Academic Research
Over the past several years, usmnews.net has published literally thousands of reports from current and former faculty who share my belief that USM has ineffectively and inefficiently employed far too much of its resources, both in terms of money and people. The purpose of usmnews.net is not to provide a public relations view. That is amply supplied by The University of Southern Mississippi's public relations department.

Chauncey M. DePree, Jr. Editor
marcdepree@gmail.com (Click here for editorial policy.)
Fiction
"TobaccoPharm, A Divine and Deadly Green Factory"

If you had the knowledge to put an end to the plague of diseases caused by cigarettes and tobacco, would you use it? Given the current knowledge of transgenic use of tobacco plants, TobaccoPharm will leave you wondering when, not if, the plague of tobacco will end. Click here for preview.

Purchase at:

Barnes & Nobles

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Amazon

Current research by Chauncey M. DePree, Jr., DBA can be downloaded free from SSRN (several projects are Top Ten downloads on SSRN):

"A General Theory to Test Social Reality"

"Is Accreditation a Reliable Authority on Academic Quality?: Testing Social Reality"

"University and AACSB Diversity: Testing Social Reality"

"A Sound Foundation: The FASB Got Its Conceptual Framework Right, The IASB Didn't"

"An Evolution of Form and Content: A Practical Guide to Use of the FASB's Conceptual Framework"


usmnews.net
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"The fun money is private money. At Southern Miss, I've got state dollars and I've got Foundation dollars. It's real easy to tell them apart. I tell people I've got two checkbooks. I've got my booze account and my non-booze account. Out of the state money I'm pretty constrained what in I can do. ... Foundation dollars, that's when I take my money out of my booze account, I can pretty much do anything I want with it." D. Harold Doty, former Dean, College of Business, University of Southern Mississippi, current Dean, University of Texas at Tyler
In August 2011, Martha Saunders smiled as she presented Galaxy Tabs to selected students. Now, three senior adminstrators have been suspended. Will Saunders be next? (For more reports re "Tabletgate", click here.)
February 3, 2012, 8:00 am
It’s Not Gonna Happen”: The Saunders Administration’s Behind- the-Scenes Fight against Shared Governance
Noon: In Memoriam -- Ernest W. King (1959 - 2012), Scholar
Click here for reports from January 19 - January 30, 2012
January 24, 2012
. . breaking news . . . Coffman Out as USM Chief Information Officer HATTIESBURG – Speculation that Homer Coffman’s recent assignment to administrative leave by the Martha Saunders administration – coming as a result of his participation in what is now infamously known as USM’s “Tabletgate” scandal – would become permanent appears to have come true.
The Farm News Briefs from Southern Miss Ours is Bigger than Theirs
A billboard war between fans of Mississippi State and Ole Miss has been brewing for weeks now.“Tabletgate” scandal – would become permanent appears to have come true.
January 23, 2012
It's not President Saunders' money. Why should she care how she spends it? Ed Kemp at the Hattiesburg American reported on January 22, 2012: "The University of Southern Mississippi intends to build a fence along the Hardy Street side of its campus, with pedestrian safety cited as the key factor in the brick-and-mortar upgrade...".

