2005 graduation gift - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 31, 2005

2005 graduation gift

Date: Jun 1, 2005

sloan wrote:

has anyone heard the story that Thames and a few local business types bought Walt Cain a new car for his graduation?

Yes, that story is true. Remember the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, the little car shaped like a big weiner? Well, that's what Mr. Cain will be driving, an updated version of the Weinermobile. That's right, it's the new, improved, USM-Aramark Frankmobile, a 15 foot polymer hot dog on wheels, complete with a little bust of Shelby Thames as the hood ornament. Look for it in the big Hattiesburg 4th of July Parade....

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Every rumor I've ever heard about SFT involves him taking. I've never heard a single one that involves giving (well, besides giving grief, trouble, heartache, etc.)

Date: Jun 1, 2005

The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

oped wrote:

The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times.

Yes, you are correct, Sir. The largesse of Shelby F. Thames is legendary, as evidenced by the $400 per annum raises he "gave" USM faculty. That's all of, let's see....$33+ per month, before taxes. I stand in awe of his magnanimity.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

J. Beresford Tipton wrote:

oped wrote: The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times. Yes, you are correct, Sir. The largesse of Shelby F. Thames is legendary, as evidenced by the $400 per annum raises he "gave" USM faculty. That's all of, let's see....$33+ per month, before taxes. I stand in awe of his magnanimity.

$33+ per month is a bunch to us lowly janitors

Date: Jun 1, 2005

not just faculty wrote:

J. Beresford Tipton wrote: oped wrote: The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times. Yes, you are correct, Sir. The largesse of Shelby F. Thames is legendary, as evidenced by the $400 per annum raises he "gave" USM faculty. That's all of, let's see....$33+ per month, before taxes. I stand in awe of his magnanimity. $33+ per month is a bunch to us lowly janitors

Gimme a break. My 16 year old son gets $35 to mow and trim a residential lawn, and he can do most yards in a bit over an hour. That $33+ a month is considerably less than the increase in cost-of-living, and I doubt a "lowly janitor" would be any more excited about it than we are. Which makes me think I should do yard work in the summer instead of teaching courses. I'd probably come out ahead financially. Any of you rich USM professors need a good reliable yard boy with a Ph.D.?

Date: Jun 1, 2005

junior faculty wrote:

not just faculty wrote: J. Beresford Tipton wrote: oped wrote: The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times. Yes, you are correct, Sir. The largesse of Shelby F. Thames is legendary, as evidenced by the $400 per annum raises he "gave" USM faculty. That's all of, let's see....$33+ per month, before taxes. I stand in awe of his magnanimity. $33+ per month is a bunch to us lowly janitors Gimme a break. My 16 year old son gets $35 to mow and trim a residential lawn, and he can do most yards in a bit over an hour. That $33+ a month is considerably less than the increase in cost-of-living, and I doubt a "lowly janitor" would be any more excited about it than we are. Which makes me think I should do yard work in the summer instead of teaching courses. I'd probably come out ahead financially. Any of you rich USM professors need a good reliable yard boy with a Ph.D.?

Do you have a trimmer?

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Looking for an edge wrote:

Do you have a trimmer?

Yup, got a spankin' new electric Weedeater, and an environmentally correct mulching mower too. Maybe I should offer a symbolic discounted rate of $33 per residential yard to USM profs. I'd have to charge extra for engaging in light hearted repartee but there'd be no charge for gratuitous bitching about the sorry state of the IHL. Added bonus--I can, for a small additional fee, impress your neighbors by wearing khakis and an Izod shirt and driving my vintage BMW; I'm pretty sure the mower will fit in the trunk.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

junior faculty wrote:

I'd have to charge extra for engaging in light hearted repartee:

Then it looks like I already owe you...

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

Every rumor I've ever heard about SFT involves him taking. I've never heard a single one that involves giving (well, besides giving grief, trouble, heartache, etc.)

can you not stop loving me for one minute?

Date: Jun 1, 2005

junior faculty wrote:

not just faculty wrote: J. Beresford Tipton wrote: oped wrote: The newspapers all reported that he "gave" USM faculty raises --- this past summer, and at the mid year point a couple of times. Yes, you are correct, Sir. The largesse of Shelby F. Thames is legendary, as evidenced by the $400 per annum raises he "gave" USM faculty. That's all of, let's see....$33+ per month, before taxes. I stand in awe of his magnanimity. $33+ per month is a bunch to us lowly janitors Gimme a break. My 16 year old son gets $35 to mow and trim a residential lawn, and he can do most yards in a bit over an hour. That $33+ a month is considerably less than the increase in cost-of-living, and I doubt a "lowly janitor" would be any more excited about it than we are. Which makes me think I should do yard work in the summer instead of teaching courses. I'd probably come out ahead financially. Any of you rich USM professors need a good reliable yard boy with a Ph.D.?

you sir, are an a$$hole! - $33 is my cable bill and when you fight to make ends meet because you make $16K a year $33 is a WAD of money.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

junior faculty wrote:

My 16 year old son gets $35 to mow and trim a residential lawn, and he can do most yards in a bit over an hour.

You son earning @ $35 per hour for doing yardwork will be too spoiled to enter the real world unless those lawns are a steep mountainside

Date: Jun 1, 2005

njf, lighten up. $33 is a lot of money for a lot of people. I didn't take junior faculty's comments as disparaging anyone, but rather that the raise was touted as being so great. It should have been a whole lot more for everybody.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Man, you must not get the full digital cable. If SFT cared, he would make sure you got the premium package, not some $hitty basic cable.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

I'll buy you a car, dad wrote:

junior faculty wrote:
My 16 year old son gets $35 to mow and trim a residential lawn, and he can do most yards in a bit over an hour.
You son earning @ $35 per hour for doing yardwork will be too spoiled to enter the real world unless those lawns are a steep mountainside

His son will understand gross vs. net, and the concept of "the cost of doing business." Everyone who thinks service workers charge too much should be self-employed for a while. One former relative in the heat & air business estimated that he cleared about a third of his charge, after taxes and expenses. Son may not be in a very high tax bracket, but an adult charging $35 hr would be clearing about $12 -$15.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

not just faculty wrote:

not just faculty wrote: you sir, are an a$$hole! - $33 is my cable bill and when you fight to make ends meet because you make $16K a year $33 is a WAD of money.

I'm not sure whether you're talking to me or Mr. Tipton. If it's me you're addressing, maybe I am an ah#$% but I don't think you're qualified to make that judgement. For what it's worth, I don't have cable service now because I think it's too expensive, and I'd suggest that if you're fighting to "make ends meet, perhaps you should reconsider whether cable TV is essential for you. I supported my wife and daughter on a combined income of less than $15,000 a year from a teaching assistantship and working nights as a janitor nights for six long years while in graduate school. It wasn't that long ago, and as I recall, we had no cable TV, no newspaper subscription, did not eat out, had no health insurance, and drove a crappy 12 year old car, so I'm not unfamiliar with living on a scant income. $33 a month is only a "WAD of money" if you spend it wisely. When you consider the increase in cost of living, and the huge raises and bonuses Thames handed out to his cronies (and daughter), 33 bucks a month is insulting, whether you're a janitor or a full professor.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Junior Faculty wrote:

not just faculty wrote: not just faculty wrote: you sir, are an a$$hole! - $33 is my cable bill and when you fight to make ends meet because you make $16K a year $33 is a WAD of money. I'm not sure whether you're talking to me or Mr. Tipton. If it's me you're addressing, maybe I am an ah#$% but I don't think you're qualified to make that judgement. For what it's worth, I don't have cable service now because I think it's too expensive, and I'd suggest that if you're fighting to "make ends meet, perhaps you should reconsider whether cable TV is essential for you. I supported my wife and daughter on a combined income of less than $15,000 a year from a teaching assistantship and working nights as a janitor nights for six long years while in graduate school. It wasn't that long ago, and as I recall, we had no cable TV, no newspaper subscription, did not eat out, had no health insurance, and drove a crappy 12 year old car, so I'm not unfamiliar with living on a scant income. $33 a month is only a "WAD of money" if you spend it wisely. When you consider the increase in cost of living, and the huge raises and bonuses Thames handed out to his cronies (and daughter), 33 bucks a month is insulting, whether you're a janitor or a full professor.

then you of all people should know the difference. $400 is rent, a car note, piano lessons, etc. for many people.

Im not really a janitor you know - its role playing; but the point is made. And, as stated above, your son isn't getting $35 for a yard in my neighborhood. So, I'll take the $400 and pay my child's dentist bill this month.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

not just faculty wrote: you sir, are an a$$hole! - then you of all people should know the difference. $400 is rent, a car note, piano lessons, etc. for many people. Im not really a janitor you know - its role playing; but the point is made. And, as stated above, your son isn't getting $35 for a yard in my neighborhood. So, I'll take the $400 and pay my child's dentist bill this month.

Role Playing huh? I doubt there are many janitors who earn as little as $16K. I just attended my 20th high school reunion. It was a major reality check. One former classmate, a registered physical therapist with a degree from OU medical school, left the medical profession and now has a lawn care business at which he earns almost twice what he'd made working at a major hospital. He told me that he had about 40 regular customers, plus more landscape and pruning "business" than he could possibly handle. He earns significantly more than I pull in as a junior faculty member at USM, and works fewer hours. Another old friend, a guy who barely finished high school has his own janitorial contracting business cleaning office buildings. He was driving a new Porsche Boxster, and told me that he could hardly keep up with the business that came his way. Why do I bring this up? Because there's not a lot of difference between the compensation of lower level university faculty members, and other members of the workforce, including janitors. In many cases, we probably earn less. Did I mention that my Dad worked his way through college as a janitor--7 years to earn his B.A. I'm not without sympathy for those who have to budget and struggle, I've been there, but I stand by my position that $400 a year is an insultingly meager amount, whether you're a professor or a janitor.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Junior Faculty wrote:

not just faculty wrote: you sir, are an a$$hole! - then you of all people should know the difference. $400 is rent, a car note, piano lessons, etc. for many people. Im not really a janitor you know - its role playing; but the point is made. And, as stated above, your son isn't getting $35 for a yard in my neighborhood. So, I'll take the $400 and pay my child's dentist bill this month.
Role Playing huh? I doubt there are many janitors who earn as little as $16K. I just attended my 20th high school reunion. It was a major reality check. One former classmate, a registered physical therapist with a degree from OU medical school, left the medical profession and now has a lawn care business at which he earns almost twice what he'd made working at a major hospital. He told me that he had about 40 regular customers, plus more landscape and pruning "business" than he could possibly handle. He earns significantly more than I pull in as a junior faculty member at USM, and works fewer hours. Another old friend, a guy who barely finished high school has his own janitorial contracting business cleaning office buildings. He was driving a new Porsche Boxster, and told me that he could hardly keep up with the business that came his way. Why do I bring this up? Because there's not a lot of difference between the compensation of lower level university faculty members, and other members of the workforce, including janitors. In many cases, we probably earn less. Did I mention that my Dad worked his way through college as a janitor--7 years to earn his B.A. I'm not without sympathy for those who have to budget and struggle, I've been there, but I stand by my position that $400 a year is an insultingly meager amount, whether you're a professor or a janitor.

Junior facutly, you're sadly uninformed ast to salaries at USM for staff. People with master's degrees make in the low to mid twenties. Secretarial and custodial salaries are an insult to adult human beings. However, people work for health insurance, good leave, and tuition. Plus it used to be a really nice place to work.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Sorry, don't know what happened to my typing. Many secretaries at USM make $8 hr.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

Junior facutly, you're sadly uninformed ast to salaries at USM for staff. People with master's degrees make in the low to mid twenties. Secretarial and custodial salaries are an insult to adult human beings. However, people work for health insurance, good leave, and tuition. Plus it used to be a really nice place to work.

That's true, I'm close to being completely ignorant of staff salaries, although I've heard mention of mid to high 20's being the range for staffers with longevity. If this is accurate or even in the ball park, then it's not that much lower than the salary for incoming faculty in certain departments, which I will not mention for fear of compromising myself. However, we seem to have strayed from my original point, which I may have expressed poorly. That is, in my opinion, with the monies available, considering the mega-raises and bonuses given some, raises were awarded inequitably. At most pay levels, $400 per year before taxes, after factoring inflation, is insufficient to maintain a standard of living and in many cases, represents a net decrease in compensation. I find it nothing short of insulting to hear and read of Dr. Thames crowing about the across-the-board raises he awarded. Think of the money he's pi$$ed away on bogus administrative salaries (Hanbury, the Dvoraks, Malone, ad nauseum), lawsuit settlements, and self aggrandizement. I am not pleased to receive, nor am I grateful for Thames' tablescraps.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Junior Faculty wrote:

I am not pleased to receive, nor am I grateful for Thames' tablescraps.

Amen brother (sister?) !

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Junior Faculty wrote:

Third Witch wrote:
Junior facutly, you're sadly uninformed ast to salaries at USM for staff. People with master's degrees make in the low to mid twenties. Secretarial and custodial salaries are an insult to adult human beings. However, people work for health insurance, good leave, and tuition. Plus it used to be a really nice place to work.
That's true, I'm close to being completely ignorant of staff salaries, although I've heard mention of mid to high 20's being the range for staffers with longevity. If this is accurate or even in the ball park, then it's not that much lower than the salary for incoming faculty in certain departments, which I will not mention for fear of compromising myself. However, we seem to have strayed from my original point, which I may have expressed poorly. That is, in my opinion, with the monies available, considering the mega-raises and bonuses given some, raises were awarded inequitably. At most pay levels, $400 per year before taxes, after factoring inflation, is insufficient to maintain a standard of living and in many cases, represents a net decrease in compensation. I find it nothing short of insulting to hear and read of Dr. Thames crowing about the across-the-board raises he awarded. Think of the money he's pi$$ed away on bogus administrative salaries (Hanbury, the Dvoraks, Malone, ad nauseum), lawsuit settlements, and self aggrandizement. I am not pleased to receive, nor am I grateful for Thames' tablescraps.

Now you've said it very well indeed.

Date: Jun 1, 2005

Maintenance staff with longevity at USM don't make much over minimum wage. Unfortunately most of them are stuck because of benefits- not just health insurance for many the tuition waiver is the only hope they have of their children having a better life. Many of them are able to work a second job because they come in early in the morning and leave by midafternoon. I think that very few people at USM are overpaid. A valid arguement can be made that we pay both staff and faculty at low rates. The difference is that faculty have a better voice for their concerns. How many people know that the maintenance staff get pulled to work at University get togethers or that they work on days that the rest of the staff get off? They don't have any real voice- in matters like those staff council is a joke. Not the people that are on it just the ability they have to make a change. There are senior secretaries who are nearing retirement who just barely make 20,000 but they know they should be glad to have it because when they leave the position will be re-written and posted at 14,000.