Today, May 6th - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 6, 2005

Today, May 6th

Date: May 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Magnolia
"It's a little after 7 am and I'm getting ready to head off to work. I have a long day ahead--lots to do during this week before exams. I'll probably be working some over the weekend. However, during the busy-ness of today, I'll be thinking that this may be the most important day of this hellish administration. We may find out today if the board thinks Thames is simply doing the work that he was sent here to do (as he implied in his statement yesterday), or if the board thinks we are headed down the wrong road and they need to call a halt to the madness. If there is no action by the board today or if there is no signal that they will soon begin a new search, I will be convinced that there is little hope for the USM to which I've devoted most of my professional life. I will be convinced that this board is willing to sacrifice quality to the highest bidder, that their vision for our university is something less than we think is possible, something less than the faculty, students, and citizens of south Mississippi deserve. I will be convinced that there is no longer anything "distinguished" about us. And that makes me so very sad."

I would guess that today's Board meeting will consist of Dr. Crofts reporting his findings resulting from his weeks of data collection. Recall he received information from Faculty Senate, Academic Council, Graduate Council and interviewed various individuals and administrators. In addition, I'm sure he received many letters and emails from community leaders, etc. He will have to present this to the IHL with his analysis and interpretations. Finally, he would have to answer the many questions that followed and make his recommendation. The Board then has two weeks to digest, contemplate and politic before they vote. I doubt very much that any news will result from today’s meeting, although some member may make statements for various political reasons.

Date: May 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Magnolia
"It's a little after 7 am and I'm getting ready to head off to work. I have a long day ahead--lots to do during this week before exams. I'll probably be working some over the weekend. However, during the busy-ness of today, I'll be thinking that this may be the most important day of this hellish administration. We may find out today if the board thinks Thames is simply doing the work that he was sent here to do (as he implied in his statement yesterday), or if the board thinks we are headed down the wrong road and they need to call a halt to the madness. If there is no action by the board today or if there is no signal that they will soon begin a new search, I will be convinced that there is little hope for the USM to which I've devoted most of my professional life. I will be convinced that this board is willing to sacrifice quality to the highest bidder, that their vision for our university is something less than we think is possible, something less than the faculty, students, and citizens of south Mississippi deserve. I will be convinced that there is no longer anything "distinguished" about us. And that makes me so very sad."

Magnolia,

You are not alone. As I stated on another thread, if the IHL board supports Thames, faculty have made it clear over and over (no confidence votes) that the situation here is completely unsatisfactory. I fear that faculty will retreat into their safe spaces (small offices) and not do the service that is absolutely necessary to keep this university running. It may be the wisest choice if you believe that Thames will ultimately destroy the university anyway. It makes no sense to fight something you believe is inevitable. But we will lose SACS and other accreditation without the devoted service of faculty. We may anyway.

Perhaps you will feel better once the semester is over and you have a week or two away from campus.

I hope that the IHL board understands that at this point supporting Thames in anti-faculty and means failure at USM.

Amy Young

Date: May 6, 2005

Whatever they think of the president's vision (whatever that is), board members will act in their own interest: They will dump Thames because they have three years of evidence that he cannot execute the vision competently, because they do not wish to keep cleaning up his messes, because they don't want to stay on edge waiting for "the next stupid thing" to be done at USM, and because they are tired of looking foolish and ineffective in face of a president whose greatest skill seems to lie in garnering negative press. Yes, the board is rife with politics, and yes, SFT has his true-believing supporters, but at the proverbial end of the day, the board will be thinking, "this guy has hurt us before; if we renew him, he will hurt us again," and they will put him out to pasture.

Date: May 6, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Jean Moulin
"Whatever they think of the president's vision (whatever that is), board members will act in their own interest: They will dump Thames because they have three years of evidence that he cannot execute the vision competently, because they do not wish to keep cleaning up his messes, because they don't want to stay on edge waiting for "the next stupid thing" to be done at USM, and because they are tired of looking foolish and ineffective in face of a president whose greatest skill seems to lie in garnering negative press. Yes, the board is rife with politics, and yes, SFT has his true-believing supporters, but at the proverbial end of the day, the board will be thinking, "this guy has hurt us before; if we renew him, he will hurt us again," and they will put him out to pasture."

And that is the ONLY reason they will dump him.