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Post Info TOPIC: SFT "never wanted to be president?"
oldtimer

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SFT "never wanted to be president?"
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The latest news from the Dome and the Mississippi state board for the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) continues a three-year pattern of "revisionist history" that would impress the late George Orwell.  If Shelby Freland Thames isn't a "wurl' class" liar, then he is disingenuous at a rate never before seen in higher education.  His story changes so often that it can be difficult to keep the versions straight, particularly now that his personal press agent (who masqueraded as "university relations officer") is gone.  This latest statement that he "never wanted to be president" and is "ready to return to the research lab," came only after a third-year review by the IHL Board resulted in his receipt of a one-year extension of the university presidency.  This latest claim supplants the earlier story that "he was having fun" and would continue to be university president as long as he continued to have fun.


Interestingly enough for a person who "never wanted to be president, remember that Thames abruptly changed status from being a member of the committee screening presidential applicants, to a candidate for the presidency, in the middle of the search.  As an internal candidate, this former administrator's reputation of being a mean-spirited micromanager, with a record of seeking retribution against those who dared to disagree with him, was believed to disqualify him from serious consideration.  University personnel were surprised at his candidacy, since he had been demoted from the executive vice-presidency to "distinguished research professor" because of inappropriate actions with subordinate personnel, but campus "word-of-mouth" was that staff were reluctant to speak out during the search, for fear of retribution, should he be named president.  Faculty were encouraged by staff members to provide "feedback" to the IHL Board during the search, since tenure should protect faculty from retribution, an assumption which later events proved to be incorrect.


So, why did the IHL put this disestablishmentarian in charge?  The loss of "institutional memory" makes it easy to forget that during the presidential search, the IHL Board announced that it was looking for a "uniter" to bring a badly-divided campus back together.  After a year of controversy, Thames' chief IHL supporter, Roy Klumb, asserted that SFT was named President "to clean house" of some un-named yet ostensibly "lazy" faculty, and "a small minority of vocal faculty" opposed Thames merely because he wanted professors who would "put in a day's work for a day's pay."


He has certainly had an effect on faculty during his presidency.  During the 2001-02 academic year, when it became obvious that the search would bring in Thames as university president, the departure of experienced faculty, which began during his predecessor's term, continued at its alarming rate.  At the June 23, 2004 meeting of the President's Council, Thames himself provided the following data:






 


Academic Year



 


Faculty Departures



 


Percentage Loss




 


1999-2000



 


 78



 


12%




 


2000-2001



 


110                         



 


17%




 


2001-2002



 


107



 


16.5%




 


2002-2003



 


112



 


17%




 


2003-2004



 


 58



 


 9%


This represents the loss of over two-thirds of the campus faculty of 540 during the first three years of the Thames presidency, a disturbing example of "vote with your feet."


Even here, it is difficult to reconcile the "official" numbers provided by the administration with those submitted to local media.  In the Summer of 2002, the Hattiesburg American had a story about the state's budget crisis, with a 'sidebar' about funds being shifted by then-university President Horace Fleming from the budget of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, to the Office of Technology Resources. The premise of the story (and of faculty objections to the practice) was that this fiscal move decreased the number of teaching faculty. This story stated that in 1999, USM had 653 tenure-track faculty, but had only 581 faculty in 2002, and reported that USM lost 18 Faculty positions in 2000, and 32 lost in 2001.  Also, this story reported that in 2001, USM had 58 resignations, and 28 retirements, which were probably due to the total of $15.8 million in budget cuts from 1999-2001.


At present, the university is at hazard of losing its accreditation, a situation originally claimed by SFT as being due to the failure of (now-departed) Provost Tim Hudson to submit "required forms to SACS," but subsequent events proved that the president had avoided replying to warning letters from SACS for over a year.  Furthermore, one personality trait which both Thames' supporters and detractors agree on is that this is a man whose tenet is "do it my way," so it is not likely that any subordinate adminstrator would fail to keep the president informed on such a critical task.  Furthermore, there were two provosts, so how could these forms be "forgotten" by both of them?   

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foot soldier

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Oldtimer, this should be one of those "read this first" threads.

