Mouth Soap wrote:

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Polymer Science Alumnus wrote: sorry, "Polymer Science Alumnus" not "Polymer Science Alumni". Don't want to reflect poorly on the language skills I learned at my Alma Mater. You may want to consider cleaning up your language as well as your grammar.

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Mouth Soap you read too much in WTF - "What's Thames For"

Well, poly want a cracker--and certainly got one in Shelboo

Polymer Science Alum wrote:

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Please don't lump the problems of the current leadership on "poly". The current issues of Dr. Thames and the lackey he appointed as chair will pass.

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This is certainly worthwhile to keep in mind. The problems of the current leadership have little to do with the other profs or students in Poly Sci.

At the same time, Poly Sci enjoys a lot of "perqs" because of its relationship to the prez. Its status at USM historically is way out of proportion to its actual contributions to the university, both in terms of the overall education program & the grossly inflated money value of what it allegedly brings in. But then, that fancy building is more a tribute to one man's ability to dupe a politician into delivering an extraordinary helping of pork than to grant monies, contracts, patents, or graduates' income levels.

From my time here I had the feeling that Dr. Thames walked on water and created a great program that I was lucky enough to graduate from.  I have done a lot of digging since my first "WTF" posting and I now see what this board is talking about.

I was really suprised to find that my program will only graduate 2 BS candidates this year, down from 20+ when I was at USM. I was equally was surprised to find out that the number of PhD candidates is basically the same as 15 years ago. With the well publicized doubling in the number of faculty in the same time I expected to find a similar increase in the number of students. Wrong! WTF is going on?

Also in checking with my industry buddies about Dr. Thames's new choice as director opened another of Pandora's boxes and leaves one questioning whether didn't he (Dr. Thames) and his minions ask about this dude outside of USM? With this guy in charge Southern is now the laughing stock of the field that was supposed to be its strength. The new director is apparently known far and wide to have screwed almost everyone he has worked with.

I'm incensed. What has happened to the program I was proud to come from? In talking with the faculty this week I get the impression that students take a back seat to empires and those who tell Dr. Thames how great he is. What can one do? The respectable faculty in polymer science have given up and waiting for retirement. At the same time, we, the Poly Sci Alum, are being asked to rally around the Department. Something I would consider if it was as it was under Hester and Locheed.

Please don't trash Polymer Science with other issues, it WAS a great program and could be again under untainted leadership. Though I still respect Dr. Thames, I think he has hung on too long.

Polymer Science Alum wrote:

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...I have done a lot of digging since my first "WTF" posting and I now see what this board is talking about. I was really suprised to find ...it WAS a great program and could be again under untainted leadership. Though I still respect Dr. Thames, I think he has hung on too long.

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I think if many proud alums really looked into things at USM, that they would have similar feelings.