More on Mississippi protests

Mississippi may be Republican territory in the "culture wars." At least as far as the majority of the moment.

But some Mississippians obviously care about free speech and academic freedom, as shown by the protests at the Univerity of Southern Mississippi (USM). The faculty council at my undergraduate alma mater Millsaps College in Jackson passed a resolution in support of the suspended professors. "Convinced of the absolute centrality of freedom of speech, expression, and inquiry to higher education, the Faculty Council of Millsaps College must express grave concern about the suspension and impending dismissal of Professors Gary Stringer and Frank Glamser of the University of Southern Mississippi," it said. (Hundreds support suspended profs Jackson Clarion-Ledger 03/10/04)

Some of the university president's earlier missteps included "the peremptory firing of all deans who were advised of their terminations after the local business community was informed" and  "the admitted inflation of student enrollment numbers, an embarrassment with an explanation that still elicits more questions than answers." (Becky Montague, It's time for Thames to resign the presidency at USM Hattiesburg American 03/10/04)

Oh, yeah, there was a Presidential primary in Mississippi, too. Kerry won.