Plea for Gene Saucier

Date: May 16, 2004

Plea for Gene Saucier

Date: May 17, 2004

Look here--

Date: May 17, 2004

I'm told that the Board office regularly faxes to the board members all items like Gene Saucier's column. That's no reason for us not to send them directly to Board members, of course.

quote:
Originally posted by: Professor Who Cares Anymore
"Dr. Saucier's letter has generated some interest with a few IHL members. The problem is that is was not online. Dr. Saucier should send his letter to the board office asap or a copy of the newspaper column and request that it be included in the packet for this weeks IHL meeting. Please, please, please!"

Date: May 17, 2004

I e-mailed the article to the board staff @:
ssharpe@ihl.state.ms.us

I didn't have e-mail addresses for the new board members.

Date: May 17, 2004

I also emailed the article to the IHL; I hope others have / will, too. Meanwhile, another thread mentions that the article will appear online in today's HA.

Date: May 17, 2004

I would like for Gene Saucier to tell us the details of why Shelbo was demoted in 1986 from Executive VP to Polymer Science title?? Would also like some enterprising soul to go the Hattiesburg Public Library and find the HA article about what happened. I was here and know what happened as rumored. The rumors I heard at the time involved the Director of Recruitment, not his secretary! She was immediately gone from the scene at USM.

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anon
"I would like for Gene Saucier to tell us the details of why Shelbo was demoted in 1986 from Executive VP to Polymer Science title?? Would also like some enterprising soul to go the Hattiesburg Public Library and find the HA article about what happened. I was here and know what happened as rumored. The rumors I heard at the time involved the Director of Recruitment, not his secretary! She was immediately gone from the scene at USM."

This was addressed last night on another thread. Some feel as you to that more details should be revealed. I felt that Saucier handled it tactfully, and that perhaps there are legal and ethical reasons the paper will not print more explicit information.

Date: May 17, 2004

I would like to reiterate here a plea made on another thread: Dr. Lucas, now is the time for you to step forward, be a hero, and let the IHL hear what you have to say about the Thames presidency. Too many good people have suffered already, and more will suffer unless you speak out.

Date: May 17, 2004

Dr. Saucier's article is now online; here is the link:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20040517/opinion/441070.html

Date: May 17, 2004

Anon:

You are correct. The young lady that was involved was one of the nicest people you would ever meet. Unfortunately, as the Director of Recruitment, she worked directly under Shelby (and I do not mean to imply any dirty puns or twists of language with this statement).

I have always wondered if SHT created a hostile work environment with this person, as she was always a very morally straight person. Did he tell her that she would so what he asked or she would be fired? In todays litigious world, would she have sued him for sexual harasment? Or did he promise to leave his wife for her?

These are questions that only the parties that were involved can answer. But I will never believe that the person who was Director of Recruitment was anything other than an innocent that was led to the slaughter, figuratively speaking. Because I think we all recognize that Shelby will do anything that he can get away with, or where he can get someone else to take the blame.

Date: May 17, 2004

Thanks for verifying my memory of what happened in 1986. I agree that the Dir of Recruitment was a very nice person who was yet another casuality of SFT.

I interviewed Shelbo's Admin Assist from the Polymer Science Group that he went to after being Executive VP. She begged our unit to hire away from that terrible work situation. We did and she came to us with numerous stories of sexual harrassment and employee mistreatment. It is amazing to me how long this has continued. Now that there is reason to speak out and perhaps to do something about his despicable behavior and destruction of USM, where are those who could help? I hope that some of them will have the courage to further inform the IHL. For example: Aubrey K. Lucas, Gene Saucier, Bobby Chain, Jim Hollandsworth

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anon
"Thanks for verifying my memory of what happened in 1986. I agree that the Dir of Recruitment was a very nice person who was yet another casuality of SFT. I interviewed Shelbo's Admin Assist from the Polymer Science Group that he went to after being Executive VP. She begged our unit to hire away from that terrible work situation. We did and she came to us with numerous stories of sexual harrassment and employee mistreatment. It is amazing to me how long this has continued. Now that there is reason to speak out and perhaps to do something about his despicable behavior and destruction of USM, where are those who could help? I hope that some of them will have the courage to further inform the IHL. For example: Aubrey K. Lucas, Gene Saucier, Bobby Chain, Jim Hollandsworth"

Let's hope that Gene Saucier has opened the floodgates...thank you, Gene, for your courage!

Date: May 17, 2004

a lot of these stories are "old" news for those of us who have been here awhile. the question is: did these stories not get to the IHL when SLT was hired, or did the board ignore them?

Date: May 17, 2004

Does anyone know where the former (mid-1980s) Director of Recruitment is now?

