Thames would alter USM's mission

Thirty years ago President Richard M. Nixon was driven from office for attempting to govern our country in secrecy while being advised by men of questionable honesty. Today, President Shelby Thames has apparently forgotten Nixon's fate, and is attempting to govern USM by fiat while being supported by a group of cutthroat carpetbaggers.

Dr. Thames justifies his aggressive management style by proclaiming that by abandoning USM's traditional mission of educating our children he can turn our university into an "engine for economic development" which will eventually enable USM to become a "world-class university." This is a revolutionary idea, and like most revolutions, will require a "reign of terror" to achieve its goals.

Dr. Thames began his reign of terror by summarily firing nine deans in order to reorganize the university's departments. The reorganization was intended to weaken the teaching departments.

Common sense should tell us that USM is a small, underfunded state school that will never be a "world-class" university. Nonetheless, we can be assured that USM's "world-class" students, teachers, and loyal supporters will never allow USM to be damaged by the whims of one individual.

Ted Schmidt
Hattiesburg