quote:

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Originally posted by: On The Outside
"What is USM good for anyway? I have witnessed, both through the media and on this board a great deal of hatred slung at both the administration and the faculty.  This is only the occational reference to a good deed.  If I'm to believe the buzz, on the whole, USM and all who are associated with it are a bunch of worthless individuals who are only out to justify their own agendas and discuss how horrible the world has become.  I've read the questions relating to the IHL and the possiblity that those in the north are trying to minimalize USM.  There may be some validity to that.  As the economic progress shifts to the south, the fear of loosing the educational power grows.  Since the IHL is composed primarily of Ole Miss and State folks, what betters way to regain that power by undermining USMs strengths and abilities.  What better way to do this than by putting someone in charge who has an ego that inhibits his ability to surround himself with people of integrity who will think and not simply plod along in this brave new world? Ignoring history has also been the downfall of many potentially good leaders.  Remember, inbreeding is a bad thing. Don't get me wrong.  As I see it, USM needed some fine tuning through the establishment of certain standards and policies, raises for faculty and staff, and other long awaited items.  There is also the sacs issue.  As I hear it, this issue has been looming for many years now.  Why wasn't this dealt with sooner?  Why is everyone pointing fingers and not getting their sh** together? If the IHL is trying to detroy USM, it appears that they have been successful.  They have managed to pit everyone against each other ensuring self destruction.  All those in the north are surely watching going "Look, there go the good faculty." and "Wow! I thought it would take at least four years." So, before USM becomes another tech school or junior college, What is the good of and in USM?  Can you do this without telling me how bad the world is or that our government is at fault or that it's someone elses responsibility? Your the educators...   Educate me!"

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Well, first of all...it should be "you're."  Too bad all those English profs left.

When I saw the title of this, the only thing that went into my mind was Edwin Starr:

USM
What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing!

Sorry for the aside...continue.

Good Aside!

Unfortunately, no one is responding other than out of intellectual snobery.  Maybe it's Snobbury (a small town in Europe?).

Faculty...

Administration...

Students...

Somebody...

Anybody...

 

I think the correct question is not the one you ask. Actually, there are two correct ones: What was USM good for? and Can USM recapture that?

For the most part, USM has never been appreciated by the good folk of Mississippi. Of course it is true that it was a johnny-come-lately, but it did take off under the Lucas administration. Why? Certainly there was a shortage of jobs, and people from excellent universities (Tier 1) were hired. But many of them stayed when they got here. Why? For many it simply was a good place to work. Some found it comfortable; research was valued but without the pressure cooker atmosphere of a Big 10 or Ivy-type school. For others, despite the problems in the public schools, it was a good place to raise a family. The International Studies programs provided opportunities for faculty. And for lots of us, there was a missionary spirit. Largely we were working with first generation college students, and we felt exhiliarated teaching these young people. The pay was low, but it seemed worth it. Whatever his shortcomings may have been, Lucas was able to create a sense of family and a sense of communal purpose among the faculty and staff. Teachers and scholars will work for lower pay if they believe they are called to a high purpose and if their work is valued. What was USM good for? It has done a d*** good job of educating Mississippi kids, especially those from the southern part of the state, and of contributing to the communal body of knowledge. And the faculty did this with commitment and a certain joy.

Much of this has now been lost. If, as another poster reported, we are now to come under attack by students and parents, even the joy of teaching is lost.

Can it be recaptured? With the right leadership, there is no doubt that it can. Educators tend to be optimists. They are intelligent and talented and could do other things, but they love what they do. They will respond to the call. The missionary spirit is still there. There passion for teaching and research never completely dies.

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
  In short, I don't quite understand your question.  Perhaps it would be best if YOU tried to answer it, and then we can respond.  What do YOU think any institution of higher education is "good for"?  And how is Shelby Thames, who has lost the confidence of 90% of the professionals who work for him and made the university a sad spectacle in the eyes of the nation, helping USM achieve any of its possible goals?"

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A union gets decertified if only 50% + 1 employee (member of the bargaining unit) votes against it.  Why don't people see the significance of the faculty vote of no confidence?!?!

quote:

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Originally posted by: Outside Observer
"A union gets decertified if only 50% + 1 employee (member of the bargaining unit) votes against it.  Why don't people see the significance of the faculty vote of no confidence?!?!"

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Because that isn't the way it is done on the plantation, Outside Observer.  Until recently the IHL Board had no direct communication to the faculty.  The people in the big white house don't talk to the field hands.  That's the job of the foreman.

quote:

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Originally posted by: On The Outside
"
LVN - You still don't get it.  My diatribe was meant to to discover who cares for the garden and not for the placement of one flower or whether the flower is the correct colour.

 "

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I certainly don't "get" this. However, I wasnt' attempting to answer your entire "diatribe" but just to point out that your answer to Professor Lares was confusing in terms of what you were asking.

