April 30, 2004

An open letter to the Board of Trustees, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning:

Now that due process has made clear and has remedied the injustice committed against Professors Glamser and Stringer, it is up to the members of the Mississippi College Board to acknowledge the simple truth of what these proceedings imply about the University of Southern Mississippi under the administration of Shelby Thames. 

The president's ruthless and despicable attempt to fire these two good teachers exemplifies his administration's general use of coercion and intimidation.  Slander and character assassination have been published; due process has been ignored or subverted; collegiality has been replaced by fiat decided on in secrecy; and unqualified cronies who will carry out orders have been placed in positions of responsibility they are unworthy to fill.  These are undeniably fascist tactics, whatever strategy or lack of strategy may lie behind steps taken by the Thames administration and its sponsors.

To judge from Shelby Thames' demeanor during the morning of April 28, and even after the failure of his attempt to fire these two good teachers, as long as he remains in office he will continue to issue the kind of language and take the kind of actions that have made coercion and intimidation pungent elements of the atmosphere at USM for the past two years. 

There must be a reformation of these unsavory conditions brought upon the university by the Thames administration.  Please do your duty.

Yours sincerely,

Dennis Flynn

Professor