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USM Sympathizer

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quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
"Oldtimer, this should be one of those "read this first" threads."
I agree; I will definitely add it to the list when I update it.  I have fallen a bit behind in the past several days.

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Toga

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Thames if a first rate liar, and so is Nicholson and the whole BIDNESS community henchmen group, especially the used car dealers.  Nobody moves personnel money anywhere.  Money put into paying faculty is paid faculty.  Fleming could not have done this even if he had wanted to.  The IHL rules won't permit it.  And he never did it anyway.  Nicholson in that article was lying.  Thames doesn't know the truth from the pig he last kissed.

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Alf V.

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quote:
Originally posted by: Toga
"Thames if a first rate liar, and so is Nicholson and the whole BIDNESS community henchmen group, especially the used car dealers.  Nobody moves personnel money anywhere.  Money put into paying faculty is paid faculty.  Fleming could not have done this even if he had wanted to.  The IHL rules won't permit it.  And he never did it anyway.  Nicholson in that article was lying.  Thames doesn't know the truth from the pig he last kissed."

Toga,


But how do you really feel? 



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stephen judd

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quote:
Originally posted by: Alf V.
" Toga, But how do you really feel?  "

Old Timer:


 


This is brilliant. Thanks for putting the pieces together and laying them out so clearly. Really nice work.


 



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stinky cheese man

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thames also tried to become president in 1975 when lucas got the position.

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Lessons from literature

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"Ambition is the last refuge of the failure." Oscar Wilde

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Passive Aggressive

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quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"thames also tried to become president in 1975 when lucas got the position."

You remind me of someone I used to work with.  We'd go into meetings with a team of us spinning wheels trying to solve some problem.  He'd let us go on for a bit and then quietly provide the information that he'd had all along.  Our boss got really angry one day and said, "Open your *#^$+&! files and give us everything that you have!" 


In his defense, he felt no one ever asked him to share.  SCM, I'm asking you.  Give us everything you have.



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Lessons from literature

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Even more pertinent--


"A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires."
Joseph Conrad

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Tough T'Ask

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quote:
Originally posted by: Passive Aggressive
" SCM, I'm asking you.  Give us everything you have."
We've got a few minutes.  Tell us everything you know.  But keep it relevant.

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Joker

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Well, finally something the faculty and SFT can agree on: "SFT never wanted to be president" and the faculty never wanted SFT to be president.  Too bad the IHL Board wasn't informed of this consensus three years ago. 



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USM Sympathizer

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quote:

Originally posted by: Joker
"Well, finally something the faculty and SFT can agree on: "SFT never wanted to be president" and the faculty never wanted SFT to be president.  Too bad the IHL Board wasn't informed of this consensus three years ago. "



 



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oldtimer

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quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
" Old Timer:   This is brilliant. Thanks for putting the pieces together and laying them out so clearly. Really nice work.  "

Stephen,


You're welcome, as it's the least I could do for the cause.  Having been here for a LONG time, I've learned that "institutional memory" was one of the first casualties of the Thames administration.


Those of us who remember the past must share this information, lest we make the Santayana quote a self-fulfilling prophecy for USM.



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Batman

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quote:
Originally posted by: Joker
"Well, finally something the faculty and SFT can agree on: "SFT never wanted to be president" and the faculty never wanted SFT to be president.  Too bad the IHL Board wasn't informed of this consensus three years ago."

Joker, you've probably thought about this, but I want to ask it anyway. If it is true that "SFT never wanted to be president," why did he ask for another year? I suppose the Riddler would say that it because he's having too much fun. What say ye?


Batman



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stephen judd

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quote:
Originally posted by: oldtimer
" Stephen, You're welcome, as it's the least I could do for the cause.  Having been here for a LONG time, I've learned that "institutional memory" was one of the first casualties of the Thames administration. Those of us who remember the past must share this information, lest we make the Santayana quote a self-fulfilling prophecy for USM."

I fully agree -- I'm amazed now that our changes have been so drastic over the past three years that in my department I am now the fifth senior most faculty member . . . . and suddenly the years from 1998, when I came here, until just a year ago are ancient history already to some who have just come on board . . .


