September 2007 Archives

I'll be participating in the first of our Core Dialogue sessions this morning at 8.  This  organizational development project, titled "Celebrating Our Past--Designing Our Future--Together," has been designed to engage campus stakeholders in a constructive dialogue on the future of the university. 

We'll be hosting twelve events on the coast and in Hattiesburg, including two Saturday sessions.  Sessions are filling but not yet completely full.  Registration info is on the Southern Miss home page.

Southern Miss is a member (via the President’s Office) of Campus Compact, a coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education.  The mission of  Campus Compact is to advance the public purposes of college and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.  Our students fulfill the mission through volunteer and service learning activities. 

To many (myself included) volunteering is a demonstrable act of hope.  Jim Wallis summed up the volunteer spirit when he wrote:  “Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change.” 

 

 

I spent last evening with some of the people responsible for our successful Office of Community Service Learning.  We are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the program.  The program at Southern Miss has grown tremendously since its early days.  Note:  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics values one hour of volunteer work at $18.77.  With this in mind, Southern Miss students contribute over $750,000 to the Hattiesburg community each year through their volunteerism.  

Question:  If universities are marketplaces for ideas and thought, and newspapers are guardians of the public's interest, what happens when the two partner up? 

Answer:  Good things for our communities. 

I was proud to be a part of last night's Issues + Answers gubanatorial debate at the Saenger in Biloxi, co-hosted by the Sun Herald and Southern Miss.  It was a slice of history in the making before a packed house.  My husband and I argued the topics all the way home.

The stack of "to read" books is getting taller on my bedside table.  Weekend activities have cut into my reading time, but I hope to make up for that this week.  Among the selections:

Garrison Keillor's newest, Pontoon, and Mississippi Politics by Jere Nash and Andy Taggart (recommended by a visitor last week.)

 

 While the Golden Eagles were battling the ECU Pirates on the football field, another competition of athletic prowess took place nearby.  My husband, Joe, got this shot of Southern Miss cheerleaders winning a most challenging version of Last Cheerleader Standing, a competition of strength, balance and athleticism.   The winner keeps her balance while held up on one hand of her partner.  Southern Miss (cheerleaders) To The Top (literally)! 

Thanks for coming to convocation.  It's going to be a great year!  Do remember to sign up for the campus dialogues.  Registration will be online (for Southern Miss network members) today.

The Golden Eagles fought a valiant fight.  I was proud of them before the game.  Still am.

I spent a few minutes yesterday visiting with an acquaintance from Wisconsin.  He and his wife have devoted their vacation time over the past couple of years to helping with Katrina recovery.  They had heard (from me) about the hard work our folks have put into getting the Gulf Park campus reopened and wanted to help.  They spent Tuesday and Wednesday working on the campus grounds.  Wow!  Kind of reaffirms your faith in human goodness.

Sporting News magazine named us as the school with the best game day atmosphere in the conference.  Despite the rain, we earned the title yesterday.  Lots of fans.  Lots of fun. 

Last night's rally at the fountain was lively and loud -- a great prelude to today's game.  Joe and I will be "working" the tailgaters and accepting as much delicious food as they will share.  Good thing we've resumed our morning walks...how many laps around the Thames track does it take to burn off a couple of barbecue sandwiches and a pile of potato salad? 

I learned yesterday from Mr. G. that we have broken our record in season ticket sales.