ARTICLES CONCERNING
MARTHA D. SAUNDERS, PRESIDENT
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
(March 12, 2010) Three Days in DC
3 Days in D.C.
Dear Dr. Saunders, here are some questions about your trip:
1. Did you and your “traveling companions” fly to DC in your plane that is costing taxpayers and students $16,662.98
per month for 59 months, with a $907,053.85 balloon payment due on the 60th month?
2. Did the congressional delegation tell you whether USM is likely to see any of the $91 million request, and if so, how
much?
3. Did Joe go with you? And, if he did, who picked up the tab?
(March 12, 2010) What did UW-W Get for Its Money? Reporters at usmnews.net continue to review records provided
by colleagues at UW]W detailing Dr. Saunders'use of UW-W and UW-W Foundation resources. Of particular interest
to readers has been an expensive trip to London, England. While usmnews.net reporters cannot confirm that the
receipts are complete or exhaustive, they continue to raise eyebrows as well as questions.
(March 24, 2010) How Long Can Opposites Function? Many viewing these comparisons would assume this would be
a good pairing of strengths and talents; this was so, but seems to be crumbling under the stresses of repeated budget
cuts and the fall-out from the various constituencies from those cuts. More often it appears rather than a
well-functioning duo the Saunders – Lyman pair are more of the show dog and the groomer: while she prances
around various rings for applause, he tries to recover for the next preparations to get her ready. The appearance to an
increasing number of staff and faculty is not jealousy but weariness. The perfect example is all the centennial hoopla:
Martha is primed and primped to star and strut while Lyman has to sit through all the “how great we are” speeches
instead of working on the budget cuts and all the other items that go with being chief academic officer at Southern
Miss. How long can such opposites endure?
