Ole Miss 50 Year's Ago

Author of, “Revisiting an American Insurrection” William Doyle said and these are his exact words, “it was a time of profound evil…evil built into everyday life of white supremacy” when he spoke on integration in the early 60s at the University of Mississippi’s Overby Center Tuesday October 18^th, marking the 50 year anniversary of integration at the University.

Doyle spoke on his experience conducting over 500 interviews with soldiers and Martials for his book as a crowded audience, representing many different nationalities, bursting with diversity ranging from students to who professor Dr. Don Cole referred to as “the 80 year olds in the audience” listened.

James Meredith, the first African American to be accepted at the University 50 years ago, was not Doyle’s only speaking matter. He said, “if we work together to confront our demons, if we fully explore our shared history, including its darkest and most horrible chambers…maybe we’ll have a much better hope of…creating a better future for ourselves and our children.” Doyle emphasized the importance of, “building unity and equality through projecting the past.”

Ole Miss Celebrates their 50th year of Integration

The year 2011 marks the 50^th year anniversary of diversity within the Ole Miss campus. James Meredith, the first black student to attend Ole Miss, fought heroically for a right to receive an education. William Doyle, author of “An American Insurrection” spoke at the Overby Center last Tuesday in regard to the horrifying events of the “14 hour battle” in Oxford, the night before James Meredith’s enrollment to Ole Miss in September 1962.

Doyle said that racial tension is still present in our world today. To make changes, Doyle says, “We must accept our past, forgive, and make positive changes. We are in fact, human.”

Doyle commented that uncovering details from this historic night was not easy; however, he was able to speak with William Faulkner’s nephew about the topic.

Doyle stayed after the seminar to meet the crowd and to answer any questions.

Doyle Speaks at the Overby Center

Author William Doyle spoke on Tuesday morning at the Overby Center on the University of Mississippi campus about the integration crisis that took place on the campus in 1962.

His lecture was based on his book, An American Insurrection, about the Battle of Oxford, Mississippi.

There were several students and members of the faculty present to hear about such an astounding event in Mississippi’s history, which took place on their very campus.

He mentioned how he used the people who were present that day and directly related to the event as his sources.

Soundbite

Doyle conveyed how passionate he is about history and the role government played in the events.

He was open to questions and other inquiries about his lecture.

William Doyle: "An American Insurrection"

Doyle spoke to Ole Miss students at the Overby Center.

Have you ever thought about how the present is still living in the past?

Author of "An American Insurrection," William Doyle, spoke at the University of Mississippi Oct. 25, in hopes of retelling and continually exploring the past of the first African American accepted into the University, James Meredith, and how it still affects people today.

Doyle talked about the integration battle, focusing on Meredith, in Oxford in 1962. Doyle described the crisis as being the gravest federal and state conflict since the Civil War, and in fact being a small scale civil war.

The lecture was based on Doyle's book and wanted to open the eyes of the audience to see how finding the truth takes a lot of research and asking questions and to not be afraid to ask questions.

Doyle said most American Whites were cowards on the issue of race and still hold some of those cowardly views. Doyle wants all of us to look inside and see who we are as individuals.

Doyle wants everyone to understand the lifelong battle, today, is realizing it's not just about race, it's about what it means to be American.

"3 Former Ole Miss Journalism Grads Speak"

    

   Friday, October 21st, three former Ole Miss Journalism graduates spoke at the Overby Center. They each discussed their time at Ole Miss and how it shaped their career path they are in today.  They also described their current job situation and what they went through to achieve it.

   John Peters, a paralegal at Crowell and Moring, in Washington D.C., graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science. His business now is an international law firm in which he wanted to take his journalism degree in a different angle.

   Marquita Brown, a K-12 education reporter in Jackson, graduated from Ole Miss with her bachelor's in journalism and political science. Her current position as a K-12 education reporter for The Clarion- Ledger is one she enjoys, as she writing on her "favorite" beat.

   Oscar Pope, the regional director of sales for Professional Sports Publications, graduated from Ole Miss his bachelor's in broadcast journalism and graphic design. The business he is associated with PSP in Atlanta, allows many advertising opportunities for all major sports, thus allowing for a wide range of media features for clients to get their messages across.

