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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> letter to dr. thames
Post Info TOPIC: letter to dr. thames
noel polk

Date:
letter to dr. thames
Permalink Closed

For what it's worth, I have just sent this letter to Dr. Thames via email.


 


Dear Dr.Thames,
   Your doubtless well-intentioned letters to the university community suggest that you still just don't get it. Your most recent one, dated 6/12, suggests just how much you dont understand about the chaos you have caused here at USM, the despair and loathing you have created by your shortsightedness and your bull-headed singleminded pursuit of whatever it is you are pursuing. It shows, in short, how your current niceness is merely a spin to cover up the world of misdeeds your administration has committed. You may think that we are fooled by your new smiling postures, but rest assured we are not.
    In the second paragraph you maintain that you have been "unable to reward our loyal colleagues with raises...in more than four years..." and that "we must pay productive people well for their hard work." That, sir, is not the truth. You DID indeed reward certain colleagues, including your own daughter, during the past two years, not all of whom had done hard work, and we are still awaiting some explanation of how those raises were decided upon. Will you now, in the spirit of cooperation and communication, explain everything about those raises? Then maybe we can begin to trust you when you say you want to reward our hard work.
   In the latter part of your letter you tell us all the things that you told the faculty senate officers, but not one thing that the faculty senate officers told you. Did you let them speak at all? Communication, Dr. Pood will tell you, is a two-way street. YOu ask the faculty senate to provide assistance with student recruitment, with student retention, and with emphasizing to the legislature the importance of higher education in Mississippi. Did you actually make these suggestions with a straight face? Really? You could make these requests of a faculty you have scorned and belittled and berated for these two horrendous years of your reign here without even so much as an apology for your contempt? I know the Lord has told you that you have done no wrong, but I'd suggest that you have not heard the Lord correctly. You OWE this faculty and these students and this staff a major apology for the way you have treated us. You cannot seriously expect any of us to help you do one single solitary thing until you at least acknowledge that you are singularly responsible for the mess you are asking us to help you out of. Your behavior for the past two years has created a huge logjam between us which will not go away just because the IHL board has told you to start being nice and to smile once in a while.
   Shelby, give it up. The rift between us and you is irreparable, no matter what kind of spin you now try to put on it, no matter what you and the IHL board think. We know what trouble you are in, else why are you cutting loose those members of your team that were once so valuable and so expensive, and we know that you have tried to slough off Dr. Dvorak to the ADP in order to save your own skin. But we know even if you don't that the problem is YOU, not them.
   If you really love USM as you say you do, the best you can do is resign immediately. Please do this so the healing and rebuilding can begin.
     Sincerely,
      Noel Polk



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NoGnome

Date:
Permalink Closed

Bravo, Noel. (and thank you).

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Angeline

Date:
Permalink Closed

You see, the funny thing is that ole Shelby might just be dumb enough to try to fire the esteemed Dr. Polk for speakin' his mind, but we still got that there 1st Amendment to the US Constitution last time I checked, which means Shelby is gonna have to prove his anti-American bonafides before he takes on Dr. Polk.  Surely, being pro-USM does not mean being anti-American does it?  Then again, to Shelby supporters it probably does.

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LVN

Date:
Permalink Closed

At least our friend learned to turn off the capslock key.


Ban? Fire?  This is a voluntary web discussion.  There are thousands of others out there. If you are unhappy here, then please, visit one of them, or start your own and ban and fire whomever you like!


As we told you last night, most of these posters cannot be fired.  As for me, I can change my ISP.  It's good to let your children grow up smart.



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USM Sympathizer

Date:
Permalink Closed


quote:

Originally posted by: NoGnome
"Bravo, Noel. (and thank you)."


Yes, bravo -- and also brave.  The courage of the faculty and staff at USM astound and inspire me.



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Robert Evans

Date:
RE: Courage?
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: ProUsm
"  "

Ah, in case you didn't notice: Nolk Polk signed his name to his letter.  I've also just signed mine, but I can't be fired by Shelby because I don't work at USM; I just regret how Shelby is destroying a fine institution of higher learning.  By the way, a lot of folks on this board are politically conservative; they see Shelby as the "radical" who is overturning decades and even centuries of tradition about how universities should ideally operate.


I know I shouldn't reply to you, but you are so obviously brain-damaged that it is hard to resist.