Martha’s Podium An Editorial Cartoon Series from USMNEWS.net I am so happy to announce that a beautiful wrought iron fence will be installed around the outer borders of campus, as well as around the liberal arts building.
January 25, 2012
Springing Forward? Ancillary Expenses from USM’s Beechcraft King Air for April-May of 2011 The ancillary expenses associated with USM’s airplane are largely unknown to the USM and Hattiesburg communities. USMNEWS.net is working to change that. This report examines some of the April-2011 and May-2011 expenses, the bulk of which appear to be associated with a trip to Peachtree City, Georgia.
. . . breaking news . . . Willis Out, Driskell In . . . Even Deeper HATTIESBURG – USM vice president for administrative affairs Russ Willis communicated with USM faculty and staff (via e-mail) late on 23-Jan-2012 (4:23 pm) about his recent decision to leave the VPAA position for another in the USM Foundation.
January 27, 2012
Martha’s Podium An Editorial Cartoon Series from USMNEWS.net Thank you all for showing up each week to watch me spin the ‘Saunders Administration Wheel of Destiny.’ It truly means a lot to me, as I love this university more than anyone. Please rest assured that the person fate eliminates will be replaced in short order.
Special Report Series, Hop on Gus, Former CoB Dean in Hot Water Once Again, part 18 The final portion of Jeremy St. John’s complaint against UT-T business school dean Harold Doty and other UT-T officials is inserted above. It begins with St. John’s recounting of his EEOC and UT System complaint against Doty and UT-T management chairman Stephen Bushardt, both formerly of USM. (editor's note: U-T has denied the allegations of the complaint.)
January 26, 2012
DEAR USMNEWS.NET I just couldn't believe it! Whenever I think things at Southern Miss can't get more bizarre, somebody ups the ante.

Updated Aunt Martha’s Coaches Has Saunders Lost the Magic Touch? Or, Did She Ever Have It?
January 30, 2012
In Memoriam: usmnews.net has been advised that Business Law Professor Ernest W. King passed away Saturday, January 28, 2012.
an update to 31st & Pearl Misery The student athletes on the USM women’s basketball team have earned PhDs in heartache and disappointment. Their major professor is head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. The fan base, a largely older, yet loyal population of Hattiesburg citizens that was cultivated by former head coach Kay James, has long since melted away. Now, echoes of crickets, are all that can be heard inside Reed Green Coliseum on game days. There’s little wonder as to why all of this is occurring. Lee-McNelis began her USM career in 2004-05, going 9-19 (0.321) that first season.
January 31, 2012
In Memorium Ernest W. King 1959-2012 Ernest W. King was known to so many citizens of Hattiesburg and Oak Grove as a loving husband (to Kerri) and father (to Jessie and Wade).
GH Chatter Lots of talk about retirements in the CoB’s School of Accountancy. It sounds as though Charles Jordan will step out after the 2011-12 academic year, and that Roderick Posey and Patricia Munn may join him. hiring new “teachers” for years to come. All three are expected to step out by the end of 2012-13, at least from the sound of it. Chatter also indicates that SoA director Kirby “Skip” Hughes may not be far behind these three.
February 1, 2012
. . . breaking news . . . Herndon Now Out, ‘Tabletgate’ Still Boiling HATTIESBURG – “Mike Herndon has resigned.” With that quote, USM faculty senate president Timothy Rehner opened the 27-Jan-2012 USM faculty senate meeting. As long-time USMNEWS.net readers are aware, Herndon was the USM director of procurements and contracts who became caught up in the so-called Tabletgate scandal. That scandal involves the improper purchase by USM officials of more than 700 Samsung Galaxy Tab devices,
Click here for reports from January 19 - January 30, 2012
In Memorium Ernest W. King (1959-2012) Professor of Business Ethics
Current USM business dean Lance Nail has righted some inherited wrongs during his 2008-present administration of the CoB.
February 2, 2012
Heavy Wait USM COMMUNITY SEEKING RESOLUTION TO TABLETGATE Thanks to Ed Kemp’s 1-Feb-2012 report for The Hattiesburg American, the USM community has learned that 135 of the Samsung Galaxy Tabs involved in the USM Tabletgate scandal are sitting in storage because that number of USM students decided to return the devices after they were told by the Martha Saunders administration that the devices belonged to USM, not them.
February 3, 2012
“It’s Not Gonna Happen” The Saunders Administration’s Behind- the-Scenes Fight against Shared Governance At the 27-Jan-2012 USM faculty senate meeting, senate president Timothy Rehner reported to the faculty senate that the Martha Saunders administration has moved a significant portion of the institution’s student retention apparatus from academic affairs to student affairs.
In Memorium Ernest W. King (1959-2012) Scholar The 28-Jan-2012 passing of CoB Professor of Business Ethics, Ernie King, has been mourned by his many friends, colleagues and students.