here we go guys....hold on tight!!!!! - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 30, 2004

here we go guys....hold on tight!!!!!

Date: Jul 30, 2004

What happened to the Research Park that was going to built at the site of the old Van Hook Golf Course? Have plans for that been scrapped?

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: oh brother
"UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION TO PURCHASE FORMER GARDEN PARK HOSPITAL BUILDING
"

Many good things may come of this, but, Ole Miss will not EVER allow Southern Miss to have a medical school. Further, and as has been demonstrated, Gene Taylor does not have the juice to change the situation.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mr. Jones
"
Many good things may come of this, but, Ole Miss will not EVER allow Southern Miss to have a medical school. Further, and as has been demonstrated, Gene Taylor does not have the juice to change the situation."

I'm not sure Mississippi needs or can afford two medical schools. Which university do we close down to open the new med school?

But really, the article did not state that USM was going to put a medical school on the Coast. It said it was acquiring the facility to use for "hi-tech" (sic) research.

I wonder if this will go down as just more real estate acquisition like Cloverleaf Mall...

Date: Jul 30, 2004

Wasn't Ken Malone's original job (pre-snowball) to fill the research park? Perhaps we should complete one project before moving on to the next?

Date: Jul 30, 2004

My god people learn how to read! The article does not mention one single thing about USM trying to build a medical school nor does it mention one single thing about scrapping other plans for a research park.

The article simply mentions that the University can accumulate the property to extend research beyond polymers and get into the hi-tech arena.

Afterall, we are educators and we are supposed to be receptive to change and expanding our visions for the benefit of not only ourselves but for our students as well.

Get a grip and read the freaking article and quit trying to read something into it for the pure sake of complaining.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

Hey HardLine, why don't you go read the thread about the new venture at ByzMetrika. It jokes at what USM is beginning to resemble --- a mix of empty words. It's Jargon University now, nothing of substance. Buying this building probably just amounts to someone transferring their own problem or headache to a badly managed public institution, funded with taxpayer dollars. Nothing more. That's the real point.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

Hard Line:

Your ignorance is the problem. Since when is the real plan disclosed early in the game here? All the big money for medical or other health care research is for medical schools. Doctors tend to give money as alums. The last effort at acquiring something by USM was shut down by Ole Miss people, whether you, or anyone else, knew it, liked it, or approved it. That is fact, not complaining, and not the inability to read.

Mr. Jones

Date: Jul 30, 2004

OH! bb mac.

It is truley apparent from you other posting and their untasteful tone that you are someone who thinks below that of a person with subnormal IQ.

Appearantly you are not an educator? If you are my prayers go out to your students.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mr. Jones
" Ole Miss will not EVER allow Southern Miss to have a medical school."

As the population increases, Mississippi will eventually have two medical schools. I predict that when that does happen (perhaps not in our lifetime) it will be under the aegis of that great university in Clinton which we call Mississippi College, which already has a law school, and which is historically the most succcessful of all schools in the state in preparing its undergraduates to enter medical school. Any new medical school should be in close proximity to other major medical facilities (e.g., out on North State in Jackson). Mississippi College already trains its nurses at Jackson's Baptist Hospital with it maintins a close affiliation.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Choctaw
"As the population increases, Mississippi will eventually have two medical schools. "

If Mississippi's population was growing, it would eventually need another medical school. The problem is that the population isn't growing. Sure, there have been slight increases in population over time.

Still, the state suffers from net out-migration (more people leave Mississippi than come into it), and a relative decline compared to the other southern states, especially, NC, SC, GA, & FL. This migration tends to carry away the better educated. Think of all your students who move to Houston or Atlanta to find work. The opportunity structure in the state is quite limited.

One indicator of the state's relative decline is congressional representation. Mississippi entered the twentieth century with eight seats in the House of Representatives. After the 2000 census Mississippi lost one seat and how holds only four.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Hard-Line
"OH! bb mac. It is truley apparent from you other posting and their untasteful tone that you are someone who thinks below that of a person with subnormal IQ. Appearantly you are not an educator? If you are my prayers go out to your students. "

truely=truly

appearantly=apparently

untasteful=not a word; perhaps you meant "distasteful?"

Before knocking someone else's IQ, please proof your own posts. The irony is overpowering.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: Outside observer
"If Mississippi's population was growing, it would eventually need another medical school. The problem is that the population isn't growing".

Outside observer,

It's true what you say about Mississippi's population. That why I added the parenthetical clarification "Perhaps not in our lifetime." I suppose what I was really trying to point out is that Mississippi College is in a much better position for a medical school than is USM. One advantage is that MC it is a private university, not chained to the IHL. It is surprising how many prominent physicians, and attorneys, in Hattiesburg alone are MC alumni. With MC to the North (and having already achieved university status in everything except name), and Tulane encroaching at the South, USM really does need to find its niche.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

RE: RE: RE: RE: here we go guys....hold on tight!!

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"I seem to have missed the official declaration that "The Normal" was converting into a polytechnic.

Invictus,

Did you say "polytechnic?" I thought I saw on another thread that one of the deans was into "pyrotecnics!"

Date: Jul 30, 2004

RE: here we go guys....hold on tight!!!!!

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Queen of Spelling
"
truely=truly
appearantly=apparently
untasteful=not a word; perhaps you meant "distasteful?"
Before knocking someone else's IQ, please proof your own posts. The irony is overpowering. "

A poor liberal arts education will do that to a person.

