Klumb's goal last week.... - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 9, 2005

Klumb's goal last week....

Date: May 9, 2005

Who do we know in the Delta who knows the eye doc well enough to educate him.?

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Walt
""USM: A Work in Progress." This was the featured publication at last week's IHL meeting in Jackson. The meeting was partly used by the Klumb-Ross-Colbert gang as an effort to get SFT back on solid ground, perhaps extended another year or more. Of course, with no word from the Board, that mission failed. But, Klumb et al. had a more primary goal in mind with this meeting. They served notice that they were willing to "get nasty" in their effort to keep Thames in office. This we do know --- the meeting was testy, and voices were raised. Klumb and the gang are going to "kick and scream" at any effort to oust Thames, and they served notice of this in Jackson last week. Now, the questions are (1) just who's lined up with Virginia to oust Thames?, and (2) do Virginia's supporters have the will to win the cat fight? Some learned that the Delta eye doc is with Klumb, Ross and Colbert. What about the others? They learned two things last week: (a) there will be a fight, and (b) that fight will get nasty. They also know this, John Q Mississippi Public is with Klumb and the boys. Place your bets people. Are you "all in"?"

I'm done. Folding. This game is rigged. Klumb and the others are taking this thing to its conclusion. Too much is at stake for too many people to quit now. (Hotty toddy!!!)

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Walt
" Place your bets people. Are you "all in"?"

When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're not. Count me in for the long haul. The jackass will lose the race.

Date: May 9, 2005

Jerry,

What about "[he] got the gold mine, [we] got the shaft"??

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Jerry Reed fan
"When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're not."

Drat you, JRf, you done got that Jerry Reed tune runnin' round in my head. I'll never get to sleep tonight.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Amos Moses
"Jerry, What about "[he] got the gold mine, [we] got the shaft"??"

A worthy motto for USM. Much better than The Nasty Bunch; or Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime, Anyway, Anywho; or The Career University; or The University for the Gulf South; or any of the other catchy mottos we're tried unsuccessfully in the past.

Date: May 9, 2005

You should be getting together a "This is Progress?" book that takes Thames book apart. Hurry now! You only have a few weeks.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Jerry Reed fan
"A worthy motto for USM. Much better than The Nasty Bunch; or Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime, Anyway, Anywho; or The Career University; or The University for the Gulf South; or any of the other catchy mottos we're tried unsuccessfully in the past."

My personal favorite: "You. Us. USM."

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Walt
""USM: A Work in Progress." This was the featured publication at last week's IHL meeting in Jackson. The meeting was partly used by the Klumb-Ross-Colbert gang as an effort to get SFT back on solid ground, perhaps extended another year or more. Of course, with no word from the Board, that mission failed. But, Klumb et al. had a more primary goal in mind with this meeting. They served notice that they were willing to "get nasty" in their effort to keep Thames in office. This we do know --- the meeting was testy, and voices were raised. Klumb and the gang are going to "kick and scream" at any effort to oust Thames, and they served notice of this in Jackson last week. Now, the questions are (1) just who's lined up with Virginia to oust Thames?, and (2) do Virginia's supporters have the will to win the cat fight? Some learned that the Delta eye doc is with Klumb, Ross and Colbert. What about the others? They learned two things last week: (a) there will be a fight, and (b) that fight will get nasty. They also know this, John Q Mississippi Public is with Klumb and the boys. Place your bets people. Are you "all in"?"

Can someone please explain to me why these people seem so committed specifically to Thames? He has obviously failed to do the job quietly and effectively; why not just replace him with a better, more efficient robot? Why do they seem so bound and determined to stick with someone who is so incompetent that he can't even do what they want him to do without making a mess of things?

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer

Can someone please explain to me why these people seem so committed specifically to Thames? He has obviously failed to do the job quietly and effectively; why not just replace him with a better, more efficient robot? Why do they seem so bound and determined to stick with someone who is so incompetent that he can't even do what they want him to do without making a mess of things?

Very intriguing questions. I wonder if the motives of these people is similar to the motives of the IHL. There's something here I can't quite put my fingers on. I'd wager that these questions will be answered in time to be included in the sequel to Exit 13.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"Can someone please explain to me why these people seem so committed specifically to Thames? He has obviously failed to do the job quietly and effectively; why not just replace him with a better, more efficient robot? Why do they seem so bound and determined to stick with someone who is so incompetent that he can't even do what they want him to do without making a mess of things?"

Because they would have to admit that they made a mistake and they are not going to do that! That is what it all comes down to.

Date: May 9, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: manova
"Because they would have to admit that they made a mistake and they are not going to do that! That is what it all comes down to."

It has to be more than that. That's too logical.

