What is the concensus on Dr Burge? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 24, 2004

What is the concensus on Dr Burge?

Date: Jun 24, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"I read what the American said, and the comments by Dr. Alvin Williams (who may be the most intelligent man on USM's campus) and a positive comment by a Poly Sci Proff, but what says the rest of you?"

I regard him as a scholar and an honest, quiet gentleman. I know of nothing negative to say of him.

Date: Jun 24, 2004

Cecil Burge is a quiet, self-effacing, effective servant of USM's research interests and a true gentleman and man of integrity. He has remarkably stayed off the political radar screen over the past two years and gone about his business of finding money and helping researchers spend it. The university has had no more faithful and intelligent servant, and he SHOULD have been VP for research back when "I-don't-know-nuthin'-'bout-no- academic-vitas" Dvorak was named. Thank you, Cecil, for hanging in, and congrats! USM is lucky to have you! And lucky that you'll still have them!

Date: Jun 24, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: OldTimer
"Cecil Burge is a quiet, self-effacing, effective servant of USM's research interests and a true gentleman and man of integrity. He has remarkably stayed off the political radar screen over the past two years and gone about his business of finding money and helping researchers spend it. The university has had no more faithful and intelligent servant, and he SHOULD have been VP for research back when "I-don't-know-nuthin'-'bout-no- academic-vitas" Dvorak was named. Thank you, Cecil, for hanging in, and congrats! USM is lucky to have you! And lucky that you'll still have them! "

I second that whole-heartedly. Cecil Burge is a decent man. He should've been VP after Don Cotten left.

Date: Jun 24, 2004

I can tell you - Dr. Burge "gets it"... He truly understands how the relationship between academic scholarship and research grants and contracts can work. I absolutely believe that he sees faculty as assets, and goes out of his way to invest in those assets.

Also, SFT got at least this right - Cecil has forgotten more about research funding and sources than most of us would ever know.

Outstanding choice - Couldn't pick a better person.

Count

Date: Jun 24, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: OldTimer
The university has had no more faithful and intelligent servant, and he SHOULD have been VP for research back when "I-don't-know-nuthin'-'bout-no- academic-vitas" Dvorak was named.

And I think it is totally wrong that Angie goes off to work at part of her former job with her total salary and Cecil, who is a hundred times more qualified than she will ever be, comes in making $5,000 less a year than she is. That is exactly the kind of inequity that will keep Shelby from ever being able to earn the trust of the faculty. True productivity and value to the university community is not rewarded.

Date: Jun 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anita Stamper
"And I think it is totally wrong that Angie goes off to work at part of her former job with her total salary and Cecil, who is a hundred times more qualified than she will ever be, comes in making $5,000 less a year than she is."

I agree. The question I have is, Why is the Thames administration so concerned that Angeline Dvorak not take a cut in pay? She simply was not, is not & will never be qualified to be VP for Research at USM. Period. Invictus doesn't give a rodent's backside what a former governor or any "economic development" authorities say. Angeline Dvorak is no more qualified for her $150K per annum salary than I am. She is a political hack & that is her only, repeat only, qualification.

It is utterly embarrassing for me as an alumnus to watch a university president talk about times being so tough that tuition must be increased & then refuse to terminate deadwood in the administration.

Dr. Thames fails to realize that TOP-LEVEL ADMINNISTRATORS CAN BE JUST AS UNPRODUCTIVE AS HE ACCUSES FACULTY OF BEING.

He needs to hold his own administration accountable for what they do. For example, allowing AD to talk about how much research money that has come in since she became VP without simultaneously backing-out any funds that were received as a consequence of grants that were initiated under Don Cotten, well, that doesn't work for me. Dvorak has done very little good for USM & she has done it a world of harm.

So, we keep her on at her current salary to do what used to be only a part of her job description.

Part of her salary could be used to repair the immense public relations damage that she & SFT have caused over the past months.

I want to know what Angeline Dvorak "has" on Shelby F. Thames. And if she doesn't "have" anything on him, then I'd like him to come out & explain his vision of USM as the next Jackson State, Delta State, Valley, Alcorn, or "W"...