   Each of the three took their journalism degrees and used them to their advantages in achieving the position they are at today. As Pope closed off the assembly with the value of your degree as a whole is important not specifically what it is. "It's all about finding something you're good at at," said Pope.

Revisiting an American Insurrection

The acceptance of the first African American student, James Meredith, into The University of Mississippi in 1962 was one of the worst, most controversial issues the South has ever seen.

The evening before Meredith's acceptance terror struck on the Ole Miss campus. Former president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, described the even as the worst thing he has seen in 45 years and many people there that night compared it to a smaller civil war.

There are reports of individuals saying that they were more frightened that evening in 1962 than they were during Pearl Harbor.

Author of the novel, "Revisiting an American Insurrection," William Doyle, told the story of the integration crisis at Ole Miss and how Meredith changed the history of the University forever.

After a great deal of research and interviews, Doyle was able to share Meredith's story with the world. Doyle said, "Meredith does not like to be known as a civil rights hero, but rather an American citizen, a solider."

Video of William Doyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEZjPGvNtVQ

William Doyle, An American Insurrection

Doyle answering questions from Dr. Cole at the Overby Center.

Can you say that you are the first person to ever look at over 9,000 pages worth of FBI files on James Meredith? Well, William Doyle can. Doyle, the author of the book, An American Insurrection, revisited Oxford this past Tuesday to kick off a celebration of 50 years of the desegregation of Ole Miss.
Doyle's topic was about his book and what it took to write it.
-SOT-
Inside the novel, Doyle covers the "little war" that took place in Oxford that night in 1962. While at the Overby Center, Doyle answered questions to students eager to learn more about the past.

William Doyle "An American Insurrection"

Ever wonder what exactly it was like the day James Meredith attempted to enroll at Ole Miss? Well apparently many Ole Miss student did. This past Tuesday The Overby Center was bursting at the seams to hear author William Doyle discuss Ole Miss, and everything that happened that eventful night.

The crowd listened from the aisles the floor and even outside the Auditorium as Doyle discussed his book ' An American Auditorium.' The book details the violent events that surrounded James Meredith's attempts to enroll at Ole Miss in 1962. Doyle talked about how he was the first person to ever see the over 9,000 pages of information the FBI had on Meredith. The program was apart of a year long observance by the University of Mississippi called "Opening the Closed Society: Commanding 50 years of Integration at the University of Mississippi." The program was put together by the university-sponsored civil rights subcommittee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRm7G8KZuDE

William Doyle Visits the Overby Center

The University of Mississippi welcomed William Doyle to its Overby Center Auditorium on October 18 to commemorate the mark of 50 years of integration at the University.

Doyle spoke about his research of the night of September 30,1962, and shared in length details from his book "An American Insurrection" about the 14 hour "small war". He spoke about the 2,000 white civilians that charged the Lyceum in order to prevent James Meredith, the first African-American to try to enroll at the University, from coming onto the campus.

Not only did Doyle talk about the night of Sept. 30 itself, but he also discussed the many sources he came in contact with while researching the memorable event, which included William Faulkner's nephew.

At the end of his seminar, Doyle also answered questions from Dr. Don Cole, a professor at Ole Miss, along with many other students in attendance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaceHtyErjk

Overby Center: William Doyle

The fighting on the night of September 30, 1962, was a chaotic night in which the University of Mississippi was thrown into a conflict of states rights verse the federal law.

More then 30,000 troops were sent to Oxford, to ensure James Meredith, an African American who was attempting to enroll at the university, would be allowed his place at the university.

William Doyle, the writer of "An American Insurrection" spoke at the Overby Center on Thursday to talk about the struggles of integration.

Doyle spoke about the difficulties he encountered while finding sources, interviewing and the thousands of documents he read while researching the events of the night.

Along with speaking Doyle took part in a question and answer session with students and staff in attendance.

The next person to speak at the Overby Center will be “Mississippi Innocence” on Tuesday October 25.

