The
S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
November 17, 2011
Volume 96 Issue 24
ON CAMPUS
Lyman resigns as USM provost Mary Margaret Halford and Jonathan Andrews Printz Staff University of Southern Mississippi Provost Robert Lyman has resigned from his position, effective immediately, according to an email sent to faculty and staff Wednesday night. The email, penned by President Martha Saunders, said Lyman resigned “citing personal reasons.” “I have accepted that resignation, and effective immediately he will return to the faculty as a professor of psychology,” Saunders said in the email. Vice President for Research Denis Wiesenburg will take over for Lyman as well as maintain his position as head of research at the university. Wiesenburg said he was approached by Saunders to fill the position when Lyman announced his resignation.
“I told her I would do whatever was needed of me for the university,” Wiesenburg said. As far as specifics re g a rd i n g L y m a n’s resignation, Wiesenburg said, “I read the same email you did.” Lyman became provost and vice president for Academic Affairs in July 2008. Before coming to Southern Miss, he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at
Bob Lyman
Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. The university provost “oversees academic planning and budgeting and works with the Vice Presidents to accomplish
the University’s educational objectives.” Lyman’s job also describes him as the chief academic officer and senior university officer next to the president. In 2010, Lyman worked closely with the University Priorities Committee to reach the final deciDenis Wiesenberg sion on what programs and positions would be cut when the university was forced to reduce the school’s budget. After six months of appeals, 17 academic programs were cut.
Tim Rehner, the director of the School of Social Work and the head of the faculty senate, served as the co-chair of the UPC and worked with Lyman through the budget cuts. He was shocked to hear of the resignation. “I was absolutely surprised,” Rehner said. “I don’t believe he expected to do this when he came to work this morning.” Rehner expects a difficult transition and thinks that Wiesenberg has his hands full with both jobs. Though Lyman will no longer work in the administration, he will remain a faculty member as a professor of psychology. “Bob Lyman has led the academic division ably through some very difficult times,” Saunders said in her email. “I respect his decision to step down and wish him the best in all future endeavors. He will be missed on my executive team.”
SAFETY
UPD announces plans for pedestrian safety Tuesday evening, USM Chief of Police Bob Hopkins talked to the university’s SGA Senate body about pedestrian safety and the upcoming road changes on campus. With the recent rise of campus commuters and the growing movement to go green, more and more students are riding their bikes to and from and around campus on a daily basis. Chief Hopkins said the main goal of the University Police Department is to keep the people on campus safe whether they are walking or biking to class.
“We’ve been extremely lucky and not had any serious pedestrian accidents,” Hopkins said, citing that many students who use the crosswalks fail to look both ways before crossing the street and are often texting or talking on the phone instead. UPD has also started a campaign to make students aware of the dangers of texting and driving. “A lot of what we see is people reading a book for that last test, putting on makeup, texting,” Hopkins said. “Whatever it may be, they’re not paying attention.” UPD wants students to be aware that texting and driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving because of the level of distraction and attention taken away
BASKETBALL
WEATHER
Kacie Bailey Printz Writer
Thomas Pearson/Printz
USM Chief of Police Bob Hopkins is working to make changes on campus concerning safety, including building a crosswalk between Vann and Scotts halls and closing the road in front of the Thad Cochran Center.
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from the road. “I hope that students just understand how hard they work to make us safe,” said SGA senator Emma Burleson. Don Holmes, who represents the College of Arts and Letters with Burleson, agreed and said that safety is more than just UPD’s priority but should also be a priority of the students. To help pedestrians on campus, UPD is working on putting a crosswalk between the old Vann and Scott residence halls to alleviate traffic flow from Century Park. After Nov. 24, the university will also be closing the road in front of the Thad Cochran Center. “For all intents and purposes,
See HOPKINS, 3
INDEX Calendar ........................ 2 News .............................. 3 Feature ...........................4 Arts & Entertainment......5 Opinion............................6 Sports...............................7