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Robert Evans

Date:
RE: letter to dr. thames
Permalink Closed

Our web master has wisely deleted the vulgar post by ProUsm to which I was responding; the web master has thus implicitly reminded me why it is pointless to respond to trolls.  I promise to restrain myself in the future.

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AmLitChick

Date:
RE: Courage?
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: ProUsm
"  "
Too bad.  I could teach you a few things about grammar--like subject/verb agreement (takes, not take) and how to form contractions correctly (you're, not your). Might improve the image your business projects, but, of course, you don't need my services.  Sounds like this troll is in the middle of a serious meltdown--starve his a** (yeah, us commie liberals learned how to curse in the third grade too!).


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truth4usm/AH

Date:
RE: RE: letter to dr. thames
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
"You see, the funny thing is that ole Shelby might just be dumb enough to try to fire the esteemed Dr. Polk for speakin' his mind, but we still got that there 1st Amendment to the US Constitution last time I checked, which means Shelby is gonna have to prove his anti-American bonafides before he takes on Dr. Polk.  Surely, being pro-USM does not mean being anti-American does it?  Then again, to Shelby supporters it probably does."
As we all know, if SFT *were* dumb enough to fire Noel Polk, I'm sure there would be many world-class universities waiting in line to hire the esteemed Dr. Polk.  Unfortunately, the same would not be true of Papa Shelboo. 

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Bubba Loves Catfish

Date:
Permalink Closed

Originally posted by: ProUsm
" "


Son, I know a fair number of those who post on this message board. You may be surprised to learn that the number of posters who are "right of center" is very likely as large as the number of posters who are "left of center." The liberal-conservative dimension is irrelevant when established academic values are being threatened, when careers are being wrecked, and when a fine institution such as USM  is in jeapordy.  I note that you do not wish any of us to knock on your door should we become unemployed. How nice. If one of the posters retires, or becomes disabled, or applies for Medicare/Medicaid, does this mean you would turn them down?



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Wilfredo Prodny

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"As we all know, if SFT *were* dumb enough to fire Noel Polk, I'm sure there would be many world-class universities waiting in line to hire the esteemed Dr. Polk.  Unfortunately, the same would not be true of Papa Shelboo.  "

Dear Truth4usm/AH,


I write as President of the Board of Regents of the Erma C. Kaznoznich College of Cosmetology in Slapout, Alabama.  I wish to disabuse you of your notion that no college in the U.S. would be interested in hiring Dr. Shelby F. Thames as its president.  In fact, I now feel free to report that ECKCOC has just this afternoon extended an offer to Dr. Thames to become our 13th President.  We are, of course, anxiously awaiting his reply. 


As President, Dr. Thames would preside over a robust faculty of eighteen world-class cosmeticians, who serve in three separate schools: The School of Nail Design; the School of Hair Trimming and Rearrangement; and the Alfredo Prodny School of Makeup Management (named after my late father).  Dr. Thames, in addition to his duties as President of the College, will be expected to develop a wide array of new nail polishes as part of his polymer science research; he may even be asked, on occasion, to buff a nail or two when Professor Thelma Cobb, dean of the SND, has to run next door to KFC to buy some chicken for the weekly President's Council meeting.


We believe that the skills Dr. Thames has demonstrated at USM will equip him quite well to run a school with the kind of mission we pride ourselves on discharging at ECKCOC.  We also believe that the Presidential Suite (located in the former Motel 6 just across the road) will accord well with the taste for which President Thames is so justly renowned.


Sincerely yours,


Wilfredo Prodny


 



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Robert Campbell

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
"You see, the funny thing is that ole Shelby might just be dumb enough to try to fire the esteemed Dr. Polk for speakin' his mind, but we still got that there 1st Amendment to the US Constitution last time I checked, which means Shelby is gonna have to prove his anti-American bonafides before he takes on Dr. Polk.  Surely, being pro-USM does not mean being anti-American does it?  Then again, to Shelby supporters it probably does."

Angeline,


I am not saying that anyone needs to be put through the wringers that Frank Glamser and Gary Stringer were put through, but... does anyone really think that Shelby Thames could afford another high-profile public firing of another tenured professor?  That would rally his opponents, guarantee another round of unfavorable media coverage, and maximize the professor's chances of getting a better job elsewhere.  It might even induce his remaining sponsors on the Board (well, except for Klumb) to drop him. 


Robert Campbell


 



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Trollhouse Cookie

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
" ...does anyone really think that Shelby Thames could afford another high-profile public firing of another tenured professor?  That would rally his opponents, guarantee another round of unfavorable media coverage... "

Almost sounds like a plan...certainly no one at USM is that devious...



