This board will close on Friday, May 28. The AAUP has opened a message board at its website. Go to www.aaup-usm.org and click the link to the AAUP message board.
I appreciate the participation of everyone here, and hope that closing this board will cause no inconveniences.
quote: Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH "FS: Sorry to see this, but I understand (believe me!). Will the board be closed completely (i.e. no archive of prior messages)? Just wanted to know.... Thanks for all of your hard work over the last few months! Truth"
I don't believe there will be any archives when I close it. Closing it means deleting it.
If there is info here that you want to access later, I suggest you copy/paste to documents and save to your hard drive.
Thanks for the nice words. I didn't know when I started the website and message board that maintaining both would become a full-time job. In retrospect, we have accomplished much, but I no longer have the time to devote to the site and this board.
You are an angel. Your imagination in starting the site and dedication to maintaining it have contributed vastly to the solidarity of the effort and to the mental health of its participants.
All of us wish you the best in the future---and the very best to the little Fire Shelbys that you spoke of dyeing Easter eggs with in April.
You somehow you must try to keep the postings on the board for your own archives. I can imagine a terrific research project for someone, someday.
We must all meet for that party we are going to have--SOONER rather than later.
I said I would only post one time, but I must write again to say bye to you, Fire Shelby. I admire you more than I can say. And I will be reading everyone' postings on the AAUP board.
quote: Originally posted by: Minerva want-to-be "Fire Shelby---- You are an angel. Your imagination in starting the site and dedication to maintaining it have contributed vastly to the solidarity of the effort and to the mental health of its participants. All of us wish you the best in the future---and the very best to the little Fire Shelbys that you spoke of dyeing Easter eggs with in April. You somehow you must try to keep the postings on the board for your own archives. I can imagine a terrific research project for someone, someday. We must all meet for that party we are going to have--SOONER rather than later. I said I would only post one time, but I must write again to say bye to you, Fire Shelby. I admire you more than I can say. And I will be reading everyone' postings on the AAUP board. MWTB "
Thanks for the nice words, Minerva. I am touched by your kindness.
This board has been a valuable experience and I will miss it very much. I hope the moderator at AAUP will be up the the very hard job of managing this herd of independent thinkers and rabble-rousers. FS, I still hope we get to meet in person some day, and I thank you for your hard work and dedication, as well as for the risks you took doing this. God bless you and yours.
Yes, please allow me to add my thanks for all of your hard work and time. I can't imagine trying to keep up with these increasingly-devious trolls.
Insofar as I've managed to retain my insanity through this bizarre period, it has been by frequently touching base with the community you created here. I hope the time is not too distant when we can out ourselves and party.
See everyone over at the AAUP board in a few days.
I don't know who manages this board. But whoever you are, I want to say thank you. You have given me more than I can express in words. There were times in the past when things became so bizarre in my work environment at USM that I wondered if I had not totally lost contact with academic reality. But now I know that there were others out there, right across campus, with similar academic values. Again, thank you so much -- whoever you are.
quote: Originally posted by: Robert Campbell "Fire Shelby, Thank you for your tremendous efforts! Robert Campbell"
I'm . . . overwhelmed and saddened. It isn't the END -- but it is kind of the end of an era . . . .
You have been incredible -- you were the lighthouse in the storm and I mean that absolutely. Were it not for this board, there is much that could not have happened.
My great sadness is how much wonderful thinking and wiritng has been going on here . . . to disappear into the either. It is almost like having Washington's letters from Valeey Forge burned . . . .
FS --- THANKS for all your hard, time consuming, and totally inspiring work. Wow, I've got some cutting and pasting to do before Friday!! You never can tell where some of this stuff may show up again . . . . .
Let me add my voice to the chorus of sincere thanks to you for creating and sustaining this board. You have been brave, resourceful, determined, informative, and inspiring. People from around the country who care about the future of USM -- its students, faculty, and staff -- and who value the true ideals of higher education have found a home here and made good friends here. I am hoping everyone will simply move on over to the AAUP site and continue the good fight.
I am also hoping that someone will figure out how to archive the whole site. SOMEONE needs to write a book about what has happened at (and to) USM, and this site will provide much valuable information. Is there any computer whiz out there who knows how this can be done?
Thank you so much again, FS! Of all the great people I have come to "know" by reading this board, you are the indispensable person. I hope to meet you in person some day.
I too am deeply saddened by the closing of this board. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've been an addict, and it has helped me have a much needed sense of comradery during this stressful time (which would have felt so isolating without the board). I will meet everyone over on the AAUP board, but I do agree that the information from this one needs to be saved somehow ~ for our own reference (so much research has been done, so many thoughtful threads created)..... but also for the book. I feel like this has been a little community and a little part of academic history. I have valued the people I've come to know through the board, and the wonderful wit and humour we've all shared. I sure hope that Thomas Cooley, Webster, Babbs, and our "regulars" will all show up over on AAUP, otherwise I may go into withdrawl accompanied by a deep depression..... Seriously I do have one final concern ~ I'm sure that Shelby & Co. will be thrilled to hear that FS is closing but I hope that all of our important work will be continued with just as much vigor on AAUP. Thank you again for creating something VERY special here and for allowing all of us to be a part of it. Whoever you are, ya done good!
Although I have been an infrequent poster, I'm an incredibly faithful reader of this message board; there have been very few posts I've missed. The board has been a source of hope, faith, inspiration, ideas, camaraderie (and sometimes, just plain fun) for me. Fire Shelby, you've done a wonderful job creating and nurturing this community of care and concern. You deserve many thanks for all you've done. What a ride we've had so far - there have been incredible highs and lows since the message board was born. The lows have been hard to take. But the highs have been great. It's been a genuine pleasure to listen to all the bright, well-spoken, hardworking, and dedicated people, and to feel part of this online community. Just knowing that people like the posters on this board are out there, working to save our University has given me hope that it can and will be done. Thanks, FS.
Sincerely,
Jo Hailey
Former (and never-to-be Emeritus) Professor of Psychology
There once was a mod named "Fire Shelby" Who exclaimed "I'll see him in hell be- fore I let him condemn Good ol' USM; If she's sick, why then I'm Marcus Welby."
(with apologies to thus too young to remember who Marcus Welby was)
I also wanted to relay this anecdote. My significant other recently dropped by the house of a couple we know. They were at home, the TV had a basketball game on it, but they were both sitting there with their laptops (his and hers), reading Fire Shelby. Fire Shelby, you must know how incredibly important this board has been to all of us.
quote: Originally posted by: contumacious conduct "Never fear! This message board, and the whole FS website are being archived for posterity. I'll grab it again on both Thursday and Friday morning."
Thank you, contumacious. I believe that Cook Library is archiving it, too, so it won't be lost--it just won't be as easily accessed.
You should all be quite proud of what you have accomplished via this wonderful town forum. Fire Shelby, you are truly a patriot and a person of honor. You have provided an invaluable forum for tremendous insight, brilliant satire, and magnificent comradarie among all those who love USM. I appreciate your commitment to this most noble cause. Best wishes to all and keep fighting the good fight!
Hope you get this and understand...found the back door for one last message...you know how to be in touch...there's still that coffee...I miss you...sometimes our best just isn't good enough...
quote: Originally posted by: Your e-mail friend "Hope you get this and understand...found the back door for one last message...you know how to be in touch...there's still that coffee...I miss you...sometimes our best just isn't good enough..."
The next time I am near Java Werks, I'll give you a call and we'll share that long anticipated cup of coffee.