The State of Mississippi responds for me - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 14, 2005

The State of Mississippi responds for me

Date: Jul 14, 2005

I hope your predictions come true. This has lifted my spirits today. I am already in the process of organizing a group of Hattiesburg citizens to sign and deliver a petition to Jackson that supports extending President Thames' contract for the full four year term that he and USM so deserve. We have well over 2,000 signatures and want 10,000. We will take back our school. Add this to the positive things that are happening with USM. A concerned and involved local community.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

You will TAKE BACK your school? Excuse me? You HAVE your school, at least for two more years.
2,000 signatures? Gimme a break.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Will be on campus at the beginning of Fall collecting a special student signatures petition. The goal is once again several thousand. Yes, 2000 and growing.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Son, have you taken a good look at ole Shelboo lately? Five more years?

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Just out of curosity exactly what is happening positive at USM?

Tell me a building project that has started during Shelby's term?

Enrollment? Make sure you have the correct number of students?

Stewardship of funds? (dont forget the failed firings of professors)

General adminstration? (drop in USNWR university rankings, who was supposed to respond)

Accredation? (how does that work, which office is in charge?)

External Funding? Again, a true picture is important, corp grants and government grants

National/International faculty recognition? Where are they? (MSU & OM cherish faculty recognition)

Student Academics? Do we have open enrollment? What is the average entering ACT score?

Now tell me all of the positives you see at USM (now just for smiles, dont mention polymer science, that is another entire discussion)

I am not a faculty member or have I ever been a faculty member(at any university) but I do hold a degree from USM, with that said open the gates of good times.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Happy, I notice you don't have an answer yet. And you won't, because there is no answer to your challenge. The truth is, our school has been ravaged and nearly destroyed. The only positive things we can say are that if we can hold on two more years, there is a chance of rebuilding from the rubble. I personally don't think ST can restrain himself from stupid actions for two more years, nor do I think his health is up to it.
I hope to be able to help rebuild, but two years is a long time for some of us to wait.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Simple. Just like in the military, you need to break people down to build them back up into strong soldiers. Shleby deserves the opportunity to build from the necessary destruction of the outdated ways of USM. By ousting him early, we miss out on the opportunity to complete the "work in progress." Did you see in today's HA that coast courses are full speed ahead? Shelby is bringing magic to one of Mississippi's most essential industries. Bravo.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

We will take back our school

You must think it's Halloween and are disguised in a Colonel Rebel costume.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

I don't understand why hundreds of lives had to be "destroyed" in order to "build" -- and why the military is in any way analagous to USM's situation. I'm wracking my brain trying to think of any other university in the United States which has had to be "destroyed" in order to be "rebuilt."

And FYI, the coast casino initiative is not an SFT initiative either.
We're still waiting for a list of accomplishments.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

We will not get to see the full fruit of his accomplishments because he is being removed too soon. The new president will take all the credit for moving USM to tier 1 status and becoming the largest university in the state, with the highest paid faculty, lowest teacher-student ratio, the best and most abundant library resources, along with the best little jazz club that gets those in Cook library out of their seats and into the stacks when they pump up the volume during those late night study sessions. The dome will be renamed SFT, mark my words.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

ROTFLOL!!!

Now THAT'S satire at its best, and we didn't even need the alert!

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

We will not get to see the full fruit of his accomplishments because he is being removed too soon. The new president will take all the credit for moving USM to tier 1 status and becoming the largest university in the state, with the highest paid faculty, lowest teacher-student ratio, the best and most abundant library resources, along with the best little jazz club that gets those in Cook library out of their seats and into the stacks when they pump up the volume during those late night study sessions. The dome will be renamed SFT, mark my words.

Now we warned you about drinking so early in the day. I hope you don't have to drive any where.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

We will not get to see the full fruit of his accomplishments because he is being removed too soon. The new president will take all the credit for moving USM to tier 1 status and becoming the largest university in the state, with the highest paid faculty, lowest teacher-student ratio, the best and most abundant library resources, along with the best little jazz club that gets those in Cook library out of their seats and into the stacks when they pump up the volume during those late night study sessions. The dome will be renamed SFT, mark my words.

Lets move to Shelby's business model. How many CEO's get more than 3 years to "rebuild" a company?

I know you guys are having fun about the Shelby extension and I too, find humor in the idea of Shelby having an extension.

In fact as I think about it a little, I find it quite funny that Shelby will be in his present position this time tomorrow.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

I hope your predictions come true. This has lifted my spirits today. I am already in the process of organizing a group of Hattiesburg citizens to sign and deliver a petition to Jackson that supports extending President Thames' contract for the full four year term that he and USM so deserve. We have well over 2,000 signatures and want 10,000. We will take back our school. Add this to the positive things that are happening with USM. A concerned and involved local community.

If you can get 2000 people to sign a petition no one has heard of, why can't you get a few folks to vote in the HA online polls, which Shelby routinely loses by margins of 90%?

I'd love to see how your alleged "petition" is worded. Do you mind telling us? Try wording it this way and see how many signatures you get:

"We, the undersigned, are extremely happy with the results Shelby Thames has brought to USM in the last several years, including the drop in tier ranking, the national embarrassment, and the loss of at least $500,000 in taxpayers' money."

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

Simple. Just like in the military, you need to break people down to build them back up into strong soldiers. Shleby deserves the opportunity to build from the necessary destruction of the outdated ways of USM. By ousting him early, we miss out on the opportunity to complete the "work in progress." Did you see in today's HA that coast courses are full speed ahead? Shelby is bringing magic to one of Mississippi's most essential industries. Bravo.

