Commentary on Pres Search...

[8dog]

http://www.wcbi.com/artic...chive=&start_from=&ucat=8

I find it odd that it paints this as an MSU meltdown and at the end notes that reopening the search could tarnish MSU in academic circles. MSU has no control over this. Sure, it has "representatives" on the IHL, but there is not much MSU can do about all this.

 

[8dog]

http://www.wcbi.com/artic...chive=&start_from=&ucat=8

I find it odd that it paints this as an MSU meltdown and at the end notes that reopening the search could tarnish MSU in academic circles. MSU has no control over this. Sure, it has "representatives" on the IHL, but there is not much MSU can do about all this.

 

[8dog]

http://www.wcbi.com/artic...chive=&start_from=&ucat=8

I find it odd that it paints this as an MSU meltdown and at the end notes that reopening the search could tarnish MSU in academic circles. MSU has no control over this. Sure, it has "representatives" on the IHL, but there is not much MSU can do about all this.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[Ivehadbetter]

I heard this when the story broke and pretty much boarded the black helicopter.

 

[8dog]

d

 

[Ivehadbetter]

how it was starting to look like Watson would beat Keenum, so this deal comes out of no where to discredit Watson. Ross is involved, and I'm not gonna lie, I have nothing for the guy. It just seems mighty odd to me.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

...that whatever defense Watson's made internally has been very persuasive thus far.

 

[futaba.79]

in the picture published by the CL didn't look very fresh. Watson hasn't been Pres all that long.

If the CEO of my organization told me to do something, as long as it appeared to be a good faith request, I don't know that I would question it. Thus, perhaps Watson simply did something he was asked to do. Or, perhaps a previous CEO ordered another underling to take an action and Watson found out after the fact.

 

[gdogg]

This lack of Academia is <17> ********! Who is it that wants another Green Acres cast off like Charles Lee. Who didn't do anything in his tenure but pasify a bunch of whiners on campus. Are we really mulling over the head of Agriculture at MSU vs the Head of Agriculture of the <17>n' USA! (or damn close to it), a 60+ year old Dept Head -vs- a young well connected political operative ($$$$$$$$$$$$$). Damn People!

 

[8dog]

this is so far removed from a ceo asking someone to do something. Some of ya'll are spinning this like most of us are just stupid. This reeks of impropriety.

 

[Ivehadbetter]

is that Scott Ross is pushing him. I think Keenum would do a good job.

 

[8dog]

Im not that high on Ross, but everyone can be right every once in a while. Ross was right about Templeton.

In addition, Thad Cochran and Haley Barbour are pushing Keenum.

Only in this bunk system we have would we wind up not getting Keenum and having to settle for Charles Lee 2.0

 

[Maroon Eagle]

</p>

 

[Ivehadbetter]

Only in this bunk system we have would we wind up not getting Keenum and having to settle for Charles Lee 2.0

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Keenum strikes me as an intelligent policy wonk with connections who's not had the managerial experience until he recently was appointed undersecretary. Watson has more managerial experience, knows the college more, and also has good connections.

Watson is my personal first choice; Keenum is #2.

 

[Dawgbreeze]

The vast majority of MSU people want Keenum. Ross may be supporting him but Watson is not the answer and Ross didn't spill the beans on this, it came from inside. Watson is more of the same ,like Lee. He has already made sure Templeton's son and daughter-in-law have been given jobs at MSU. MSU people need to realize that until we get a young energetic President, we will suffer and Khayat and Meredith will continue to make sure we stagnate. i am not a fan of ross by any means, his ego is enormous, but he probably is backing the best candidate for the job and he isn't alone. I talked to Keenum personally and he is a breath of fresh air.

 

[futaba.79]

I'm just saying that there are possibilities other than Watson sent a crew to Meredith's house.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I posted a thread about that yesterday evening.</p>

 

[8dog]

I think most alums will see that something is not right and this will in turn compromise the legitimacy of Watson as president to the majority of alums.

 

[hereugo]

Have any of you met Dr. Watson?
He is a far cry from Lee 2.0.

Do you not question why this story was put out now?
Is the story an attempt to discredit Dr. Watson? Or Meredith?

Instead of knee jerk reactions based upon preconcieved thoughts, perhaps answers to the questions above can shed light.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

This forces people to take a wait-and-see approach.

 

[futaba.79]

but as an alum, I'm not going to hold Watson accountable for something a previous administrator did (IF that's what happened).

Also, I find it telling that Meredith's on leave, but Watson is not.

 

[graddawg]

Watson is like Lee in that they are both natural Ambien.

 

[8dog]

of people that have been at the school for 40 years. I don't think that's a crazy stance. I'd also like to get a guy that is more certain to be around a while. I've also been told by people I trust that Watson has made far too many ridiculous promises in an effort to get this job.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

I want a real President for once. Droopydog sounded HORRIBLE every time you heard him speak. He may have been a smart guy, but he sure sounded stupid in public.