Date: May 9, 2005

Ok, here's the deal. Before Angie came to USM she was president of an Economic Development group that had all of the presidents of the major universities and all of the major republicans (I know this goes as far as the Senators and probably to Bush) on its board. What they didn't know when they brought Thames on board was that he was not only a klutz but he had his own agenda. He and Klumb planned to be king of the Universities with a workforce all over the state. The major Universities of course didn't know this. They thought that they had only a small part to play and it would only add to what they were already doing. Someone told me that Ole Miss has an ED program now.

I think that most everyone has caught on to Thames except that Klumb still wants to play. Lott has his head in the sand because he wants his building but the rest of it has almost gone to pieces. In the meantime Angie is no longer with the University and may Heaven help Hattiesburg as there is no telling what she will do there. However that is why so many businesses believe in Thames. (Most of them are catching on also.) Angie is running their Area Development Program and since they haven't fired her yet Thames and Angie must still have a little control.

I really do believe that most of the IHL board has had it and if there is enough fight left in everybody you have a good chance of winning this last battle and the war.

Date: May 10, 2005

Agnie's never stayed at any job more than 3 years has she? My guess is that after a while she moves on BEFORE she really gets found out.

Date: May 10, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: manova
"Because they would have to admit that they made a mistake and they are not going to do that! That is what it all comes down to."

While it is true most people do not like to admit their mistakes, part of the issue involves removing Thames would be perceived as supporting the faculty. The IHL does not want to send a message that could be construed as increasing faculty power. So the question for some on the IHL Board members is how to dump Thames and not make it look like a faculty victory.

The reality is that the faculty are not perceived by the Board and large parts of the community in a very positive light. Dumping Thames to support a group of leftist who do not work and want to be in control is not the image the IHL wants to achieve. University faculty are a favorite target of the right nationally.

Date: May 10, 2005

Walt,

What you are saying, this time around, is plausible. It's a big improvement on your last scenario, which projected total Shelbyite triumph after SACS problems are magically solved, no one on the USM faculty ever makes another public complaint, and the Hattiesburg and Jackson newspapers took their cue to roll over and stick all four paws in the air.

I was afraid that Roy Klumb might get what he wanted at the meeting on Friday. Obviously he did not. If he'd been able to put together a 7-5 majority, he'd have come out of the meeting pounding his chest and proclaiming Shelby Thames now and forever. Instead, the footage of Klumb on WDAM showed him looking and acting as though his dog had been recently run over.

My reading: there continues to be a narrow majority on the Board against Klumb and his posse. 7-5, if Robin Robinson is still a paid-up member; 8-4, if she has deserted. The problem Klumb and his buddies now have is that because the rest of the Board is so sick of Thames and the bad publicity he constantly brings, yelling and screaming at them will only harden their resistance. If Thames remains in power, yelling and screaming will continue indefinitely into the future--so why give in to two or three months of it?

Besides picking apart all the B$ in that "Dork in Progress" document, USM faculty and faculty bodies need to bring the heat to Thames' remaining underlings: Malone, Lassen, Exline, and Moore. Some public revelations about Dana Thames and her modus operandi wouldn't hurt either. Let the Board be constantly reminded of the pain Thames will bring them.

For a little while I thought that maybe Klumb was backing away from Thames. Instead, he's apparently staked everything on him. When this is all done, I expect that Klumb will be a pariah, shunned even by his former allies on the Board.

Robert Campbell

Date: May 10, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: The Teamsters Union
"
While it is true most people do not like to admit their mistakes, part of the issue involves removing Thames would be perceived as supporting the faculty. The IHL does not want to send a message that could be construed as increasing faculty power. So the question for some on the IHL Board members is how to dump Thames and not make it look like a faculty victory.
The reality is that the faculty are not perceived by the Board and large parts of the community in a very positive light. Dumping Thames to support a group of leftist who do not work and want to be in control is not the image the IHL wants to achieve. University faculty are a favorite target of the right nationally."

I think there is a lot of truth in this posting. As it has been said many times on this board, the state is anti-intellectual, going back to the time when the wealthy sent their children off to Vanderbilt (or other southern private universities of stature) and abrogated their responsibility to the state while doing it. I don't mean that this in itself was bad. I just mean they snubbed their noses at the state universities.

While Ole Miss now is getting a good share of the power brokers' children, others don't.

Date: May 10, 2005

Walt,

You also made a claim about what John Q. Mississippi Public wants:

What about the others [on the IHL Board, besides Klumb and posse]? They learned two things last week: (a) there will be a fight, and (b) that fight will get nasty. They also know this, John Q Mississippi Public is with Klumb and the boys.

Klumb's opponents probably don't to be seen as giving in to mutinous faculty members. But if they have any sense, they will realize that catering to anti-faculty sentiment (which we all know is abundant) will ultimately bring down the entire state university system. (Actually, this is even a problem for Klumb, Ross, and Colbert, assuming their destructive goals are limited and they are not aiming to take down Ole Miss and Miss State while they swing the wrecking ball at USM.)