My response about intellectual snobbery was not aimed at the comments of Lares.  It was aimed at Outside Observer who ignored the issue in order to correct my grammar.

LVN - My misunderstanding of your response.

Lares makes a valid point.  A university such as USM is a large and complex organization and while in one sense defies simple description, it does serve a primary purpose - to educate.  Just as NASAs purpose is to travel to and explore space.

The primary purpose of a university, this university, is being abused.  I recently heard of a prof telling students in class that they should look for another place to earn a degree.  Why is a prof expressing this in a classroom?  What subject was being taught?  Of course everyone has the right to express their views.  No one should denied the freedom of speech.  However, why is it then that many profs (and I know of others) are using the classroom more and more to expound their views and not to teach their subject?

LVN - You are right in that educational institutions are to teach us to analyse questions, issues and the like in a variety of ways and from various perspectives.  However, to look at something from only one view (i.e. - grammar) and ignoring the overall issue shows the snobbery to which I referred.

Would the comment on tangible and immediate results be more valid if this were a new university?  I do not mean from an "economic" standpoint.

The primary purpose of a university, this university, is being abused. I recently heard of a prof telling students in class that they should look for another place to earn a degree. Why is a prof expressing this in a classroom? What subject was being taught? Of course everyone has the right to express their views. No one should denied the freedom of speech. However, why is it then that many profs (and I know of others) are using the classroom more and more to expound their views and not to teach their subject?

OTO--Let me first point out that you hear of a prof telling students this. While it may well be true, there is lots of negative stuff about faculty floating around out there. If it is true that this happened, perhaps this is the case. Like Old Timer 3 pointed out earlier, for the most part faculty are passionate about their subject. They also are sincerely dedicated to the education of the student. It is absolutely true that at this university right now, the quality has fallen off in many areas. It is through no fault of the remaining faculty. But departments have lost valuable members....just for a starter, if you wanted to be a Donne or Faulkner scholar/teacher wouldn't you transfer? Not only that, they have lost numbers so many areas are being covered by folks who aren't specialists or by folks who simply are overloaded. Add that to the fact that there are no books for the library, etc. etc.

While I would not do this myself, I can understand why it MIGHT have happened. Again, though, rumors do abound.

Much like Outside Observer, I don't have a dog in this fight either.  But, I read his post several times and my take on this is, there are programs at all three universities that are extremely good.  What is USM's? I do realize that the master of disaster, SFT has all but ruined the university, however, all clouds do have a silver lining.

Granted Polymer Science pops into my head right off the bat, but that can't be the only program there worth tooting horns over. (And athletics don't count) I've heard, on this board, that the teaching college was one of the best, is it still? How about the nursing program, is it so far gone that it is DNR (English, do not rescusitate)? What about the fine arts programs, music, dance, theater???  So many posts are negative and downtrodden, what are some of the positive things at USM? And I don't want to hear about the new light posts, or new gardens...........I want the meat of what is good there. 

Dr. Lares, what about the English program? I do understand that when Dr. Stringer left, he also took the Donne project with him, that was a terrible blow to the university. Then Dr. Polk left, and Dr. Barry smashed his awards.  Is there anything left to be proud of in the English department?

Dr. Judd, I read your post on the fine arts, what exceptional things is that college doing? I know that posts were made on the concert that was held, some negative things were said about how SFT behaved (wurld class), and not many positive things about the enjoyment of the evening, and the level of culture he brought with him to perform.

What good is happening in the COB?  Or is there?

All I am trying to get at here is that even in the midst of what is happening to your university, surely there are things to be down right proud of.  And pride is something that no-one, not SFT, not this Toy person, not the business leaders can take away from you.  So what are yall proud of there at USM?

Patti:

I am proud of the way my professors have conducted themselves in classes. The ones that I have had the last few years have not burdened the students with anything but homework. Students could not help but know what was going on especially when the two professors were locked out of their offices and some of the business people were calling them criminals. And yet the professors carried on in a professional optimistic manner in class. Now that I truly understand what has been happening I am amazed at how well that they have conducted themselves. They deserve an award or maybe the Purple Heart.

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"DS, It's always a pleasure to read your posts!"

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I second that. And it is a pleasure to read yours also, USM Sympahizer

LVN,

Not a quibble, you're right in many cases.  You'll get some very good people despite the pittance salaries sans benefits.  The low salaries just change the ratio of competent/incompetent.  The tragedy is that the use of adjuncts is heaviest where the denominator does the most damage, i.e. foundation courses.

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Originally posted by: Patti
"Dr. Lares, what about the English program? I do understand that when Dr. Stringer left, he also took the Donne project with him, that was a terrible blow to the university."

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I won't deny that we've suffered some body blows, especially in the loss of Stringer and Polk, but we've still got some very good albeit lesser known people, and we've finally been allowed to hire again, and the new people look very good as well.  Watch this space.

Jameela