HA, 11/23/05: Research funding at Southern Miss reaches new heights - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Nov 23, 2005

HA, 11/23/05: Research funding at Southern Miss reaches new heights

Date: Nov 23, 2005

World-class?? I'd settle for state-class. I thought that wretched phrase had been allowed to fade away. Guess not.

Date: Nov 23, 2005

Remember that at USM "research” funding includes, besides research, contractual services, summer teacher training grants, federal pork projects and whatever else they decide to include this year. It's good that funding is up, but what percent is for research.

Date: Nov 23, 2005

Let's give this credit where it is due. It should go to Don Cotten who was brought back to USM from Jackson by Fleming. USM brought in 62 million in 2001. That's because there was some real leadership back then. Thames's figures are off.

Date: Nov 23, 2005

toga wrote:

Let's give this credit where it is due. It should go to Don Cotten who was brought back to USM from Jackson by Fleming. USM brought in 62 million in 2001. That's because there was some real leadership back then. Thames's figures are off.

Credit is ok for Dr.Cotten,but please no credit forThames. That would be completely contrary to the tenor of this board.

Date: Nov 23, 2005

Just the Facts wrote:

toga wrote:
Let's give this credit where it is due. It should go to Don Cotten who was brought back to USM from Jackson by Fleming. USM brought in 62 million in 2001. That's because there was some real leadership back then. Thames's figures are off.
Credit is ok for Dr.Cotten,but please no credit forThames. That would be completely contrary to the tenor of this board.

Of course it is. This board STARTED as "FireShelby" -- criminy, what do you expect? I usually believe in rising above, playing fair, and all that, but SFT has done nothing to deserve "fairness" from the staff, faculty, students, and community he disdains. This announcement is mostly smoke and mirrors, number games -- typical Shelby spin. If it was honest, we would be more inclined to "fairness."

Date: Nov 23, 2005

toga wrote:

Let's give this credit where it is due...to Don Cotten who was brought back to USM from Jackson by Fleming.

Fleming understood universities and he understood people. Those who participated in running him off should abstain from the next presidential search. You know who you are. Please, don't even open your mouths when the search begins. USM has experienced enough havoc.

Date: Nov 24, 2005

The full story in Thursday's paper, but without any quotes from Thames:

http://hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051124/NEWS01/511240306/1002

Research aid tops $75M at USM

Date: Nov 24, 2005

info wrote:

The full story in Thursday's paper, but without any quotes from Thames: http://hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051124/NEWS01/511240306/1002 Research aid tops $75M at USM

I thank Cecil for giving credit to our faculty for this accomplishment. Cecil is an "old timer" around here, as was Don. Our real big jump in funding came under those two in the previous two administrations (and let's give credit to SPA, formerly known as ORSP, and Connie Wyldmon's team). These folks got that snowball rolling. There was a highly optimistic can-do attitude at USM at the time; it was a period of tremendous culture change in our university's self-identity. I recall when Don used to prowl the hallways looking for faculty to cubbyhole -- to hear their research ideas and to try to match them up to funding sources. It was still a time when the liberal arts and the performing arts were cheered on and valued for their intrinsic worth. Even Cecil seemed less dour (hard to believe!). Contagious enthusiasm and trust are wonderful attributes in university leaders.

There were many others who moved us forward--Karen Yarbrough, Andy Griffin, Steve Doblin, and so on. Dr. Shelby F. Thames also played an important role in that culture change. Despite my extreme disappointment with Dr. Thames' tenure as President, the research infrastructure he developed just across the street from my office is an extraordinarily impressive accomplishment, and reflects a life time of hard work and dedication to his field.

Date: Nov 24, 2005

Round pegs fit just fine in round holes and square pegs fit just fine in square holes. Put a square peg into a round hole, however, and there'll be problems. Southern Miss has a long history of putting the wrong pegs in its holes.