Liberal Arts

Date: Mar 25, 2004

Liberal Arts

Date: Mar 25, 2004

I'm aware how "difficult" political science programs are. Most business schools will not allow students to count Polysci courses in business programs...and lets not even talk about jobs...many polysci grads try to sell themselves as business majors...several polysci grad classes appear almost identical to bus. classes (eg. organizational behavior)...

Have you ever been called into your bosses' office for a discussion about your performance or an alleged behavioral problem? Or have you been in the job market yet? Most people would not want even the most minor alleged personnel issues discussed in public...it's interesting that so many people want these professors to go public. Easy to say when it's not you!

Date: Mar 25, 2004

I agree that I can find some of what I leanred in P.S. useful. However, you cannot compare business classes to P.S. classes. I know that from experience now.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

If you are nice enough, maybe one of these Liberal Arts majors will teach you how to spell so you can actually get that job.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

You have me there. That is what I get for writing when I am half asleep.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: this person
The only thing I am saying is that we no nothing. If Glamser and Stringer are so innocent then why not request an open hearing? Be nice in your responses and I might give you a job one day. "

Note to "this person:" In the context in which you use it, you spell "know" k-n-o-w, not n-o.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

And it GREATLY depends on the school. What are easy programs at one school are extremely difficult and high quality programs at other schools.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: this person
"You have me there. That is what I get for writing when I am half asleep. "

Sounds like YOU have too much time on your hands, if you are still "half-asleep" at 9:30 CST. I've been up since 5:30.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

Yep. Screw up on my part. I wish I were perfect like you guys.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: this person
"Yep. Screw up on my part. I wish I were perfect like you guys. "

It's always a good idea to proof any post that starts "this is what is wrong with you."

Date: Mar 25, 2004

As for whether we know enough to judge...what's the worst case scenario for what the charges might be against the professors? And at worst, could they have done anything to justify the way Thames went about firing them?

Date: Mar 25, 2004

Let's assume that Professors Glamser and String did something awful (like using university computers to investigate charges that a USM VP may have falsified her employment record). Don't they at least deserve a second chance, like your new basketball coach? Couldn't they have had their pay docked? Couldn't they have been required to sign formal apologies in order to keep their jobs? Couldn't they have been censured? In other words, was firing the ONLY option open to ST? Haven't Glamser and Stringer done enough over the years for USM to merit the same kind of second chance that is now being given to your new basketball coach, who as yet has done nothing for USM except bring some unwelcome baggage to his new job?

Date: Mar 25, 2004

This Person, take it from someone who has a Liberal Arts degree *AND* a well-paying job...this isn't about sports. It's about fair treatment, plain and simple. Glamser and Stringer didn't get fair treatment from Shelby...not by a long shot. That's what we're upset about.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: this person
"I'm in graduate school now in a real major where you can actually get a job. Trust me when I say that we don't have enough time on our hands to make up claims back with no proof and come to judgment about an issue where have yet to be presented.

For a guy with no time on your hands, you sure do have an awful lot of time on your hands--you've been hitting the message board all day long.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

This is my only off day. I do not have class or work today. Yeah, I have some time on my hands. You have been in here quite a bit too.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: this person
"This is my only off day. I do not have class or work today. Yeah, I have some time on my hands. You have been in here quite a bit too. "

Yeah, I check in frequently, since I am the moderator--moderating this board is my responsibility.

Glad Fire Shelby provided you with a source of entertainment on your day off

Date: Mar 25, 2004

Why the rivalry between business students and liberal arts? Sure, many of us have differing ambtions and priorities in life. So what? All of us are here for what we hope will be a quality education.

I do want to make a statement regarding the comment about having a major that can actually get someone a job (I assume you mean being a business major). Here is a list of just a few jobs people get with liberal arts majors (and I realize that some people don't consider them to actually be "real" jobs):

1. teachers- not all teachers have liberal arts backgrounds, but many do. This includes english teachers, language teachers, history or social studies teachers, and the list goes on.

2. journalists- those guys who write in the Wall Street Journal may know their money, but I betcha that they have a liberal arts background as well.

3. lawyers- most lawyers that I have ever known didn't get a BA in pre-law; they got their batchelors degree in something like history, political science, or even english.

4. forensic anthropologists- you know all those folks can piece together details of a crime by looking at a rat-gnawed skeleton? Background in both the "hard" sciences and liberal arts.

5. translators- how else would Americans know what the rest of the world is saying?

These are just a few really obvious jobs you can get with a liberal arts education. Pretty good for a bunch of unemployable hippies, eh?

Best of luck with your carreer too. Maybe I'll hire you as my financial planner or accountant one day.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

I know a few human resourse people and they all say the same thing: a degree gets your foot in the door. They know Pharmaceutical reps with english degrees, software designers with history degrees, advertising agents with philosophy degrees. So, the difference betwen a LA and a Business degree is small at best. What degree does the $100,000+/yr. manager at WalMart hold? 99% chance he doesn't even hold one.

Date: Mar 25, 2004

I have to say "ditto" in reference to Disgusted's post. Hello. This is REAL LIFE, not some tv movie, not some staged reality tv show like The Apprentice (could make a good comparison here, but I'll abstain!). If your boss called you into his/her office for something you allegedly did wrong, would you want it web-cast in real time? Would you want it on tv? Especially when you have no idea what your crazy boss is going to say. He could say anything... like you were selling crack cocaine out of your office, and there it is all over the world. Of course you know you didn't do it and will eventually prove that, but tongues are a-wagging all over the globe. These professors have been at USM for decades. They have been FIRED. It is horrible. Given that the hearing is not a court of law, my guess is almost anything is possible. How scary for them. Try to put yourself in their shoes. I wouldn't want everyone to be privy to my personal life. I say 'Disgusted' is on target.

Date: Mar 27, 2004

This controversy at USM has nothing to do with liberal arts vs. the Business School vs. the sciences.

Believe me.

Nor does the controversy have anything at all to do with one's political views, i.e., being "liberal" or "conservative", or "democrat" or "republican".

Some facts:

Many of the professors in support of the two professors are arch right wing conservatives.

Many faculty senators are outspoken conservatives who support George Bush. One, who recently passed away at too young an age, was a born again christian who led the fight for posting "in God We Trust" in classrooms. The result, during Lucas' interim term, was the displaying of "in God We Trust" all across campus and in area public schools. Yes, not 100% of faculty agreed, and nor should we expect such unanimity in a public university of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and religions. But USM did it. Professors did it.

Finally, speaking of unanimity, I myself was shocked at the 430-30 vote of no confidence cast by faculty from each and every department at USM, liberal and conservative alike. Given the distribuion of known moderate to conservative faculty, then the 430 would necessarily have to have a considerable number of them included.

Thank you all

USM's faculty, "on average", is more moderate by far than the average American university. I do not mean to mention names here.