individuals who benefit $ from SFT's sweet deals.....outsourcing of campus food service/bookstore?  What else have we outsourced?  Printing services?
(b) individuals who benefit $ (local businesses????)
(c) members of the foundation??????
(d) state government (House/Senate)????
(e) all of the above?????
I would say all of the above.....SFT must have gone around and made many promises so he could get the job, and now he's calling in favors so he can keep it."

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GH,

I'd put my money on sources (b), (c), and (d).

I don't think (a) matters because universities make deals with Aramark and Barnes and Noble all the time. The corporate leadership of those two big companies would normally have no particular interest in who becomes president, when lots of different university presidents are interested in doing business with them.

Outsourcing of printing is different, because that's often done locally.

Robert Campbell