Article is consistent with rumors I have heard that money was exchanged under the table this spring for ST to continue as president.  Rumors that could prove to be false,  but always came from alumni that have many years of active work on behalf of the university.  Outsider

From the article:
Gore said Pickering, 61, is an "at-will employee," who he described as one without the same protections as, for example, a tenured professor.


So tenured professors have protection? Since when??

quote:

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Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"This is it, folks....what we've been waiting for all along.  A brave soul to be a "whistleblower" in all of this mess.  Frank Pickering, you are already a hero in my book just for filing the suit.  This may take a while for a resolution, but who knows what sort of damage it will do to SFT in the meantime?  You reap what you sow, Shelboo, you reap what you sow. Stay the course....NO QUARTER!!!!"

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A former fundraiser for the University of Southern Mississippi claims in a lawsuit filed Monday that Shelby Thames' appointment as president was illegally orchestrated by some state College Board members and other unidentified community members.

Frank Pickering filed a civil lawsuit in Forrest County Circuit Court claiming he was wrongly fired in September 2003 after he reported that Thames was named president because of alleged collusion between some members of the board and Thames.

"When Frank Pickering complained about the manner in which Dr. Thames was hired, he was fired," said Kim Chaze, Pickering's attorney. "Mr. Pickering contends that instead of a fair process where the board acts impartially to select a president, certain members acted inappropriately in the Thames appointment."

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It is interesting that Frank is suing SFT et al. when he was neck deep in getting Horace knifed in the back and doing everything he could to get Shelby appointed as USM's president. He is a big part of our current problem with Shelby...he helped insure the dirty deeds were done to get SFT in place.

So, I find it ironic that Frank is suing for damages as a result of his actions that put the little tyrant in place. It is like the person who ordered hot coffee and then sued (and won) because the coffee was hot.

Frank has some great stories as to what went on (and by whom) to get rid of Horace and to put SFT in place. In fact, I hope Frank does get to recount them at the trial. I do hope that Shelby does not settle out of court on this one. You just think you know who some of the players are....Ha! If it goes to trial, I am sure you will be surprised at some of the people who will be sweating the facts. They do not want their true participation in this sordid affair to be public knowledge.

An interesting note...if Frank is suing, and his involvement was minimal compared to AD, TH and a host of others...just think of what the insiders know. I am sure that SFT and a few IHL (and ex-IHL) Board members are wondering if Martha will give them decorating tips for their new taxpayer-supplied bungalows.

Maybe SFT's buddy Bud could make some of his problems disappear?

quote:

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Originally posted by: Witness Protection Program
"I don't know much of the background to all of this but I do know that the individual who filed the lawsuit used to boast far and wide about his personal role in putting Shelby in office.   A change of heart must have come with the change in job status?  To borrow and take license with Strom's words, "Frank, are you a SCORNED man?" Sleazy informants sometimes have good information but that doesn't mean you want to align too closely with them. Oh, by the way, Martha says that stripes are definately in this year!  Wonder who will be wearing them?    "

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I don't know Frank Pickering, so I can't speak to his character or role in all of this.  But I am glad for one thing...that he had the courage to sue and that, possibly, all of this will put the heat on SFT to resign.  It's damaging enough that everything that we all THOUGHT about SFT being "installed" as President is now being publicly STATED in the H'burg AM.  That's a win right there.

quote:

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I wonder if the person filing this lawsuit could offer any useful testimony at the lawsuit that will be going to trial this coming fall -- the one involving Melissa Whiting.  I believe this fellow and Professor Whiting have the same attorney.  It would be nice if some of his testimony could get on the record sooner rather than later..."

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I sure hope Sympathizer's wish comes true. Otherwise, it could be years before this comes to trial and even then it may be settled out of court so the IHL Board can save face. They didn't mind paying for Frank and Gary's silence, so why would they let this go to trial?

they're appealing the Stamper verdict.  payout on hold until the appeal is decided.  The university has won several on appeal.  Unfortunately, they don't get much, if any, press coverage.

see WDAM website, search on Pickering...