It could be that she was paid to go away, in which case she will not say anything. But if there was ever a time for her to tell her story in public...

Robert Campbell

Date: May 17, 2004

people know where she is. a junior college just down the road.

Date: May 17, 2004

I believe she is at Pearl River CC and still lives in Hattiesburg. I imagine she is keeping a very low profile. Her name has been drug in the mud enough by Shelby.

But if she came forward it could get interesting.

Date: May 17, 2004

How soon we forget ... when Antichrist Thames was on the coast (prior to him becoming president) a student asked him WHY he left the Office of Exec VP ... he snapped and the SH published an editorial: USM does not need a president who snap, crackle and pops. Of course IHL knew about his "hot blooded American" trysts ... so y'all go and figure why he was appointed

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: lddad
the question is: did these stories not get to the IHL when SLT was hired, or did the board ignore them? "

The board ignored them. See "bootyologist" From what I hear, they did a sham inquiry:

Board Members: "Do you have any proof about what is alleged to have happened?" A: "No, but everybody in Hattiesburg knows about it."

BM: "We are not interested in rumor. Do you have proof?" A: "No, I was not one of the two people involved, nor did I walk in on them; but I can give you her name."

BM: "We are not interested in rumor. Do you have proof?" A: "Look, somebody gave you my name, and you called me. I'll give you her name. Call her."

BM: "We're not interested in rumor."

Date: May 17, 2004

Ram:

A friend of mine, who is a business leader in Hattiesburg, said that Carl Nicholson called him a few weeks prior to the presidential selection, wanting to know if the rumor was true. My friend told Carl that he did not even live in Hattiesburg when the incident happened. Did Carl just go through the phone book? Or was he deliberately looking in the wrong place to prove that there was no truth to the rumor that Shelby had done such a thing?

Remember, Carl N. is no friend to USM. He has worked hard to keep USM at the bottom!

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Outward Bound
"I believe she is at Pearl River CC and still lives in Hattiesburg. I imagine she is keeping a very low profile. Her name has been drug in the mud enough by Shelby.

But if she came forward it could get interesting."

Outward Bound,

Are you saying that Thames has been badmouthing her since 1986?

Was she paid to go away, or just intimidated into going away?

Robert Campbell

Date: May 17, 2004

Robert:

No, what I am saying is her name got drug through the mud at the time. Shirley Thames, as the wronged woman, demanded that Aubrey fire her and he did. And instead of firing both parties, AKL made SFT Distinguished University Professor.

She go the shaft and he got a minor slap on the wrist. I think she was the only one who suffered in this ordeal. She might have really cared for him, I do not know. But I think that she bore the brunt of the punishment.

It would be interesting to reread the HA and Student Printz from that time period and see what actually did hit the press.

Date: May 17, 2004

It is tedious to search the HA at the Hburg Public Library and would help if I knew about the time period. Was it 1981 or 1986? Does anyone remember a month in those years?

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Outward Bound

Date: May 17, 2004

Apparently my previous post disappeared into a cyberspace black hole. I'll try again...

Outward,

If your account is accurate, I've just lost all respect for Dr. Lucas, and don't find it surprising that he hasn't seen fit to speak in defense of the beleaguered USM faculty. This report also gives credence to the earlier speculation on FS that Thames "has something" on Lucas. Otherwise, why would he, by all accounts a fair-minded and capable administrator, have meted out such inequitable punishment to the lady in question, and awarded Thames with what appears to be a promotion for his dalliance? Very sad.

AE

Date: May 17, 2004

I hate to say this, but the longer Dr. Lucas remains silent, the more credence these rumors will begin to gain. Please, Dr. Lucas: speak OUT!

Date: May 17, 2004

Thank all of you for making this happen today. I really appreciate your help in getting the info to IHL.

I feel like we are finally a University family. We are more cohesive and care more about one another than ever and it makes me very proud to be part of this family.

Prof

Date: May 17, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
"Apparently my previous post disappeared into a cyberspace black hole. I'll try again... Outward, If your account is accurate, I've just lost all respect for Dr. Lucas, and don't find it surprising that he hasn't seen fit to speak in defense of the beleaguered USM faculty. This report also gives credence to the earlier speculation on FS that Thames "has something" on Lucas. Otherwise, why would he, by all accounts a fair-minded and capable administrator, have meted out such inequitable punishment to the lady in question, and awarded Thames with what appears to be a promotion for his dalliance? Very sad. AE"

Austin Eagle,

Going from Executive VP to Distinguished Professor isn't a promotion. At least, I've never encountered an administrator who thought it was

But Lucas's overall handling of the situation doesn't reflect favorably on him.

Robert Campbell