daily rumor mill #69 - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 28, 2004

daily rumor mill #69

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: gurunuburg
"2. First word from lodoc (a heretofore dormant operative) over at the USM health center. In an e-mail, lodoc writes: "...the move to an '099 university' (i.e., open admiss school) has some interesting consequences for a university's health center. After the move, an increase in education/treatment needs for things like STDs, pregnancies and other socio-economic related maladies occurs. If the school is not committed to meet these needs with added funds, the quality of the 'average unit of service' can deteriorate significantly as the center's resources are spread too thin. I fear USM would not see fit to bump up, and we could see a problem here. There is a relatively sizable literature on this phenomenon....." Thanks lodoc (this isinteresting). "

Just to advance the depression... There is actually nothing that says that a college or university must operate a health center or clinic. In fact, a good many (if not most) community colleges simply do not offer that sort of service. If a medical issue arises, an outside ambulance service is used. I know for a fact that SACS doesn't require it, but if the service is provided it has to be evaluated, continually improved, etc. The easiest route for an institution to take is to get out of the clinic business.

Libraries are, however, an entirely different animal. Libraries are not optional & I truly hope that USM can show that the cuts in library budgets have been parallel to budget cuts college-wide when SACS comes to town.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"...
Libraries are, however, an entirely different animal. Libraries are not optional & I truly hope that USM can show that the cuts in library budgets have been parallel to budget cuts college-wide when SACS comes to town.
"

Libraries ARE optional when you recruit students who can't read.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: gurunuburg
"1. More word on attending parties. One of the things being relayed is that when asked by many Ole Miss/State alum, "So, what do you do?", USM professors often get the secondary comment later in the short conversation: "...well, at least you don't have to do 'all that' research like the profs up at ____..." (insert Ole Miss or State). This is the kind of impression people begin to get when they get wind that "open admissions criteria" have taken root. People with knowledge tend to think of the faculty as nothing more than uber-high school teachers. This is also the kind of thing posters on this board are trying to convince hard-heads like seeker/little seeker is starting to take hold in the 'burg. Thanks artsy and grapevine (and all of the rest of you guys).
"

This is just plain nutty. Mississippi's all-to- numerous knuckle-walkers are leery of all college faculty and of colleges generally. They don't make distinctions between institutions. My friends and neighbors on the coast express nothing but exasperation at Thames' actions. They understand that he's destroying reputation of the place.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

For the record, Cook Library was seriously underfunded BEFORE Shelboo started making cuts in its budget. Simply in terms of $$, it doesn't even compete with East Carolina, Univ. of AL Birmingham, UNC Charlotte, and a handful of other schools that you would think we'd be better than. The neglect of library needs at USM is nothing short of criminal.