April 9, 2002
Campus Reaction Mixed on Thames
excerpt:

"...Thames says he would like to make Southern Miss the number one school in America...saying he would apply the same leadership skills to the campus that he used to make his polymer science program a success.

While some were impressed with his presentation, others say Thames is all talk.

"I speak for a lot of people on campus. I think we're tremendously excited with what he brings to the table," says Frank Pickering from the College of Business. "We need a strong leader." ..."

from Hattiesburg American - sorry, I'm having trouble linking.

Tuesday, June 18, 2002
USM cuts job from world studies by Janet Braswell

"...Frank Pickering resigned last week, effective June 30, from the job that pays $60,000 to $65,000. ..."

According to WDAM, Frank Pickering endorses Shelby publicly on April 9, 2002, and according to the HA, resigns prior to June 18, 2002.  That must have been an interesting two months.  Anyone?

Then goes where?  Comes back when?   

 

It is intersting that Frank 'raised' $6.5 million, when he never turned in a signed pledge from his big donors to the USM Foundation. Oh, he always said that so and so was going to give $X dollars, but it was just talk. A pledge card was never signed and delivered and a check was never written.

As to the $5 million 'pledged' to the CBA building campaign, more of the same. Frank and Gunther were always traveling on Foundation money, seeing his old ATO buddies and living well, but no checks and no pledges. As to the $5 million, it was mostly 'I will give $X when you raise $XX, but I will not sign anything - you just have my word that I will do it at the right time.' A deal is as good as the paper it is written on!

Ha!

Frank slept with dogs, did tricks for the boss, got fleas, got fired, and now wants someone to take care of him. I hope he tells everything that he knows in court.

The only college I know anything about is CBED. I don't know much about Pickering, but For many years CBED has been pretty bad. Anybody who didn't have enough sense to agree or at least shut up was punished and ridiculed in an effort to drive them off. CBED lost a lot of good people that way.

It is part of the CBED culture.

quote:

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Originally posted by: WPP
"
I am so torn about this one...
There is nothing about integrity, doing the right thing, attaining a higher goal, making USM a better place, or any of our other ethical high ground objectives going on here.
FP's motives are clearly not pure; he's trying to do a great deal of collateral damage in the process; he is using and being used by others; once a liar... but if he's truly "got the goods" to take down Shelby, then I guess I come down on the side of wishing him success. 
Is everyone beginning to realize how broad and deep (and ingrained) the culture of corruption is?
I have to go shower now...feel dirty just by association...
WPP"

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quote:

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"I wonder if the person filing this lawsuit could offer any useful testimony at the lawsuit that will be going to trial this coming fall -- the one involving Melissa Whiting.  I believe this fellow and Professor Whiting have the same attorney.  It would be nice if some of his testimony could get on the record sooner rather than later. By the way, maybe I am living in a cocoon, but I have never personally known of a university that gets sued more often than seems to be the case at USM.  I am sure it must happen; I guess I am just ignorant.  It certainly doesn't seem to happen, however, at the place where I am employed."

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Now THIS is odd: I, the original "USM Sympathizer," did not post this comment, but I actually agree with everything it says.  Maybe this poster doesn't realize that there's already a poster named USMS.  Strange . . . .  Maybe I need to start signing myself "USM Sympathizer # 1"

By the way, the link does not seem to be working; can anyone get us a working link? Or, failing that, can anyone paraphrase the story in more detail?  Thanks!

The ORIGINAL USM Sympathizer ("an established tradition since March 2004")

quote:

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Originally posted by: Old News
"This thread is from Summer, 2004.  Maybe you forgot?"

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Dear Old News,

Thanks for clearing that up!  I didn't notice that this thread was an old one.  No WONDER I thought the "new guy" sounded so intelligent!    Your info would also explain why the link no longer works.   I think I need to go have a large cup of coffee.

By the way, does anyone know how the Pickering suit is progressing?