Ranking is out complete w/ spin - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 20, 2004

Ranking is out complete w/ spin

Date: Aug 20, 2004

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/updates/8295.html

Date: Aug 20, 2004

Heck, why didn't she say "We are proud to be ranked among schools like Harvard, Princeton and Yale in the U.S. News and World Report ranking"? It's true. They're just ranked a lot higher.

Are Alabama & Michigan in the 4th tier?

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"Are Alabama & Michigan in the 4th tier?"

Michigan is first tier, ranked 22nd nationally. Hard to imagine what Lisa's been smoking.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

In contrast, here's Vandy's press release:

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?id=13631

Date: Aug 20, 2004

Put on your freaking glasses, Public Relations. Or get the BIG PRINT version of the report.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"
Are Alabama & Michigan in the 4th tier?"

Michigan is ranked 22nd in the country. That's first tier, Lisa. They're also ranked 3rd among public universities.

Alabama was ranked 86th (one ahead of Auburn), also a tier 1 institution.

Lisa, USM is in the muck, the abyss, the flotsam and jetsam.

Spin that, *****.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"
...
Are Alabama & Michigan in the 4th tier?"

Oh Yes, Alabama A&M is with us and also Central Michigan! And I beieve I also saw Texas A&M (Kingsville) listed 4th tier. Too bad about those EXTRA names. It sure would sound good if you leave off "A&M", "Central" and "Kingsville".

Date: Aug 20, 2004

Does anyone know what number or tier USM was ranked in last year? Previous years? Googler?

Date: Aug 20, 2004

If they put this kind of spin on the stuff they tell the press (the people), I can imagine what kind of spin they would put on the stuff they tell me.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

This must be some kind of cruel joke. Surely PR did not put that out. I will believe it when I see it. What was the source?

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Skeptical
"This must be some kind of cruel joke. Surely PR did not put that out. I will believe it when I see it. What was the source?"

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/updates/8295.html

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Capitol Eagle
"
USM ranks poorly on college survey

“We are proud to be ranked among schools like Alabama and Michigan in the U.S. News and World Report ranking,” Southern Miss spokeswoman Lisa Mader said Friday. "

Is this a joke, or did Mader really make this statement? With a straight face? If this quote is legit, why aren't the HA's intrepid reporters all over it?

AE

Date: Aug 20, 2004

If a refrigerator manufacturer put such a spin to its sales pitch a buyer might be able to get their money back. If a univesity makes such a sales pitch can a parent who has sent their children to school there get their money back? The US News information serves as a recruiting tool. Parents and prospective students pour through such material in making their selection. Can we parents who sent their children to USM believe anything now? Are your academic programs sold "as is." Maybe you shoud put "Caveat Emptor" on your recruiting brochures. This parent isn't very happy about this.

Parent

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
"

Is this a joke, or did Mader really make this statement? With a straight face? If this quote is legit, why aren't the HA's intrepid reporters all over it?

AE"

Is that a trick question? You are talking about the Hattiesburg American, right?

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Parent
"If a refrigerator manufacturer put such a spin to its sales pitch a buyer might be able to get their money back. If a univesity makes such a sales pitch can a parent who has sent their children to school there get their money back? The US News information serves as a recruiting tool. Parents and prospective students pour through such material in making their selection. Can we parents who sent their children to USM believe anything now? Are your academic programs sold "as is." Maybe you shoud put "Caveat Emptor" on your recruiting brochures. This parent isn't very happy about this.
Parent"

Parent,
Sorry, we’re just running a business here. You know marketing is very important in business and nobody said that "New and Improved" on a label had to actually mean anything.

(This is just fine with me, but my complaint is they still call it a university.
That makes me think they search for TRUTH. So to me it's like a police officer or judge breaking the law.)

Sincerely,

CEO

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Curmudgeon
"

Is that a trick question? You are talking about the Hattiesburg American, right?"

What was I thinking?

AE

Date: Aug 20, 2004

If USM would simply change its name to "Awhirled Class University" then it could be at the top of the 4th tier (because they list alphabetically). We could honestly call ourselves "top of our class".

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Miles Long
" Michigan is ranked 22nd in the country. That's first tier, Lisa. They're also ranked 3rd among public universities. Alabama was ranked 86th (one ahead of Auburn), also a tier 1 institution. Lisa, USM is in the muck, the abyss, the flotsam and jetsam. Spin that, *****. "

What we need is an analysis by someone who really understands this sort of thinking...Where are you Dr. Mader Math Revisited? We need your help with these statistics.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Phoenix
"What we need is an analysis by someone who really understands this sort of thinking...Where are you Dr. Mader Math Revisited? We need your help with these statistics. "

This quote ("he"=SFT) seems apt here:

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination."
-Andrew Lang

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Skeptical
"This must be some kind of cruel joke. Surely PR did not put that out. I will believe it when I see it. What was the source?"

Skeptical, I don't mean to flame you, but why is anyone skeptical about anything that SFT&Co. put out these days? This is a man who promulgated false charges ("criminal," he stated) about two of his own faculty members, remember? This is the man who spun his provost's leaving (after much-publicized runs at various jobs at other institutions) as "good for USM." I have a feeling that we will see a longer version of this sad spin in tomorrow's Hattiesburg American, unfortunately.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Miles Long
"

Michigan is ranked 22nd in the country. That's first tier, Lisa. They're also ranked 3rd among public universities.

