And now . . . for the rest of the story - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 11, 2005

And now . . . for the rest of the story

Date: May 11, 2005

Excellent points all.

I would like to encourage Professor Greer to write a letter to the editor expanding her statements. Like others have noted, I feel sure that was not a very complete rendition of her remarks. Particularly as hers is a name the public may not have heard before, a letter from her would have some impact.

Date: May 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bandy the Rodeo Clown
"Discussions of the newly published USM Propaganda Brochure (aka "A Work in Progress") have focused on misleading and factually inaccurate statements. However, an even larger problem is the absence of the many negative develolopments associated with the current administration. What does the brochure say about the false enrollment report? Nothing Does the brochure discuss the first SACS at a Mississippi public university since the 1903's? No What does the brochure say about USM's drop to tier four? Nothing Does the brochure mention that the nursing NCLEX scores are the lowest in the state? No Does the report tell us that the English department has lost 50% of its senior scholars? No Does the report reveal that by the Fall of 2002 criminal justics/forensics will have lost 66% of its faculty? No Does the report indicate than 50% of the math department has become instructors? No Does the brochure tell us about the loss of over 200 faculty members over the past two years: No Does the brochure point out that over 50% of the entire full-time USM faculty is now instructors, assistant professors, and those categorized as "other." No Does the report mention the dramatic drop in applicants for faculty positions? No What other negative events associated with the current administration will not be seen in the brochure? "

Well done, Bandy. Others and I are going through the document and trying to rebut each false statement. It will take a while because of all of the spin. For example, it consistently states things like the ___project was brought to completion in June 2002. While perfectly true, the average reader is led to believe SFT contributed to this good deed, in fact the project took years and it was just "finished” in the first few months of SFT administration.

Date: May 11, 2005

I thought of one to add to your list of missing accomplishments in the brochure: Your president was the first in USM history to be the subject of a unanimous Faculty Senate no confidence vote. Since it was unanimous, it can never be surpassed. A wurl' class record!

Date: May 11, 2005

Don't forget to include this accomplishment as presented in the USM press release and posted on the Quinlivan wins again thread:

"... Rachel Quinlivan, former executive editor who graduated in May 2004, won first place for her coverage of a no-confidence vote for Southern Miss President Dr. Shelby F. Thames by the faculty in the Best Spot News category...."

The USM administration has provided fodder for three excellent Student Printz editors: Jared Head, Robbie Ward, and Rachael Quinlivan.

Date: May 11, 2005

USM is the only university in America whose president has been featured regularly as a character in the Marshall Ramsey cartoons on the editorial pages of the Clarion-Ledger. No other school can make that claim. Add the cartoons to the brochure (get copyright permission first).

Date: May 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Faculty
"Others and I are going through the document and trying to rebut each false statement. "

In addition to rebutting false statements, I hope your group will also point out the negative impacts.

Date: May 11, 2005

If people are seriously going to work on this, let me suggest that they please recognize any legitimate positive things & mention them, too. The trolls like to state that the public perceives the anti-Shelby faction as "bitchy whinettes" who focus only on the negative. Don't give the trolls a hint of credibility with this...

I do believe that the "accomplishments" that occurred very early in SFT's term should be played up strongly. Most things do take a long time to come to fruition -- and USM is, was, and ever will be "a work in progress" -- and it's utterly ludicrous for Thames to take credit for something that was largely accomplished on someone else's watch.

Either that, or he must quit trying to "excuse" the SACS probation as somthing that largely happened on someone else's watch...

Date: May 11, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Record Holder
"I thought of one to add to your list of missing accomplishments in the brochure: Your president was the first in USM history to be the subject of a unanimous Faculty Senate no confidence vote. Since it was unanimous, it can never be surpassed. A wurl' class record! "

You're right; Shelby really ought to list this one on his resume: getting 20 academics to agree about something!

Date: May 11, 2005

Invictus,

Is "Bitchy Whinette" any relation to Tammy?

Date: May 12, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bandy the Rodeo Clown
"
Does the report reveal that by the Fall of 2002 criminal justics/forensics will have lost 66% of its faculty? No"

By my recollection, criminal justice had seven faculty as of three years ago. If projected / anticipated departures occur, the losses will be closer to seventy-one percent, leaving only two or three of the original faculty as it once existed under Liberal Arts. Yeah, the move to Sci/Tech did wonders for the future of what was once a prosperous department. What a load of BS!

Date: May 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bandy the Rodeo Clown
"No What other negative events associated with the current administration will not be seen in the brochure? "

The Wayne County spin was not in the brochure.

Date: May 15, 2005

Did USM achieve world class or #1 status in anything this week? Enquiring minds want to know.

Date: May 15, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Media Hound
"Did USM achieve world class or #1 status in anything this week? Enquiring minds want to know."

Yes, this just in. According to President Shelby F. Thames, USM has now surpassed MIT in external research grant funding, and is fast closing on Cal-Berkley for second place among world class research universities. Details to follow....

Date: May 15, 2005

I've told this story before, but it always makes me laugh.
Good friend once had a visiting at Berkeley. He said that there, when you win the Nobel, you get a parking spot with your name on it. He claimed it was questionable which was most valued . . .

Date: May 15, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"I've told this story before, but it always makes me laugh. Good friend once had a visiting at Berkeley. He said that there, when you win the Nobel, you get a parking spot with your name on it. He claimed it was questionable which was most valued . . . "

I suppose this isn't really an appropriate anecdote for the thread, but the mention of a Nobel prize brought it to mind. There were four Nobel laureates on the faculty at UT-Southwestern Medical School when I was a student there. All four of them taught classes and routinely rubbed elbows with the common folk, including lowly students. They were among the most humble and unpretentious individuals I've ever encountered, in academia or elsewhere. I only report this now as their personalities and demeanor stand in stark contrast to that of Shelby Thames, who would have us believe his modest polymer research undertakings are the stuff of legend. This is consistent with my general view that those who make the most noise have likely accomplished the least.

AE

Date: May 15, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
those who make the most noise have likely accomplished the least

To put it another way - full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Date: May 15, 2005

Or per Peter Drucker, don't think in terms of accomplishments, think in terms of contributions. I once had the privilege of being at a small, 3-day conference with a future Nobel prize winner. He was one of the most self-effacing people I've ever met. A couple of weeks after he won the prize, he was scheduled to speak at a Tier 3 school. The dept. chair called him to say that if he needed to bow out of this obligation, everyone would understand. His response was that he especially wanted to come speak where he had been invited before he had won.

Date: May 15, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Middle School English
"To put it another way - full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Exactly. Thanks to you and the Bard for more eloquently expressing my sentiments. Bob Dylan would probably have something to say about it as well....Invictus, are you on duty tonight?

AE

Date: May 16, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
" Exactly. Thanks to you and the Bard for more eloquently expressing my sentiments. Bob Dylan would probably have something to say about it as well....Invictus, are you on duty tonight? AE"

You call this a constructive comment? Butt out you ignorant rube.

Date: May 16, 2005

Do you know who AE is, Terminator? You are calling him an ignorant rube? I know who he is, and he is a professional with deep USM roots. Far deeper than yours, I'd wager.

Date: May 16, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: The Terminator
"You call this a constructive comment? Butt out you ignorant rube."

Uh, Mr. T. Chill.

I don't know who Austin Eagle is, except that he is a valuable contributor to this board.

Maybe you don't realize the esteem in which most of us hold Billy and Bob. Well, Invictus, too; but mainly them other two. Maybe if we rub the lamp three times, Invictus will grace us with an appropriate quote. My repertoire being limited, this is the best I can come up with:

It's like the earth just opened and swallowed him up
He reached too high, was thrown back to the ground
You know what they say about bein' nice to the right people on the way up
Sooner or later you gonna meet them comin' down

Well, there ain't no goin' back when your foot of pride come down
Ain't no goin' back

Date: May 16, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: The Terminator
"You call this a constructive comment? Butt out you ignorant rube."

Terminator,

Austin Eagle is one of the most valuable contributors to this message board. All of his posts have been informative and constructive. AE said "those who make the most noise have likely accomplished the least," to which I echoed "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The iniials AE are well known and highly regarded by those on the message board.

Date: May 16, 2005

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: And now . . . for the