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
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 15, 2001
By MARY KAY DIRICKSON
THE SUN HERALD
Monday, April 30, 2007
Pressure in mounting on the College Board and politics is now the major factor.
I vote "NO" and if
President, Horace Fleming's contract is renewed, I still vote
"NO"
The way he has personally treated me in my deciding factor.
When the President of a University is
aware of a SCAM organization (WRANPS),
and supports this organization in hiring but not paying me for the labor,
material, stolen tools,
and profit.
This President needs to be replaced,
perhaps the next President will work with me in
getting paid for my work completed.
REPLACE THIS PERSON
PRESIDENT HORACE FLEMING
GULFPORT - University of Southern Mississippi President Horace Fleming will face the trial of his career this week.
All I am reading is how the politicians are wanting to keep Horace Fleming, and that scares me.
The jury in this case is the 12 members of the College Board, who will decide whether to renew Fleming's contract or to cut him loose after four years at USM.
If Horace Fleming's contract is not renewed, it will not be the end of his career.
He will be able to get another position, perhaps a better paying position, so cut him loose.
Board members insist they have not made any decisions about Fleming and that they won't decide until after his formal evaluation during the board's monthly meeting Thursday.
I will request a copy of the monthly meeting and place it on a web page so everyone can read the results of the meeting.
In reality, the decision may be made before that.
There are 12 College Board members making the decision, I am hoping they make the right decision, vote "NO" on his renewal.
Board president William Crawford said the board constantly monitors the presidents and the universities. In situations where the board feels that a change needs to be made, Crawford said it works to avoid disruptive conflicts.
I wonder if Board President William Crawford knows about how Horace Fleming supports WRANPS, and how WRANPS received $70,000.00 in taxpayers money illegally according to the PEER Committee.
MISSISSIPPI PEER COMMITTEE RESPONDS
click here
PEER committee request for investigation of Mississippi Marinde Resources-Tidelands
click here
"Often, as in the case of the (Mississippi University for Women), there is a mutual decision reached," Crawford said. Clyda Rent, the president of that school, resigned last month after a contentious review.
A change is a good thing, just because Horace Fleming is not the best person for being the President of the University of Southern Mississippi, life will go on.
Crawford wouldn't say if a decision about a president's tenure would be made before the evaluation, but the chain of events in Fleming's case suggests that no one is walking into Thursday's meeting without at least some preconceived notions.
I would like too know how many phone calls have been made to the 12 member jury trying to make there minds up for them.
Politics should not dictate the vote on whether Horace Fleming should be replaced or not.
But sadly, politicians cannot stay out of anything.
Horace Fleming is not the person too be president of USM, lets move on, and hire someone which will be a good president.
The debate about Fleming's job started about a month ago.
I feel the debate has been brewing a lot longer than that.
Fleming's evaluation and contract renewal were originally scheduled for the June board meeting in which Rent was being evaluated.
Perhaps there is a good reason for the one month delay.
One board member, who asked not to be named, said that while the board was in a closed session discussing Rent, they also discussed Fleming. Without taking an official vote, the general feeling was that the board did not want to renew Fleming's contract.
I would like to have been a fly on the wall at this meeting.
I will request a copy of the meeting, but I doubt if I will get a copy.
Because negotiations with Rent took so much time, the board postponed Fleming's review until the July 19 meeting.
I hope the vote will not be postponed again, and the right decision is made.
"VOTE NO"
In cases where the board is unlikely to renew a contract, board Commissioner Thomas Layzell meets informally with the president. He tells the president that the vote will probably go against him and discusses options, including severance packages.
You see, Horace Fleming will receive money and other options, so let him go.
I can't get paid for the work I completed 10 years ago for USM/WRANPS, but Fleming will get money and options for not having his contract renewed.
When asked if Fleming has been asked for his resignation, board spokesperson Pam Smith said, "To the best of my knowledge, there has been no official communication to the president about his status. It would be inappropriate to share anything about his status until his review has been completed."
This is the fair way to treat Horace Fleming.
Smith and others said that it is not an official action of the board when a board member or representative meets with a university president, even if they discuss the president's employment. Private meetings, they say, help the president and the board have smooth interactions.
I do not quite understand what is meant by this statement.
I feel that no one on the jury should have any contact with Horace Fleming, on employment matters or any other matters prior to the vote.
"In the relationship the commissioner has with the president, they communicate regularly about matters large and small," Smith said.
"Board Commissioner Thomas Layzell meets informally with the president."
As long as the Board Commissioner does not attempt to sway the juries vote for or against the renewal of Horace Fleming fate.
Layzell and Fleming did meet briefly at a breakfast on June 29, about a week after the board meeting.
Maybe Thomas Layzell was giving Horace Fleming his options.
