As The Liberal Arts Go, So Goes USM - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 3, 2004

As The Liberal Arts Go, So Goes USM

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Others have made this point too, but it is always good to see again because it is the truth.

Date: Aug 3, 2004

Thanks for this reminder, FA @ TP! So true, so true.

Date: Aug 4, 2004

A Public Service Message from the Mississippi State University
English Department:

Some students who enjoy English courses hesitate to major in the subject because they think that few career options are open to English majors. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The stereotype of the English major as a grammar-spouting schoolmarm or wild-eyed poet has always been a convenient myth for people who have trouble with the first two of the three R's. Like many stereotypes, this one has a grain of truth. Some English majors choose a career in teaching. But thousands of English majors choose to employ their communication and problem-solving skills in a wide variety of other career fields.

Although it is loath to meddle with a myth, the English Department at Mississippi State feels obliged to do so for the sake of students who would like to major in English but are concerned about its practical value. By way of reassuring this group, we offer the names of a few English majors who have prominently offended against the stereotype.

Alan Alda--actor, writer
Russell Baker--journalist
Dave Barry--humorist writer, actor
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason--television writer/producer (Designing Women, Evening Shade)
Carol Browner--Head of the Environmental Protection Agency
Chevy Chase--comedian, actor, writer
Mario Cuomo--Governor of New York
Michael Eisner--Walt Disney CEO
Jodi Foster--actress, filmmaker
Kathryn Fuller--World Wildlife Fund CEO
A. Bartlett Giamatti--President, Yale University and Commissioner of Baseball
Cathy Guisewite--cartoonist (Cathy)
Chris Isaak--songwriter, singer
Stephen King--novelist
Paul Newman--actor, food entrepreneur
Joe Paterno--football coach (Penn State)
Sally Ride--astronaut
Joan Rivers--comedienne
Diane Sawyer--broadcast journalist
Paul Simon--songwriter, singer
Steven Spielberg--filmmaker
Marty Shottenheimer--Coach of Kansas City Chiefs
Superman (Christopher Reeve)--journalist, superhero
Brandon Tartikoff--television executive
Clarence Thomas--U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Grant Tinker--TV Executive and Producer
Harold Varmus--Nobel laureate in medicine, Director of National Institutes of Health
Barbara Walters--broadcast journalist
Sigourney Weaver--actress
Pete Wilson--Governor of California
Bob Woodward--journalist, writer (All the President's Men)

Date: Aug 5, 2004

This is the kind of stuff that I wish our PR head would come up with - something positive for parents and prospective students to see and think about; instead she spends her time defending the actions SFT and AD and spinning the truth about the cesspool that the dome has become.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

should be "the actions of SFT and AD

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Some Famous History Majors
U.S. Presidents

Theodore Roosevelt (Harvard)
Woodrow Wilson (Princeton)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (Harvard)
Richard Nixon (Whittier College)
George W. Bush (Yale)

N.B. Teddy Roosevelt (in 1912) and Woodrow Wilson (in 1924) both served as president of the American Historical Association.

Others in Politics

Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge (Harvard)
Sen. George McGovern (Dakota Wesleyan)
Sen. George Mitchell (Bowdoin)
Justice Antonin Scalia (Georgetown)
Rep. Newt Gingrich (Emory)

N.B. Newt Gingrich also earned a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Tulane University and taught history at Western Georgia College.

Athletes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (UCLA)
Ken Dryden (Cornell)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (UCLA)
Grant Hill (Duke)

Media

Chris Berman (Brown)
Wolf Blitzer (SUNY-Buffalo)
Seymour Hersh (U. Chicago)
Charles Kuralt (North Carolina)

Business

Carly Fiorina (Stanford)
Lee Iacocca (Lehigh)
Martha Stewart (Barnard College)

Entertainers

Katharine Hepburn (Bryn Mawr)
Conan O'Brien (Harvard)
Lauryn Hill (Columbia)
Edward Norton (Yale)
Ellen Barkin (Hunter College)
Janeane Garofalo (Providence College)
Michael Palin (Oxford)

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Famous Sociology Majors

Politics:

Wellington Webb, mayor of Denver

Brett Schundler, mayor of Jersey City

Annette Strauss, former mayor of Dallas

Rev. Martin Luther King

Roy Wilkins, former head of NAACP

Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Ralph Abernathy

Shirley Chisholm, former Congresswoman from NY

Maxine Waters, Congresswoman from LA

Barbara Mikulski, US Senator from Maryland

Tim Holden, Congressman from Pennsylvania

Cardinal Theordore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, DC

Saul Alinsky, father of community organizing

Saul Bellow, novelist

Ronald Reagan (double major in sociology and economics)