By: Alex Edwards

The Past on Their Present/Our Future

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7FV2Jka48s
Three University of Mississippi journalism graduates returned to Oxford on Friday to share their experience at Ole Miss and where they are today. The speakers also shared their experiences of past internships and stressed the importance of them for journalism students. Oscar Pope's, a 2010 graduate, exact words were, "It's not the grades you make, it's the hands you shake." Pope discussed that with a degree, experience, and the right people who know you will increase chances of a job. John Peters, another 2010 graduate, discussed his diversity with journalism. He did a PR internship with the Memphis Grizzlies and spent a semester in Washington D.C. interning at a law firm. And Marquita Brown, a 2005 graduate, shared the same views as Pope on the importance of how a degree and internship will prepare you for the workforce.

ESPN Visits Ole Miss

ESPN sports journalist, Jemele Hill, made a quick trip to

Ole Miss to speak about her profession to students on

Tuesday. Hill gave students the inside scoop on how to land

the ESPN dream job, have the best interview and to follow

your dreams.

"Don't let anyone tell you that journalism is a 'dead

profession', those millions of tweets and blogs you see in a

day are all apart of journalism. Whenever you are giving

people information, you are a journalist in action," Hill said.

Hill advised students to start with the "basics". Do journalism related activities in your hometown or at your University to get yourself out there and familiar with the business.

Students were allowed to speak to Hill one-on-one after the presentation for a better look into the life of ESPN sports journalist, Jemele Hill.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jordanwulforst?feature=mhsn#p/a/u/0/xWBU6wel9nE

A VISIT FROM WILLIAM DOYLE

A VISIT FROM WILLIAM DOYLE

THE NEW YORKER, WILLIAM DOYLE CAME TO OXFORD LAST TUESDAY FOR ANOTHER APPEARANCE HELD BY THE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM. DOYLE GAVE A LECTURE IN THE OVERBY AUDITORIUM ABOUT THE INFAMOUS BATTLE OF OXFORD IN 1962 AND THE INTEGRATION OF JAMES MERIDITH. THE NAME OF DOYLE’S LECTURE WAS TITLED “REVISITING AN AMERICAN INSURRECTION.”

DURING DOYLE’S LECTURE HE DISCUSSED EVENTS THAT HE WROTE IN HIS BOOK “AN AMERICAN INSURRECTION.” SOME OF THE TOPICS HE DISCUSSED WERE THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT OCCURRED TO PEOPLE DURING THE BATTLE, THE CHALLENGES JAMES MERIDITH FACED, AND THE ROLE THE GOVERNMENT PLAYED IN THE HISTORIC EVENT.

DOYLE REFERED TO THE 1962 RIOT AS A NEW CIVIL WAR AND SHARED THAT THE BATTLE OF OXFORD WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR RACIAL DESEGREGATION. THE HISTORICAL LANDMARKS THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI CONTAINS ARE ONES THAT WILL FOREVER HOLD A MEMORY IN MANY PEOPLE’S HEARTS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DLJc1cRE0

Holly Springs - Mississippi's best kept secret

Stephanie McKinney, Executive Director

Executive director of the Holly Springs Tourist Bureau Stephanie McKinney says, quote I think this is a really cute town, I mean it is very, very unique. Holly Springs is Mississippi's best kept secret, a small town in Marshall County, thirty-minutes southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, on highway 178. In 2009, Holly Springs was recognized by Governor Hailey Barbour as the Cultural Corner of the Hills region. In 2011, the Mississippi Tourism Association named Holly Springs Best Small Tourism Bureau and Stephanie McKinney is the reason why the state is recognizing its best kept secret. Five years ago, the Holly Springs board of directors hired McKinney as executive director, and with a small staff and budget she promotes the town by doing most of the work herself to cut down expenses. McKinney says she is not the average director. She is fairly open, honest, and authentic, and she does things differently like creating the town's website to save money. She loves Holly Springs and enjoys talking about the town and its residents. "She says, quote it is a easy sell and it is something I can easily get excited about. When I talk about it to other people they get excited and they want to come. We are doing a lot of fun things, especially the last few years with Mainstreet Association coming in. Mainstreet betters the community for the residents, not just for the tourists. A lot of people felt like nothing was happening, now there is a sense that something is happening with Bikers night-community events where everybody comes out, it is not segregated like it seem before, and now everybody shows up for all the events."
Sharon White

Revised "Green Grove Initiative Incentive"

The site of red and blue trash cans scattered across the University of Mississippi's Grove before a home game is not a rare one. What is rare, though, is hearing about the "Green Grove Initiative" and how it helps to enhance game day recycling.