Date: Jul 30, 2004

Let the record reflect...this is not THE Outside Observer!

quote:

Originally posted by: Outside observer
" If Mississippi's population was growing, it would eventually need another medical school. The problem is that the population isn't growing. Sure, there have been slight increases in population over time. Still, the state suffers from net out-migration (more people leave Mississippi than come into it), and a relative decline compared to the other southern states, especially, NC, SC, GA, & FL. This migration tends to carry away the better educated. Think of all your students who move to Houston or Atlanta to find work. The opportunity structure in the state is quite limited. One indicator of the state's relative decline is congressional representation. Mississippi entered the twentieth century with eight seats in the House of Representatives. After the 2000 census Mississippi lost one seat and how holds only four. "

Date: Jul 30, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside observer
"If Mississippi's population . . . population isn't growing . . . the state suffers from net out-migration (more people leave Mississippi than come into it)"

If Mississippi's population is not growing, and the state suffers from net out-migration (more people leave Mississippi than come into it), as Outside observer says, then what is this nonsense about growing USM's enrollment to 20,000 or otherwise making it the largest university in the state? It seems to me, given the population trend that Outside Observer cites, such a goal would be totally irresponsible. What earthly purpose could it have?

Date: Jul 31, 2004

Mississippi may indeed have a negative growth rate overall, but if you do that same analysis county by county, you will see that the coast is still growing.

USM used to offer many out-of-state tuition waivers to attract students from Alabama and Mississippi. Those waivers are gone, and so are most of the geographically close out-of-state students.

So, overall, Shelboo has managed to screw up any geographic recruiting advantage he may have had.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Miles Long
"you will see that the coast is still growing."

Miles,

Yes, the coast is growing. And so is the greater metropolitan Jackson area (e.g., Madison, Brandon). With regard to population growth in South Mississippi, however, I do hope USM's "level of aspiration" is more national in scope, rather than regional.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anna
"
I do hope USM's "level of aspiration" is more national in scope, rather than regional. "

I do not.

USM has always had the opportunity to be a good regional university. It is ludicrous to think that USM could aspire to be a national player. They don't have the funding, they don't have the infrastructure, they don't have the endowment, and they don't have the politcally connected alumni.

Of course, USM will (hopefully) always have world-class programs, thanks to the effort of world-class researchers like GS, FG, and others.

When I was on a college level 'recruiting and retention' committee, one of the questions that came up was "How can we retain HS seniors who may be going to a place like Duke?". The answer was that we could not. The best and brightest will probably go to the schools that cater to the best and brightest. Presidential scholarships will not typically dissuade these students.

Instead, USM needs to simply play to their strengths. Alas, many of their perceived strengths are no longer that strong, thanks to SFT's gutting of many departments and total destruction of colleges and schools.

Even if Shelboo is replaced, you think that USM is getting the college of Fine Arts back? Those days are gone, and they aren't coming back.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

I agree with you Miles Long. We certainly do not have the leadership to support being a nationally respected institution. We may have become notorious, but that doesn't make us world class. We did have a powerhouse Fine Arts program. The gutting of it is truly tragic.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

Miles Long & Swan Song,

I do not know quite how to respond to your respective postings regarding regional vs. national aspirations for USM. When I was recruited, I was told it was national. Had I not been of the belief that USM's arpirations were national, I would never have left my tenured appointment at a school which had met and exceeded national expectations for world class status. I might have gone elsewhere, but not to USM. I know -and you seem to know too - that USM is not world class - regardless of what the president says. But it is the level of aspiration to which I spoke in my posting - not where USM is at the present time. Sometime ago, I began to realize that the faculty aspired to national visibility for their university, but some of the middle and higher administration at that time didn't seem to quite know what it was all about. I was honestly surprised to see both of your rather pessimistic postings, as I follow this message board and believe I have a pretty good idea of the values of many of the posters. I would never have guessed that either of you two would have less than national aspirations for our university. I have been out for the evening, and when I returned and booted up my computer, the first thing I saw was your postings; and I actually became temporarily despondent. Not because I thought you are correct - because I do not - but because it alarms me that anyone jere would aspire for anything less than being a nationally visible institution. Even many of the small, underfunded liberal arts colleges are nationally visible - highly visible. USM already has some really excellent academic programs. At least they were excellent before May Day. I do hope you reconsider your position and, even in the face of this terrible crisis USM is experiencing, hold your head high and be determined to help make USM truly world class. It most definitely does not even approach that status now. But it never will without an appropriately high and realistic level of aspiration on the part of faculty and administration.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

Miles Long & Swan Song,

One more thing. No truly world class institution speaks about being world class. It sounds tacky. When you hear the shout that "we're world class," it's a pretty safe bet that it's all smoke and mirrors - beware.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

Anna, I'm sorry if I came off as pessimistic - I haven't given up on USM, but as I've said before, I am- as many people are - extremely frustrated by what I consider to be some really bone headed decisions by what appear to be self serving administrators. I've seen them topple departments and treat faculty members as if they are disposable. This disrespect alarms me, and I will do everything within my power to see it change. I am sick of hearing that broken record of a gnome continuing to call this place world class and try to take credit for "nurturing" the people he has successfully run off. I'm sick of it. I want change, and I'll work for change. I do take heart in the fact that Shelbyandias will be remembered as the weakest, most corrupt, and ineffectual president of all (and considering some past presidents - that's saying a lot). I think his legacy will be one that is regarded as pathetic and pitiful. I think the USM faculty is outstanding, and I have nothing but admiration for the large majority of them. If he really put the students first and foremost, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Date: Jul 31, 2004

Swan Song,

Now that's the Swan Song I remember from your previous postings! As an aside, Swan Song, you mentioned USM administrators treating faculty members as if they were disposable. For what it's worth, Anna was one of those. It was worse than any poster on this message board can imagine. Nonetheless, I still maintain a high level of aspiration for USM. There will be a new day.