Emily Balch, 1946 Nobel Peace Prize winner (a social worker and social reformer)

Francis Perkins, social reformer and former Secretary of Labor

Richard Barajas, Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court

Arts:

Saul Bellow, novelist

Regis Philbin, no-talent TV host

Dan Aykroyd, actor/Blues Brother

Robin Williams, actor/comedian

Paul Shaffer, bandleader on David Letterman Show (and before that, Saturday Night Live)

Dinah Shore, singer

Ruth Westheimer, the “sex doctor”

Sports:

Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat

Bryant Stith, Boston Celtics

Brian Jordan, Atlanta Braves

Joe Theisman, NFL quarterback

Eric Bjornson, Dallas Cowboys

Bobby Taylor, Eagles cornerback

Ahmad Rashad, Sportscaster

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Majors of the Rich and Famous

Dr. Ricardo Romo

History major

Dr. Richard Lewis

Sociology major

Dr. Rosalie Ambrosino

Sociology & Social Work majors

Dr. Daniel Gelo

Anthropology major

Dr. Louis Mendoza

English major

Dr. Mary McNaughton-Cassill

Psychology major

Kathy Calucci

Psychology major

Cindy Gable

Sociology major

Robin Sandberg

Communication & Spanish double major

Marie Soto

Music with an Emphasis in Mkt (Degree from UTSA!)

LaPetra Bowman

English major (Degree from UTSA!)

Alegria Garcia

Liberal Studies major

Olga San Miguel

Psychology major (Degree from UTSA!)

Cynthia Harper-Gosselin

English & Communication double major

Dana Hamilton

Psychology major

In Politics

President George Bush

History major

Vice President Dick Cheney

Political Science major

Dr. Condoleeza Rice

Political Science major

Ari Fleischer

Political Science major

Madeline Albright

History major

John Kerry

Political Science major

In Hollywood

Kathleen Battle (opera star)

Music major

Tom Clancy (author)

English major

Glenn Close (actress)

Anthropology & Theater double major

Katie Couric (broadcaster)

American Studies

Andrew Greeley (author)

Sociology major

Andy Griffith (actor, gospel singer)

Music major

Bryant Gumbel (broadcaster)

Russian Studies

James Earl Jones (actor)

Theatre major

Tommy Lee Jones (actor)

English major

Michael Jordan (NBA player)

Geography major

Garrison Keillor (humorist)

English major

Charles Kuralt (news reporter)

History major

Gary Larson ("Far Side" cartoonist)

Anthropology major

Steve Martin (actor, comedian)

Philosophy major

Georgia O'Keefe (artist)

Art major

Jane Pauley (broadcaster)

Political Science

Brad Pitt (actor)

Journalism

Harry Reasoner (journalist)

Journalism

Brooke Shields (actress)

French major

Paul Simon (musician)

English major

Supreme Court Justice David Souter

Philosophy major

Steven Spielberg (director)

English major

Ted Turner (media mogul)

Classics major

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Anthropology

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Woodrow Wilson (in 1924) both served as president of the American Historical Association.

Wilson must have served in an honorary role since he died in February 1924 and was bedridden after suffering from numerous strokes the last few years of his life.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

An article from the Printz at the end of last semester (April 20) adds to this list of accomplishements from Liberal Arts majors: http://www.usm.edu/printz/archives/04222004/opinions.html

Liberal arts teaches skills attractive to employers

I commend The Student Printz for the recent article on graduates of USM trying to find a job. In today’s tough economic times we need clear-headed thinking about what is required to make a living in America. Most interesting to me was the long list of "Quality or skills employers are looking for," for nearly all of those skills are taught and required within the traditional humanities or liberal arts disciplines. At a time when the trend is to de-emphasize majors such as history, English, philosophy, political science, anthropology, sociology and so on because they do not seem to be practical, it is encouraging to see that employers seek graduates with the skills that those disciplines strive to instill in their students.

Following the list presented in The Student Printz, if you earn a degree at the undergraduate or graduate level in a liberal arts field you will most likely be a good verbal and written communicator, a person of honesty and integrity who understands that evidence must support your conclusions, know how to relate well and discuss issues with others, be self-motivated and have a strong work ethic (completing all that reading and writing pays off), know how to analyze evidence and interpretations, use a computer and on down the line.

