I am reminded of the child who spent all his money at the county fair...

Over the past three years, repeated announcements were made from the dome that monies were "found" for special pet projects.  Although credit was claimed for "running the university like a business" the reality was financial ineptness bordering on malfeasance.  Contingency accounts were raided; rainy day funds were spent; budgets were developed based on inflated enrollment projections and then, guess what?  The ultimate rainy day happened; tuition revenue plummeted and there was nothing left.  Now, the Chief Incompetent claims financial emergency with inflated loss numbers?

So many are living with the mantra, "only one more year, how much damage can he do?"  Outsiders hear about the petty retaliation against faculty and sort of shrug it off and look to a new president who will bring peace and unity.  How successful can a new president be if that new president inherits an essentially bankrupt shell of a university?

As bad as everything else has been, the financial devastation of USM by this president may be his longest lasting and most damaging legacy.