daily rumor mill #31 (CEP special) - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 22, 2004

daily rumor mill #31 (CEP special)

Date: Jun 22, 2004

"the letter by SK?" Sorry, who is SK? Which letter?

Date: Jun 22, 2004

psychology chair possibly?

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"psychology chair possibly?"

I believe that's right. I remember a letter from him (back in the fall I think) that talked about how great the intellectual atmosphere is at USM, and how he tells job candidates USM is a wonderful place to work, blah blah blah. 2 months later he gets a big raise. Go figure.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
" "the letter by SK?" Sorry, who is SK? Which letter?"

Looks like he's got a better-than-average-at-USM website,

http://www.usm.edu/psy-kuczaj//

No dead links there. Does he maintain it himself?

Hmm, but it isn't very Black and Gold. I thought that was mandatory.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Goodbye! And thanks for all the fish!

Date: Jun 22, 2004

This gig doesn't appear too shabby either!

Hondurus

Few countries in the world can boast such clear turquoise water, pristine beaches, lush jungles and breathtaking mountains. Though the Honduran Studies Program, you will be able to explore this vibrant country and experience the warmth and hospitality of Hondurans.

PSYCHOLOGY 462/691

June 1- June 16, 2004

The Search for Dolphins and Whales

Participants on the psychology course will join Dr. Stan Kuczaj, chair of the Department of Psychology, in the search for wild dolphins in the beautiful waters surrounding the island of Utila, located off the northern coast of Honduras. Students will earn four credit hours in psychology while learning to record and analyze marine mammal sounds and behaviors, and will gain firsthand experience in the joys and frustrations associated with the initial stages of field studies that focus on wild dolphin behavior.

During the trip, much of our time will be spent on the water looking for and observing marine mammals. Land-based activities will focus on the analysis of the data obtained on boat trips. Free time will be available for exploring, snorkeling and diving (the cost of diving and/or obtaining dive certification will be the student's responsibility.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Is Stan taking Dana on this trip?

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Dana had a very nice university paid trip to Hawaii last August (during registration for fall) to attend a conference. Perhaps this is where she might have acquired a fondness for snorkeling.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: texas eagle
"I believe that's right. I remember a letter from him (back in the fall I think) that talked about how great the intellectual atmosphere is at USM, and how he tells job candidates USM is a wonderful place to work, blah blah blah. 2 months later he gets a big raise. Go figure."

As an undergraduate (not here), I took an interdisciplinary course that covered dolphin intelligence and took students on field trips to Honduras. It was one of the most stimulating classes that I've ever had.

If this is who you're talking about, then I think once again it's a bad target. He's got publications in premier journals in his field. I think I remember seeing something in the HA about a pub in either Science or Nature (can't remember) last fall although I don't see it on the website. The article in HA referenced above (written before many of the publicized problems) that talks about the great intellectual atmosphere is surprisingly true (and was even more true then). There are some fine scholars and teachers here, frankly surprisingly fine, when you're on the outside looking in as a candidate. What USM built up over the past decade(s) is better than should have been expected with the available funding. There have been many fine academics acknowledged on this board. What's wrong with a Chair using scholarship to recruit more good people?

Should we shoot off our own toes too?

Date: Jun 22, 2004

You've made a good point. I think SK is an excellent scholar and probably a good poker player too. However, some things often appear to be too coincidental, but once again this is probably due to the atmosphere of mistrust that permeates every corner of the USM universe.

What's sad is that the majority of us want the best outcome for USM. SFT's actions and words have caused dissent for a very good reason.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

i agree with pretzel. the chair of psychology is as good of a scholar as stringer, polk, and others to whom you may want to point. you may not be familiar with his research or understand his discipline, but it's outstanding. not a target that i'd want to shoot at.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i agree with pretzel. the chair of psychology is as good of a scholar as stringer, polk, and others to whom you may want to point. you may not be familiar with his research or understand his discipline, but it's outstanding. not a target that i'd want to shoot at."

Shelby is also considered to be a scholar, pretzel, but scholarship is not the issue here. SK's letter in the HA was just terrible. Period. Surely the faculty in his department do not share the views he put forth in that letter.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

I will accept your word that SK is a good scholar. But his letter was way off. Maybe he thought he was trying to help the university, not SFT. Maybe he wanted something from DT or SFT. But for whatever reason, at a very critical time, he made a bad decision for the faculty--for his faculty in psychology.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Can someone please quote the infamous letter for those of us who missed it?

