Report on Protest

Date: Apr 6, 2004

Report on Protest

Date: Apr 6, 2004

Yeah! I'm anxious to know, was out sick today?

Date: Apr 6, 2004

It starts at 6pm I think. We should get a post on the board later tonight!

Date: Apr 6, 2004

There is a healthy crowd there, they just reported in on WDAM. I believe it started at 5:30.

Date: Apr 6, 2004

What happened at the protest???

Date: Apr 6, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Observer
" What happened at the protest???"

I think many of the protestors probably stayed for Strossen's talk at Bennett Auditorium. If my memory serves, the lecture is typically over around 8 pm with a 30 minute Q&A. We should be hearing something soon!

Date: Apr 6, 2004

it's 10pm, all i've seen is what was on the news for a 60second spot.

Date: Apr 6, 2004

I wonder how many of us are sitting in different parts of the area/country waiting on a report??? I'm about 650 miles away from campus anxiously waiting to hear - something.

Date: Apr 6, 2004

The above post was from me - I just can't type!!

Date: Apr 6, 2004

I just saw WLOX's report. There wasn't much to their treatment of the protest...just a few pictures and a few comments from the ACLU speaker. BUT they followed it up with a story about the city of Gulfport passing a resolution in favor of Shelby Thames. Billy Hewes (the local councilman who pushed the resolution, and apparently the chair of the Shelby Thames Fan Club) said Shelby Thames is trying to give USM professors "a day's work for a day's pay." And these "liberal professors" are "poisoning the minds of USM students." I've heard that "day's pay" and "liberal professors" crap from Hewes before. I'm pretty sure Hewes has absolutely no idea what's going on. Defintely a candidate for "Most Clueless Alumni" Award.

Yes, it's grim and embarrassing, but he's an alum....and, yes, people actually voted for him.

Date: Apr 6, 2004

Hey,
The prostest turned went very well. We were so lucky to have such wonderful speakers. Nadine Strossen spoke and told us to keep up the fight. Good Ol' Scarborough listed the greivances of the faculty, in a very humorous manner of course. Michael Adelman spoke and also did a very good job. Doug Chambers spoke and reaffirmed that he believed Glamser and Stringer and not Thames. Cheers were rampant. We had beautiful sighns with beatiful artwork. There were ~200 people (just my estimate, but I think someone took a count. It seemed like there was about an even # of students and faculty. There seemed to be alot of older alumni there. I was disappointed at the small number of students. I am apalled that more students don't give a damn about the future of there university. To the students who were there, I am not trying to discount your efforts. I think we as students have done a wonderful job and have accomplished alot.

Date: Apr 6, 2004

Sorry for the late update, folks! The protest went well. About 250-300 people attended-students, faculty, staff and many community members. The protest was about an hour in duration, from about 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The crowd was diverse and spirited, as were the speakers. The protest accomplished exactly what it was intended to accomplish- on the day after the one-month anniversary of the firings of Glamser and Stringer, it reminded the administration and the community that we are still united, and expressed the majority opinion that the actions of the Thames administration have been reckless and damaging to USM and the community. It also reminded Shelby Thames that this is an issue that will not go away until he does. Speakers included Nadine Strossen, national prez of the ACLU, Richard Adleman, attourney for Glamser and Stringer, William Scarborough, history professor, Doug Chambers, history professor, and students also.
The place was swimming with press, so we should read about it tomorrow.

Fire Shelby · Status: Offline

SGA Prez Walt Cain was there...

Date: Apr 6, 2004

RE: Report on Protest

Date: Apr 7, 2004

I can't tell you how excited I was to see two of my suggestions on protest signs shown on the 10:00 pm news - made me feel like I was there! For those who made the signs and went to the rally - thank you! Please know that there is so much going on behind the scenes to support your courage.

Bad decision, lie, cover up...repeat the cycle!

Integrity...to the top!

Date: Apr 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: protester
"Hey, The prostest turned went very well. We were so lucky to have such wonderful speakers. Nadine Strossen spoke and told us to keep up the fight. Good Ol' Scarborough listed the greivances of the faculty, in a very humorous manner of course. Michael Adelman spoke and also did a very good job. Doug Chambers spoke and reaffirmed that he believed Glamser and Stringer and not Thames. Cheers were rampant. We had beautiful sighns with beatiful artwork. There were ~200 people (just my estimate, but I think someone took a count. It seemed like there was about an even # of students and faculty. There seemed to be alot of older alumni there. I was disappointed at the small number of students. I am apalled that more students don't give a damn about the future of there university. To the students who were there, I am not trying to discount your efforts. I think we as students have done a wonderful job and have accomplished alot. "

Bear in mind, protester, that a lot of students have night jobs and Tuesday night class that wouldn't have interfered with the first protest, but were a problem for this one. I know that was the case with me.

I'm glad to hear things went well though. I think it is good for the public to see that older alumni are on our side as well. It makes us less easy to write off as crazy students.