Great minds think alike, FS.  I was just about to start a thread to discuss this quote from SFT from that article:

"I am proud that so many faculty and staff are on the short-list for top jobs at universities across the nation," Thames said. "Certainly, we want to keep the best people here, but it is a credit to this university that competing institutions look to the University of Southern Mississippi for outstanding candidates for leadership positions."

What he really means:

"I will be so glad when all of these administrators that I did not hand-pick will be gone, and I can fill their spots with my friends and family members.  Then, USM will run like a well-oiled machine, by golly."

Spin-meister Shelby is on the loose, folks.

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Originally posted by:
"I had hoped that IHL had told him to put a sock in it.  "

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Let's just hope we don't get any more updates on what 'red-blooded American males' should be doing in this situation.

And in the Opinion piece Lisa's reasons for the departures is this:

According to Lisa Mader, spokeswoman for the university, "The vacancies could have been caused by financial or budgetary reasons, a lower number of students in a specific program or perhaps an extended search for a quality person."

She's obviously not thinking before she comments.

 

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Originally posted by: educator
"And in the Opinion piece Lisa's reasons for the departures is this: According to Lisa Mader, spokeswoman for the university, "The vacancies could have been caused by financial or budgetary reasons, a lower number of students in a specific program or perhaps an extended search for a quality person." She's obviously not thinking before she comments.  "

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Circular reasoning?  Mixed with a little faulty logic?  (And sheer stupidity?)

Shelby isn't the reason faculty are leaving. 

They are leaving because of financial problems. (Noooo, Shelby has nothing to do with finances and raises!)

They are leaving because few students come to USM. (Nooo, USM is at a record high in freshmen "acceptances!" [first time I have ever seen that word used as a plural was in Braswell's article])

*******

Why are her remarks stupid?  Because she contradicted every assertion she has made over the past few weeks. Faculty raises made faculty happy.  Students are coming to USM in droves.

Maybe IHL should tell Darth to put a sock in it, too.  She certainly isn't helping her lovely boss.

I, too, was astounded when I read SFT's comments.  Of course, a REAL test of his theory would be if HE applied for a job elsewhere, since he is the person most responsible for USM's current stellar reputation.  Seriously, does anyone really imagine that he could find another job ANYWHERE as a university president right now?  He probably realizes this and thus also realizes that his ONLY hope for having such a position anywhere is to cling to the one he presently has.

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Originally posted by:
"I advocate IHL giving him that golden parachute and booting him out of USM's Air Force One, so that he can float back down to PolySci."

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I'd thought a lead parachute would be more appropriate, but gold denser than lead, so it will do.

The alchemists of old tried to turn lead into gold, while our favorite chemist seems to be intent on turning gold into lead.

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Originally posted by: Invictus
" I'd thought a lead parachute would be more appropriate, but gold denser than lead, so it will do. The alchemists of old tried to turn lead into gold, while our favorite chemist seems to be intent on turning gold into lead."

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Or gold into plastic, is more like it.

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Originally posted by: truth4usm
"If Joe Paul is such a good administrator (which I think he is, BTW), then why haven't other universities "asked" him to apply for their VP jobs before?  He's been VP at USM for at least 10 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard of him "looking."  Did it take this long for the "good reputation" of USM to reach TX? Put 2+2 together, Shelby (Lisa, we'll go over that math lesson later).  Coincidence?  I think not."

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Actually, Texas A&M has had this position open for over a year.  They went through the final interviews last year and decided that none of the candidates fit.  So, it does make sense that they went after some candidates that the administration felt were better qualified.

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Originally posted by: truth4usm
"If Joe Paul is such a good administrator (which I think he is, BTW), then why haven't other universities "asked" him to apply for their VP jobs before?  He's been VP at USM for at least 10 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard of him "looking."  Did it take this long for the "good reputation" of USM to reach TX? Put 2+2 together, Shelby (Lisa, we'll go over that math lesson later).  Coincidence?  I think not."

