What can you do? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 16, 2004

What can you do?

Date: Jun 16, 2004

There is another option for all faculty. Stop producing anything that generates external funding. Teach four classes a semester, be a positive impact to those students in your classes, deal with the 18 hours a day worth of work associated with teaching, and don't do anything that will give SFT something to point to and say "See, we're getting better all the time." If the external funding dries up, then maybe the IHL will sit up and take notice. As long as there are funds flowing in from outside of the state appropriation, they will continue to turn a deaf ear to the legitimate concerns of faculty, staff, students, and those who care about USM.

As the say, "Money talks".

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: have you thought about this?
"If the external funding dries up, then maybe the IHL will sit up and take notice. As long as there are funds flowing in from outside of the state appropriation, they will continue to turn a deaf ear to the legitimate concerns of faculty, staff, students, and those who care about USM. As the say, "Money talks"."

Unless a majority of the Board wants USM to go down the tubes--in which case a fall in external grant and contract money will suit them just fine.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 17, 2004

As a staff member, I am not at liberty to say anything for fear of Shelby's wrath. However I sent an email to the IHL Board asking them to investigate SFT and obtain more facts about his administration. Apparently Mr. Klumb has closed to eyes and ears to anything that happens at Southern Miss. It is a shame that such a fine university now has a bad reputation across the United States.

I was told when SFT was appointed President, that he was chosen to break Southern Miss down. I dismissed these allegations, but now I have begun to believe them. If SFT "loves" this university as much as he claims, he should resign as President and return to Polymers where he is appreciated and respected. But I fear that we (faculty, staff, and students) are stuck with SFT. So sad...

It appears that the current "House of Thames" has begun to crumble. It remains to be seen if he can rebuild his foundation. His first foundation now appears to have been built in a hurry and with weak materials. If he is as smart as some individuals would like for us to believe, he will obtain stronger materials on the rebuilding project. In my opinion, it is rather sad that such a supposedly "great administrator" would use people the way that SFT has. Once they have served their usefulness, he throws them away as if they were trash. That is not a trait of a "great administrator" - that is the trait of a dictator.

As someone who came to higher education from the "real world," working in higher education provides a voice into the decision making process on almost every level (even though our voices are not always heard.) It is a shame that so many faculty and staff refuse to take part in the decision making process.

I have also found that "stereo typing" is a huge problem on campus. My department recently conducted interviews for several faculty members. It was amazing for me to sit back and watch the faculty of the department "stereo type" every applicant. Faculty are suppose to be educated individuals - apparently some of the higher educated individuals lost most of their common sense when they gained their education.

Oh well, just my dime's worth on a Thursday morning.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: Concerned Staff
" . . . . It was amazing for me to sit back and watch the faculty of the department "stereotype" every applicant. Faculty are suppose to be educated individuals - apparently some of the higher educated individuals lost most of their common sense when they gained their education."

What a refreshing and perceptive posting, "Concerned Staff." You sound just like my mother. After a few decades in academics, I have concluded that Mamma was right. Even the highly educated can be downright intolerant of those who hold different views.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Staff
"
I have also found that "stereo typing" is a huge problem on campus. My department recently conducted interviews for several faculty members. It was amazing for me to sit back and watch the faculty of the department "stereo type" every applicant. Faculty are suppose to be educated individuals - apparently some of the higher educated individuals lost most of their common sense when they gained their education.
Oh well, just my dime's worth on a Thursday morning.
"

An alternative and more charitable view is that educated people learned to categorize, synthesize and generalize their observations. Not every tiger in the jungle is going to eat you, but it is a good idea to proceed on that assumption.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Staff
"It is a shame that so many faculty and staff refuse to take part in the decision making process. I have also found that "stereo typing" is a huge problem on campus. My department recently conducted interviews for several faculty members. It was amazing for me to sit back and watch the faculty of the department "stereo type" every applicant. Faculty are suppose to be educated individuals - apparently some of the higher educated individuals lost most of their common sense when they gained their education. "

Shared governance equals shared responsibility. It's a great deal easier to sit back and take cheap shots than to actually try and make a bad situation better. Trust self interest to trump the common good every time.

