From June 21 SunHerald:

USM faculty should make the best of next two years

It saddens me to still see negative opinions being expressed about USM President Shelby Thames.

I had hoped that with the summer break, the faculty and alumni would stop the barrage of criticism. Some of the former students who are writing letters have been out of school for as many as 40 years, but they think they know what is really going on.

I agree that President Thames should not be given a contract extension, but the IHL board and Thames have made it clear that he is not going anywhere for the next two years. Therefore, the professional and responsible thing to do would be to work with the Thames administration instead of trying to frustrate it.

But some of the faculty - and some of the former students who are not even involved in the problem - apparently do not possess these qualities: professionalism and responsibility.

PATRICIA JACKSON
Hattiesburg