Hey!  Now there's a great idea!  Let's see, so them Shelby can say his little PUC actually does represent the faculty, etc., only, of course, it'll represent the faculty a little less than it represents Shelby and his handpicked sycophants.

Well done, you heavy thinkers.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"Romeo, On this one I'm inclined to agree with you. Unless the PUC actually takes up serious questions (like email surveillance, and administrators being hired without searches) within its next couple of meetings, there is no reason to invest further effort in it. Robert Campbell"

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I think there is a PUC meetingtomorrow at 3:00 in Room H. (Monday). David Johnson -- correect me if this isn't true.

quote:

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Originally posted by: David Johnson
"Yes, that is correct. Union H at 3:00 pm."

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OK you guys -- those that can -- show up please!

 

quote:

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Originally posted by: bluegrass professor
"Everyone who believes that their private email has been (and may continue to be) read should be there.  If "they" listen to us, "we" should listen to them.  I am just glad that some of the PUC appointees are "we's" No Quarter"

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and, thankfully, not "oui's"!

quote:

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Originally posted by: Romeo
"Hey!  Now there's a great idea!  Let's see, so them Shelby can say his little PUC actually does represent the faculty, etc., only, of course, it'll represent the faculty a little less than it represents Shelby and his handpicked sycophants. Well done, you heavy thinkers."

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By way of clarification, the idea I was bouncing off of Bobby Middlebrooks was to convert this over to an elected body as follows:

3 each elected by FACSEN, SGA, Staff Council, Academic Council, Graduate Council plus 3 elected grad students (as SGA is almost totally undergrad as far as I can tell). The appointed members would then transition out. Hopefully, then, the only sycophants would be the elected sycophants. This stays with 18 members which is manageable.

Here's my thinking: By making this conversion, the PUC becomes an elected body, it represents the already elected bodies, it represents all the constituencies that the current body is SUPPOSED to represent, AND it gets those bodies talking to each other as well as to the President together.

This idea is not directly on the proposed agenda, but an item relating to interaction between Dr. Thames and the elected bodies IS on the proposed agenda, and this idea could certainly be proposed in that context. For those who are interested, the other items proposed on this first meeting agenda by the council members are e-mail surveillance and policy, academic freedom and tenure, and brainstorming means of facilitating communication (which is another area where the transition I mentioned above could be proposed). The agenda was delivered to Dr. Thames for him to add the issues he would like to discuss.

Other than whatever issues the President would like the council to address, the only other item of significance (not already mentioned above) is selection of a facilitator other than Wanda Naylor. My sense of the PUC members is that they would prefer to select one of their own.

I sincerely hope this is read constructively. If PUC is going to remain, I think this is a better alternative...any other suggestions?

David Johnson,

This sounds like a startlingly good idea!  It is SO good that it is hard to imagine it really being allowed to happen, but it is also so good that it should definitely be proposed.  Thanks very much for all you have done so far on the PUC.  You are the latest in a long line of brave people at USM, and the fact that you are (as I recall) a grad student makes your bravery all the more commendable and praiseworthy.  Many thanks!

This is off-topic, but I will say it anyway: LVN, you are one of the people I admire most on this board.  If you and Judge Cooley don't get together, _I_ would like to have the privilege of sharing a couple of drinks with you someday!

quote:

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"This is off-topic, but I will say it anyway: LVN, you are one of the people I admire most on this board.  If you and Judge Cooley don't get together, _I_ would like to have the privilege of sharing a couple of drinks with you someday!"

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You are too kind.  But remember it is easy for me.  I have little to lose, so it's easy to be "brave" -- But I take a great deal of inspiration from my late sister, Jacqueline Vance.  She was instrumental in getting laws passed in Louisiana against bogus "going out of business" sales in her industry, the oriental rug business.  She was sued, threatened, had her store windows broken out, and she was really afraid several times, but she persevered and gained a national reputation in the process  We Vance girls are a little crazy, but we try to do the best we know how.

However, as I understand it, the Judge is a married man.  Besides, he stays up too late at night for me.

See ya at the victory party!

quote:

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Originally posted by: David Johnson
""

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well, david . . . you only don't make mistakes if you don't try.

I'm like the other folks here -- I greatly appreciate your efforts and it is great to see someone else come along to pick up the flag and carry it a little further. Understanding that your goal . . . is dialogue.