The "Green Grove Initiative" was started during Ole Miss's fall 2008 football season and it was meant "to implement a game day recycling program" for tailgaters, according to the University's website.

Ole Miss's website for the initiative states that during the fall 2010 football season volunteers "collected 318 tons of waste on game days just from the grove alone." The primary goals of the initiative is to keep the Grove a clean, inviting space for all tailgaters by encouraging everyone to recycle.

Though the initiative has been deemed successful, there are still many game goers who are unaware of what it is and how it works.

When asked if she had ever heard about the "Green Grove Initiative," student Stevie Farrar was not even sure if she could give a correct definition of the initiative. "I think I'm correct in saying that it's where recycling bins or canisters are placed throughout the Grove during game days," Farrar said. She also admitted that if a recycling canister is in the area, she will use it, but "I won't necessarily go seek one out."

Other campus organizations have established programs in the past to help students make more earth-friendly decisions, which includes renting out bikes. "Rebel Pedals" program was formed two years ago on the Ole Miss campus, and Toran Dean, an employee of Ole Miss Outdoors, said one way they get the word out about the bike programs by setting up tables outside the Union. "Students are able to come up and ask questions about the program and get free stuff." Dean said, "I think the 'Green Grove Initiative' could be improved if there were an incentive for actually being green in the Grove," said Dean.

The "Green Grove Initiative" is a step in the right direction, but needs more attention so it can be put to use properly.

"More strategic locations and better marketing of the fact that it even exists could help people utilize the initiative more," Farrar said. "If students don't know how much it means and the impact it will have, they won't use it.

One World, Two Artists Exhibit

In collaboration with the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, the University of Mississippi Museum is putting on an exhibit that offers different paintings from two different artists whose works reflect their southern descent.

The exhibit “One World, Two Artists” offers a variety of different works from collections of both John Alexander and Walter Anderson. Though the two have diverse backgrounds, they both reveal their interest in different Gulf Coast species through their similar artwork.

Walter Anderson , after being diagnosed with serious depression in early adulthood, spent much of his time in Ocean Springs, Miss. and often visited Horn Lake, which is a barrier of islands on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He endured extreme weather conditions and went out into thickets in order to realize and understand his subjects, which consisted of island vegetation, animals, birds, and insects. His many paintings in the exhibit feature species from brightly colored hummingbirds to a sunset at Horn Island.

John Alexander, who was born in Beaumont, Texas, grew up in the oil region of Southeast Texas. He received a Bachelor of Fine Art from Lamar University and then went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. His work was influenced not only by teachers and fellow students but by his exposure to the collection of the Dallas Museum of Fine Art. His paintings in the exhibit feature species like flounder, pelicans, and storks. He uses dark watercolor in his works, unlike the vivid coloring Anderson uses.

"I absolutely love it," says Tracy Stricklin, an employee at the museum. "My favorite is the Anderson parrot painting from Jane and Jimmy Buffett's collection," which is the very first painting in the long hallway of Anderson's works. "It's the largest show we've had since I've been here."

The exhibit will be shown from August 23 to December 3, 2011.

Racism & Ole Miss: Is it a Problem?

Racism & Ole Miss: Is it a Problem?
The University of Mississippi has a notorious history of racial violence; namely when James Meredith attempted to integrate the university in 1962.

The university’s violent racial identity was further fueled when in 2004 the Ole Miss chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was suspended from campus for a year, and then removed all together when members pushed a black student down the stairs and yelled racial slurs at him.

Even a racially motivated murder of a black man by several black teens recently in Jackson can drive many in Oxford to wonder, is Race a problem at Ole Miss?

By looking around the campus one would not think so. From one end to another you will see a myriad of races all socializing among each other without a care in the world.

