Report: 2:30 graduation

Date: May 14, 2004

Report: 2:30 graduation

Date: May 14, 2004

I agree that the applause for Virginia was, in a word, normal. I will add that it was absolutely "standing room only" there - a huge crowd. I left, too, when I saw no signs on hats and heard nothing special in Virginia's applause.

Date: May 14, 2004

Maybe it's because those ca. 700 graduate students of Susan Siltanen [sic?] (you know, the ones that make us the bigges university in the state) are all graduating.

Date: May 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
"Maybe it's because those ca. 700 graduate students of Susan Siltanen [sic?] (you know, the ones that make us the bigges university in the state) are all graduating."

WHO was it that paid for her silence????

Date: May 14, 2004

Look, it is time you all face the reality of this school. It is done, it is finished, it is no more, it is Pine Tree Community College. The alumni don't care because it is not about football. The people of Hattiesburg don't care because they never have.

This school is not in a position to be competitive with its 'sister' schools in the state with regard to faculty salaries or any other spending, so why kid yourselves. Ol Miss and its rival State (not a true rival because they have divided the spoils of Mississippi higher education so they don't compete) have conspired since the 1960s to shut out USM (I will NOT refer to it as Southern Miss, sounds too much like a beauty pageant).

The only reason Thames had any success at all is he chose a nitch the other two schools didn't have and as a non competitor was not a threat. He remains no threat to that power base. Eventually, probably after Thames retires, the IHL board will see the error of its ways and move the polymer palace to its rightful home in Starkville (the true home of technology in the state). If Thames had vision for anything other than Polymer Science he would have advanced other departments in Science and Technology when he was Dean over 20 years ago, he did not.

USM has an alumni base of school teachers and they cannot compete with the power exercised by doctors, lawyers, engineers, and big farmers. Hasn't happened, ain't gonna happen, no way, no how, case closed.

P.S. Many have talked about a book on this incident, Southern Mess At The Top, and I mean the IHL board.

Date: May 14, 2004

History lesson requested--Who was/is she (Susan)and what's the story on the inflated enrollment figures? What was her role?

Thanks.

Date: May 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
"History lesson requested--Who was/is she (Susan)and what's the story on the inflated enrollment figures? What was her role? Thanks."

She is the person who "took the fall" for the enrollment number fiasco last fall (if you're new to following this, USM reported it was the largest university in the state only to recant later because 700 students were added to the roles and then dropped - read Webster for more detail or look up HA articles from the late fall). Speculation is that Hudson is the person she took the fall for and that she was later rewarded indirectly through the mid-year raise process - again by Tim Hudson.

Date: May 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Done
"

This school is not in a position to be competitive with its 'sister' schools in the state with regard to faculty salaries or any other spending, so why kid yourselves. Ol Miss and its rival State (not a true rival because they have divided the spoils of Mississippi higher education so they don't compete) have conspired since the 1960s to shut out USM (I will NOT refer to it as Southern Miss, sounds too much like a beauty pageant).

"

While I accept your overall assessment, it is important to note that USM was more than competitive in the arts, nursing, English, history, and criminal justice until the recent sudden increase in faculty attrition.

Date: May 14, 2004

Competitive as quality programs YES
Competitive in getting money from the board NO

Date: May 14, 2004

Hopefully there will be a better show at 6:30.

I wasn't going to go but thanks to your report, I will be there. This board is starting to sound so sad. Please do not give up. I have thought of giving up also, but can't bring myself to do it. Please, from a student, do not give up. We are right!

Date: May 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Done
"Look, it is time you all face the reality of this school. It is done, it is finished, it is no more, it is Pine Tree Community College. The alumni don't care because it is not about football. The people of Hattiesburg don't care because they never have. "

Quit bashing community colleges! USM isn't even following a respectable community college model! It's not following any model at all, aside from the "commercialization of public institutions" mantra that the governor recited this afternoon.

Date: May 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
"I just got back from the beginning of the 2:30 graduation ceremony. Very subdued. No faculty seem to be wearing buttons, and there is very little on the student's hats. Polite, brief applause for Virginia Newton. Gov. Barbour's opening remarks praise polymer science as a model program. Repeat of his "Universities are a gold mine that we are not tapping" remark. Says we need to go "beyond research and economic development to commercialization." That's right, folks. Commercialization. I left at that point, because I simply could not stand it any more. I know that people do not want to upset the students and their parents, but it pains me to see everyone sit there and act as if nothing has happened on this campus in the past two months. So I beg of you, even if it's only buttons and quarters--DO SOMETHING at 6:30. If WDAM is there, perhaps they can get a close up of me weeping."

As a very proud parent of a graduate at the 2:30 ceremony, I was very pleased to see that everyone conducted themselves in a professional manner. Those who want to use a joyous yet solemn occasion like this to promote their personal views and agendas should be ashamed. Again, thanks to everyone who made this ceremony special.

Date: May 14, 2004

For what its worth, I dropped my (no)Quarter on the floor during the processional. It was my small, private protest against President Cracker.

Date: May 14, 2004

Any word from the 6:30 pm graduation yet? Isn't that the one for COAL?