If professors at USM are lazy, Left-wing whiners, so are professors at Ole Miss. When Shelby Thames started destroying USM, the faculty started fighting him. If another one of the Board's projects were to start destroying Ole Miss, would the faculty there merely gulp and say, "Yes, sir"?

The behavior of Thames and crew makes an excellent case for more faculty authority within the university, not less. The Board's continued sponsorship of Thames despite his terrible record makes an excellent case for direct lines of communication between faculty members or faculty bodies and the Board.

Only the very worst administrators and trustees exploit anti-university sentiment to promote their goals. Most administrators and trustees have the sense to know what kinds of forces they would be unleashing.

Besides, even the least educated voter in Mississippi is going to have less use for a university that consists entirely of administrators and staff than a university that still employs professors and gives them a say in running it.

Robert Campbell

Date: May 10, 2005

...Klumb's opponents probably don't want to be seen as giving in...

Date: May 10, 2005

This website is all about refuting the word of the INstational Polymer Scientist.

This website is about not accpeting numbers that help the Institutions's PR when the numbers aren't true. Progpaganda is unappealing to this group.

Date: May 10, 2005

You have no clue. Remember this message next week.

Date: May 10, 2005

Who has no clue? Remember which message? Your references are unclear, "remember".

Date: May 10, 2005

Besides picking apart all the B$ in that "Dork in Progress" document, USM faculty and faculty bodies need to bring the heat to Thames' remaining underlings: Malone, Lassen, Exline, and Moore.

I think you inadvertently left out Grimes. Of the gang, Grimes might be the most difficult to replace. Notice that it wasn't possible earlier, might not be again. My take is that he is not as tough as Malone nor as shrewd as LSM. The only backup might be Dean Poodle and he's already way out of his depth as a kindof, sortof Dean. Personally, I'm also watching to see if any other rats leave the ship. I always felt LSM had the most feral cat kind of smarts and thought her departure interesting. If some others leave, then shrinking circle of wagons may know something we don't. My money's on Lassen who is furiously trying to complete his "Ph.D."

Date: May 11, 2005

oliver,

I'm not excusing Grimes' actions while he has served under Thames, but I left him off the list on purpose. Grimes doesn't count. That's why Thames didn't even bother to make him the fall guy for the Black Friday memo.

A Provost has no real authority under Thames' system of direct presidential rule. When Thames delegates, it's to loyal flunkies like Malone, not to any chief academic officer. If Thames were told he could get four more years, but only if the Provost position had to be left empty for those four years, he would snap the offer up.

A new president, operating in the usual way, will want his or her own provost--and Grimes will be sent back to the lab.

Robert Campbell

PS. The Thames loyalist in the Provost's area is Cynthia Moore. Said to be capable of much damage, given the upcoming budget cuts... She should be added to the list.

Date: May 11, 2005

Campbell
PS. The Thames loyalist in the Provost's area is Cynthia Moore. Said to be capable of much damage, given the upcoming budget cuts... She should be added to the list.

And boy does she have a history at USM.

Date: May 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Be very wary
" And boy does she have a history at USM."

Any details? Thanks.

Date: May 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Be very wary
"Campbell
PS. The Thames loyalist in the Provost's area is Cynthia Moore. Said to be capable of much damage, given the upcoming budget cuts... She should be added to the list.

And boy does she have a history at USM."

Here is what I know, which is not much. Last year, when the anonymous packages were circulating, I got one on Moore. Had evidence in it from way back that she forged signatures documents that involved being reimbursed for expenses. Granted, the amount of money involved was very small, but her authority to handle such funds was revoked (by Lucas, I believe). I think the AAUP got the same package and so did the Hattiesburg American. But it wasn't a big enough story (and it was back in the 80s, I think) for anyone to be interested in. I suspect there is much much more. Other people on this board can tell you more about her. I also understand from oldtimers that she's a plagiarist. Maybe one of our industrious researchers can track that down. And she is known for being very mean.

Date: May 11, 2005

Those are all worrisome things to say about somebody, but I'm not in favor of dragging up every old thing everybody did. Let's say we're sufficiently warned, and focus on what she's doing NOW. She's in a position to do a great deal of harm. It's really a sin that these people will use their budget power, not to do what's best for the university, but to reward cronies and punish foes. That's what we need to be watching and shining the spotlight on.
You know, these have gotta be uncomfortable days for the henchbunch. They probably don't know if SFT's going or staying, but they have to know their days are numbered along with his, and that they probably made a mistake to buy that ticket for a ride on his coattails.

Date: May 11, 2005

Thanks, TW, for giving us the term "henchbunch"; I certainly plan to start using it!