Thames never wanted Presidency, Inherited It

Scott James, Reporter Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

After more than three years of strife, USM's embattled President Shelby F. Thames says never wanted the university's Presidency.  "I was happy in the lab at the time, playing with polymers.  The presidency came to me, I never sought it," explained Thames in a phone interview with statewide media on Monday.  That presidency has come at considerable cost to the university according to some, and last week the IHL board struck a deal with Thames that will send the scientist back to the lab in May of 2007.

"I want to emphasize two things.  One, I never wanted this position,  I was simply the best person to serve as change agent for the IHL.  Two, I am not in any way retiring in May of 2007.  I will return to my lab, in my building [there on the campus], and resume my research work.  And three, I don't harbor any ill-will or hard feelings toward faculty naysayers who made my job impossible to do over the past three years," Thames explained to reporters via phone conference. 

When asked when he knew of the IHL's desire to have him serve, Thames said it was during the first (organizational) meeting of the presidential search committee.  "The search committee was holding its first meeting.  Although I was a member of that committee as a member of polymer science department, I was actually over at Carl Nicholson's office across the street from campus [instead of at that committee meeting].  It was then that I was offered the job as president, as change agent," Thames detailed.  Asked if he felt the board had made the right choice, Thames explained that he thought it had, even though he didn't want the job.  "We've done some good things since 2002 --- we've moved forward, and I take credit for that.  As for the other things, such as SACS probation issues and the like, well .... I didn't ask for the job, didn't want the job," Thames stated.

Others in the community expressed shock at the resignation decision.  "I just don't see how the University can keep going now," Jan Macy, owner of Copy Cats said.  "When he [Thames] took over, things were terrible.  I heard the university had a debt of $3.1 billion.  Dr. Thames cleaned that off in short order with new grants and contracts.  We really need him to stay around."

Others, like political operative Bonnie Drews, agree.  "Dr. Thames really streamlined the faculty out there.  It's hard to believe, but before he [Thames] took over the school, we actually had dozens of professors in the English Department.  I mean, it's our native language, we all speak it.  What do we need PhDs in that for?" Drews asked.  "The same with history.  What's done is done, why worry about stuff in the past?  It's old news.  Now, we're moving forward with an agenda of technology and science.  Professors in these liberal arts areas are moving on down the road.  I am afraid momentum in that effort will be lost now," Drews explained.

Thames used the press conference to assure members of the business community that momentum will not be lost in the areas of technology and related fields.  He also took the time to explain his decision to request an extension of his contract.  "I did it for several reasons.  One, I want to stick around until my VP of Finance [Gregg Lassen] gets his degree.  I also want to continue with construction projects that I've started, and I want to use the new plane a few more times.  But, in the end, I think I want to stick around because I'm having fun," Thames explained.