Council of Chairs retreat - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 24, 2005

Council of Chairs retreat

Date: Apr 24, 2005

kick - please!

Date: Apr 24, 2005

Did anyone else read this topic title in the sense of retreat meaning "to withdraw from the field of battle"?

If the Council of Chairs retreat, will the Faculty Senate be next?

Date: Apr 24, 2005

I don't think they will retreat, but they are suffering from attrition.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"Did anyone else read this topic title in the sense of retreat meaning "to withdraw from the field of battle"? If the Council of Chairs retreat, will the Faculty Senate be next?"

I think that some of the chairs may be iin a rest home than in a retreat. Or maybe it's a retirement center.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

I have only heard two things about the retreat: (1) that Lisa Mader was moving on, and (2) that some subordinate of Ken Malone demonstrated uncommon oblivion.

No big scandal, just garden variety idocy.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"I have only heard two things about the retreat: (1) that Lisa Mader was moving on, and (2) that some subordinate of Ken Malone demonstrated uncommon oblivion. No big scandal, just garden variety idocy. "

It's difficult to spend much time making a report over something that was, in general, pretty much of a waste of time and could have been done in two hours. Not to mention the very overt attempt to propagandize us into accepting the administratoon's view that all is well and the sky isn't falling.

Ok -- to be fair, there were some things I learned about the coast I did not know before and there were some exchanges regarding concerns about the language of marketing and sales vs the language of academia. But generally speaking, time is short as we get near the end of the semester and I think most chairs are just like the rest of us - hanging on and trying to use the limited energy we have left to maintain our programs while we wait to see if their is going to be any change.

It is definitely the case that you could read the body language among chairs and deans and see "poor morale", for the most part.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
"
Ok -- to be fair, there were some things I learned about the coast I did not know before
"

Stephen: what WERE some of said "things about the Coast" you learned? Anything interesting? I work there, of course . . .

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
"It is definitely the case that you could read the body language among chairs and deans and see "poor morale", for the most part. "

It's hard to see how the deans could be suffering from poor morale. With one exception their silence has been deafening. Either that or my ears are filled with wax. Surely they knew what they were getting into. There were no surprises.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Shiny Slippers
"
It's hard to see how the deans could be suffering from poor morale. With one exception their silence has been deafening. Either that or my ears are filled with wax. Surely they knew what they were getting into. There were no surprises.
"

I will never forget Pood, in his interview, telling the faculty to "get over it." I don't see much evidence that he has changed.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Shiny Slippers
" It's hard to see how the deans could be suffering from poor morale. With one exception their silence has been deafening. Either that or my ears are filled with wax. Surely they knew what they were getting into. There were no surprises. "

Willie Pearce impresses me as not only being a nice guy but also one who has a genuine investment in USM.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

I believe that too.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

Willie Pierce

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
" I will never forget Pood, in his interview, telling the faculty to "get over it." I don't see much evidence that he has changed."

I think you are all wrong (previous quote as well). I don't believe any of the Deans, despite our warnings, really believed how bad things were or would become. It makes sense -- the very same characteristics that might make one want to become a Dean (problem solver, ambition, high achiever) undoubtedly made it difficult for them to believe they could not fix things. To be fair -- Shelby when you meet him in some situtations can be very persuasive. Those of us who have been here -- especially those that go back to the eighties have a much fuller picture than any of the Deans did coming aboard.

This isn't to exonnerate the Deans. On the other hand, I doubt that any of them now feels the same -- by all anecdotal accounts they are now just about as frustrated as the rest of us.

Date: Apr 24, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
"This isn't to exonnerate the Deans. On the other hand, I doubt that any of them now feels the same -- by all anecdotal accounts they are now just about as frustrated as the rest of us. "

Only the deans can exonnerate themselves. They should have seen what was happening to G&S. They should have provided a buffer at that time.

Date: Apr 25, 2005

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Council of Chairs retr

Date: Apr 25, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Farmer's wife
" Amen. Did ever you see such a sight in your life? They deserve having their tails cut off."

That wouldn't be a pretty site. Turn your volume up:

http://www.usna54.net/donsong.htm

Date: Apr 25, 2005

RE: Council of Chairs retreat

Date: Apr 25, 2005

Oh rats. Or rather, oh mice!

When I saw "a warning to others," I thought it had to do with the quotation I saw recently: "I believe that everyone's life has a purpose. It may be, however, that the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others."