It probably is time, for those to know, to share the hidden histories. Personally, I'm less interested in the tabloid issues than how the lessons of the past, either applied to individuals or to the institution as a whole, were ignored and disregarded in order to achieve this Presidency. I'd still like to know the COMPLETE story behind Shelby's move from member of the search committee to candidate -- did no one on that committee raise the flag of insider information? At what point was the decision made to put him in the pool? How many candidates were there when he jumped in and had be seen them already? I xcould be wrong, but THIS story expecially needs to be told because we need to have a Presdiential search this time that is far more transparent and honest than the last one was . . .  so we need to understand how that search was rigged, how the IHL apparently had come to some agreement about the direction of USM and the type of President it wanted and yet apparently no one outside the IHL was ever allowed to know these criteria. It makes the last search now appear to be as much a sham as some of us believed it was at the time.


Thanks again OldTimer.



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Joker

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quote:
Originally posted by: Batman
" Joker, you've probably thought about this, but I want to ask it anyway. If it is true that "SFT never wanted to be president," why did he ask for another year? I suppose the Riddler would say that it because he's having too much fun. What say ye? Batman"

I'm sure it must be for the same reason he became president.  His supporters and the IHL convinced him that he, and he alone, could save USM.  Duty called.  Because of SACS probation he is needed now more than ever.  Staying for one more year was to let the IHL save face. 



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Ray Folse

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quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
" ... how the IHL apparently had come to some agreement about the direction of USM and the type of President it wanted and yet apparently no one outside the IHL was ever allowed to know these criteria. ... "
This bothers me the most, Stephen.  How could the Board and SFT Thames decide on the future "Goals" of the institution without consulting the strategic plan or the faculty?  I believe that first step was in violation of SACS principles.  Since when is it good management to have a "double-secret" strategic plan developed by someone who knows nothing about SACS, and couldn't care less about it, and a Board of lay people with no knowledge of academic principles.  I guess they lived in the big house on the plantation so long they hadn't heard about the Academic way of doing business.  

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oldtimer

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quote:

Originally posted by: stephen judd
"I'd still like to know the COMPLETE story behind Shelby's move from member of the search committee to candidate -- did no one on that committee raise the flag of insider information? At what point was the decision made to put him in the pool? How many candidates were there when he jumped in and had be seen them already? I xcould be wrong, but THIS story expecially needs to be told because we need to have a Presdiential search this time that is far more transparent and honest than the last one was . . .  so we need to understand how that search was rigged, how the IHL apparently had come to some agreement about the direction of USM and the type of President it wanted and yet apparently no one outside the IHL was ever allowed to know these criteria. It makes the last search now appear to be as much a sham as some of us believed it was at the time. Thanks again OldTimer. "



At the risk of "outing" myself, I was part of the Faculty Senate at the time of the last search, so I hope that none of my former colleagues will reveal who I am.  At the time of the search, the campus was strongly divided, with the (perhaps mistaken) perception that Horace Fleming had diverted funds from the VPAA (now the Provost) to the "Office of Technology Research", so we were encouraged when IHL announced their optimal candidate would be a "uniter" to bring the campus back together.


However, the "search consultants" from Korn/Ferry in Dallas didn't seem to ask for ANY input from campus constituencies, and their "final four" candidates included:


* One university administrator from Utah, who immediately recused himself from consideration, saying "I was honored to be recruited, but I really had no interest in this position." 


* One California university administrator, who came to Hattiesburg direct from an interview at another university, and who clearly was using USM as a "safety second choice" should the other presidency not be offered to her.


* One administrator from Ohio, who had a good campus interview, and was interested in the university.


* SFT, the "inside candidate" who scared the campus into silence, based on his previous terms as COST Dean, Vice-President for Extended Services, and Executive Vice-President.  When he was directly responsible for administration of the USM Gulf Park Campus, there was an incident which is best discussed by others, but which cemented his reputation as a micro-manager.


Not exactly an overwhelming group of candidates, and when "four became three" campus representatives tried to get Don Cotten added to the "short list" as an internal candidate with experience as a professor, department chair, and vice-president, along with a term in Jackson in an educational organization and lobbying firm.  Kind of sounds like the "experienced uniter" the IHL wanted, but there was zero interest from Board members in "reinstating" Dr. Cotten's candidacy, so it was pretty obvious that "the fix was in," and everyone here knows the rest of the story that ensued.