 

quote:

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Originally posted by: LVN
""

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Yes, but didn't we learn today that it was to a 26 yo tennis playing bimbo.  Perhaps the Judge would occasionally prefer the company of a more mature, intelligent woman???

quote:

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Originally posted by: LVN
 I think, also, that you have highlighted an important point.  What is the difference between "communication" and "dialogue"?  You might want to start a new thread on that."

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Okay, at your suggestion, I've started a new thread on this topic. Let's see what folk have to say about it.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Mediahound
""

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Probably a little more zing-ish than intended.  I had to back up and remember that this is a DEAD GUY.  Besides, he never showed up for coffee, so I'm miffed.

Are the Judge diary entries all by the same writer?

quote:

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Originally posted by: Mediahound
" Of course he's a DEAD GUY - that's what happens when older men marry 26 yo tennis-playing bimbos!!! I don't know..."

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Touche!! You win!!

Just received this email from Shelbo based on PUC recommendation:

Dear Colleagues,

Two members of the newly formed President's University Council suggested that
I communicate with you more often about events happening throughout the week
that involve our university. I thought it was a good idea. We have had a
busy and productive week. Below is information about three items that
directly affect you and our student body.

**

Dining and shopping on the Hattiesburg campus of The University of Southern
Mississippi will have a new look, taste and feel for faculty, staff and
students after July 1, 2004. The university is asking the state College Board
to approve authorization to negotiate and execute an agreement with Aramark
to outsource food service and with Barnes and Noble to outsource its bookstore.

Proposed offerings for retail dining with Aramark include RFoC, Real Food on
Campus; a Fresh Food Company; an Einstein Bros. Bagels & Café; a Chick-fil-A;
a Home Zone; a Montague's Deli; a Salad Garden; a Bene Pizza and Pasta; an
Express; a Java City; a Pan Geos; a Freshens Smoothies; a contemporary
convenience store; and a Starbucks.

If approved by the College Board, both Aramark and Barnes and Noble will begin
work July 1. We expect their impact to be almost immediate. I know our
university community will be very pleased with the outcome. For further
details about these new developments, please read the press release at
http://www.usm.edu/pr/prnews/may04/outsourcing.htm.

**

A new company formed to create opportunities for entrepreneurs at The
University of Southern Mississippi will become the commercialization and
marketing arm of the university's research foundation.

On May 13, university officials announced the creation of Noetic Technologies
Inc., whose purpose is to transition research and intellectual property
created on our campus into the commercial sector.

There is no doubt that Southern Miss excels in education and research. Now
we have a company in place that will help take that research into the
commercial marketplace.

For further details about these new developments please read the press
release at http://www.usm.edu/pr/prnews/may04/noetic04.htm.

**

Friday morning, we announced that Joye Lee-McNelis will become the head
basketball coach for the Lady Eagles. Joye was one of the top women's
basketball players in the school's history. The 1997 Southern Miss Sports
Hall of Fame inductee comes to Southern Miss after an outstanding 13-year
tenure as the head coach at Memphis. She guided the Lady Tigers to a 229-156
record, which includes eight trips to postseason play and four NCAA
appearances. She also guided the Lady Tigers to five consecutive 20-win
seasons from 1995-98, including four conference titles. We are pleased to
welcome Joye to Southern Miss. I hope you will support her efforts in the
coming years.

**

We are graduating more than 1200 students at spring commencement. This is an
exciting time in the lives of our students. I know you join me in wishing
them well, and hope you will continue to support them in their future pursuits.



Next week will be our first College Board meeting with Governor Haley Barbour's
new appointees. We appreciate the hard work of the members who have completed
their 12-year terms and look forward to working with the new board to advance
higher education throughout our state.

My hope is that the coming week will prove productive for you. If I can be of
assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,
Shelby F. Thames

quote:

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Originally posted by: LVN
"Was there one single thing in that message that has not already been in the newspaper?  "

---

NO.

As if "communication" means passing on information.

Amazing.

 

 

I can get information on "events throughout the week" from the USM web-site.  These are press releases.   How gullible are we supposed to be?   Since SFT seems to be suggesting that he got this grand idea from the PUC, I hope someone on the PUC (don't know if I'll be able to make it) will let him know that this isn't exactly the kind of honest dialogue we're looking for.   I don't believe that this administration is capable of honest dialogue--sorry (once again!) to those members of the PUC who are valiantly trying to bring it/SFT around.

NO QUARTER.

EW