“From what I have experienced so far, there doesn’t seem to much of a racial problem,” said Carl Case a mixed sophomore psychology major. “I’m mixed, and some people say that I should pick a race and stick with it, but everyone has accepted me here, no problem.”

For some race relations in their college experience has not been as smooth.

“There have been times where I felt like I have not been fully welcome in some places,” said Dante Oliver a black sophomore Biology major. “However, I will not allow a few bigots to ruin

all the great things Ole Miss has to offer,”

Ole Miss has taken great strides to make the campus as diverse as possible.

Soon after the DKE incident in 2004 the University, along with the William Winters Institute for Racial Reconciliation, created a retreat, called One Mississippi that would help smooth over race relations on campus.

The annual retreat, which features several different ice breaking scenarios that help students of different race, gender, religion, and economic backgrounds to get to know one another and help them understand that there really is not much of a difference between them.

“I learned so much a bout my peers, and I learned to not judge a book by its cover,” said Nathaniel Weathersby a black intern for the William Winter’s Institute. “That’s the worst thing you can ever do. It was such a humanizing experience.”

“As for the question of racial problems, I think there will always be a racial problem, as long as people don’t understand one another. Until people take the time out to know one another, it will always be a problem,” he added.

Faulkner's Geographies: A Photographic Journey

Many know William Faulkner as a famed author who traveled the world to gain influence for his books. The University of Mississippi along with the 38th Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference have brought his travels together in a exhibit featuring photographs and artifacts that show Faulkner in different places in ‘Faulkner’s Geographies: A Photographic Journey.’

Faulkner traveled thoroughly throughout his life and visited places such as Hollywood, Haiti, Japan, and New Orleans. The pictures of the exhibit feature him in a variety of places, but most importantly at his estate Rowan Oak.

“It’s really cool to see that Faulkner traveled so extensively to gain inspiration for his work, but it’s even better to see him at Rowan Oak. Majority of Ole Miss students have been there, but I think it’s neat seeing here there, and what it was like with him there,” said Qua Sayles a sophomore International Studies major.

The exhibit is apart of the Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference which focus’ on different aspects of Faulkner’s life every year. “When we read Faulkner, we realize he may be locating a lot of stuff in Mississippi,” said Don Kartiganer Director of the Yoknapatawpha Conference, but Mississippi isn’t the only place where these things happen. We want to show how Faulkner brought many parts of the world to his works.”

The exhibit has been on display at the University of Mississippi Musuem since July 12th and will run through October 1st.

David Zurick Exhibit

Imagine a mysterious and murky sky hides behind two farming towers, while flatland spreads gallantly from one end of the frame to another. The creator of this image characterizes rural areas of Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama with black and white photographs similar to this one.

Old dirt roads, abandoned shacks, and never-ending fields fill Barnard Observatory Gammill Gallery of the University of Mississippi campus. Classic rural areas are the bases of David Zurick’s collection entitled Southern Crossings: Where Geography and Photography Meet.

He views landscapes, man-made and natural, as “the intentional or inadvertent markings that humans make when we live in a place over time.”

Though he is a native of Michigan, Zurick currently lives in Kentucky. His idea for the exhibit sparked from his desire to do a collection close to home. The geographer and self-taught photographer has received numerous awards for his photographs from around the world.

The pieces displayed in Barnard Observatory depict a journey Zurick takes along the southern region of the United States to find cultural rich landscapes. On this travel, he captured places that normally are over looked for deep interpretation. A neglected swimming pool in Natchez, Mississippi is the subject of Zurick’s belief that the most meaningful views are not for show; everyday settings say the most about the diversity in the South.

The collection ranges from the years 1997 to 2005. It includes pre Hurricane Katrina sites in Biloxi and a restricted biochemical cemetery in Taft, Louisiana. Zurick took daring shots in order to illustrate hidden beauties.

The exhibit will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday until October 15^th.

George Thompson, Director of the Center for American Places at Columbia College in Chicago, will give a lecture about American regions using examples from Zurick’s exhibit on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at noon.

Exhibit Story

The University of Mississippi Museum is displaying an exhibit, “Faulkner’s Geographies: A Photographic Journey” for the 49^th anniversary of William Faulkner’s death.

The exhibit is coincided with the 38^th Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference which displays images from the Archives and Special Collections at UM libraries and museum.

Thirty-six digitally reproduced images from the 1930s through the 1960s with and without Faulkner provide a visual corollary to the conference.

The University Museum describes the images as ‘filling in gaps of wonder and speculation about Faulkner’s intimate world.’

Photographers; Cofield, Dain, Kerr, Mullen, and Cartier-Bresson bring to light images of Faulkner in society and images without Faulkner that don’t have much information provided.

A number of images show a trip Faulkner took to Nagano, Japan in the 1950s. He posed in fields, with women and children, and attended lectures with university professors.

Henri Cartier-Bresson captured Faulkner at his home, Rowan Oak, in a 1947 image. Images of Faulkner included him as an average man with his daughter, in Shiloh, and on his horse.

Also, included in the exhibit are images with missing information and more thoughts. This contributes to the Photographic Journey where as images with Faulkner and his travels are the Faulkner’s Geographies.

The images without Faulkner leave the audience with more open minds and questions like, “Where are these places?” “Who are these people?” and “What happened here?”

Junior Chris Hardy found the exhibit to be interesting and a bit of an expansion of Faulkner’s reputation.

“It’s really neat because you hear of Faulkner, but you actually get to see him with this,” he said.

http://museum.olemiss.edu/2011/05/faulkners-geographies/

Art Gallery-Barnard Observatory

Oxford, Miss- The Barnard Observatory, here on the campus of the University of Mississippi features a gallery dedicated to Lynn and Stewart Gammill, a couple from Hattiesburg, Miss. who were avid supporters of the southern studies program at the university.

The gallery includes astronomical instruments and Southern inspired photographs that were taken in Florida, New Orleans, the Mississippi Delta, Georgia and several other Southern regions.

The compilation of photos that were captured by David Zurick are called Southern Crossings:Where Geography and Photography Meet. Zurick is a student of cultural landscapes. “Photography is the visual language I use to examine landscapes and to share my thoughts about them, “ stated Zurick.

One photograph featured in the gallery was of a piece of desolate land in the Mississippi Delta. The caption read, “Silos and Approaching Storm, Washington County, Miss, 2005.” The image captured the emptiness and flatness of the land and how the storms continue to shape the land.

The unique astronomical instruments displayed in the gallery were Dent’s dipleidoscope, Babinet’s goniometer, a camera obscura, and Pike’s Transit Telescope, which was “used with a clock to observe the passage of celestial objects across the meridian.”

The gallery is endowed with a great deal of history about the South. Considering the contributions that the Gammils have made to the program for southern studies, some would agree it is very fitting to have the gallery dedicated in their honor.

Double A: Alcohol and Arrests

The University of Mississippi staff members, students, and Oxford residents are dealing with numerous arrests from the new 2011-12 school year. Are authorities and staff members enforcing alcohol abuse on a daily basis? Opinions vary between people who think that the behavior, such as DUI’s and arrests, gives Ole Miss a bad reputation. Although these actions may increase Oxford’s income, is the money really worth the danger these incidents bring to Oxford residents?

Many would assume it is the staff members’ responsibility to educate students daily on alcohol abuse, but it is in fact the opposite. Marvin Williams, a journalism professor, said it is not the staff’s right to discuss alcohol issues with students. Williams believes in order to teach students about the dangers of alcohol, Ole Miss should require a “university policy or that they need to receive guidance from authority, such as guidance counselors or the Student Health Promotion Center.”

Although students are receiving DUI’s and arrests, Erin Murphy, health educator and peer health educator, said, “The number of DUI's and alcohol/drug related arrests are not what hurts the reputation.” Looking at the breakdown, Murphy brought to attention 66 percent of people receiving these charges, not having the exact, correct data in front of her, are not students. Murphy said this is not what hurts the reputation. “What hurts us is the culture,” she said.

Murphy also declared even though the numbers of arrests are decreasing, efforts to educate the student body of protective behaviors and negative consequences of alcohol misuse also are increasing. “Perception vs. reality is the battle we face,” she said.

