First let me begin by saying this is not directed towards everyone, some people have legitimate quarrels with our adminsitration and are pursuing it through the proper venues and chain of command. This post is directed more towards the busy bodies who are running around campus handing out, posting, or creating flyers for the internet with personal attacks on our president. I want to present you with another view.  

There are very few people who are as big of a USM fan as I am. When i say USM fan, I'm not speaking necessarily in terms of merely athletics, but in a broader scope. I came to this university because my father, mother, uncle, all my cousins, and several of my deceased relatives have all passed through these halls.  So for those who would argue we have no traditions, there's one for you - I am tied to this school by generations of family. I love it, and no one could ever question my loyalty for it because of the sacrifice and commiments I have already made and continue to make.

I did not however choose to come to this school because i wanted to attend the school that was in the media's spotlight because we have a benedict arnold staff, who provoked a completely warranted managerial retaliation by the president. I read a post on here where someone was retorting about how another individual did not understand the difficulties of landing another job in the current job market. Well if its so hard to land a job, why did they instigate this scenario which endangered their job in the first place?

Consider this scenario: A regular person (no-one spectaular academically) graduates and lands a job in a large company. They don't start out on top of the managerial pyramid making strategic decisions, they start on bottom. And over time if they're qualified they move up in the pecking order. That is unless they try to get over on their employer by launching some silly investigation on the president of the company when they have more to lose by having the light shined back on them. Its common sense, if you have been here for 30 years, then you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Don't step out of your boundaries like you are some kind of mythical hero crusading against "big brother."  Bide your time, support the University for the good times you have ahd and what it has done for you so far. Don't launch a personal attack on someone (who in the scheme of things is just as temporary as you are) which potrays The University of Southern Mississippi as six flags over the third reich - its not.

I saw a flyer in the Liberal Arts building that showed Thames as a Nazi. If you claim this is a professional mistake - then why attack him as a person? How many of you actually know the guy? Do you know his wife? They're always very personable with me and everyone I know that has ever sat down and talked with them like regular folks do. Yeah, I'm buddies with thames. I liked the guy before he was president. I like the fact that he's not a grad from our school, but funnels his money back into it anyway. Look at all the things he's done since he's been here! The poly sci building, he helped with the baseball building, and I bet you all loved seeing Southern Pride Paints in the papers after sept 11! Our more well off alumni don't even give back as generously as he does. So if its just professional why dont you keep it that way instead of making these childish and insulting flyers, go public with the press conference. You got nothing to lose - or do you?

Finally one last rant...

I wasnt even aware of all the ignorant protests by the campus "cause-heads" till i ran into some peopel from the University of Louisville at men's basketball tournament. How come you people have to create such a huge stink, attacking Thames as a person, that i had to find out about it through people from Lousiville and St. Louis? Yeah, that's right, we were the joke of conference at cincinnati - not as the target of sports jokes, but very abrasive cracks about our faculty, students and administration! So i guess you suceeded in making my beloved school the topic of bar jokes - I appreciate that folks on the senate. How come i've been here 5 years and i have never seen you really stand up and do anything for the school till it comes time to oust a president?! We've had 3 presidents in 5 years - we had Flemming, a fine president who had academics at the helm of his goals; we had to goahead and get rid of him  i guess so we could put lucas back in (who buckled before the college board) to make all the old professors happy. All the people i knew that Glamser and Stringer's classes by the way - could not stand either one of them.  Back to the real subject though - don't you people dare bring Eustachy into this. He didn't warrant an attack by your silly little witch hunt. You should be more than grateful he's comming to our little school. Just remember - Everyone has baggage - whether it be Eustachy, myself or YOU - no one is an exception...

I'm not ashamed of my school, I never will be. But I am ashamed to call some of you here at this University my brother and sister eagles for your petty attacks on our figurehead - consider this post a retaliation by another university figurehead who remained neutral till your attacks became petty and personal rather than a professional difference that warranted a protest. If he's as big of a dictator as you say he is, stop and consider who is soliciting all the propagandah around campus - here's a clue, its not Thames... Thames didnt make a website like this only you did - and i must say its got a very quaint little stormfront flavor to it, so congrats - its achieved its desired effect and swayed a neutral party over to the administration's side.

SO, for all of you "cause-heads" jumping on the protest bandwagon because you got tired of protesting  our Country's president or the war or whatever you were stirred up about - and decided to make Thames the new flavor of the month. Just like you dont care what his side of the story is, I no longer care what yours is. I have chosen my camp. I am at the forefront of Thames' lines of defense now. Bring it on.

P.S.

This is Seymour's first and last post ever.