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And, to quote and respond to myself, taking this one step further, why haven't Angie, Mark, Jack, Gregg, etc. been innundated with MULTIPLE job offers since they are shining examples of quality administrators?  Is it because Angie hasn't decided to "initiate" these job offers yet?

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Originally posted by: Advocate
"Actually, Texas A&M has had this position open for over a year.  They went through the final interviews last year and decided that none of the candidates fit.  So, it does make sense that they went after some candidates that the administration felt were better qualified."

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Let's not get bogged down in semantics.  Any advertisement for any opening (from janitor to university president) is an "invitation" for people to apply. 

How Paul or Hudson learned of the openings and whether or not they were "invited" is irrelevant.  What matters is that they responded to the invitations by going to the colleges and showing profound interest in the positions. (Does Paul's speech at TAMU sound like someone "spreadin' the word" about USM or does it sound like someone eager to be chosen for the VP position to which he had applied.)

If they were content at USM, they would not be looking elsewhere.  From which end the connection between applicant and employer was initiated doesn't really matter.

The fact is they accepted the invitations, went to the colleges, and expressed intense desire to be selected for the positions for which they applied.

The spin doesn't change the fact that faculty members are leaving USM in droves--and the daily list here is just the tip of the iceberg--there are five people for every single name on "the list" who are applying elsewhere. 

Are we to believe that USM administrators who apply at other universities are altruists who are doing so for a higher purpose--to spread the good news about USM?  I think not.

 

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Even rats know when to abandon a sinking ship.

And what about that Dana (Shelby's daughter)?  Is she a piece of work, or what?

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Originally posted by: KC Sooner
"And what about that Dana (Shelby's daughter)?  Is she a piece of work, or what?"

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Welcome to the Fire Shelby message board, KC Sooner! 

Yep, she's a piece of work, alright.  Problem is that it isn't her work. 

Glad to have a new out-of-towner on the board.  Welcome! 

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Originally posted by: truth4usm
"Are you for real or a troll?  'Cause I have no patience for trolls today."

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Me either.  But Dana does bring attention to herself in many negative ways. How it works in this thread . . . I'm not so sure.

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Originally posted by:
" Truth, if you and I were located in the same town, we would have to go out for a couple of after work today. I'm in a funky mood, myself.  "

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Yeah, I gotta keep a lid on it today.  I'm in a fairly good mood overall...the sun is shining here in middle TN.  But I've just had it with all of these red herring arguments on the board.  Perhaps I should just lie low for awhile...get back to work.

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Originally posted by: truth4usm
"Must apologize for my comment...didn't want to make you feel unwelcome here.  Just had too many run-ins with trolls on this board (some personal attacks, etc.).  Welcome to the Fire Shelby message board in all its glory! "

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And, K.C. Sooner - I know you have some great observations to make.  Hope we hear from you again.

According to the spin, if everybody left we would be the best university in the country.

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Originally posted by: truth4usm
"Definitely the most efficient at producing plastic thingy-ma-bobs."

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And monster resumes.

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Originally posted by: KC Sooner
"And what about that Dana (Shelby's daughter)?  Is she a piece of work, or what?"

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I didn't know she'd had plastic surgery...

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Originally posted by: educator
"If she had, she'd appear a lot happier than she now does on campus."

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Yes, maybe a new pair of plastic thinga-ma-boobs would cheer her up

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Originally posted by FireShelby:
"...As this message board grows in effectiveness and as more people across the state and US read it, be prepared for the attacks here to become more frequent and the pro-Shelby arguments more compelling.  I believe that we are being targeted, but that's ok with me.

In the words of GWBush, "Bring it on.""

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Six days left...the trolls are on the board, more intelligent, better equipped, craftier...more likely to spread disinformation and spark dissent...they are coming on in the guise of on-campus students, staff, faculty and administrators, off-campus individuals looking for information, job candidates...many are trying to ingratiate themselves with the website - wolves in sheep's clothing! Stay focused, stay committed - when possible try to refer people back to old threads rather than trying to recreate the story for them every time - it's draining - and we have to be sharp for what's ahead.