Any corporations recognize the validity and importance of training received by students in humanities programs. This is why, for example, the CEO of Walt Disney, a senior VP at Natural Microsystems, an executive VP at Fidelity Investments and the VP of International Relations at Jupiter Communications have BA degrees in English, and the CEOs of General Mills, Hewlett-Packard, Corning, QXL.com, the Celtics basketball franchise and American Express have BA degrees in history. Even President G. W. Bush majored in history.

This list is just a sampling of persons with humanities degrees who lead corporations. Fifteen percent of all Fortune 500 CEOs have a liberal arts degree, the same percentage who hold a business degree. Liberal arts graduates are also uniquely suited for government jobs, museums, foundations, other non-profit sector jobs, sales, public relations, tourism, consulting and teaching.

According to the College Majors Handbook, for example, "some 13 percent of those with a bachelor's degree in history work in managerial or administrative jobs, while another 16 percent work in various sales, marketing, insurance, securities and real estate sales occupations."

Of course, humanities programs are also vital to our culture and society as a whole. In no other sector of a university is the exploration of what it means to be a human or a citizen approached from so many different angles. This is one of the major reasons that liberal arts training has provided the foundation of American and Western education for centuries.

Greg O’Brien
associate professor & Director of Graduate Studies
Department of History

Date: Aug 5, 2004

FORMER PHILOSOPHY MAJORS
PERFORMERSJohn Chancellor--News Broadcaster
Harrison Ford--Actor
Chris Hardwick--MTV Host
Amy Madigan--Actress
Steve Martin--Comedian, Actor
Dennis Miller--Comedian
Stone Phillips--News Broadcaster
Brad Roberts--Of Crash Test Dummies
Susan Sarandon--Actress
Gene Siskel--Movie Critic
Jeff Smith--Frugal Gourmet
Steve Thomas--Host for TV Show, This Old House
Alex Trebek--Host for TV Show, Jeopardy

BUSINESSCarl Icahn--CEO, TWA Airlines
Gerald Levin--CEO, Time-Warner, Inc.
George Soros--Financier

SOCIAL STUDIESGertrude Himmelfarb--Historian
Herbert Simon--Economist, Artificial Intelligence and Nobel Laureate
C. Vann Woodward--Historian

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICSWilliam Bennett--Secretary of Education and Head of the Drug Enforcement Agency
Patrick Buchanon--Presidential Candidate and Political Columnist
Jules Debray--Writer and Government Official, France
Rahm Emanuel--Clinton White House Political Advisor
Thomas Jefferson--U.S. President
Aung San Suu Kyi--Human Rights Activist, Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Robert MacNamara--Secretary of Defense and Head of the World Bank
John Silber--Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts and President of Boston University
David Souter--Supreme Court Justice

ARTS AND LETTERSJoseph Chaikin--Theatre Director
Ethan Coen--Film Maker
Umberto Eco--Novelist and Semiologist
Ken Follett--British Writer
Michael Frayn--Novelist
Northrup Frye--Literary Critic
Martin Gardner--Essayist
Philip Glass--Composer
Rebecca Goldstein--Novelist
Neil Klugman--Main Character in Philip Roth Novel, Good-Bye Columbus
Claude Lanzsmann--Film Maker
Michael Lerner--Editor/Publisher Tikkun Magazine
Ira Levin--Writer
James Michener--Writer
Iris Murdoch--Novelist
Steve Reich--Composer
Meyer Schapiro--Art Critic
Alexander Solzhenitsin--Writer
Wallace Shawn--Playwright and Actor
Susan Sontag--Writer
David Foster Wallace--Novelist
Elie Wiesel--Writer

SPORTSPhil Jackson--Coach, Chicago Bulls
Michael McKaskey--Owner, Chicago Bears
Aaron Taylor--Offensive Tackle, Green Bay Packers

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Here is how Duquesne University acknowledgs the central role of the Liberal Arts at their institution:

'The McAnulty College of Liberal Arts are at the center of Duquesne University's 'Education for the Mind, Heart and Soul.'

Date: Aug 5, 2004

I think it's appropriate to post this again...this is the "vision statement" for USM on the website as seen by SFT (this didn't exist until after his installation as president, to my knowledge):

Vision

As a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive and a Four-Year Class 1 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) institution, The University of Southern Mississippi will be a premier, comprehensive, dual-campus university that is distinguished by its established excellence in undergraduate education with nationally known graduate programs, a groundbreaking economic development emphasis, and a demonstrated commitment to improving quality of life.