According to Officer Thelma L. Curry, Crime Prevention Coordinator at Ole Miss, there have been about 11 MIP’s and 20 DUI’s given since the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. This time last year, Curry said, there was a larger number of DUI’s given out, a total of 23. Curry’s statistics came from her computer reports.

Although DUI’s and arrests may bring harm to Oxford residents, the money earned goes through a ten stage process before it can be distributed. According to Officer Curry, the money received from the fines benefits the town and state. “The fines also go to victims injured in accidents,” she said.

Sources:
1. Dr. Marvin Williams, Journalism professor, mfwillia@olemiss.edu
2. Erin Murphy, Health Educator and Peer Health Educator, elmurphy@olemiss.edu, 662-915-5055
3. Thelma Curry, Crime Prevention Coordinator, tcurry@olemiss.edu, 662-915-7234

All Greek is Created Equal

The University of Mississippi’s Greek system consists of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPC), Interfraternity Council (IFC), and Panhellenic Council (PHC). There are currently more than 3,000 students in Greek. However, there are less than 100 students in NPC, the united body of Black Greek, according to Rachel Burchfield, Coordinator of Greek Affairs/ Panhellenic Advisor.

The Greek chapters at Ole Miss handle such events, such as rush, advertising, housing, and other events their own way.

There are two processes to rush, recruitment done by IFC and PHC, and intake done by NPC. While recruitment is well known on campus, intake is done in a secretive nature where they have interest meetings for those wanting to rush. Sophomore journalism major, Jonece Dunigan, thought of rushing, and then had a change of plans.

“I was going to until IProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ound out how much it cost,” she said. “It would’ve been hard trying to balance it with school,” Dunigan said.

NPC currently doesn’t have any housing, but there was in the early 2000s.

“Phi Beta Sigma had a house, but that had to be taken down due to conditions, it wasn’t livable,” said Coulter Ward, assistant dean of students for student involvement, “They’re thinking about building, though.”

During an interview on campus diversity in spring 2011, an African American student mentioned that he or she believed NPC doesn’t receive any advertising as the other Greek chapters do.

“That all depends on the chapter. Each one is different,” said Ward.

With less than 100 students in NPC and no minimum membership, Ward believes it’s hard for them to be heard of with “no physical presence.” However, despite low membership, they show true pride for their chapter.

“They wear their letters more prominently,” Ward said.

Ward describes the NPC as a “refreshing.” The students care about one another and they are lifelong members.

“It’s great to see that community,” Ward said.

Despite low membership, hardly any publicity, and no housing, no one finds it to be of racial discrimination.

“I just feel that people are comfortable within their boundaries,” Dunigan said. “So no, I don’t think there is any discrimination.”

Ward says the university has come a very long way with diversity.

“It means a lot more than race,” Ward said.

Rachel Burchfield said that another concern in the Greek system is the office staff.

“We’re understaffed,” Burchfield said, “we have one advisor for all three councils. I would like to have one for each.”

Revised: 'Going Greek'

Jordan Wulforst

12 September 2011

‘Going Greek’

426 words

With 1300 freshman girls waiting to wear their letters, and Ole Miss Greek rush right around the corner, the question of adding more sororities on campus has intrigued many students.

Junior Bentley Bryant, recruitment team member for Kappa Kappa Gamma, commented on the matter. “It is unbelievable how many girls are going out for rush this year, we are so excited and expect to have a pledge class of 130 to 140 girls, versus last year’s 88,” Bryant said. “There has been a lot of talk about the addition of possibly two new sororities.”

Bryant explained that adding two new sororities on campus would be a beneficial thing. Rush would be less exclusive having eleven sororities, making it so that every girl has a home and a choice.

The question would be whether the school could handle adding two more sororities. The addition of two new sorority houses on campus would mean finding land to build them on and the finances to support it. This could mean that the sororities added to campus may not have a house, and if they do it most likely would not be on campus.

Sophomore Anna Kathryn Ward, Phi Mu rush team member, also spoke about rush this year and the possible addition of new sororities. “Last year Phi Mu took its largest pledge class consisting of around 100 girls. It is hard to say how many girls Panhellenic will allow us to take this year because of last year’s rush,” Ward said. “The addition of more sororities would be an awesome thing. It would really expand Ole Miss Greek life and strengthen the program. I know that there is major talk of adding sororities, and I really hope they do.”

