I just sent this off; I have no idea whether they will print it.

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Dear Editor,

I was astonished by one sentence in your recent editorial regarding the crisis at the University of Southern Mississippi: "USM now abounds with critics who thrive on controversy."  You make it sound as if the faculty, the vast majority of whom recently offered a resounding vote of "no confidence" in President Thames, enjoy being embroiled in turmoil, uncertainty, and fear.  In fact, it is a very safe bet that the vast majority of the faculty would like nothing better than to get back to a clear focus on their teaching, research, and service.  The fact that so many faculty (and students, and alums, and academics elsewhere) have become so vocal in their opposition to the Thames administration is not because they "thrive on controversy" but because they are genuinely worried about the actions of President Thames, which have brought national disgrace to a university that once could be very proud of its reputation in the region and the nation.  Those actions -- including the recent revelations of e-mail snooping -- have also set many dangerous precedents that should worry all Americans who value liberty.

Your editorial did a great disservice to the sincerity and courage of President Thames' critics on campus, and it also vastly minimized the anxiety and demoralization that is prompting most of them to speak out, despite their understandable fear of retaliation.  I, like many other people around the country, have been inspired by their courage, and I applaud their willingness to sacrfice so much to stand up for the highest ideals of American freedom and American higher education.

Robert C. Evans
Montgomery, AL