Dear Supporters--

I write to you now with some important information.  My risk manager, his associate and I had a private working lunch today at the Hattiesburg Country Club.  We spread out and thoroughly examined 3 sets of documents that my risk manager was able to photocopy last night inside the dome.  I want to go over each one with you here.

First, there is ample evidence to suggest that had Virginia Shanteau-Newton cobbled together the support she needed to get an emergency meeting last week, Tim Hudson would have been named interim president at that meeting.  There was a substantial amount of e-mail correspondence between Newton, Hudson, Garrett and Ross.  It should all make sense, as most of you know by now from media sources that Garrett was real big on having this last meeting before her term expired at midnight on Saturday.  Thus, Thames' firing of Hanbury last week saved him some time, as it did the many of you who fear what a Hudson presidency would bring.  Now the bad news, Hudson is still on the trail, and appears to be willing to step on anyone in his path.  There is some evidence (we have) that he's still close to getting the coveted crown.

Second, we are in possession of a document entitled:

Presidential Cabinet --- Contingency

This document seems to lay out a new cabinet for Thames in the event he can get the board to allow him a compromise term on May 20.  Here it is:

President: Shelby Thames

Provost: Elliott Pood (Hattiesburg and the Coast)

VP for Student Affairs: Larry Eustachy

VP for Research and Economic Development: Ken Malone

VP for Financial Affairs: Cynthia Easterling Moore

Associate Provost: M.J. Norton

Public Relations Director: Danny Mitchell

VP for Information: Jill Beneke 

Dean of Arts and Letters: Lisa Slay Mader

Dean of CBED: Carl Nicholson

This is not quite a complete list, but a fairly comprehensive one from the document we have.

Third, the SGA constitution is about to be rewritten, to mirror the old Weimar Republic.  It will establish a new executive position, Chancellor.  Since elections are a year away, President Thames is set to appoint a student --- somebody named Fagan (can't remember first name) --- to hold the post until elections.  The Chancellor will sit above the president (Walt Cain).  The Chancellor will have the authority to combine the two offices if troubled times dictate.

That's all I have time for now.  The three of us are about to tee off out here in a foursome that includes Brett Favre.  I'll report back later.

Tom