The document appears to be a newspaper with articles about the resignation of the commissioner of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning amid an investigation into improper landscaping services. A faculty vote urges reopening the search for a new president at Mississippi State University. Students gather on campus to voice concerns to the student government association.

1. W. STONE TURF AGAINST
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FRIDAY REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
121ST YEAR | ISSUE 16
OCTOBER 24, 2008
T H E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R O F M I S S I S S I P P I S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y S I N C E 1 884
Faculty vote IHL commissioner resigns from top post
to request
landscaping work his when the state auditor’s report revealed
Meredith will be available on an property received was that we were not at fault regarding the
accepted on the condi- landscaping controversy at our home,”
as-needed basis until Nov. 15 tion that the work be Meredith said. “With the auditor’s
reopening
paid for. report, we discovered for the first time
“There is no way the cost of the trees and how they were
I would have taken a provided.”
BY CARL SMITH chance at this stage of Meredith The IHL Board of Trustees is expect-
Mississippi State University Interim
of search
News Editor my life to damage that ed to accept Meredith’s resignation
President Vance Watson. Both
reputation over anything,” he said. today during a 2 p.m. meeting called to
Meredith and Watson were identified
“Those who know me know this is discuss the MSU presidential search.
in State Auditor Stacey Pickering’s
Mississippi Institutions of Higher
true.” Since Meredith’s voluntary resigna-
investigation into allegations involving
Learning Commissioner Tom Meredith
Meredith said he paid $6,347.53 tion on Sept. 26, his duties as commis-
the improper use of taxpayer money
announced his resignation Wednesday,
the day the state auditor’s report was sioner have been subsumed into the
through landscaping service.
becoming effective Nov. 15. Meredith
Senators pass released. He released a statement that Board of Trustees.
In a statement issued Wednesday,
will continue to serve on an as-needed
day claiming he was exonerated from Board of Trustees President Amy
Meredith said he has worked through
basis.
declaration with any wrongdoing. Whitten said Meredith’s tenure as IHL
his career to build a reputation of
Meredith’s resignation comes only
“We were pleased, but not surprised,
honesty and integrity. He claims the
two days after the resignation of RESIGNATION, A4
a 32-4 vote
BY CARL SMITH
STUDENTS
News Editor
The Robert Holland Faculty Senate
passed a resolution Thursday urg-
ing the Mississippi
Institutions of Higher
Learning Board
SPEAK UP
Search Committee
to dissolve the cur-
rent Mississippi State
University presiden-
tial search.
resolution Nagel
The
passed 32-4 after a two-day elec-
tronic vote. Faculty Senate President
David Nagel said the declaration will
be faxed to the IHL.
In a Wednesday e-mail to MSU
faculty, Nagel said the electronic vote
allowed faculty members to deter-
mine whether the Faculty Senate
should urge the IHL to restart the
presidential search.
FACULTY, A6
SEE
Familiar
opponents
fight for
District 1
BY LAWRENCE SIMMONS
Staff Writer
First Congressional District nomi-
nees for the U.S. House of Represen-
tatives seat Republican Greg Davis
and incumbent Dem-
ocrat Travis Childers
recently exchanged BUD SOREY | THE REFLECTOR
political viewpoints Students gather in Fowlkes Auditorium in the Colvard Student Union Tuesday to voice concerns and ideas to the MSU Student Association.
in two debates.
Childers defeated
Southaven Mayor
SA outreach program targets students through campuswide events
Davis in a special
election earlier this Childers
year after Sen. Roger
Wicker left the 1st
District position
upon accepting Gov. BY SARAH COLE | Staff Writer
Haley Barbour’s
T
nomination for the
Senate seat which was
he Mississippi State University Student Association held Speak Up MSU this week, an event in which the SA
left open after former
Cabinet and Senate reached out to students on the Drill Field Monday and Tuesday followed by a forum at noon
Sen. Trent Lott’s res- Davis
ignation in 2007.
Tuesday in Fowlkes Auditorium.
Communication director for
Though it gave the SA an opportunity to brief students on its recent plans, the majority of the Speak Up event
Childers Dana Edelstein said the con-
gressman was a clear winner in each of
consisted of SA members setting up booths across campus, where students were asked questions and given surveys
the recent congressional debates.
and the chance to voice their concerns and ideas to the SA.
“He proved that he would be will-
ing to work with all 434 members of
SA President Braxton Coombs said campus outreach was the main focus of the event and was an effective way to reach students
Congress, whereas his opponent wants
and their opinions.
ELECTION, A5 SEE FORUM, A3
SEE
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