HA: A must read from Hardee Henderson - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 7, 2005

HA: A must read from Hardee Henderson

Date: Jun 7, 2005

So, that will be a contribution from USM of $310,000,000 today (2005), and one of $555,000,000 in 2015. By 2017, it's at $624,000,000. Am I right?

Date: Jun 7, 2005

yes, so long as you remembered to transpose backwards.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

USM only "gives" to Hattiesburg the bare minimum funds that any university throws off. Sure, people come to Hattiesburg for USM football games, but how many stay overnight in a motel or even eat a meal in a restaurant? USM schedules its games on every days of the week when having them on Saturday night would maximize the number of people staying in town overnight. USM does this to make money for itself by playing these crazy scheduled games. Sounds like USM is looking out for USM, not Hattiesburg. USM schedules graduation on Fridays, when parents will most likely have to take off from work to attend their child's graduation. Why not have graduation on a Saturday so that working people won't have to take a vacation day? Saturday graduations might attract more overnight stays as well. USM rushes through graduation so that SFT can turn out another batch of alumni association members who will give money to USM. Sounds like USM is looking out for USM, not Hattiesburg residents (families and friends of graduates). USM does very little philanthropic work, has very few programs designed to give back to the community, and expects to do an end-run around the local government to get the USM bond issue passed. Two words: Vote Dupree.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

I have sat through a couple of graduations and thought there could be room for improvement. Why don't we have one ceremony and make it spectacular? And make it on Saturday, as suggested. (Ever try to leave campus after the afternoon commencement?) Perhaps this has been tried or discussed before. I have only my own graduation to go by, but we had one ceremony, and only the graduate degrees crossed the stage. The honor undergraduates stood by colleges and were recognized that way. I remember it being a dignified, meaningful ceremony, although I kept having to answer my 3 year old's question "but why do mothers have to grad-u-ate?"

Date: Jun 7, 2005

The answer is quite simple as to why there is not only one graduation ceremony in May and December. The number of graduates and folks sitting in the stands more than filled the colleseum. I can remember the last time there was only one ceremony in May. The graduation committee and administrators were afraid that the Fire Marshall would shut down the graduation as the aisles between the graduates were too narrow and didn't meet code. The bleachers were so full that people were sitting on the steps and again the numbers exceeded fire codes. That was when we went to 2 separate ceremonies. Having two shortened the time it took to award degrees. The single ceremony was way too long. In the early 80s when there was a Saturday morning ceremony in the colleseum with the commmencement speaker. Lasted about an hour or so. Then, each college held its own ceremony at which time students walked across the stage. Problem here was only the colleseum was large enough to accomdate the grads, families, faculty and only one college could use the colleseum at a time. Many family members couldn't get in the buildings to see their graduate(s) walk. I can remember faculty (I was in LA) being dismissed as there was not enough room for families and friends let alone the faculty.

I agree that returning to graduation ceremonies on Saturday would be a good idea.
By the way, it has been many years since the ceremonies were dignified. They always seem to turn into a rodeo type atmosphere!

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Thanks, I wasn't thinking of the space constraints. Someone else has mentioned having college-level ceremonies for hooding. Has that ever been tried?

Date: Jun 7, 2005

LVN wrote:

Thanks, I wasn't thinking of the space constraints. Someone else has mentioned having college-level ceremonies for hooding. Has that ever been tried?

I believe this is the way it's done at Vandy...but we have less students overall, so it's not comparable.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

truth4usm/AH wrote:

I believe this is the way it's done at Vandy...but we have less students overall, so it's not comparable.

What's this? Vanderbilt has fewer students than USM? But...but...doesn't size matter? It's right here somewhere in the Gospel According to Shelboo. Size is all that matters. I'll search the tome and find the specific citation. I'll get back to you. I promise.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

LVN wrote:

Someone else has mentioned having college-level ceremonies for hooding. Has that ever been tried?

We were thinking about having something like say a drive-in window. Students could receive their diplomas much more quickly that way. One college could use McDonalds drive thru, one could use Burger King, another could use Krystal. Each dean would do the honors. I can't wait to see which dean will use Smoothies.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Problem Solver wrote:

LVN wrote: Someone else has mentioned having college-level ceremonies for hooding. Has that ever been tried? We were thinking about having something like say a drive-in window. Students could receive their diplomas much more quickly that way. One college could use McDonalds drive thru, one could use Burger King, another could use Krystal. Each dean would do the honors. I can't wait to see which dean will use Smoothies.

You just exposed the plan, Problem Solver. Now you know why the Trent Lott Economic Development building is going up on Hwy 49. The final plans call for signs on I-59 directing Ph.D. candidates onto 49 so they can go through the drive thru of the Trent Lott center on their way to the coast. It's best if you call ahead so the ink will be dry on the diploma when you drive through.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Problem Solver wrote:

We were thinking about having something like say a drive-in window. Students could receive their diplomas much more quickly that way. One college could use McDonalds drive thru, one could use Burger King, another could use Krystal. Each dean would do the honors. I can't wait to see which dean will use Smoothies.

This is an absolutely brilliant idea--McDiplomas. Given the added economy of this schema, each student could be handed, without any additional out-of-pocket expense to USM, a diploma, a Golden Revelry T-shirt, and a genuine Aramark hot dog with chili and onions for the drive home. No muss, no fuss, no parking problems, just drive through your designated window and then get the hell out of Dodge.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Jaded Prof wrote:

each student could be handed, without any additional out-of-pocket expense to USM, a diploma, a Golden Revelry T-shirt, and a genuine Aramark hot dog with chili and onions for the drive home. No muss, no fuss, no parking problems, just drive through your designated window and then get the hell out of Dodge.

And the lucky graduate who has the winning number on the cash register receipt will receive a coupon for a tank full of hi octane gas so they can get out town quickly.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Zoom wrote:

Jaded Prof wrote: each student could be handed, without any additional out-of-pocket expense to USM, a diploma, a Golden Revelry T-shirt, and a genuine Aramark hot dog with chili and onions for the drive home. No muss, no fuss, no parking problems, just drive through your designated window and then get the hell out of Dodge.

And the lucky graduate who has the winning number on the cash register receipt will receive a coupon for a tank full of hi octane gas so they can get out town quickly.

That's the spirit.

Date: Jun 7, 2005

Is Hardee Henderson THE Hardee of the Hardee's burger chain? If so, I'd think he/she would embrace the proposals advanced by Jaded Prof and others. Hardee's could probably squeeze a little extra revenue from renting out their drive-in window at commencement, so long as Shelboo was assured a cut of the action.