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Let Freedom Ring

Date:
Permalink Closed

Wow, what a powerful letter - thank you (once again) for your courage Dr. Polk!  As those in the younger crowd say "You're the bomb!"


No Quarter!



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Angeline

Date:
Permalink Closed

Angeline,



I am not saying that anyone needs to be put through the wringers that Frank Glamser and Gary Stringer were put through, but... does anyone really think that Shelby Thames could afford another high-profile public firing of another tenured professor?  That would rally his opponents, guarantee another round of unfavorable media coverage, and maximize the professor's chances of getting a better job elsewhere.  It might even induce his remaining sponsors on the Board (well, except for Klumb) to drop him. 



Robert Campbell


Robert,


I agree - in a weird way I almost hope that Shelby tries to fire Noel or some other high-profile senior professor - the **** will hit the fan even more than before and surely the IHL Board and his few remaining supporters will finally get fed up and tell him to leave.  My post, by the way, was an attempt to provide a little humor to our less-than-literate troll who has now been vaporized from the board.



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Delta Dawn

Date:
Permalink Closed


quote:




Originally posted by: Angeline
"... does anyone really think that Shelby Thames could afford another high-profile public firing of another tenured professor? 


 I don't believe he could afford another attempt to fire even a low-profile tenured faculty member without cause and due process. Not only are the eyes of the campus watching, but the eyes of the nation also. I, for one, have my checkbook handy and pen in hand, lest it be necessary to establish another legal defense fund.



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Stephen Judd

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: noel polk
"For what it's worth, I have just sent this letter to Dr. Thames via email.    . . .     Sincerely,      Noel Polk"

 


Noel: thanks for not letting Shelby off the hook. My personal campaign is: there can never be any possibility of peace until there is an apology to Gary, Frank and their families for the hell that Shelby put them through FOR NO REASON.


And an apology to the campus for depriving us of Gary, Frank and Mary Ann.


In one fell swoop we lost one of our best teachers, one of our best artists and one of our best scholars in COAL. And three of our most involved and selfless faculty members.


We cannot forget.



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Wi****WereOtherwise

Date:
Permalink Closed

Delta Dawn wrote: "I don't believe he could afford another attempt to fire even a low-profile tenured faculty member without cause and due process."


I understand the wishful thinking that lies behind this sentiment, but I simply think those who believe Shelboo can't/won't fire Noel--or anyone else who openly questions his authority--haven't been paying much attention.  Three months ago, when the Glamser/Stringer affair was front and center, we were thinking, "Shelby couldn't possibly...."  Last year, when Frank was so very forthcoming in his public comments about the various scandals of Shelboo's administration, everyone was saying, "Shelby couldn't possibly...."  Yet in all these instances, Shelby could and did.  He behaved as he did because his masters, the IHL Board, countenanced his every action (such as the enrollment scandal), refused to reign him in, rated their own ill-advised decision to put him in office against the overwhelming will of the faculty above the overwhelming expressions of faculty frustration and contempt that were manifest in the Faculty Senate and general faculty votes of this past spring.  This--a cowardly, disfunctional crew of political appointees who are unqualified to oversee a soup kitchen--is the group who, now, are responsible for the sorry state USM (not "Southern Miss") is in.  These are the feckless ostriches who ought to be held accountable for the demise of an aspirant university, but won't because there's simply no one to hold them accountable.  They can--and regularly do--ignore the faculty with complete impunity.  The alumni of the institution mostly sit on their thumbs and wonder what day it is, and the car dealers, disbarred lawyers, and electric fence salesmen who support athletics dictate the future direction of the institution.  There is just no hope.


  So my advice to all current faculty is... get your resume together and try to get the hell out.  If you stay here, you are doomed.  You will never win--nor will any of your efforts even be acknowledged.  THIS IS MISSISSIPPI!!!


 


 


 


 



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Michael Kimber

Date:
Permalink Closed

As a USM faculty member who has recently resigned, I join the chorus of thanks to our eminent Noel Polk for his eloquent and powerful letter to SFT.

I also second what Stephen Judd wrote. What CoAL and all of USM have lost because of SFT, we cannot forget.

And obviously I concur -- sadly -- with the advice of Wi****WereOtherwise to all current faculty to "get the hell out" or be doomed.


"To tyrants I will give no quarter" -- nor another day's work!

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