Keep Fleming campaign growing

STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

July 14, 2001

THE SUN HERALD

Monday, April 30, 2007

In order to understand why there is a campaign to keep Horace Fleming at his present position, one only needs to look at the people wanting to keep him.

The facts as I know them, shows Horace Fleming must be replaced. In order to be an effective university president being honest is a must.

Telling the truth and providing information to anyone requesting information is also 
a must. President, Horace Fleming has not done either in my case and possibly in 
many other cases.

USM Faculty Senate backs Fleming

USM split on Fleming

Storm brews over USM

PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

President Horace Fleming

GULFPORT - Coast organizations have joined the campaign to save University of Southern Mississippi President Horace Fleming's job.

These organizations must have a lot to gain from the renewal of Horace Fleming being keep at his job.

Politics must be the major reason especially when it's the politicians which are voting to keep him. 

Citing Fleming's commitment to a four-year university in Long Beach, the Coast Chamber of Commerce unanimously passed a resolution in support of Fleming on Friday.

I do not see where a four year university would benefit the Mississippi Gulf Coast as much as the politicians and organizations believe it would.

The University of Southern Mississippi located in Hattiesburg is the best place for a four-year university.

The Long Beach Board of Aldermen is also expected to pass a similar resolution on Tuesday night.

Here is a great example of local political politics.

"We the People" in Long Beach must be given the opportunity to vote on our Aldermen's resolution.

I have not seen the resolution, and why would the alderman want to get involved in Mississippi College Board's responsibility.

Fleming's contract with the state College Board is up for renewal Thursday.

I hope the College Board does the right thing and does not renew Horace Fleming's contract.

I am sure the College Board is under a lot of pressure to both renew and not renew his contract.

Making the right decision for the right reasons must be there first concern, politics should not be the determining factor.

In the last several weeks, there have been rumors that the board will not renew his contract.

I am sure the College Board has very good reasons not to renew his contract, and they should follow through with there reasons.

Supporters of Fleming have launched a campaign in hopes that he will get a new contract.

But are there more supporters than there are non-supporters.

The facts should speak for themselves, not the supporters.

The Coast Chamber of Commerce resolution noted the other endorsements that Fleming has received in the last week, including the USM Faculty Senate, the Staff Council and the College of Marine Sciences.

I know all about how USM works with state elected officials and state agencies. 

USM indirectly received $70,000.00 from the Secretary of State, Eric Clark, he being the overseer of the Department of Marine Resources/Tidelands Trust Fund.

Over the period of FY 1997, 1998,  2000 your tax dollars were illegally funneled to an organization located on USM property.

The PEER Committee stated that this organization did not meet the criteria for the $70,000.00.

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
click here 

It also states that the Chamber "commends him for his tireless pursuit of excellence in the interest of students at the University of Southern Mississippi."

The President of the University of Southern Mississippi is not in the business of pursuing the excellence of students.

The President of USM is a lobbyist, a registered lobbyist, and a politician.

His pursuit is to obtain all of the money he can in any way for the University.

Horace Fleming is an administrator, he does not have time to worry about the students.

Gulfport Mayor Ken Combs said he supports Fleming.

Another politician speaking without substance.

"I fully support Dr. Fleming because of his efforts at USM-Gulf Park," he said.

This is his only reason, I would not call this a strong endorsement. 

Larry Benefield, president of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and a USM alumnus, said Friday that he hasn't discussed the Fleming issue with other board members, but that he might propose a board resolution in support of Fleming.

Now here is a person that should not even be where he is right now.

I have requested Governor, Ronnie Musgrove, to remove all five (5) Harrison County Supervisors.

Supervisors tap special account
click here

  "If for no other reason than he has been so supportive of USM-Gulf Park, I think our board would consider that,” Benefield said.

What is he saying, does Benefield believe the President of USM would not support USM-Gulf Park.

“It seems to me that most of the local alumni down here do support him.

Let me think, Alumni, which means, "former students," which tells me the support is for the University not the President of the University.

"I haven't been able to figure out what's going on with all of this. But yes, I wouldn't have a problem with us supporting him.”

So in other words, even though Benefield does not know what is going on with Horace Flaming, he will support him anyway.

Did I mention that I requested the Governor, Ronnie Musgrove, to remove all five (5) of our Harrison County Supervisors.

I believe they themselves do not have a clue on what is going on.

But all five (5) supervisors do know how to spend our taxpayers dollars through our tax money escrow account, $ 1 million plus per year.

STEVEN A. McCALEB

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