Council members suggest USM panel advise Thames

By Janet Braswell
Hattiesburg American

Members of the President's Council Wednesday proposed a small committee to advise President Shelby Thames on the need for electronic monitoring of faculty, staff or students at the University of Southern Mississippi on a case-by-case basis.

Council members will talk about the idea at the next meeting, which hasn't been scheduled.

"I think if we could have a committee and not use names, just circumstances, that would be a reasonable approach," Thames said.

Assistant psychology professor Tammy Greer suggested a pool of 10 or 12 people so Thames could easily reach two or three who could meet with him if an investigation was in progress.

"To monitor somebody's stuff or read their e-mail seems real severe," Greer said. Thames had e-mails sent and received by professors Frank Glamser and Gary Stringer monitored earlier this year as part of an investigation into their activities in questioning the academic background of vice president Angie Dvorak.

In March, Thames tried to fire the two tenured professors but the university eventually reached a financial settlement with them. Thames told the committee the Glamser/ Stringer investigation is the only one that's taken place since he became president two years ago. University attorney Lee Gore estimated he's been involved in four in 14 years.

"The suspicion is, it's one every minute," Greer said.