With two campuses and five teaching and research sites across south Mississippi as well as France, Mexico, England, and Spain, The University of Southern Mississippi serves the state, the Southeastern U.S. region, and the nation through its strong, varied undergraduate programs built upon a sound general education curriculum; through its master’s and doctoral programs in the sciences, education, psychology, economic development, the humanities, business, health, engineering technologies, and the arts; and through its faculty’s innovative research achievements. Southern Miss’ academic and research initiatives demonstrate its commitment to knowledge-based economic development and to enhanced quality of life. The University of Southern Mississippi is committed to its academic programs and student services on the Gulf Coast and to working with community leaders to assure educational, cultural, and economic growth for all citizens who live and work in the coastal communities of Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi is distinguished by

innovative research that includes scientific, technological, and societal projects
a commitment to all population groups of our state and society among the student body, faculty, and staff by providing cross-cultural activities
a faculty that is distinctive in teaching abilities, scholarly reputations, and a commitment to the education and achievements of its students
excellent international education programs that contribute to global literacy for Mississippians
leadership in addressing public interest and improving the quality of life
close-working partnerships with government, business, community leaders, and groups who appreciate the contributions of higher education and serve as key advocates for the university
cutting-edge economic development research and education

The mission of The University of Southern Mississippi includes generating new knowledge, applying knowledge in service to humanity, facilitating an appreciation of artistic creations and performances, promoting cultural understanding, and, most importantly, fostering learning among students in ways that prepare them to become contributing citizens and leaders in a global society. Concisely stated, the university is in the business of helping people learn, and this learning occurs through the discovery, transmission, and application of knowledge. Therefore, Southern Miss can be characterized as a not-for-profit institution that is in the learning business.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
". . .this is the "vision statement" for USM on the website as seen by SFT. "Therefore, Southern Miss can be characterized as a not-for-profit institution that is in the learning business."

Not-for-profit? Really.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

FROM THE POLICY MANUAL OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION:

"The four-year baccalaureate program in psychology is fundamentally a liberal arts curriculum. Neither vocational nor preprofessional training should be a primary goal of undergraduate education in psychology. This position is consistent with the finding of the 1961 Michigan Conference, chaired by W.J. McKeachie and John E. Milholland, which concluded that 'a basically liberal arts curriculum is best for students who plan to go on to professional training, to graduate work in psychology, or directly into a vocation."

Yoo Hoo. USM Reorganization Committee where are you? Are you listening? Let Psychology at USM move into the 19th century. HELLO?

Date: Aug 5, 2004

This thread makes it clear why Ole Miss put so much time and effort into getting a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Ditto for Milsaps.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Not-for-profit?
"Not-for-profit? Really. "

Yes, really!

Well, it should read "unless you are one of the famous USM millionaires."

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
" Yes, really! Well, it should read "unless you are one of the famous USM millionaires.""

truth$usm,

Your post helped make my point! USM appears to have become a for-profit institution. At least that's the way I see it. Some of the administrators seem to think that you work for them, whereas quite the opposite should be true:they should be working for you (the faculty) and facilitating your efforts, rather than with their their fat golden parachutes on their back, parachutes which seem to be getting fatter and goldener as time passes. Ther term non-profit organizaiton means that the organization doesn't pay taxes. It doesn't mean that the management doesn't get rich in the process.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: not-for-profit?
" truth$usm, Your post helped make my point! USM appears to have become a for-profit institution. At least that's the way I see it. Some of the administrators seem to think that you work for them, whereas quite the opposite should be true:they should be working for you (the faculty) and facilitating your efforts, rather than with their their fat golden parachutes on their back, parachutes which seem to be getting fatter and goldener as time passes. Ther term non-profit organizaiton means that the organization doesn't pay taxes. It doesn't mean that the management doesn't get rich in the process. "

NFP, I'm on your side. Preach it, brother/sister!

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Curmudgeon
"This thread makes it clear why Ole Miss put so much time and effort into getting a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Ditto for Milsaps."

C'mudgeon,

Your Phi Beta Kappa statement reflects what I perceive to be a fundamental difference in the aspirations of the Ole Miss & Millsaps administrations, versus those of the current USM administration. With the wounding of the USM English Department, and others, Phi Beta Kappa status for USM is far less attainable than it would have been two years ago. Do you think, perchance, our administration thinks Phi Beta Kappa is a social fraternity?

Date: Aug 5, 2004

If PBK doesn't come with some sort of economic development incentive, then I can't see the current administration getting too worked up about it.