While the subject of that conversation remains private, the rumors that Fleming's contract wouldn't be renewed began circulating immediately afterward.
This is what is known as a "rumor" maybe it's true and maybe it's not.
I would like to believe it is true.
The 'Save Horace' campaign
This is where the politicians go to work, and if anything can be screwed up, the politicians are experts in this field.
In response to the rumors, Fleming supporters at the USM Foundation met a week later to issue a resolution stating their support. On the same day, the Alumni Association issued a tepid statement that the board should treat Fleming with respect.
I agree that President, Horace Fleming should be treated with respect, everyone should be treated with respect, not just a University President.
I also feel the supporters of Fleming should express there feeling.
But I have not read why they are supporting him, just that they do.
This tells me these supporters just like the man, not because of being the President of USM.
Other organizations, including the Faculty Senate, the Staff Council and the Coast Chamber of Commerce have issued resolutions supporting a new contract for Fleming. Other organizations, including the USM Student Association and the Long Beach Board of Aldermen, are expected to come out with similar resolutions this week.
Did I mention how politics have entered the decision making, just look at the organizations supporting Horace Fleming.
I live in Long Beach, and our aldermen need to stay out of USM business.
I do not see where the Harrison County Supervisors are listed, they have indicated there support for Horace Fleming.
To some observers, the support of Fleming seems forced.
It is being forced, this whole article shows that.
"It's my opinion (that) you've got to remember that a lot of these endorsements are coming from employees of the university," said Steve Strickland, a Jackson financial consultant and USM alumnus who opposes Fleming.
Endorsements as coming from USM employees and politicians but without a reason for there support.
Liking a person should not be the basis for support, their must be reasons for supporting a President of a University.
"Two or three months ago, (the Faculty Senate was) close to a vote of no confidence. It is my opinion that this is a dog-and-pony show to gather steam in the face of this vote," Strickland said.
Irregardless of the reasons, it is important to me that Horace Fleming not have his contract renewed.
I have my reason, and they are very good reasons, I know my weight does not carry the outcome of the juries vote.
But I would like to know that my reason be known and understood.
College Board member Roy Klumb of Gulfport said he has received a stack of letters about two inches tall, both for and against Fleming.
I hope Roy Klumb reads this web page, and supports my actions.
"There's an orchestrated campaign to keep him coming from the campus, and there's an orchestrated campaign (to get him out) from both on and off campus," said Klumb.
It will not be the end of the world is Horace Fleming is voted out, I am sure there are many others which are qualified for the position as President of USM.
Klumb said that because the College Board constantly monitors the presidents and the universities, the flurry of publicity is unlikely to change his vote, which he declined to reveal in advance of Thursday's meeting.
I am hoping Mr. Klumb's vote is the right vote.
"It's all pretty much irrelevant to me," Klumb said. "The president of the university is not a political contest."
This is where we differ on our opinion.
Politics is a major factor concerning Fleming's contract renewal, all one has to do is read who the supports are.
A question of motive
Their is always a motive.
Fleming supporters have said that while they have heard that Fleming's job is in danger, they do not know why.
If the supporters do not know why the College Board may vote to not renew Fleming's contract, why are they supporting him.
"The problem we're having is getting people to give us answers," said USM Foundation president Ira Middleberg.
I am sure after the vote, whether up or down, the reasons will come out.
Elected officials aren't getting any better information.
Then why are they supporting Horace Fleming, just because they like him as a person.
"That's the problem with this scenario," said state Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport. "Everybody's talking, but nobody is saying anything concrete. I'm tired of the innuendo."
Innuendo meaning "suggestion"
Since politicians seem to never tell the complete truth, it makes me skeptic about how much information the politicians do know.
Have you ever tried to get a, "yes or no," answer out of a politician, (impossible).
Middleberg said that if the College Board or other people in the community had complaints about Fleming, the public has a right to hear what those complaints are.
I agree, lets get all of the reasons why Horace Fleming should not have his contract renewed.
This should cut down a lot of his supporters.
But very few Fleming opponents have come forward, and those that have refuse to go into details.
Honesty is the best policy, if you have a reason to support or not support let's here the reason.
USM alumnus Krandall Howell of McComb has served as president of the alumni association and on the foundation board.
OK, I can relate that he was alumni presidents.
"There are legitimate reasons for requesting these changes be made and the college board has these reasons," he said. "There's nothing to gain by debating this in public."
I disagree, secrets to the public is what starts rumors, so it is better to let everyone know what is happening.
Klumb, who has criticized Fleming's push to expand the USM-Gulf Park in Long Beach into a four-year facility, said that was not his main concern about Fleming.
If Fleming wants a four-year university, build one outside of Long Beach, there is not enough land for a larger university in Long Beach.
