The agreement could not have been reached without IHL approval for Anderson to stop the hearing and begin mediation.  Anderson must have received word from IHL to end the embarrassing hearing (and folks, if you could have been there--it was very EMBARRASSING for Thames and any of his supporters who have "waited for the facts.")

So, to save Shelby and IHL from any further embarrassment, Anderson pulled the plug on the hearing. (I heard that Anderson actually asked, "Is that ALL you have??")

So what kind of agreement has been reached?  The speculation that is rampant among connected faculty is that 1) the professors have been reinstated 2) Shelby must publicly exonerate them of all wrong-doing 3) Shelby will retire this summer, perhaps "for health reasons." If IHL has ever second-guessed their appointment of Thames, it became brutally clear yesterday that they had made a mistake.

This may not be the case, but it is certainly what is going around the faculty body on campus.  On the other hand, the profs were eager to end this destructive and disruptive situation.  To prolong the process would have meant that they might have been without income until their retirement kicked in.  Also, they were concerned about young faculty members who would have had to testify in the hearing yesterday.  While making sacrifices to testify in their own behalf was one matter, they were worried about the young profs with families who would have testified. 

Make no mistake about it.  It became very clear yesterday who holds true love for the University of Southern Mississippi--Glamser and Stringer.  Whatever agreement they reached, it will be the best for USM.  If Shelby had placed the university's well-being over his own selfish vendetta, USM would never have been engaged in this battle anyway.