Date: Jun 22, 2004

kick

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i agree with pretzel. the chair of psychology is as good of a scholar as stringer, polk, and others to whom you may want to point. you may not be familiar with his research or understand his discipline, but it's outstanding. not a target that i'd want to shoot at."

I agree with the above. Judging from his website, this guy is not somebody to take potshots at. Maybe folks don't like his "politicking" or whatever, but it may be one of those "right place at the right time" things. His research & academic background are first rate.

OK. So I like marine mammals. Sue me

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" OK. So I like marine mammals. Sue me "

Yeah, me too. I'd pick a porpoise over a polymer every time.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" OK. So I like marine mammals. Sue me"

O.K., so I like polymers. Does not mean I am going to support everything that comes from the mouth of a polymer scholar? Sorry, Invictus. you are way off base on this one.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ewe
"O.K., so I like polymers. Does not mean I am going to support everything that comes from the mouth of a polymer scholar? Sorry, Invictus. you are way off base on this one. "

I'll take your word on that & back out.

I wonder, though, if he got the merit raise because he was a pollyana, or was he a suck-up because he knew he'd get a merit raise. There's a difference.

What's the drift on that?

This makes me like marine mammals no less than before, BTW

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Let's see -- we agree he is a good scholar, he got a merit raise therefore he got a MERIT raise for something other than being a good scholar? Perhaps we should revisit Occum and his shaving tools!

Date: Jun 22, 2004

I'm a Flipper fan as well. I think SK is a good guy and a great researcher. He's seems to be a very good potential poker player who could use his smarts to play the best on ESPN. I don't discount him at all.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

He and his psych colleagues really benefit from being in the education college, instead of the COAL. He wouldn't stack up so well against many in the COAL. Psych is in a COAL at most places. No one has thought about this aspect of it all.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

Like many others on this board, I haven't seen SK's letter to the Hat Am. I hope someone can link to it or quote it.

SK does have a strong reputation in psychology. My background is in developmental and cognitive psych and his work is well known in each of those subdisciplines. He is a long way from being another DT...

But... the question here is not about his scholarship, it's about his university politics.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: tomcat
"He and his psych colleagues really benefit from being in the education college, instead of the COAL. He wouldn't stack up so well against many in the COAL. Psych is in a COAL at most places. No one has thought about this aspect of it all."

OK. . . I tried some response prevention techniques with this general thread; worked up to a point. It would appear some folk are quickly moving back to ripping apart anyone they can, and apparently some want to start a ****ing contest with a "My college is better than your college. Nyah Nyah" attitude. Might I suggest that try a PsychInfo or SSCI search on Stan (or the rest of psych faculty, too, for that matter) before saying anything about how we might "stack up?"

But thanks to those who had the positive comments about Stan -- professionally and otherwise. We're damn lucky to have him in psychology.

Focus, people, focus.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Heather Sterling-Turner
" OK. . . I tried some response prevention techniques with this general thread; worked up to a point. It would appear some folk are quickly moving back to ripping apart anyone they can, and apparently some want to start a ****ing contest with a "My college is better than your college. Nyah Nyah" attitude. Might I suggest that try a PsychInfo or SSCI search on Stan (or the rest of psych faculty, too, for that matter) before saying anything about how we might "stack up?" But thanks to those who had the positive comments about Stan -- professionally and otherwise. We're damn lucky to have him in psychology. Focus, people, focus. "

Well said!

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Heather Sterling-Turner
" OK. . . I tried some response prevention techniques with this general thread; worked up to a point. It would appear some folk are quickly moving back to ripping apart anyone they can, and apparently some want to start a ****ing contest with a "My college is better than your college. Nyah Nyah" attitude. Might I suggest that try a PsychInfo or SSCI search on Stan (or the rest of psych faculty, too, for that matter) before saying anything about how we might "stack up?" But thanks to those who had the positive comments about Stan -- professionally and otherwise. We're damn lucky to have him in psychology. Focus, people, focus. "

There is a clear focus: on that HA letter, not on anyone's scholarship. No way you can explain away that letter.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

can anyone post the letter or a link to it? i don't even remember it and i'd like to read it for myself.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"can anyone post the letter or a link to it? i don't even remember it and i'd like to read it for myself."

The letter does not seem to be in the HA archives available online. A Google search gave five hits. Two of them were on Stan Kucjaz, two were for a Katherine Kuczaj, and one was for a Sarah Kucjaz. One of Stan Kucjaz's Google hits was the USM announcement that he had been appointed to the search committee for the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology. The second Stan Kucjaz hit was of someone's paper in which his name was cited in the paper and again in the reference section. Sorry, but I can't help.

Date: Jun 22, 2004

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040209/opinion/384517.html