blogosphere: trouble at MSU? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 9, 2006

blogosphere: trouble at MSU?

Date: May 9, 2006

info wrote:

New Chief of Staff - Ruth Prescott, Associate Provost and former Assistant to President Lee, is said to be the new chief of staff for Mississippi State University. . . . . . . . . . . . the title is kind of confusing for a university.

Is "Chief of Staff" the official title? That's O.K. with me, but it would be a rather odd title for a university officer. What next - organizing departments into "platoons" instead of colleges, designating department chairs as "sergeants" and deans as "lieutenants," and non- tenured faculty members as "buck privates?" As I said, that's O.K. with me, but rather odd for a university.

Date: May 9, 2006

Plot thickens surrounding Prescott:

http://edwardsanders.blogspot.com/2006/05/updated-roundup.html#comments

"effective job she did as the head of the MSU Presidential Search Committee"

Date: May 9, 2006

Kilroy wrote:

Is "Chief of Staff" the official title? That's O.K. with me, but it would be a rather odd title for a university officer. What next - organizing departments into "platoons" instead of colleges, designating department chairs as "sergeants" and deans as "lieutenants," and non- tenured faculty members as "buck privates?" As I said, that's O.K. with me, but rather odd for a university.

After SFT became President in May 2002, he advertised for a "Chief of Staff," but apparently withdrew the job posting. Who besides me remembers who was rumored to be in line for this job? A "merit raise" recommendation for the person who remembers.

Date: May 9, 2006

Googler wrote:

Kilroy wrote: Is "Chief of Staff" the official title? That's O.K. with me, but it would be a rather odd title for a university officer. What next - organizing departments into "platoons" instead of colleges, designating department chairs as "sergeants" and deans as "lieutenants," and non- tenured faculty members as "buck privates?" As I said, that's O.K. with me, but rather odd for a university. After SFT became President in May 2002, he advertised for a "Chief of Staff," but apparently withdrew the job posting. Who besides me remembers who was rumored to be in line for this job? A "merit raise" recommendation for the person who remembers.

Googler you are way ahead of me on this. I completely do not remember this but am extremely curious . . . .

Do tell . . . . .

Date: May 9, 2006

the very one that moved into an office in the Dome, drove Shelby around, was a member of the CBA faculty and has the initials BA.

Date: May 9, 2006

let's try billie for the first name.

Date: May 9, 2006

stinky cheese man wrote:

let's try billie for the first name.

I know - Billie Allen!

What is my merit recommendation?

Count

Date: May 9, 2006

Counting the days wrote:

stinky cheese man wrote: let's try billie for the first name.

Counting the days wrote: I know - Billie Allen! What is my merit recommendation?

You had help from the audience. No cigar for you.

Date: May 9, 2006

since billie was very allergic, no cigar would be appropriate as a prize.

Date: May 9, 2006

Someone should recount BA's brief tenure as a chairperson. It was beyond belief. Even SFT had enough sense not to go there.

Date: May 9, 2006

Count, you have earned the highest merit raise from my raise pool. Congratulations.

Date: May 9, 2006

On second thought, stinky and Count should share the "merit raise."

I may be cheap, but I am fair.

Date: May 9, 2006

Googler wrote:

On second thought, stinky and Count should share the "merit raise." I may be cheap, but I am fair.

You all are quite right. I had help from stinky and others. Therefore, given the circumstances, SCM should get the "merit raise". I hope this helps come retirement time.

Enjoy, Stinky!

Count

Date: May 9, 2006

Both Mlle. de Guerre and I are continually amazed to learn of these ladies who seem so enamored of Dr. Thames. Neither of us understands the reality in which these ladies exist. Mlle. herself is a lady who greatly enjoys the company of gentlemen, and while she does have exacting standards, she is also generous and kind when considering such issues as a gentleman's stature or absence of hair. One looks for stature of mind and heart when one selects gentleman friends, does one not?

Date: May 9, 2006

I do most sincerely beg the pardon of board readers. In the middle of the previous post, I was interrupted by a loud crashing noise, and inadvertently pressed the "post" key before completing the thought.

Let me rephrase -- Mlle. de Guerre, as I said, is not concerned so much with a gentleman's outward appearance as with his inward nature and character. Of course, neatness does count, and gentlemen who come to call would always be well advised to forgo jeans. However, in the case of Dr. Thames, Mlle. does not quite "get it." Besides which, as a married gentleman, he ought not be the subject of so much feminine adoration. Some women are attracted to gentlemen in powerful positions, but again, when viewed in the context of the larger world . . . well, let us just say that some people are not as powerful as they imagine themselves to be.

The crashing noise was, of course, a champagne glass. I did entreat Mlle. not to read the dialogue between "off the plantation" and "Lest we forget" but alas, I did not prevail.

Date: May 10, 2006

Let us not forget that the said BA was a member of the administration prior to going off to the hotbed of scholarly activity (North Texas, it is rumored) to get a doctorate - paid for by USM. Someone help with the timeline here - was it not at the time she was said to be "involved" with SFT?

It was quite a shock to her to find that the same tactics that ingratiated her to the various levels of administration did not endear her those in the department of which she eventually became head.

Date: May 10, 2006

What a pathetic person would bring up innuendo from over a dozen years ago about a person who has since retired. Will the CBA drama never end?

Date: May 10, 2006

I had the misfortune of getting to know BA - she was a terrible teacher - treated students with favoritism - gave some one letter grade while others who had the exact same numerical average received a different letter grade - she was unorganized in the extreme - relied on her "perceptions" of students to guide her grading with her perceptions seemingly based mostly on appearance. I am glad that she is gone.

Date: May 10, 2006

Angeline wrote:

I had the misfortune of getting to know BA - she was a terrible teacher - treated students with favoritism - gave some one letter grade while others who had the exact same numerical average received a different letter grade - she was unorganized in the extreme - relied on her "perceptions" of students to guide her grading with her perceptions seemingly based mostly on appearance. I am glad that she is gone.

Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous