H.A. Perspective--Who will follow Thames at USM? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 21, 2006

H.A. Perspective--Who will follow Thames at USM?

Date: May 21, 2006

(Continued)

Q:...What would you hope the next president will do in terms of rebuilding Southern Miss on the Coast?

H: "Katrina also affected Pearl Rive Community College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and more students transfer (to Southern Miss) from those schools than to Ole Miss or (MSU). It's important that those community colleges regain their enrollment and health, so we can continue our partnership with PRCC and MGCCC.

Our presence on the Gulf Coast is established... If there are other providers of programs within the IHL system, they ought to provide things Southern Miss does not offer, and we ought to be the managing partner."

Q: What would you like to see happen with regard to athletic programs?

H: "All of us have got to find a balance between athletics and the other responsibilities of the university. Big-time athletics are so dominant and costly that presidents across the country must deal with balancing resource commitments.

Q: What is most important to you when it comes to the next president of Southern Miss?

H: "The next president should look at the strengths of the university and build upon them."

Date: May 22, 2006

D.C. is the only one who can step into the position and immediately begin the reparation process. A new president will have to unravel the the sickness that pervades this place for a full year and a half, whereas, Don could step to the plate and begin the process immediately. So many here are so untrusting of so many in the Dome and beyond. So many fear for their professional careers if they speak out; so many have been mistreated; the rules of the game are so unclear here. I hold no hope that things will change through the IHL; a side effect of being kicked in the teeth too many times. Don is the only person who can begin the healing process and speed the recovery.

Date: May 22, 2006

dc may be the one. he also wouldn't consider the job unless the search is in its current format--what some see as being secretive. remember, he got burnt in the old process.

Date: May 22, 2006

For the Board to do something extraordinary for USM, they would be admitting that SFT was a bad choice. I doubt that the Board will admit their previous bad decision. Some are of the opinion that the Board knew how much SFT would destroy USM and silently approved of the destruction in an attempt to reduce USM's competitive position with State and Ole Miss. There also is talk that the Board and Meredith will try to divert resources from USM to Jackson State. I would be very surprised if the Board makes any effort to help restore USM to its previous stature.

Date: May 22, 2006

I wonder if SFT even realizes how much damage he has done to the University. If all he looks at is the CoST then that part of this university has really prospered. The way SFT sees it (and maybe the IHL) he has strengthened the university. I think the belief is the growth of CoST will make up for the destruction elsewhere. (Remember Mrs. Drews prediction before the Paving Company meeting last year.)

Date: May 22, 2006

CoSTer wrote:

I wonder if SFT even realizes how much damage he has done to the University. If all he looks at is the CoST then that part of this university has really prospered. The way SFT sees it (and maybe the IHL) he has strengthened the university. I think the belief is the growth of CoST will make up for the destruction elsewhere. (Remember Mrs. Drews prediction before the Paving Company meeting last year.)

Remind us--what was the prediction?

Date: May 22, 2006

no memory wrote:
Remind us--what was the prediction?

http://hnn.us/blogs/comments/10694.html

Liberty & Power: Group Blog, 3/10/05
Robert L. Campbell

USM: From Coca-Cola Cabal to Paving Company Putsch?

This evening, as many as 300 members of the Hattiesburg area business community will be trying to save the beleaguered presidency of Shelby Thames, and trying to promote their vision of the University of Southern Mississippi as a trade school.

When The Independent, a Hattiesburg weekly, broke the story one week ago, the spokeswoman for the meeting's organizers was Bonnie Drews, a local Republican party activist, and the location was to be the local Coca-Cola bottling plant. The agenda explicitly included getting rid of the liberal arts at USM.

To quote at somewhat greater length from the article than I was able to do in my last post,

Focus of the meeting, said Drews, "will be the direction in which the university is moving."

She added, "the issue is whether the faculty or the President is going to determine the direction in which the university needs to move."

And the issue, she continued, "is whether USM will continue as a primarily liberal arts university or it will focus on technology."

Dr. Thames, Drews said, "is giving the University outstanding and courageous leadership and he knows we need to change direction to refocus."

Liberal arts and the liberal arts faculty "has set the direction of USM for the past 25 years," she continued. "Now we have to change direction and Dr. Thames is attempting to do so despite opposition from the liberal arts faculty."...

Date: May 22, 2006

no memory wrote:

CoSTer wrote: I wonder if SFT even realizes how much damage he has done to the University. If all he looks at is the CoST then that part of this university has really prospered. The way SFT sees it (and maybe the IHL) he has strengthened the university. I think the belief is the growth of CoST will make up for the destruction elsewhere. (Remember Mrs. Drews prediction before the Paving Company meeting last year.)

Remind us--what was the prediction?

On page 2 of this board the thread 'Departures in English, 2002-present' contains old H.A. articles poster by Info. Here is the link: http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=24082&subForumID=36767&action=viewTopic&commentID=6810837&topicPage=1

Post # 11 on the thread contains the article with this quote:

"Mader said she was asked for help to find a host for the event and she contacted Bonnie Drews. She is the wife of Fred Drews, who is a local dentist, chairman of the Forrest County Republican executive committee and a former student of Thames.

Bonnie Drews, a Southern Miss graduate as well, agreed to co-host the event. Bonnie Drews said Thames might be at the meeting.

"Bonnie Drews related her own experiences and difficulties in the job market after graduating from Southern Miss with an education and psychology degree when she was younger. Focusing more on research instead of liberal arts may be the direction the university needs to go in the future for financial reasons, she said.

"I just think that's what Shelby's trying to do here," she said.

"So many people feel strongly one way or another," Bonnie Drews said. "Several of our friends feel very anti-Shelby Thames. Most of those are in liberal arts. I don't think the scientific-technology part of USM feels that way and it's the same way in the community."

Similar comments from Bonnie Drews in a published report earlier this week which also quoted College Board member Scott Ross drew criticism and a sometimes testy discussion among members of the Faculty Senate meeting."

Date: May 22, 2006

Cossack wrote:

For the Board to do something extraordinary for USM, they would be admitting that SFT was a bad choice. I doubt that the Board will admit their previous bad decision. Some are of the opinion that the Board knew how much SFT would destroy USM and silently approved of the destruction in an attempt to reduce USM's competitive position with State and Ole Miss. There also is talk that the Board and Meredith will try to divert resources from USM to Jackson State. I would be very surprised if the Board makes any effort to help restore USM to its previous stature.

I agree with Cossack. The Board knew what it was doing. The Board sets the overall direction for the entire system & we cannot assume that anything the Board does is accidental. In fact, were its activities not premeditated it would be failing to perform its statutory responsibilities. Still, this is a major tenet of the Conspiracy Theory.

Personally, I'm not sure which is more disturbing -- watching my alma mater go down the tubes or knowing that the state College Board is operating with an agenda that it refuses to divulge to the general public.

Well, hell, let's just put another "S" in the USA.

Date: May 22, 2006

Invictus wrote:
I agree with Cossack. The Board knew what it was doing. The Board sets the overall direction for the entire system & we cannot assume that anything the Board does is accidental. In fact, were its activities not premeditated it would be failing to perform its statutory responsibilities. Still, this is a major tenet of the Conspiracy Theory.

I also agree with this. But here's another question: why in heaven's name did Aubrey K. Lucas not speak up. According to sources, he was asked directly.

Date: May 22, 2006

the story i heard about AKL is that he (and Bobby Chain) believed they could control Thames. as soon at Thames got the job he made it clear to both that they couldn't control him.

Date: May 22, 2006

I think Stinky has heard correctly. I also heard that AKL is so embarrassed by his part in letting SFT rise to this position that he hates to discuss anything about him.

Date: May 23, 2006

It will never happen. Bank on it.

Date: May 23, 2006

donald wrote:

It will never happen. Bank on it.

What is "it" that will never happen? To which post are you responding?

Date: May 23, 2006

LeftASAP wrote:

donald wrote: It will never happen. Bank on it. What is "it" that will never happen? To which post are you responding?

Don Cotten. Shelby and his minions pushed him out of the race before. They will never let this happen.

Date: May 31, 2006

What about Grimes for President?

What about Exline for President?

Date: May 31, 2006

presidential wrote:

What about Grimes for President? What about Exline for President?

Surely, this is comedy at its finest. People forget that Grimes has been desperate to leave the Provost position for a couple of years now.

But, given the topic I believe it is easy to see the future president. First, forget faculty and staff input. Second, a great deal of pressure will come from the local power brokers, but it will be rebuffed. Third, expect a non-USM connected president. And fourth, expect a non-scientist type.

I would bet that the next president will come with a social sciences background. The key for this institution is fund-raising, which is laughable to an extreme at this point.

The applicants will come in two flavors: the "advance at all costs" candidate, who will take any position to advance themselves. These candidates need not be described for this board, as they are evident in many places within the colleges. The second flavor will be the "recycled" candidate, who is moving laterally from some other presidential or provost position. Regardless, I'm guessing that the Commisioner is going to look for someone that can be managed and directed heavily from Jackson.

So there you have it. We will have some milquetoast that will occupy the position, who will be tasked to turn USM into its final state of being - a large Southwest LA/Jackson State/Delta State style institution.

Still counting though,

Count

Date: Jun 1, 2006

Exline is eager to leave also, but must wait awhile to fill DeCasal's and Hamilton's accreditation positions. She will not be president.

