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Faculty Senate Executive Committee Response to IHL Announcement Concerning Shelby Thames, May 19, 2005
The decision regarding the tenure of Dr. Thames as President of the University of Southern Mississippi appears to be a compromise struck by the Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) - the IHL is extending Dr. Thames' contract for one more year, but not the four more years that Dr. Thames desired.
The fact that some type of compromise was made is indicative of the divisiveness Dr. Thames had produced within the university, the Hattiesburg community, and even the IHL itself. The watchword of Dr. Thames' administration has been divisiveness. Consequently, the best course for the future of USM would have been to minimize further damage to the university by securing a new president as soon as possible. Our fear is that there will be two more years of missteps by this administration leading to two more years of turmoil at USM.
The IHL has attempted to strike a compromise here - like most compromises, it provides something to both sides but really doesn't satisfy either party.
The faculty at USM will continue its commitment to a university where decisions will be made in an open, honest, considerate, and upright manner.