Speaking for himself and not the entire board, Klumb said he was disappointed by the turnover in the offices of provost and vice president of finance and the loss of the chief of technology.
Maybe Horace Fleming is a person people can't work with.
That alone is a good reason to not renew his contract.
"I'm real concerned about the turnover at the executive level," he said. "The lack of a feeling that 'Our team is in place and we're ready to move forward' is a concern . . . After four years, I would have preferred to see that team in place. To me, that's a benchmark, a hallmark of a good leader."
I agree with everything said, so that makes Horace Fleming questionable for contract renewal.
Strickland said that Fleming has alienated potential donors by not showing up for meetings with them, but he declined to be more specific than that.
This is not good, Fleming is an administrator for USM, the get the money person for the university.
He should not alienate anyone with a checkbook.
Leadership has been a theme for some of Fleming's detractors. While most people did not want to talk publicly, Klumb said that one example of poor leadership he saw was Fleming's handling of $13 million in budget cuts over the past two years.
Why would anyone want to cut money from and educational institution.
Remember, Mississippi is usually 50th out of the 50 states, and that tells me we are the worst state in the nation in education.
Because all the schools in the state faced cuts, Klumb said he thought Fleming should have responded differently.
Our legislatures keep Mississippi poor in education, if you keep the people poor and uneducated they can control the people.
"The president has to have vision and a president has to do with what he has," Klumb said.
Sometimes visions are not what is good for others, just the one person and his/her vision.
"We've got to be vigilant to make sure that we have individuals in that job who can strike a balance between the political forces that are around them and the business reality that they have to deal with because we are a poor state."
Mississippi is a poor state because of our elected officials and state agencies.
Keep the voters and taxpayers in the dark and they can control there votes.
Since politics has become big business, the people which run for office are not running to serve the public but themselves.
Just look at the amount of money people put into there campaigns to win the election, they are not spending there money to serve the public.
But others have liked the way Fleming made noise about budget cuts and the way that the universities are funded.
Just how are universities funded?
I would like too know the answer to that question myself.
Where would I go to find out; who would I ask to get this information?
"One thing I like about Fleming is that he doesn't accept the status quo. He challenges it," Hewes said. "My impression is the College Board wants a go-along, get-along kind of guy, and you have to be careful what you wish for."
Let look at this in another manner.
Does the Governor run the state of Mississippi?
Or does the congress and senate run the Governor?
Think about what Senator Billy Hewes is saying, is seems too me that he is showing a double standard.
Ask yourself, what does the College Board want in a university president?
Many of the anti-Fleming rumors have been blamed on supporters of USM athletics.
I have not heard these rumors, but I have a different agenda.
"In my estimation, this is 98 percent athletic-driven," said USM spokesman Bud Kirkpatrick.
I would have to say that Bud Kirkpatrick is 98 percent wrong in his reasoning.
Klumb said that from his perspective, complaints from athletics fans are baseless because the university is already putting as much as it can into the athletics department.
I rest my case.
The men's indoor track and cross country teams have been eliminated during Fleming's tenure to balance the athletics department budget. The school is spending just shy of the state maximum amount of tax dollars on its athletic programs.
When USM get it's new president, perhaps the men's indoor track and cross country teams will be reestablished.
"USM's problem is that they can't fill up that football stadium," said Klumb, a Mississippi State alumnus. "(You) can't blame that on the president."
I thought all educational institutions were there for getting an education, not worrying about filling up a football stadium.
If sports are more important that providing an education, let stop wasting the taxpayers money and just play football.
What's next for Fleming
Hopefully a new job somewhere else.
Speculation has turned to what will come next for Fleming.
Maybe Thursday of this week there will not be anymore speculations.
The only statement Fleming would make on the matter was, "I'm expecting to go through the review and that the board will be fair."
Fair to whom, Fleming or the College Board.
Crawford said a decision about Fleming would probably be made at the board meeting Thursday.
I hope so, let get it over with.
"If the board wanted to have further discussions," Crawford said, "it could take intermediate action, but I don't see that happening."
No, no, lets not drag the decision on renewing Fleming's contract, lets vote up or down.
Smith said that because Fleming is working without a contract, the board would take intermediate action to ensure he is paid until a decision is reached.
Put it in his severance pay.
If Fleming believes he would be voted down by the board, it is possible that he would resign.
I believe he should resign.
However, foundation president Middleberg and Gulf Park Vice President Jim Williams said that, to their knowledge, Fleming has no intention of resigning.
This means he feels his contract will be renewed,
and that is a scary thought.
Mary Kay Dirickson can be reached at 896-2105 or at mdirickson@sunherald.com. Sun Herald staff writer Melissa Scallan contributed to this story.
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION