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(May 5, 2007) 31st & Pearl What is it with the CoB's Economists and Prepared Statements? The 2006-07 academic year went out like the lion it rode in on. What began with an ill-advised, unannounced prepared statement read by EFIB Chairman George Carter ended with an ill-advised, unannounced prepared statement read by assistant professor of economics Sami Dakhlia. Of course, Carter's statement back in September of 2006 overturned a legitimate faculty governance choice in the EFIB, and became a major contributor in what has to be the lowest point in the history of the CoB. Dakhlia's so-called resolution of May 2007 proved that it's always possible for things to sink even further in the CoB.

(May 8, 2007) 31st & Pearl Pardon Our Progress It has been almost three months since the CoB’s AACSB Peer Review Team departed Hattiesburg and the CoB is still grappling with what to call the PRT’s finding. Usmnews.net called it “probation,” but former CoB Dean Doty denied that claim. Later, on 4 May 2007, Interim Dean Alvin Williams not only nixed the use of the term “probation” to describe the CoB’s AACSB predicament, he also took away the phrase “continuing review,” choosing instead to refer to it as “sixth year review.” Let’s crunch the wording: this is year 5, and we had a review. Next year is year 6, and there will be a review. The reviewing will continue through next year. Continuing to review. Continuing review.

(May 17, 2007) “Disturbance” The State of USM’s College of Business, May-07 It’s no secret to readers of USMNEWS.NET that USM’s College of Business is an organization that unraveling more and more with each passing day. The best example of how far the CoB has sunk in the academic world is the fact that the USM Police Department had to be called to “break up” the CoB’s end-of-year faculty meeting on 4-May-07, a meeting that was presided over by new Interim Dean Alvin Williams and whose program concluded with an unannounced proclamation/statement against www.usmnews.net that was read to the assembled group by newly-hired assistant professor of economics Sami Dakhlia.

(May 24, 2007) CoB News, May 2007 Though the spring 2007 semester has officially come to an end, there are still a number of news stories involving various CoB officials to report on. This issue (May 2007) of "CoB News" is set to do just that. Enjoy.

(June 27, 2007) 31st & Pearl Deans & Sabbaticals The recent report that Interim Dean Alvin Williams has been awarded sabbatical leave for one part of the 2007-08 academic year questions whether or not Deans can take sabbaticals.

(June 27, 2007) 31st & Pearl In the CoB, Sabbaticals = Paid Vacations The selection of Alvin Williams for a 2007-08 sabbatical (IHL Meeting Minutes, Apr-07) continues a curious string of CoB award recipients for this type of leave. Williams is working on 28 years at USM now. Just what sort of return is the IHL expecting on a sabbatical investment in Williams at this point?