For What It's Worth
~Buffalo Springfield

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Staff
It was amazing for me to sit back and watch the faculty of the department "stereo type" every applicant. Faculty are suppose to be educated individuals - apparently some of the higher educated individuals lost most of their common sense when they gained their education . . "

Even among some of the literate, esteemed, and highly educated persons at USM, I have frequently heard some of those who hold "left-of-center" views use terms like "Bible-thumping Baptists," and those who hold "right-of-center" views use terms like "Commie-ridden, Knee-jerking Liberals." Stereotyping at at its finest. I do believe that "Concerned Staff" may be correct about some individuals losing their common sense when they gained their education. Or perhaps they lost it prior to getting an education and never recovered.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

I have always been shocked by the lack of interview skills many people, in business or academia, have. I am speaking of the interviewer, not interviewee. Just because someone is successful at their job, does not mean that they know how to ask the right questions and then how to interpret the responses correctly.

I have also always been shocked at how many candidates are selected because they match the hiring person's personality, likes and dislikes. 90% of the time, I can tell who the original interviewer was that selected a candidate for further interviews just by matching up personalities. It seems to me, that to obtain a well-balanced staff, one would prefer a more diverse group of employees, each with their own different strengths and weaknesses, who can blend well while enhancing the entire group.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Counting the days
"
If you are an Assoc or Full Prof (in the state retirement system, and therefore probably with > 15 yrs in) - see 1), but in reality you are probably like me - stuck. So... there is not much you can do, outside of another IHL shcool.
In reality, any hopes related to a "changing of the guard", with another president who comes in here and suddenly recognizes and rewards research productivity or outstanding teaching will be met with the same disappointments. If you want more money, success, or prestige in your discipline, you have to be mobile, and that means not here.

What am I doing??? 1), with the hopes that come retirement, I am marketable. It is the only option I have. So I'm not going to hope for a sudden "change of heart" at IHL, and I'm not going to hope that someone in administration will take care of me and my needs. That is all I can do - take care of myself."

Sage advice. I am so glad that I opted for TIAA/CREF instead of the state system. They match my contribution every month--my money is in my possession, not theirs.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Disgusted
"

Sage advice. I am so glad that I opted for TIAA/CREF instead of the state system. They match my contribution every month--my money is in my possession, not theirs.

"

You were lucky Discusted. I didn't have a choice and had to use the state sysyem. If I want to use TIAA/CREF, I could but there wouldn't be any matching funds, only mine.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Disgusted
" Sage advice. I am so glad that I opted for TIAA/CREF instead of the state system. They match my contribution every month--my money is in my possession, not theirs. "

During the most recent stock market slump, many who had opted for TIAA/CREF lamented the fact they were not in the State Retirement System. TIAA/CREF is just fine during times of economic prosperity. In times of economic slump, however, PERS is my #1 choice. I know that some people complain about the Mississippi retirement system, but I do not share their opinion. Mississippi has a very good retirement system. Contrary to rumor, it does not invest in catfish futures.

Date: Jun 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Just Plain Jane
"During the most recent stock market slump, many who had opted for TIAA/CREF lamented the fact they were not in the State Retirement System. TIAA/CREF is just fine during times of economic prosperity. In times of economic slump, however, PERS is my #1 choice. I know that some people complain about the Mississippi retirement system, but I do not share their opinion. Mississippi has a very good retirement system. Contrary to rumor, it does not invest in catfish futures. "

I agree, Mississippi's PERS is a good defined benefit retirement plan. And I'm not so sure that investing in catfish is a bad idea. I have a high opinion of our state's catfish industry.

The CREF funds have done quite well the last two years. In addition to the stock funds, there are also real estate and bond funds. Spread out your allocations and you spread out your risk. I know a number of older colleagues who shifted everything into the stock fund in the 1990s, only to get clobbered just as they planned to retire.

I'm satisfied, but the difference is really philosphical. The chief benefit if most of the CREF funds (but not the TIAA annuity) is that my heirs get to keep the money left after I die.