Where's SFT? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Sep 3, 2005

Where's SFT?

Date: Sep 4, 2005

WDAM, that is.

There's a man named Arnie Wilson from Mississippi Power who has been on the TV every day giving updates. Representatives from the local hospitals have also been on the air daily. Johnny Dupree and the Mayors/Supervisors from other areas have checked in daily. Where is Shelby Thames?

You might say but those are essential services. I respond then what about Billy Hudson who spoke on behalf of Hudson's? There have been representatives from all the major (and many minor) employers in the area. I repeat, where is Shelby Thames?

His lack of leadership is beyond the pale.

Date: Sep 4, 2005

Your anti-Thames bias is showing through. Has the CEO of Forrest General been on TV a lot? How about the CEO of Wesley Medical? These are businesses of public concern. Thames issued a public statement as to when school would start back. He is working to ready USM for reopening. He is probably handling some USMGC damage assessment. Do you want him to stop and hand out ice and make a nice statement.

The Mayor, the Governor, state legislators, US Congressmen, etc., should be taking the public eye.

By the way, did anyone notice that Crofts backed up Thames' decision to reopen in the HA? I think your bias has caused that to be glossed over.

Date: Sep 4, 2005

Yup, sure did notice Crofts statement(s). There have been several since Katrina, including the one that said he had no information from USM officials as of 11:00ish am on Friday. Then there was the one that expressed concern for people in South Mississippi. Crofts is a class act and truly a wonderful contrast - thanks for bringing it to the fore.

Date: Sep 4, 2005

Talonical wrote:

Your anti-Thames bias is showing through. Has the CEO of Forrest General been on TV a lot? How about the CEO of Wesley Medical? These are businesses of public concern. Thames issued a public statement as to when school would start back. He is working to ready USM for reopening. He is probably handling some USMGC damage assessment. Do you want him to stop and hand out ice and make a nice statement. The Mayor, the Governor, state legislators, US Congressmen, etc., should be taking the public eye. By the way, did anyone notice that Crofts backed up Thames' decision to reopen in the HA? I think your bias has caused that to be glossed over.

Thames bias is not the issue. Every Pinebelt area college president from Carey to Jones Jr College (with the exception of PRCC) as well as Hattiesburgs School officials and Jones County School officials were on TV giving a status report by Tuesday. Where was SFT? Granted we had the USM Police Chief on tv, but "where" was SFT? If SFT wanted to make an impression on student, faculty, staff and the public at large he should have been in front of the cameras Tuesday instead of the Campus Police Chief. If you review the University Emergency Response document that is on the webpage, the president is the "emergency response director", the LEADER; the campus police chief is the "emergency reponse coordinator who follows the lead of the DIRECTOR. Except for a brief interview on Saturday, SFT has been absence. I've seen more of Joe Paul on tv talking about USM then I've seen SFT. If SFT is doing a USMGC assessment, where's the "report"? Where is the leadership? Answer me that......

Date: Sep 4, 2005

He's on vacation in Texas. Isn't that where he was when everything fell apart several times a year or two ago?

Date: Sep 4, 2005

You people are hopeless. Your hatred for Thames has you looking for "reports" on the USMGC campus. That "report" is at least a week away. You have no idea how to run a university, yet you continually tell Thames how to do his job.

Date: Sep 4, 2005

SFT wasn't a good leader to begin with. I don't understand why some of you guys expect him to be one now.