Share effective strategies

Date: May 21, 2004

Share effective strategies

Date: May 21, 2004

This might be a big "duh," but so many people in the community don't really know the details of what's going on. It might not be possible for out-of-Hattiesburgers to do this, but just explain our position to people you meet and, if they seem interested, encourage them to get involved. So many times in gas stations, grocery stores, etc. people see my pins and ask about the situation. Most people I have spoken to seem very receptive to our position and want more information. Some have decided to write to the IHL. So I say, wear your no quarter pins and no Thames pins around town and be willing to talk to people who ask about the issue.

Date: May 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"One fear I have is that this board will become a forum mainly for gripes and chit-chat rather than for encouraging practical action. Perhaps we can get a thread going that will list, for those interested, all the various kinds of practical steps people can take to actually try to have a real impact.

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Well, that's a genuine concern, Sympathizer. We do enjoy the fun of Judge Cooley, etc. and some of that is needed. Right now, people are in a valley -- nothing happening on campus, the IHL meeting over, some days until PUC meets again, so chit-chat breaks out.

I should interject here, however, that there will not be a repeat of last night, when AE and I got into a bit of a troll feeding frenzy, and had to be scolded (rightfully so) and our posts removed (thank God.) I was the worst, and it will not happen again. The next troll who complains about my management skills and time spent on the board is invited to go over to HR and report me.

Now to strategies. After a certain amount of letter writing, I wonder if it becomes counter productive. I think the most effective letter writing is from people in the community, and academics from outside USM, particularly those at other MS schools. For those of us in town, the spoken word is indeed a powerful weapon. I even had my darling little mother get into a tussle (verbal) with a retired businessman at a recent social event. She made him so mad, he wouldn't leave it alone, but kept trying to keep a fight going all evening. I think she is fairly representative of many in the community -- not an academic, and not really tuned into the academic issues, but recognises unfairness and injustice. Or, in her words, "I don't understand how the jackasses always end up in charge."

One word of caution. When I talk to people in the community, they invaribly know about The Scandal and that's what they want to talk about. I try to deflect that topic, "that was before my time" or "I don't really know about that" -- it's counterproductive to go down that road, and you lose your chance to make your "elevator speech." What I find most upsets people is the email snooping, particularly of students. Everybody in Hattiesburg knows a student or is a student or was a student, and this issue seems to have hit a nerve.

Date: May 21, 2004

This might sound really dumb, but do what you do best.....educate.

Educate the public on what is going on, get together with Mr. Chain and have town meetings. Have open question and answer sessions with groups of community members. If they want to know more about the incident tell them what you can. If they want to know about where the money is going, tell them what you know, and suggest they contact Mr. Thames for the rest of the information. If they want to know about the email snooping tell them what Peilum (sp) is doing. Tell them what TH is doing, tell them what A Dvorak is doing. Tell them what the IHL board is refusing to do. (side note: We don't know what occurred during the closed door session, we can hope SFT got his butt reamed) Inform the general public who in this case doesn't seemingly have a clue.

Now what not to do. Don't come across whiney or as if you are complaining. Present the information that you do have, leave rumors out of it, only the facts. And there are enough of them to incite anger over where tax dollars are being spent.

You can also ask John Q Public what he knows, and what matters most to him/her. If all the public knows about is the incident, then word definately needs to get out.

Just my .02 worth.