Date: Jun 1, 2006

Exline will stay if given right opportunity. Otherwise, word has it that she will return to healthcare. She should be provost. She is faculty advocate.

Date: Jun 1, 2006

presidential wrote:

Exline will stay if given right opportunity. Otherwise, word has it that she will return to healthcare. She should be provost. She is faculty advocate.

Really? I suspect a few people from the University Graduate Council may beg to differ from what I heard. My understanding was that she directly told the Council that they have not much of a say in whether something was approved or not.

Count

Date: Jun 2, 2006

Counting the days wrote:

Really? I suspect a few people from the University Graduate Council may beg to differ from what I heard. My understanding was that she directly told the Council that they have not much of a say in whether something was approved or not.

Was she endorsing this situation, or simply being honest?

Date: Jun 2, 2006

presidential wrote:

Exline will stay if given right opportunity. Otherwise, word has it that she will return to healthcare. She should be provost. She is faculty advocate.

It would be a mistake to appoint someone as Provost at the Associate Professor level who has less than a decade in higher ed. I'm not sure what you mean by a "faculty advocate." I have seen no evidence of this, and sufficient evidence to the contrary. Maybe in comparison to the boss...

Date: Jun 2, 2006

Shouldn't a Provost have been a Dean, Assistant Dean, or at least a Chair?

Lamar County once had the experience of having a classroom teacher elected as Superintendent without ever having been an administrator. Many of you recall what a disaster that turned into. Some jobs just demand certain levels of experience.

Date: Jun 2, 2006

Exline was a chair for several years and interim dean. She has been doing many presidential and provost functions. She is a straight shooter -- won't sugar coat the facts for you. We could use that. She does work with faculty. If you want something done, you go to her. I don't think she will apply anyway so it really doesn't matter.

Date: Jun 3, 2006

watcher2 wrote:

Exline was a chair for several years and interim dean. She has been doing many presidential and provost functions. She is a straight shooter -- won't sugar coat the facts for you. We could use that. She does work with faculty. If you want something done, you go to her. I don't think she will apply anyway so it really doesn't matter.

Are you kidding?? Are you seriously proposing that she has the experience and managerial acumen to become president?

So - Let's put this in perspective. The Board selects for MSU a four-star general, with at least 25-30 years of leadership experience, and budget responsibility measured in billions. And you are saying that the best USM can do is an internal candidate with a few years as a chair?

She does work with faculty. I agree. I happen to believe that she has stepped in and done a great job with SACS. But is this what qualifies as presidential material at USM? I would venture a guess that Joan herself would agree. Not that she couldn't do some day some where, but this conjecture is insulting to her and to the university. Put this to bed.

Count

Date: Jun 3, 2006

Counting the days wrote:

And you are saying that the best USM can do is an internal candidate with a few years as a chair?

A very good department chair of a very good department functions as not much more than a committee chair taking a turn at the job for a limited period of time.

Date: Jun 3, 2006

Job description wrote:

Counting the days wrote: And you are saying that the best USM can do is an internal candidate with a few years as a chair? A very good department chair of a very good department functions as not much more than a committee chair taking a turn at the job for a limited period of time.

If recent history is reviewed, nothing could be more untrue. Just ask us in Psychology. Stan has had to endure, respond, "go to the mat," on many issues cast down from the Dome. I could not ask for a better Chair. This is not a plug for Stan, just a statement contrary to the notion that a department chair in a good department is nothing more than a committee chair.

Date: Jun 3, 2006

Joe Olmi wrote:

. . just a statement contrary to the notion that a department chair in a good department is nothing more than a committee chair.

You appear to have missed the point. The effectiveness of a department chair depends largely on consultation with and support of the departmental faculty. When you've got a very stable department at a very strong university, and faculty consensus on the important matters, even a rotating chairperson system can work. At those schools the department chair can function much like a committee chair. USM is not nearly ready for that.

Date: Jun 3, 2006

Joe Olmi wrote:

Job description wrote: Counting the days wrote: And you are saying that the best USM can do is an internal candidate with a few years as a chair? A very good department chair of a very good department functions as not much more than a committee chair taking a turn at the job for a limited period of time. If recent history is reviewed, nothing could be more untrue. Just ask us in Psychology. Stan has had to endure, respond, "go to the mat," on many issues cast down from the Dome. I could not ask for a better Chair. This is not a plug for Stan, just a statement contrary to the notion that a department chair in a good department is nothing more than a committee chair.

Joe - I totally agree with your point. My issue is that if the Board feels that an internal candidate who has a few years of departmental and some university level experience is somehow acceptable, then we clearly know what it is intending for USM.

My guess is that USM could very easily get a ADP-style president, someone who has years of experience in the public sector. Someone from MDA, or some schmo director from some other state. Of course, running a university is a bit different.

We will know soon enough, I suspect.

Count