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Third Witch

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Thanks for that excellent recap. Is the incident best described by others the one where Dr. Byron Smith was removed as director or advisor of the pre-med program, and was notified by finding his things in the hallway and his office either locked or just empty?
I've always loved the considerate, professional way Shelby deals with personnel issues, don't you?

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stinky cheese man

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couple of other observations. first, tim hudson applied for the job and didn't make it to the first round of interviews.

second, although don cotten was my "horse in the race" he told some he didn't do well in the interview with the board. at the same time his administrative experience was pretty much limited to vp for research. he hadn't been a department chair, hadn't been dean much, and he didn't have much experience with tenure and promotion issues. his vitae was weak in research and publications--when he returned from the private sector the graduate council refused to recommend him for graduate faculty status because of his vitae. don't know how that played with the board.

third, both the search that produced fleming and the one that produced thames occurred while miss. state was also going through or about to go through a presidential search. some said that the board wanted to get our search done quickly so they could move to the more "important" search.

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Magnolia

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quote:
Originally posted by: Third Witch
"I've always loved the considerate, professional way Shelby deals with personnel issues, don't you?"
For years there have been lots of Shelby Thames stories around campus.  One I've always wondered about is the one where he is supposed to have fired a custodian on the spot for speaking to him.  Does anyone know if this one is true?

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Third Witch

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RE: RE: RE: RE: SFT "never wanted to be president?
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quote:
Originally posted by: Magnolia
"For years there have been lots of Shelby Thames stories around campus.  One I've always wondered about is the one where he is supposed to have fired a custodian on the spot for speaking to him.  Does anyone know if this one is true?"


I was told that story on several occasions. What about the parking space one? I forget the details, it seems trivial now. Parking in handicap spots, or having grad students park his car, or something.

What's the common thread in every story: "The rules don't apply to me. I am better than you. You'd better do what I say or else." True megalomania.

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More stories

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RE: SFT "never wanted to be president?"
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There also was one about an African American female custodian in the dome that he had removed. He didn't want her, so she was fired. And she was close to retirement.

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oldtimer

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RE: SFT "never wanted to be president?
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quote:
Originally posted by: Third Witch
"What about the parking space one? I forget the details, it seems trivial now. Parking in handicap spots, or having grad students park his car, or something. What's the common thread in every story: "The rules don't apply to me. I am better than you. You'd better do what I say or else." True megalomania."
I think you're referring to the fact that his common practice was to "temporarily" park in the handicap space behind the Polymer Science Building, saving him the "long" walk from a faculty parking space, and then send one of his graduate students to move his car to an appropriate location.  Funny how he never got ticketed.  Once again, this is an apocryphal story, but one heard from multiple persons.

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stephen judd

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And the moral of the story would be treat people well, don't stomp on those who work for you, don't disrespect those who are working in lesser jobs. People do talk, memories and long - and they will catch up to you.


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Antoine

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RE: SFT "never wanted to be president?"
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SFT is a control freak "par excellence."  Talk about "memories long"?  When one of his cronies was awarded an Innovation award (not this year), photography hit the papers in no time showing the awardee and president in congratulatory mode.  Yet, when Teaching Excellence winners in the same year were awarded at a luncheon, nothing hit the tabloids, even though cameras were used.  No doubt, it had to do with who the winners were, especially the winner of the Grand Marshall prize.  The same has occurred this year:  The Innovation Awards went to 3 or more detractors.  Photos were shot.  Has anyone seen these in the H-A?  He wants to control every inch of the place ... He never wanted to be prez?  Please ....   

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Outside Observer

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I completely believe he did not want to be president...he sure acted like it!

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BT

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when sft says he "never wanted to be president" maybe it's a recoginition on his part, at some level of awareness, though he'll probably never admit to it, that he was a poor president to say the very least. i think he just says that because he still doesn't want to take full responsibility for what's happening.

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Fun with Numbers

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According to the American Council on Education, the average term of a university president is 6.6 years.  Guess who will be lowering the average, even if he serves out his last two years?


 



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