WDAM NEWS - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 21, 2004

WDAM NEWS

Date: Jul 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Otherside
"USM screwed some doctor's business by backing out of an agreement"

Why that might be any number of people when you consider the fact that a Ph.D. is a doctor. There seem to be quite a sizable number of bitter current and former USM faculty members - including me.

Date: Jul 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Otherside
"Did any one catch the WDAM NEWS at 6 pm? I only caught part of it. USM screwed some doctor's business by backing out of an agreement and not paying bills. I'm trying to find the complete story."

Yet another PR nightmare for Southern Miss. The WDAM story focused on an alleged agreement gone bad between the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at Southern Miss and Dr. Nancy Weible, a local physician. According to Dr. Weible, the IDS had a federal grant to support a program involving children at an off campus facility that was to be connected to her business/practice; the university collected the utility bills for the facility, but never paid them. Meanwhile, items purchased with federal grant dollars, including a $10,000 copier, sat unused (and in some cases, in boxes) in the off campus facility. All captured on videotape by WDAM.

Date: Jul 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Googler
"Yet another PR nightmare for Southern Miss. The WDAM story focused on an alleged agreement gone bad between the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at Southern Miss and Dr. Nancy Weible, a local physician. According to Dr. Weible, the IDS had a federal grant to support a program involving children at an off campus facility that was to be connected to her business/practice; the university collected the utility bills for the facility, but never paid them. Meanwhile, items purchased with federal grant dollars, including a $10,000 copier, sat unused (and in some cases, in boxes) in the off campus facility. All captured on videotape by WDAM. "

Thanks Googler. It sounds like more of the same, just different chapter.

I did hear Dr.Weible say something like she never questioned USM because she thought a university could be trusted to meet their commitments. I guess the public is now discovering what the faculty have been pointing out all of this time.

Date: Jul 21, 2004

I didn't hear the story, but as a former bureaucrat, this sounds to me like the sort of thing that happens in institutions which are short of staff, poorly managed and demoralized.

Date: Jul 21, 2004

Just saw the story on the 10 o'clock newscast. It is a serious (another) black eye for USM and its administration. There's no end to what those (_)_)======|) heads will do.

Date: Jul 21, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Googler
"items purchased with federal grant dollars, including a $10,000 copier, sat unused (and in some cases, in boxes) in the off campus facility. All captured on videotape by WDAM. "

Well, well. "All captured on videotape by WDAM." Sounds like WDAM might be getting into some invesigating reporting. There may be many stories on the big campus - just waiting for a really good investigative reporter from a newspaper or television station. They've missed some good ones. Perhaps they are finally catching on.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

I wonder if Hattiesburg American will pick up on this story. Few people know of this latest mess up and it needs to be in hard copy so everyone can record the facts.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

Another story on WDAM reported that H'burg Mayor DuPree indicated that he would not support the tax increase to fund USM atheletic expansion, nor would a group of inflential citizens led by Ken Fairley.

RG was interviewed as well, and he said that the business community still supported the tax increase and he was sure it would pass.

I don't think this bodes well for Shelby's expansionistic plans for the athletic program.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anonymouse
"
RG was interviewed as well, and he said that the business community still supported the tax increase and he was sure it would pass.
"

IIRC, the enabling legislation allows the university to bring the tax increase up again if it fails on the first try. And my bet is that you'll find out exactly how "financially strapped" USM is when they start the PR blitz for the tax increase.

When the campaign begins, I think we should follow the advice often stated on the old FS board: FOLLOW THE MONEY. Will it all be provided by private sector donors? Don't kid yourself. Will it look like it came from private sector donors? Probably.

I'll tell one guy who will not get my vote next time he's up: Phil Bryant.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

I couldn't find this story in today's on-line version of the Hattiesburg American. Maybe WDAM will update their story later. Or it may just fade away.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

I did find this as background info if you want to do a cut and paste.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/newcomers2004/care.html

Date: Jul 22, 2004

In response to: "I didn't hear the story, but as a former bureaucrat, this sounds to me like the sort of thing that happens in institutions which are short of staff, poorly managed and demoralized."

Actually the IDS has been mismanaged for years before Thames came aboard. In fact, the same people who were in charge under the last president are still there. Does everything negative about USM have to be automatically attributed to Thames? I for one am confident that Thames will fix this latest fiasco...if it becomes a fiasco. In fact, if he had made leadership changes in IDS like he did in other departments, maybe this new incident could have been avoided. No doubt those changes will soon be coming though.

Date: Jul 22, 2004

Word on the street last spring (Feb or March?) was that the good doctor changed all the locks one night and locked the IDS people out (and all the grant equipment and personal effects of the IDS people IN) when they questioned the credentials of some of the staff in her office. The IDS people had to hire a non-university lawyer to get their personal things back.

Date: Jul 23, 2004

Bumping this thread now that the HA has caught up with the IDS story.

Date: Jul 23, 2004

Hattiesburg American Article

Doctor may file complaint against USM
She says dispute harmed her day care business

By Janet Braswell
American Senior Writer jbraswell@hattiesb.gannett.com

A Hattiesburg physician, who says a dispute with the University of Southern Mississippi harmed her Mother's Touch day care business, plans to take her complaint to state authorities. ..........

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040723/southernmissnews/904409.html