Alabama was ranked 86th (one ahead of Auburn), also a tier 1 institution.

Lisa, USM is in the muck, the abyss, the flotsam and jetsam.

Spin that, *****.
"

Given their milquetoast editorial policy, do you suppose the HA would publish a well crafted inoffensive letter to the editor, pointing out the discrepancy between Mader's claim and the actual USNWR rankings, and addressing USM's free-fall from Tier 3 to Tier 4 status? Perhaps a better question might be, if published, would their readership even care?

AE

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
" ...Perhaps a better question might be, if published, would their readership even care? AE"

<SARCASM> It's all a liberal media plot anyway, AE...if we say "Southern Miss to the Top!" long enough and loud enough, I'm sure we'll make it come true! </SARCASM>

Date: Aug 20, 2004

Phoenix,

Dr. MaderMathRevisited is currently helping me with a new project called the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that may be helpful in keeping up Babbs' tradition in the coming year. I have passed on your message seeking assistance with the current twister crisis in the dome and Dr. MMR will get back to you. BTW, Dr. MMR's consulting fees are skyrocketing - that supply and demand thing, you know.

Dr. MMWR

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Baghdad Bob
"If USM would simply change its name to "Awhirled Class University" then it could be at the top of the 4th tier (because they list alphabetically). We could honestly call ourselves "top of our class". "

Bob, That is priceless!

(Are you really Invictus?)

Date: Aug 20, 2004

My sad, belated observatons upon returning from supper to find this thread:

My first thought was to write some sarcastic response to Lisa's spin - wondering aloud if our simply being ranked with the other Div I-A college football teams was something of which we should all be proud. It would make as much sense as being "proud" because we are ranked "among schools like Alabama and Michigan." (Yeah, just far, far below them.)

Because I have been avoiding EagleTalk the last few months, I had to Google to find out where we are in preseason polls. Actually, we are picked somewhere in the middle, depending on the poll. I checked three polls and found USM ranked as high as #33 and as low as 57 out of a total of approximately 120 Div I-A colleges.

In other words, all three of the polls have us ranked in the top 50% of major college football teams. The US News & World Report ranking -- arguably less subjective than football polls -- has USM scored in the lowest 25% academically. We don't know exactly where, but we know it's in the bottom group.

Imagine, if you will, how long we would tolerate an AD or head coach that let us slip into the bottom 25% of football teams. But will anyone be held accountable for the academic slide? The legislature? The IHL Board? The president? I don't think so.

The truth is that this story will likely be old news by Tuesday. But let's see what happens if USM ends the football season with 4 wins and 7 losses.

Is there any real question about the relative importance of academics and athletics at USM?

Date: Aug 20, 2004

I just can't believe the spin. Well, I can. I'm a professor in business, and we teach that eventually people see through the BS, believe it or not. Even the townfolk. If one of the newspapers doesn't pick up on the discrepancy, then, well, they are truly dumb. Last year we were 3rd tier, this year 4th...we FELL (explicit CAPS, not wanton), you dumbsh**. Unsubsubscribe because you can't trust anything they print. Every four-year school is ranked in US News...it depends on where. Last tier is sad, very sad. I hate all these f***ers in admin. The IHL just blows. Way to live up to the expectations of the name Mississippi. Idiots!!!

Hey Shelby, u suck! Take your raise and stick it! I donated your dirty money to U. of South Alabama. Way to run our school into the ground! Tell Ken Malone, thanks for bringing us to the basement.

Signed,

Director of Project Mayhem

Business Profs against Bozos

Business Profs against running a university like a business

Revolution Now!

Date: Aug 20, 2004

***The University of Southern Mississippi has been named in the ESPN/USA Today Football Coaches Poll. The poll tapped University of Southern California, Oklahoma, LSU, and Georgia as the top four in the country. "We are proud to join schools like Michigan, Texas, Virginia, and Minnesota in the rankings" said a Southern Miss person. We are a Carnegie I Extensive University that ranks in the Class I Southern Regional Education Board rankings, and we were a founding member of Conference USA.

***Any resemblance to persons or institutions, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Fight Club
" Signed, Profs against running a university like a business"

Nice signature, Fight Club. We may just keep you!

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Parent
" If a univesity makes such a sales pitch can a parent who has sent their children to school there get their money back? The US News information serves as a recruiting tool. Parents and prospective students pour through such material in making their selection. Can we parents who sent their children to USM believe anything now? Are your academic programs sold "as is." Maybe you shoud put "Caveat Emptor" on your recruiting brochures. This parent isn't very happy about this.
Parent"

Parent, you have every right to be unhappy about this. I might add, however, that it is possible for your child to get a good education at a 4th tier school. It would depend on their major, which profs they encounter, if they take the most demanding courses and if they work hard and show individual initiative. Yes, they would probably be better off at a higher ranked school, but it is possible for them to learn something at places other than Alabama and Michigan.