Date: Jun 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" I agree. The question I have is, Why is the Thames administration so concerned that Angeline Dvorak not take a cut in pay? She simply was not, is not & will never be qualified to be VP for Research at USM. Period. Invictus doesn't give a rodent's backside what a former governor or any "economic development" authorities say. Angeline Dvorak is no more qualified for her $150K per annum salary than I am. She is a political hack & that is her only, repeat only, qualification. It is utterly embarrassing for me as an alumnus to watch a university president talk about times being so tough that tuition must be increased & then refuse to terminate deadwood in the administration. Dr. Thames fails to realize that TOP-LEVEL ADMINNISTRATORS CAN BE JUST AS UNPRODUCTIVE AS HE ACCUSES FACULTY OF BEING. He needs to hold his own administration accountable for what they do. For example, allowing AD to talk about how much research money that has come in since she became VP without simultaneously backing-out any funds that were received as a consequence of grants that were initiated under Don Cotten, well, that doesn't work for me. Dvorak has done very little good for USM & she has done it a world of harm. So, we keep her on at her current salary to do what used to be only a part of her job description. Part of her salary could be used to repair the immense public relations damage that she & SFT have caused over the past months. I want to know what Angeline Dvorak "has" on Shelby F. Thames. And if she doesn't "have" anything on him, then I'd like him to come out & explain his vision of USM as the next Jackson State, Delta State, Valley, Alcorn, or "W"... "

Invictus, a wonderful post. I wish I had written it myself! You say exactly, EXACTLY what I was thinking. Why in the world is AD getting to keep her salary for doing only PART of her former job (that she was inherently unqualified for to begin with???). Faculty Senate, this needs to be investigated now! Letters to the editors must be written! I feel one comin' on.....

Date: Jun 25, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: What is the concensus on Dr Bu

Date: Jun 25, 2004

RE: What is the concensus on Dr Burge?

Date: Jun 25, 2004

"we need to get the community behind us..."

Again, I don't think fostering support form the community will make much of a difference here. The "community" of Hattiesburg, for the most part, does not seem to care all that much. As important as USM is to Hattiesburg, I don't think that the average resident places recent events at USM high on their "give a damn" list - and that includes a great number of recent and older alumni. And the ones that do care are not going to be swayed by the tone of letters to the editor. Think about it - what percentage of Hattiesburg residents read the opinion section daily?

Date: Jun 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: The Rock
""we need to get the community behind us..." Again, I don't think fostering support form the community will make much of a difference here. The "community" of Hattiesburg, for the most part, does not seem to care all that much. As important as USM is to Hattiesburg, I don't think that the average resident places recent events at USM high on their "give a damn" list - and that includes a great number of recent and older alumni. And the ones that do care are not going to be swayed by the tone of letters to the editor. Think about it - what percentage of Hattiesburg residents read the opinion section daily?"

With all due respect Rock, how many times must we read a letter blasting SFT one minute only to have two letters crying the faculty should leave SFT to lead and administrate the university. We need a grassroots effort to get out our message, state the facts, clear up the misconceptions and do it in such a way we don't come across as "cry-babies" and "malcontents". Our faculty must communicate to the public without them taking SFT side.

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: What is the concensus on Dr Bu

Date: Jun 27, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
""

Truth4usm/AH, Thank you for not outing me, but I may not be who you think I am, but you would know me if you saw me. We are on a first name basis, but since you are no longer here at USM, we've not seen each other in a long time. Since I am still on faculty, I need to hide behind the mask. Perhaps, someday soon I will e-mail you and let you know.

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: What is the concensus

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: What is the concensus on Dr Burge?

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: What is the concensus on Dr Bu

Date: Jun 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
""

Now that there's a publicized precedent for retaining 100% of the salary for 50% of the responsibilities, every faculty administrator on campus should invoke their "Dvorak rights" and lobby to retain all of their administrative supplement if they decide to return to full-time teaching.

Date: Jun 28, 2004

RE: RE: What is the concensus on Dr Burge?