Isn't there also a library component (must have a certain number of volumes in the library)? If that's the case, USM will never get a chapter under SFT.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: First Ant at the Picnic
" FROM THE POLICY MANUAL OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: "The four-year baccalaureate program in psychology is fundamentally a liberal arts curriculum. ... Yoo Hoo. USM Reorganization Committee where are you? Are you listening? Let Psychology at USM move into the 19th century. HELLO? "

I don't understand what you mean. The undergrad psych degree is a liberal art oriented degree. For a 4 year applied degree, there is the social and rehabilitation services program. Do you want psych in COAL? Most in the department would argue that it belongs in COST (where it usually is if it is not in Art & Sciences, but USM doesn't have one of those).

BTW, psychology wasn't founded until late in the 19th century so I don't understand that statement either.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

for years the idea of a college of social and behavioral sciences has been thrown around. could include psych, political science, and a number of other departments. could make for an interesting and exciting college!

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: asdf
" I don't understand what you mean. The undergrad psych degree is a liberal art oriented degree. For a 4 year applied degree, there is the social and rehabilitation services program. Do you want psych in COAL? Most in the department would argue that it belongs in COST (where it usually is if it is not in Art & Sciences, but USM doesn't have one of those). BTW, psychology wasn't founded until late in the 19th century so I don't understand that statement either. "

FWIW, Psychology is housed with Education at Vanderbilt (at the Peabody College). And we do have Arts & Sciences.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

Originally posted by: truth4usm

FWIW, Psychology is housed with Education at Vanderbilt (at the Peabody College). And we do have Arts & Sciences.

Vanderbilt's department of psychology is definitely in the College of Arts and Sciences (at least it was last time I was on that campus). That was before Vanderbilt and the Peabody College for Teachers integrated as one. My understanding, however, is that Peabody has a depatment of psychology and human development whose major in psychological sciences is offered with the College of Arts and Sciences at Vanderbilt.

Date: Aug 5, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: asdf
" I don't understand what you mean. The undergrad psych degree is a liberal art oriented degree . . . Do you want psych in COAL? Most in the department would argue that it belongs in COST (where it usually is if it is not in Art & Sciences, but USM doesn't have one of those).

asdf,

Yes, I am aware that Psy at USM is a liberal art oriented degree. That is why most universities house Psy in the College of Arts and Sciences. When there is no College of Arts and Sciences (such as is now the case at USM), Psy is normally in a College of Liberal Arts, or in a College or Science, and sometimes in a College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The most recent Psy department I know to move to a College of Science (and therefore housed with Chemistry, Biology, etc) is Virginia Tech. It was done by faculty vote and with administrative concurrence. That move took place within the past year. I do know that at one time the USM Psy faculty voted to consider moving elsewhere, but that was vetoed and the faculty had no choice in the matter. The reason given was that it would make the College of Education and Psychology too small. All of that was before the USM administration decided to merge the Department of Psychology with the Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services. The main point I was trying to make on the post to which you referred is that the American Psychological Association views the undergraduate psychology major as a liberal arts degree. My reference to the 19th Century was my evidently feeble attempt at humor, suggesting (too subtedly perhaps) that the discipline of psychology has now developed to the point where it is most often housed elsewhere. And yes, I am aware of Wundt's establishment of the lst psychological laboratory at Leipzig, the date it was established, and even the names of his doctoral students and where they took their first position. My guess is that the lineage of most members of the USM psychology department goes all the way back to Wundt, and if not to Wundt, to William James.

Date: Aug 6, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: First Ant at the Picnic
"Originally posted by: truth4usm FWIW, Psychology is housed with Education at Vanderbilt (at the Peabody College). And we do have Arts & Sciences. Vanderbilt's department of psychology is definitely in the College of Arts and Sciences (at least it was last time I was on that campus). That was before Vanderbilt and the Peabody College for Teachers integrated as one. My understanding, however, is that Peabody has a depatment of psychology and human development whose major in psychological sciences is offered with the College of Arts and Sciences at Vanderbilt. "

My apologies...yes, I just double-checked and the Dept. of Psychology *is* in the College of Arts & Sciences at Vanderbilt (hey, I'm new!). But, there is also a Dept. of Psychology and Human Development in Peabody (the education college) as you mentioned, and that's what confused me.

Sorry!

Date: Aug 6, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
" My apologies...yes, I just double-checked and the Dept. of Psychology *is* in the College of Arts & Sciences at Vanderbilt (hey, I'm new!). But, there is also a Dept. of Psychology and Human Development in Peabody (the education college) as you mentioned, and that's what confused me. Sorry! "

I believe that combining Vanderbilt with Peabody was a smart move. It gave Vanderbilt a nationally visible teacher training institution, and it gave Peabody ready access to Vanderbilt's array of disciplines which would not otherwise be available. A very smart move in my opinion.