Hey Towner,

How about describing your ideal of a university for us. Can you point to a school that actually exemplifes that ideal? I mean a university, not a trade school, technical college, or institute of cosmetology.

Date: Jul 14, 2005

Towner wrote:

We will not get to see the full fruit of his accomplishments because he is being removed too soon. The new president will take all the credit for moving USM to tier 1 status and becoming the largest university in the state, with the highest paid faculty, lowest teacher-student ratio, the best and most abundant library resources, along with the best little jazz club that gets those in Cook library out of their seats and into the stacks when they pump up the volume during those late night study sessions. The dome will be renamed SFT, mark my words.

OK, Towner, now I realize that you are pulling our legs. Sorry I didn't catch the joke sooner. Good one!

Date: Jul 15, 2005

USM Sympathizer wrote:

If you can get 2000 people to sign a petition no one has heard of, why can't you get a few folks to vote in the HA online polls, which Shelby routinely loses by margins of 90%?
I'd love to see how your alleged "petition" is worded. Do you mind telling us? Try wording it this way and see how many signatures you get:
"We, the undersigned, are extremely happy with the results Shelby Thames has brought to USM in the last several years, including the drop in tier ranking, the national embarrassment, and the loss of at least $500,000 in taxpayers' money."

Your statement about online polls is irrelevant, because everyone knows that the IHL doesn't consult the archived HA polls when making decisions -- your premise here is so weak that Joe Weider couldn't build it up.

Your statements about rankings are also irrelevant. Nobody (outside of USM faculty) cares about any ranking except the football team's ranking.

When will you idiots realize that nobody cares about your "academic freedom" and "shared governance" whining? Just do what your boss tells you to do and keep your mouth shut. You get paid to teach classes and do research that makes me (a taxpayer) better off. I heard Dr. Thames has a file cabinet full of files on faculty who do not perform their assigned job duties and that when SACS probation is lifted this fall, many will be given notice of termination. That's why none of you have contracts yet. I say good for Thames. Get rid of the losers who would rather talk to the HA than talk to a student.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

formatee' wrote:

USM Sympathizer wrote: If you can get 2000 people to sign a petition no one has heard of, why can't you get a few folks to vote in the HA online polls, which Shelby routinely loses by margins of 90%? I'd love to see how your alleged "petition" is worded. Do you mind telling us? Try wording it this way and see how many signatures you get: "We, the undersigned, are extremely happy with the results Shelby Thames has brought to USM in the last several years, including the drop in tier ranking, the national embarrassment, and the loss of at least $500,000 in taxpayers' money." Your statement about online polls is irrelevant, because everyone knows that the IHL doesn't consult the archived HA polls when making decisions -- your premise here is so weak that Joe Weider couldn't build it up. Your statements about rankings are also irrelevant. Nobody (outside of USM faculty) cares about any ranking except the football team's ranking. When will you idiots realize that nobody cares about your "academic freedom" and "shared governance" whining? Just do what your boss tells you to do and keep your mouth shut. You get paid to teach classes and do research that makes me (a taxpayer) better off. I heard Dr. Thames has a file cabinet full of files on faculty who do not perform their assigned job duties and that when SACS probation is lifted this fall, many will be given notice of termination. That's why none of you have contracts yet. I say good for Thames. Get rid of the losers who would rather talk to the HA than talk to a student.

Trolls are out. Don't feed the trolls.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

Formatee', the petition is for real and our hopes for SFT continuuing ardent. As I said before, we need to take back our school that has been taken over by lazy ne'er do well professors. Shelby will rise again. I'm recruiting student volunteers to gather the student signatures the first couple of weeks of school.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

Towner,

That's great news. I work on campus and have to deal with these crybabies all the time. If you want some help, just give me a call at 601-266-6525.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

Towner wrote:

Formatee', the petition is for real and our hopes for SFT continuuing ardent. As I said before, we need to take back our school that has been taken over by lazy ne'er do well professors. Shelby will rise again. I'm recruiting student volunteers to gather the student signatures the first couple of weeks of school.

I suggest you contact the freshman. The juniors and seniors have been around too long and know what SFT has done to this university.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

I wonder if that student who was shouted at during the 2002 interviews is still around?

Date: Jul 15, 2005

LVN wrote:

I wonder if that student who was shouted at during the 2002 interviews is still around?

She was shouting because she was thrilled to see you. We call that the Howard Dean reflex.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

That reply makes no sense. I was referring to the student who was shouted AT by Dr. Thames when he was being interviewed on the Coast in 2002. It was a shocking display to those who witnessed it. There were accounts in the newspaper if you need to refresh your memory.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

LVN wrote:

That reply makes no sense. I was referring to the student who was shouted AT by Dr. Thames when he was being interviewed on the Coast in 2002. It was a shocking display to those who witnessed it.

I know it made no sense. But neither did yours. Thanks for clarifying what you were talking about.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

Yeooooooweeeeeee wrote:

I know it made no sense. But neither did yours. Thanks for clarifying what you were talking about.

Then why did you respond to a post you didn't understand? How can you respond? Do you just like to type random words?

Date: Jul 15, 2005

????? wrote:

Then why did you respond to a post you didn't understand? How can you respond? Do you just like to type random words?

Because I wanted LVN to clarify an equally ambiguous post. You will see that she did just that. Now buzz off.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

I didn't know what LVN meant by "I wonder if that student who was shouted at during the 2002 interviews is still around?" either. It made no sense to me. Now I do know.

Date: Jul 15, 2005

LVN wrote:

I wonder if that student who was shouted at during the 2002 interviews is still around?

If she's gone, we had nuttin' to do wit her disappearance. We don't do no hits for the likes of Shelby Thames. He's not connected.