HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donations - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 26, 2004

HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donations

Date: Jun 26, 2004

I'm having some trouble understanding all of the figures on the Lo[s]tt center. 1) I thought it would cost about 15 million to build the building, not the 12 million that keeps being reported. 2) The HA article makes it sound like the 3.9 million is for furniture and furninshings, not for building costs. 3) I thought that some of the federal dollars already raised were for supporting programs, not for construction. 4) Have we now lost 700K of private dollars? That is about 1/3 of the private donor money.

Does anyone know how much money has actually been raised for construction costs?

Date: Jun 26, 2004

Here is the link to the HA article.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040626/localnews/720175.html

Date: Jun 26, 2004

Thanks for the link! I've just mailed this off to the IHL.

Way to go, Shelby!

Date: Jun 26, 2004

I may be behind in all this, but what happened to the building on hwy 49. Initially, that was going to be the Nursing Bldg. but then they decided that it would be the Trent Lott Econ. Dev'p Center. Now the Economic Development center is going to be on USM campus (if shelby ever gets on top of things). So what will USM do with the multi-million dollar building purchase that we made?

Date: Jun 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mediatracker
"The story is not up on the HA website yet but hard copy shows Bobby Chain on the front page bemoaning the status of the Trent Lott Center. The article quotes Bobby Chain as saying "10 donors who pledged $50,000 each toward the $12 million project's completion have now rescinded their offers because of the center's delays, its late timelines and conflict about the project.""

WDAM Ten-O'clock News reported (from news release via LSM) that "comments of donors rescinding thier pledge are untrue".

Somebody should inform Bobby Chain that he's been called a liar.

Date: Jun 27, 2004

I'm sure Bobby Chain will find out soon enough...

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 27, 2004

Here's the online report from WDAM....who do we believe?

http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=1971319&nav=1Pw1OEGy

Date: Jun 27, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"Here's the online report from WDAM....who do we believe? http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=1971319&nav=1Pw1OEGy"

Well, given the universally acknowledged reputation of SFT and LM for always telling the truth and never shading the facts, I suggest that we believe them (not!).

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donati

Date: Jun 27, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
" That argument has merit, but the same can be said of Chain. He's been know to be as petty and vengful as Thames. They were big buddies in the past, but have resently become crossed up, why I don't know, but it seems the Chain would like nothing more than to try to make Thames look bad. Thames needs little help in that respect, but in many ways Thames and Chain were cut from the same cloth."

Let the "Clash of the Titians" begin.....

Date: Jun 27, 2004

RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donations

Date: Jun 28, 2004

Having had the chance to talk with my risk manager, who knows just about everyone in town, I have learned what some of the conflict between Chain and Thames is all about.

It seems that Chain wanted to start the project for the center last year when little more than $8M was in hand. Thames has refused to begin the project until all of the money is raised. Chain has decided that since he couldn't get his way, he'll trash Thames in the papers. Who has the biggest ego here?

I have been very critical of Thames in the past, and will probably be in the future, but I have to side with him if these are the facts. I don't see how Chain thinks it would benefit the project to begin without having the money to finish.

Date: Jun 28, 2004

i think by either state law or IHL policy you can't begin a project until all of the money has been raised.

Date: Jun 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i think by either state law or IHL policy you can't begin a project until all of the money has been raised."

Cheeze Man

If this is the case, it looks like Chain is in the wrong here, becaue we know that not all of the money is in hand.

Date: Jun 28, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K in do

Date: Jun 29, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K i

Date: Jun 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
" . . . Have you not been around H'burg long enough to remember Chain as Mayor?"

Seeker, how Chain was perceived as mayor has nothing to do with what is occurring at USM any more than how Dwight D. Eisenhower might have been perceived as a 13-year-old newspaper carrier.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses

Date: Jun 30, 2004

RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donations

Date: Jun 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i agree with seeker. anyone who has been around long enough to remember when chain was on the college board and mayor are not surprised about his conflict with thames. every time he complains about something at USM i always wonder whether one of his companies didn't get a contract or something like that."

Right. I remember hearing that SFT and BC first had a spat in SFT's office when SFT decided that the Lott Center would be built on university-owned property rather than on Chain-owned property a little further up Rt. 49. Also, Chain was one of the major movers and shakers in getting SFT installed - he held a party on his lawn for SFT right after he was annointed president. Nevertheless, BC can hurt SFT if he is willing to reveal real dirt - somehow I doubt that will happen though as the dirt is on Chain as well.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

So one minute you depict Chain is a hero (his letter to the HA). The next minute you depict him as a villain (his management style regarding his Lott Center fundraising efforts). Does the Lott Center really have very much to do with the critical issues facing USM (shared governance, tenure, due process)? I think not. We must keep our priorities straight and not complain about every little hair out of place.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

others may, but i have never seen him as a hero for USM. i view his actions as having a "hidden agenda" at best. i suspect he was put up to his letter in the HA by another faction at the university that wants to replace SLT.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"others may, but i have never seen him as a hero for USM. i view his actions as having a "hidden agenda" at best. i suspect he was put up to his letter in the HA by another faction at the university that wants to replace SLT."

I would like to know who has gotten the last electircal contracting jobs for the FLE, Studnet Union, and the upcoming Lott Center. That may shed some light on what's really going on between the two of them.

Having know both for a long time, only on thing could drive this sort of wedge between them....$$$.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

If SFT and BC divided over money, then that division could help us conquer this situation.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses $50

Date: Jun 30, 2004

RE: RE: HA: Lott Center loses $500K in donations

Date: Jun 30, 2004

i didn't agree with the perceptions of BC in webster's glossary. i've been around enough to know he's into influence. if you can't influence one faction, try another one. say the right things if need be--he's been a politician. there is another on-campus faction trying to influence the local business community in order to gain influence and oust SLT. there is a power struggle going on.

Date: Jun 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i didn't agree with the perceptions of BC in webster's glossary. i've been around enough to know he's into influence. if you can't influence one faction, try another one. say the right things if need be--he's been a politician. there is another on-campus faction trying to influence the local business community in order to gain influence and oust SLT. there is a power struggle going on."

A power struggle?

NO WAY!!!!

Remember, they must fall in order...

Date: Jun 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"i didn't agree with the perceptions of BC in webster's glossary.

Stinky Cheese Man, I would be very interested in just what part these Webster Glossary entry about Chain to do not agree with:

1. Chain was once the Hattiesburg Mayor.

2. Chain once supported Shelby Thames.

3. Chain called the 430-32 no confidence vote "breathtaking."

4. Chain said the Thames administration has been a black eye for USM.

5. Chain said he'd be "mad as hell" if he learned that his own emails were under such surveillance.

6. Chain believes the email surveillance smacks of Nazi Germany under Hitler.

Please consider these six Webster Glossary statement (shortened and paraphrased) one-by-one, Stinky Cheese Man. Go to the original postings if need be. Your response need be only by number (e..g, whether you disagree with any or all of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). I liked many of your previous postings, Stinky - very much - but I ask here is that in the future you be very precise. The board is concerned with very important issues - much too important to allow irrelevant "personality evaluations" of community members get in the way of the primary mission. This cowgal doesn't mean to appear come across as tough, Stinky. It's just that some sensible application of the principles of operationalism and logical positivism might be in order.