Would the real estate transactions be a matter of public record? I am not knowledgeable about this, but it seems to me that most real estate deals do become a matter of publc record, for I can go on the internet and get a list of property that sold in my neighborhood and what the selling price was. There may be nothing of interest in the Albertson Building transactions, but it would be interesting to know what it sold for before USM bought it, how much USM paid for it, who made money and how much, and the same for the most recent transaction.

Perhaps the university unloaded the Albertson's building in order to secure the additional funding needed to break ground on the Trent Lott Center for Economic Development. Thames could be under pressure from Trent Lott and Haley Barbour (who was in charge of the national fundraising campaign for the Lott Center prior to being elected governor) to get this going NOW.

It seems like the Lott Center project has been pulled from the last couple of IHL board agendas due to a lack of funding needed to begin construction.

There are two classic "Shelbyisms" here in the Albertson's affair.

 First, Nursing (including the director) was not told they had lost their building until recently. Someone who had heard a rumor asked the Dean about it in a meeting. Then it was told. Months of planning was done, time and money now wasted.

 Then Nursing found out in the Hattiesburg American that the 3.5 million set aside to help with construction of the new Nursing Building was being put before the IHL to ask them if USM could divert it to the Trent Lott Economic Center instead. Surprise!

You know, there must be a lot more faculty, students and community need for economists than there is for nurses! NOT!

Now, it looks like they will get the Southern Aire Motel site and sizable support from Forrest General to build a new School of Nursing just South of Walgreens on Hwy 49, but this is NEW construction (not a removation), and will take a LONG TIME to get approved, built, etc.

Hope no one needs a nurse in the next 5 years!

Did you know that the current Nursing building (Harkins Hall) is infested with Toxic Mold and Asbestos.  I was told by an instructor that three long time (now retired) teachers either have cancer or have died from cancer linked to the Asbestos!!!