Reports for August 1, 2013 - August 31, 2013
usmnews.net
August 1, 2013
Concealment and Deception Continue Here's another
example of why you should not expect USM to change with a
change in "leadership." N777AQ may be familiar. If not, it
should be. It is a tail number used for identifying and tracking
airplanes. This particular number is found on President
Saunders' plane, now President Bennett's plane. It was and is
leased from USM's Foundation during a time of recession and
severe budget cuts, and ever increasing student tuition and
fees.
Dear usmnews.net, I took a look at the reprint from yesterday.
Does anything really ever change at the SoA [School of
Accountancy]? In spite of Skip's [Hughes, Director of the
SoA's] proclamation on arrival that research requirements
were going to change, there are few, if any, quality academic
publications. (Does Skip's 2013 pedagogical pub really count
as quality research?)
August 2, 2013
Is Lee Gore Licensed to Practice Law in Florida? As
usmnews.net readers may know, the Florida Bar is
investigating Lee P. Gore, past General Counsel at the
University of Southern Mississippi and current General
Counsel/Assistant to President Bense, for practicing law
without a license in the State of Florida. On August 1, 2013,
Independent News also reported the Gore investigation and
added additional information about the case.
Two University of West Florida Deans Abruptly Step Down
Reports are coming out of UWF that a big administrative
shakeup is underway. On July 29, 2013, the Office of the
Provost announced that not one but two deans were stepping
down, effective less than two weeks from the date of the
notice.
August 5, 2013
. . . breaking news . . . New Bar Complaint filed against Lee
Gore PENSACOLA - On July 1, 2013, a second complaint was
filed with the Florida Bar Association alleging Lee Gore,
former University Counsel for USM, and current General
Counsel/Special Assistant to UWF President Judith Bense,
engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
Dear usmnews.net, Did you hear the latest laugh-out-loud
announcement coming out of Southern Miss? Chuck Scianna
has commissioned a huge and perfectly hideous bronze eagle
statue for the University rose garden. What do you think?
August 6, 2013
Retroactive Approval As usmnews.net's reporters reviewed
the Mississippi Board Of Trustees Of State Institutions Of
Higher Learning Final Board Book June 20, 2013, they couldn't
help but notice the number of contracts between USM and
outside companies that were retroactively approved by the
IHL. None of these contract amounts were trivial. Here are a
few examples copied in part from the Board Book:
August 7, 2013
August 8, 2013
Here's a full dose of balderdash While Dr. Michael Forster,
Dean of the College of Health, speaks in general terms, we at
usmnews.net provide documented evidence of USM waste,
reporting information obtained directly from the records of
USM.
Questions from usmnews.net's readers Lately usmnews.net has
been receiving a number of questions from its readers. From
time to time, usmnews.net will publish some of the questions
and provide answers. Question 14: Just out of curiosity, how
long have you been married?
August 9, 2013
August 12, 2013
How does a Q&A dialogue unfold when an attorney catches a
witness lying? Re: Alvin J. Williams, part 3 Here's one of many
examples from our usmnews.net's archives of how a Q&A
unfolds when an attorney catches a witness lying. The
following is the actual sworn testimony of Alvin J. Williams,
then-Interim Dean, College of Business, University of
Southern Mississippi, taken on June 4, 2008, in the case,
DePree v. University of Southern Mississippi. (Q. is DePree's
attorney's question directed to Williams; A. is Williams'
response):
Dear usmnews.net, Word around the CoB is that Mary
Anderson is furious over the recent series on her [lack of]
research. I don't have first hand knowledge. Since she
[Anderson] is generally disliked, people tend to avoid her.
What have you heard?
August 13, 2013
Dear usmnews.net, Have you heard anything about the
Kaetsu professorship? A few years ago [Management
Department Chair] Dave Duhon received the honor. I looked
at his [CoB] biography and there was no mention of it.
August 14, 2013
August 15, 2013
August 16, 2013
August 19, 2013
August 20, 2013
Dear usmnews.net, I can't believe it. The HA just
reported that the MS legislature has pledged to borrow
$100,000,000 a year for "school needs." One hundred
million dollars a year! IHL Commissioner Bounds and
state university administrators are "pleased."
August 21, 2013
Same Song, Second Verse Second Verse Same as the
First? Here we go again. RETENTION is the magic
administrative buzzword. Since Dr. Rodney Bennett's
arrival he held out the word as if it were a magic talisman
against the evils of budget cuts. On 19-Aug-2013, The
Hattiesburg American's presser reported Bennett's first
student convocation and "... the emphasis is unmistakably
clear. Retention. Progression. Graduation."
August 22, 2013
Dear Dr. DePree, If you want to see something scary,
take a look at enrollment in remedial English and math
classes. Southern Miss is admitting far too many
students who have no business in college, then trying -
and failing -- to teach them to read, write and do basic
math. It's not terribly surprising when they are not
"retained" ...
August 23, 2013
Questions from usmnews.net’s readers Lately
usmnews.net has been receiving a number of questions
from its readers. From time to time, usmnews.net will
publish some of the questions and provide answers.
Question 16: Do you think Southern Miss’ students are
generally of poor quality?
August 26, 2013
August 27, 2013
Dear usmnews.net, I'm surprised you haven't
commented on Charles Jordan's retirement. Any
thoughts?
August 28, 2013
August 29, 2013
Dear usmnews.net, Any comments on Rod Posey's
[former professor of accounting] recent departure?
Name withheld
August 30, 2013