I thought Doc fogelsong was a great President. However, the profs didn't like him.</p>

Vance Watson may be a nice fellow, but you don't send landscape crew two and a half hours away to landscape the IHL President's lawn. Even if he's found "not guilty", that charge will be over him all the days he's here.</p>

I like having Mark Keenum as President. I think he'll bring everybody at Mississippi State together, and we'll finally have a President worthy of being the leader of the largest School in the State.</p>

 

[Maroon Eagle]

[No message]

 

[futaba.79]

I thought Doc fogelsong was a great President. However, the profs didn't like him.

 

[graddawg]

So you don't like Presidents that actively recruit students which leads to record enrollment, puts an emphasis on how campus looks, demands results, holds people accountable and rewards those who produce said results?

 

[futaba.79]

let it go. Your Templeton obsession is going to drive you to an early grave.
</p>

He has already made sure Templeton's son and daughter-in-law have been given jobs at MSU.

 

[croomandwhite]

be argued that delegation skills could go just as far if not farther than managerial skills as the Pres. The Pres. has the luxury of delegating his power over various duties (Student Affairs, Curriculum, Professors, Athletics, etc.) to VP's. This may be the wrong way to look at it, but I have always thought of the President as more of a figure head whose primary responsibilities are Fundraising and PR as well as major strategic decisions as to the direction of the University.

For all the things Foglesong wasnt (a good delegater, namely) he was a great fundraiser and PR guy until the end. Mark Keenum fits this criteria for me. I worked for the USDA FAS last summer which Keenum is in charge of and everyone who had close contact with him (primarily the peoplel he delegated to manage various departments) had nothing but praise for the guy, never heard a bad word uttered. And I also know that he really wants this job and will be willing to committ to the Presidency for a long time, where as Watson is not interested in anything more really than a 5 year or so tenure.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

So you don't like Presidents that actively recruit students which leads to record enrollment, puts an emphasis on how campus looks, demands results, holds people accountable and rewards those who produce said results?

I wanted to say that, but I didn't want to detract from my main point in that Mark Keenum would make a good President. College professors are there to teach students, and if they're too lazy/have grad assistants do their work/won't teach them in the field the students are to there learn in, then they're useless.</p>

 

[Shmuley]

Laying aside the personalities, in-fighting, accusations, all of the other ********, at the end of the day, Watson is looking for 4 years at the Presidential salary level for retirement purposes and then he's done. Haven't we had enough turnover at the President level to last us a while? Granted, the choice has to be the right one for State, especially if it's going to be long term, but is there something wrong with stakeholders wanting someone in that slot for more than 4 years at a time?

 

[graddawg]

be argued that delegation skills could go just as far if not farther than managerial skills as the Pres. The Pres. has the luxury of delegating his power over various duties (Student Affairs, Curriculum, Professors, Athletics, etc.) to VP's. This may be the wrong way to look at it, but I have always thought of the President as more of a figure head whose primary responsibilities are Fundraising and PR as well as major strategic decisions as to the direction of the University.

For all the things Foglesong wasnt (a good delegater, namely) he was a great fundraiser and PR guy until the end. Mark Keenum fits this criteria for me. I worked for the USDA FAS last summer which Keenum is in charge of and everyone who had close contact with him (primarily the peoplel he delegated to manage various departments) had nothing but praise for the guy, never heard a bad word uttered. And I also know that he really wants this job and will be willing to committ to the Presidency for a long time, where as Watson is not interested in anything more really than a <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">5 year or so</span> 3 year tenure.

There fixed it for you. Watson would do exactly what Lee did. He was stay on as the President for 3 years, which is just long enough to boost his state pension under the Mississippi system, and then retire. I, for one, am sick and tired of the musical chairs routine going on in Allen Hall and hiring Watson won't change that.

 

[Ivehadbetter]

I don't think his retirement would be affected based on his job now v. being the president. That "high 4" number is capped and I would bet that he makes more than the cap now, so moving to prez would mean more money for the time he serves as prez but not in terms of retirement...

/If he doesn't make more than the cap now, my position falls through.

 

[DoubleDawgDare]

Doc was an a-hole back through his Air Force days. The man was a complete jerk. If he was a great president, he would still be on campus. Go tell that crap to somebody that will believe it (someone who has never had dealings with or heard of the man). A great president and he bails out in under two years; yeah right.

 

[cowbellpresident]

You are an idiot -

 

[topdawg.sixpack]

Thats right, Ronnie Musgrove. This whole mess has Scott Ross's name all over, and I promise you he didnt bring it to the attention of the public because he felt his sense of duty. It was for his agenda. However, if wrongdoing was done, those who oversaw it need to face the consequences.

 

[DoubleDawgDare]

Let's wait and see what other university takes a chance on him. I'm sure there are lots of universities that would love to have a great president in charge.

 

[Dawgbreeze]

Watson has already told some folks Templeton will be hired back, albeit in possibly some other capacity if he gets the job. Now maybe you find it a coincidence that LT's son was given a posh job as was his wife, but it is the same ole same ole at MSU. I happen to have lots of friends on campus who feel the same way I do and they want change and change permanently. Watson is a permeation of the same way of thinking that has killed us for decades. If he is guilty, then he should pay the price and while I am not a big Ross fan, he might have the best interests of the future of MSU at heart for once.