Sad time for MSU and USM - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 29, 2006

RE: Sad time for MSU and USM

Date: Mar 29, 2006

strong editoral in c/l today about the msu presidential search(executive officer??) second this week....

a couple more observations from c/l

the political connection for fogleson is sonny montgomery

MSU student body prez said he was impressed with "doc" plans knew exactly what he would do to move MSU along..."doc" today is quoted as saying too early for specifics

"doc" completely agrees that the search should have been closed...he wouldnt have applied if open. he had committments to his role as head of leadership foundation...interestingly "doc" founded this foundation

it seems "support" is defined as no opposition

"doc" does like his orders to be followed in war, but MSU is not at war

Date: Mar 29, 2006

Just spoke with an English prof at MSU and this person is optimistic. Said that appearance before faculty was impressive and that he said the right things. Any sane person will bend over backwards to avoid the mistakes SFT has made. Let's hope for the best for our colleagues in Bulldog land.

Date: Mar 29, 2006

Former Officer, Now A Prof

Foglesong said he probably would not have sought the job if it were a more-open search. He said he had made commitments to the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, a charitable organization he founded and heads. If his name had become public, it may have caused ill will within the foundation.

This quote proves me wrong. He would not have applied. But I bet the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation understands why he would not want to be straightforward with them

Date: Mar 29, 2006

another officer now teaching wrote:

The bozo at USM has nothing to do with either corporate or military leadership. He is out of the tyrant mode, very similar to the Boss Hogg genre.

I'll second that. Two of the best deans I've ever had the pleasure of working with were former military officers, one Air Force and the other Navy. Both went to extraordinary lengths to solicit faculty input before making major decisions. Thames is an entirely different animal. His dishonesty and pettiness wouldn't hold up for 15 minutes in today's military. Good officers, and good leaders are all about honor. Shelby Thames has none.

Date: Mar 29, 2006

And he collects pototo mashers...(see bio)

Date: Mar 29, 2006

Outside Watch wrote:

And he collects pototo mashers...(see bio)

Yes, and he knows how to user them. The General's garlic mashed taters are to die for.

Date: Mar 29, 2006

Glad to see Cossack and Former Officer patched up their differences in such a collegial fashion.

In this business, I must side with Former Officer, though admit that my initial reaction was more closely akin to Cossack's. Why? I recalled Horace Fleming, who never overcame his stint as a Lt in the Vietnam epoch. Most Lt's are about spit and polish, the rules, and they are dependent on NCOs for knowledge -- until there is a screw up or twist that must be explained. They, then, offer up the NCOs as sacrificial lambs: and they, then, generally have short careers. Accountability can be delegated; responsibility can't be. Once one rises through the officer corps, one learns that lesson. One learns the necessity of planning stating the commander's intent, then letting well-trained suborindates morph the day-to-day to operation to ensure achievement of objectives. All that matters is the end. Additionally, the General was hired because he has outside connections. My guess is that after a brief period in Stark Vegas, he will spend most of his time in D.C. and with Foundations. Peter R., the provost will be allowed to run the show on campus.

Wow! MSU has the possibility to evade micromanagement by a prez and to attract substantial $$. What a concept? And while I will not react kindly to another General appointed here, I'd love to have someone of Fogelsong's potential recruited to serve.

Date: Mar 29, 2006

buckskin wrote:

Glad to see Cossack and Former Officer patched up their differences in such a collegial fashion.

If I could just interject an editorial comment--The exchange in this thread between Cossack and Former Officer has been instructive and is worth examining for its tone as well as its substance. Please note that there was no name calling, no insults, no hostility, no gratuitous political detours, and no accusations as to base motives. They were both gentlemanly to a fault, yet managed to clearly convey their opposing opinions. And from what I gather, while this is a faceless board, it seems they parted friends. I wish we saw more of this type dialog here.