Thames in CoB - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 2, 2005

Thames in CoB

Date: Aug 2, 2005

I didn't see this, but heard about it earlier. I found out that they came to JGH to see the boss, but he wasn't there. The golf carts sped away angrily.

Date: Aug 2, 2005

Funny thing! I work in the transportation dept. Dr. Thames Golf Cart didn't leave the building all day today. Infact it is broken. This can't be true.

Date: Aug 2, 2005

cart watcher wrote:

Funny thing! I work in the transportation dept. Dr. Thames Golf Cart didn't leave the building all day today. Infact it is broken. This can't be true.

What's new? A slow news day and "Behind Closed Doors" reports something only "talan" confirms. Do either of these posters have a tract record of reporting truth? This seems to be getting to be a habit around here.

Date: Aug 2, 2005

Or could it be that "cart watcher" doesn't really work in the transportation department?

Date: Aug 2, 2005

cart watcher wrote:

Infact it is broken.

I see cart watcher has taken typing lessons from stephen judd.

Date: Aug 2, 2005

Another thought...I have not seen "Behind Closed Doors" before, but "talan" has posted here with some regularity over the past few weeks/months. And no, I am not "Behind Closed Doors" nor am I "talan".

Additionally, "cart watcher" is a new name and contradicts the first two posters.

Question: Why is "cart watcher" automatically right and the first two posters automatically wrong?

Date: Aug 2, 2005

"Question: Why is "cart watcher" automatically right and the first two posters automatically wrong?"

i think you're starting off on false premises on a thread that shouldn't be taken seriously in the first place.

Date: Aug 2, 2005

I don't believe any of the lot, mainly because it's another COB let's-start-some-@#$% type posting. Just a little too neat that Lassen supposedly makes this remark in front of our poster.
Of course, the usual caveat applies -- this is USM and nothing is too strange to be true.

Date: Aug 3, 2005

From my reading, "talan" isn't confirming the story is true, only that he/she heard it happened. The original poster is the only one claiming firsthand knowledge of the alleged incident.

Date: Aug 4, 2005

A second golf cart on the grassy gnoll?

Date: Aug 4, 2005

There are so many golf carts on USM's campus that I keep waiting to hear somebody yell "fore!"

Thames is succeeding in turning USM into a "plant" with "managers" and "employees." Coming soon: the punchclock.

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Doubting Thomas wrote:

Coming soon: the punchclock.

DT, your use of the word "punchclock" conjures up some old memories. It's all very fuzzy to me these many years later, but deep in the recesses of my memory I seem to recall that there was a time when the coast faculty were required to account for virtually every minute of their time. I don't think punchclocks per se were used, but I do seem to recall something about a very detailed records keeping system required of the coast personnel. Does anyone recall the details? I'd be especially interested in knowing just who initiated that detailed records keeping system, and when and why it ended. Do any faculty or staff oldtimers remember anything like this?

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Coffe Break:

Nope, sorry, I can't help you with what you refer to on the coast. I have heard of it, but don't have first-hand knowledge.

However, I CAN say this about punchclocks: I consider myself a professional. I don't pay much attention to time per se. I don't think twice about bringing home a dissertation and spending 2 or more hours on a given night reading and editing it. I don't think twice about answering student or colleague's emails from home. I don't think twice about putting in a few hours on a Saturday morning or afternoon and likewise on many Sundays, etc. etc. etc. And, yeah, I may come in a little later on a given day here or there and I do occasionally go home a little earlier on a given day here or there.

But I can tell you this: THE DAY that some pinhead administrator institutes any sort of punchclock or logging in and out to account for my hours is the day that I will NEVER work outside of the "required" work hours. If the work doesn't get done between 8 and 5, then so be it. I can assure you, a ton of $hit won't get done!!!!!

Too many people on this campus readily give of themselves and their time "for the good" of their programs, students, colleagues, etc. If administrators think that turning professionals into a clock-punching automaton is going to increase efficiency they're sadly mistaken. I realize there's a slug here or there in most departments or areas, but I also know that most of my colleagues are damn hard-working folks who have the best interests of their students, colleagues, and programs at heart.

Edward

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Edward wrote:

I can tell you this: THE DAY that some pinhead administrator institutes any sort of punchclock or logging in and out to account for my hours is the day that I will NEVER work outside of the "required" work hours. If the work doesn't get done between 8 and 5, then so be it. I can assure you, a ton of $hit won't get done!!!!!

I'm with you, Edward. We'll work to contract. We'll punch in at 8:00 AM and punch out at 5:00 PM, forty-five minutes for lunch, two fifteen-minute coffee breaks each day, no weekends, no evenings - and only a fraction of the necessary work would get done. Surely somebody other than me recalls the time coast's keeping system I'm talking about. Has our institutional memory been completely washed out?

Date: Aug 4, 2005

I was told by a retired Coast professor (science field) that when Dr. Thames ran the show down there, they were required to account for their time in 15-minute increments. He also told me that if he left to go to the bathroom, he had to tell his secretary where he was going. Also, apparently it was customary for Dr. Thames to patrol shortly before 5 pm to make sure people were in their offices.

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Little old lady wrote:

I was told by a retired Coast professor (science field) that when Dr. Thames ran the show down there, they were required to account for their time in 15-minute increments. He also told me that if he left to go to the bathroom, he had to tell his secretary where he was going. Also, apparently it was customary for Dr. Thames to patrol shortly before 5 pm to make sure people were in their offices.

Was that before he got caught with his ... hand in the proverbial cookie jar?

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Edward, it sounds like you would have loved it!

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Are we there yet? wrote:

Edward, it sounds like you would have loved it!

Edward, I was referring to the structured environment described by little old lady.

Date: Aug 4, 2005

I understand that there is 1 department on campus that likes to have their employees keep up with their time in short increments. It is to understand where the allocated money is going.

Also, any post with CoB in the title should be questioned to its accuracy to begin with

Date: Aug 4, 2005

Not a clocker wrote:

any post with CoB in the title should be questioned to its accuracy to begin with

The title of this thread containing the term CoB was designated by the first poster. That doesn't necessarily invalidate subsequent posts on the thread. The topic of a thread frequently changes several times. Your assumption that any post with CoB in the title should be questioned for accurace is illogical. It sounds like you have a beef with CoB. Most of us are tired of CoB bickerings. That was last year's topic.

Date: Aug 5, 2005

Corn CoB wrote:

Your assumption that any post with CoB in the title should be questioned for accurace is illogical.

Any post with a title should be questioned for accuracy.