History Faculty wrote:

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In the main I really want to stay out of this one.  However, SJ -- I think that it is a bit much to speak of a department "dissolving around" grad student.  We have lost some important people -- indeed some of our leading lights -- both through retirement and through attrition, but we remain strong.  Several senior, well respected people remain in the department -- and we have been lucky to add another senior person of late.  We also have been lucky enough to hire well over the past years and have a wonderful cadre of middle and junior ranking faculty.  Will we ever be able to replace an established scholar like Neil McMillen, wonderful and devoted colleagues like Terry Harper, rising stars like Chuck Bolton or breaths of fresh air like Brian O'Neil?  It makes me very sad even to think of my wonderful friends who I will no longer have as colleagues.  Will it be easy to absorb four new hires this year?  Some of this we should remember would happen at any time (wonderful and not so wonderful colleagues have come and gone my whole time here) and is part of a more natural progression -- but these are certainly more challenging times than normal.  It will not be easy and has not been easy -- but I will argue again that we remain strong and are working to stay strong.  We hope to do well by people like grad student.  SJ, I know that you did not literally mean that our department was "dissolving" but I felt nonetheless that I needed to state that the reports of our demise are a bit premature.  After all we still have Scarborough to keep us all straight.

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I just graduated in Decemeber with a B.A. in History.  One of the main factors that lead me to not attend Grad school at Southern has already been voiced in this tread and mainly on this page.  Don't get me wrong I have the utmost respect for my History professors but for the past two years I have been scared to death my degree was going to be worthless.  So once news came from SAC's that USM had squeezed by and gotten off probation I swore I was not going to go through that again.  Now with a vast majority of the History Dept. seeking employment elsewhere along with the lose of those already mentioned I dont want to sweat bullets again.  Just like the old saying goes,  "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me." 

I can sympathize with you History Grad Student, but give the Prof's. some credit.  Even though they are leaving I can not fault them for it.  Ultimately in the end its just a job that puts food on the table and they have to think of their families first and foremost.

a history grad student wrote:

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Upon reading some of your responses to my comments, I feel as if I owe an apology to some of the posters on this website. When I made my comments, I did so out of a state of frustration and apprehension with the state of USM since the Glamser-Stringer affair. I was venting as Dr. Judd suggested, but I think I went to far with my comments. For that I apologize. I understand that the professors have had it very rough since Thames declared war on the faculty and I understand why so many wanted to leave. I know it was a very difficult decision for all who left and I sympathize with them. However, I must admit it has been a bit frustrating and even frightening to watch so many good professors go. Myself and other graduate students in my department and others have voiced similar opinions to my own, because we are concerned about our own futures. We do not have jobs yet, and we are fearful when another great prof leaves and we have no one to serve on our committees. Yet I know when a professor decides to leave one school for another, he or she must rearrange his or her entire life in order to go to school where they feel welcome and wanted. Therefore, I do understand the other side of the situation, but I hope that professors will understand our side as well. Dealing with a mass exodus of professors who regard as great teachers, mentors, and friends is a hard thing thing to deal with, especially when it can negatively affect our own careers. However, I hold no ill will towards those professors who have elected to stick it out and stay at USM. So, for those of you who have decided to stay at USM and continue to work with us until the horror of the Thames administration is over, I salute you and I thank you for your integrity and committment to USM and your students. Also, I owe a special apology to Dr. Lares. I'm sorry that I attacked you the way that I did. It was unwarranted and I should not have done it. I would also like to thank you for staying and USM and caring so much for your students. Though I have never taken one of your classes, I have heard wonderful things about you and about your comittment to your students. Keep doing what you are doing! Sincerely, A History Grad Student

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stephen judd wrote:

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History Faculty wrote: In the main I really want to stay out of this one.  However, SJ -- I think that it is a bit much to speak of a department "dissolving around" grad student.  We have lost some important people -- indeed some of our leading lights -- both through retirement and through attrition, but we remain strong.  Several senior, well respected people remain in the department -- and we have been lucky to add another senior person of late.  We also have been lucky enough to hire well over the past years and have a wonderful cadre of middle and junior ranking faculty.  Will we ever be able to replace an established scholar like Neil McMillen, wonderful and devoted colleagues like Terry Harper, rising stars like Chuck Bolton or breaths of fresh air like Brian O'Neil?  It makes me very sad even to think of my wonderful friends who I will no longer have as colleagues.  Will it be easy to absorb four new hires this year?  Some of this we should remember would happen at any time (wonderful and not so wonderful colleagues have come and gone my whole time here) and is part of a more natural progression -- but these are certainly more challenging times than normal.  It will not be easy and has not been easy -- but I will argue again that we remain strong and are working to stay strong.  We hope to do well by people like grad student.  SJ, I know that you did not literally mean that our department was "dissolving" but I felt nonetheless that I needed to state that the reports of our demise are a bit premature.  After all we still have Scarborough to keep us all straight. I misspoke and absolutely apologize to you and other folks in the history department. I should have made it clear that either it was the grad student's perception that the department was dissolving around him -- or at the very least that the department into which he entered had "dissolved" -- poor choice of words there -- when I really meant changed in a way that had a profound affect on him. Shouldn't write when I am tired. But you are correct in assessing that it is a shame that we seem to be losing so many good people at the senior and mid-level ranks in a really short time, even if those who replace them show great promise. And it is also true that, although mindful of the losses, we also need to still look into the future and work for the best -- or otherwise we should go. Sorry again. Thanks for the kind upbraiding.

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