Many sororities are eager for new charters to be set up on campus, this definitely taking some “rush pressure” off of the actives. For rush 2011, sororities will have to make wise decisions on what girls they can accept due to grades, and other factors that will affect a girl’s rush process. “Some sororities on campus are on probation for grades and have a very strict grade policy, this is definitely going to make the rush process more selective,” Bryant said.

Greek rush in the next couple of years may be looking at the slow addition of new sororities. Greek life is very popular at Ole Miss, while choosing not to rush is as well. Ole Miss is expected to grow in undergraduate student size in the years to come, which could possibly means a higher interest in Greek life.

Revised: Classmate Profile

Jordan Wulforst

Jackson

Journalism 271

20 September 2011

University of Mississippi graduate student Sharon White proves her passion for journalism as both a television and radio host. Hailing from Chicago, Ill. White has lived in California, Georgia and now calls Mississippi home. Her love for journalism began in 2000 when White relocated from Atlanta to Mississippi for an opportunity as a radio host at Rust College in Holly Springs.

Upon graduating from Rust in 2009, White earned a degree in English and decided to continue with broadcast. Her decision to attend UM was “easy “ White said.

“I had heard the school had a wonderful journalism program.”

Aside from journalism and broadcast, White also enjoys teaching the word of God as she is an active minister at Grace Bible Fellowship in Memphis, Tenn.

While being also being a minister, White continues to host for radio and expands her broadcast knowledge by taking daily classes at UM.

Faulkner's Geographies: A Photographic Journey

Jordan Wulforst

Jackson

Journalism 271

4 October 2011

Famous for his many written works, William Faulkner’s memory remains in the small town of Oxford, Miss. An exhibition of photographs has been dedicated to Faulkner located at the University of Mississippi Museum.

The exhibit is titled Faulkner’s Geographies: A Photographic Journey. Sophomore Lauren Price recently visited the exhibit for a history class assignment. “The exhibit was so interesting, it was cool to see into the life of such a notable man and writer,” Price said.

Price described the exhibit in a way with such great detail. Price enjoyed the fact that these photographs had been preserved for this long and appreciated that she was able to view them. "I loved looking at photographs that may have inspired Faulkner to write his stories, so much history was in that exhibit."

The exhibit is closely tied with an annual conference, the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference. The exhibit gives conference director Don Kartiganer a way to express his love for Faulkner’s work. Kartiganer has been studying the writings of Faulkner for quite some time.

The conference held every year brings together Faulkner fans from all over. This is a time when they can gather, view, and discuss his works. Faulkner’s fans are the one’s who keep not only his memory, but his stories, alive.

According to the exhibit Director, new pieces were added to the collection this past year. Director Kartiganer has a true passion for showing others into the life of William Faulkner and was ecstatic about this new addition.

Kartiganer stresses that the photos not only show people into the life of William Faulkner. But they also represent the themes and inspirations for some of his most famous works. The photographs represent some things that Faulkner was able to look at and use as an idea to write his many stories.

The preservation of these photographs serve as not only a dedication to the great works of Faulkner, but they make a point that he is still well known today. A large crowd of people continue to come to the annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference every year.

The opening reception for the exhibit was held on Sunday July 27^th at 1 p.m. The exhibit will continue to be open to the public until Tuesday October 1^st. More information can be found at http://museum.olemiss.edu/2011/05/faulkners-geographies/ .

The Old South and the New South on exhibit

1958 Chevrolet junk truck

By Sharon White

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture is hosting the David Zurick collection at the Gammill Gallery in the Barnard Observatory Lecture Hall at the University of Mississippi until Oct. 14.

The exhibit, "Southern Crossings: Where Geography and Photography Meet," is a collection of black and white images of the Old South and the New South representing geographical areas of its culture and lifestyle.

One exhibit from the Old South is an abandoned 1958 Chevrolet truck disintegrating from the lack of use and harsh weather, and parked in a field surrounded by an overgrowth of bushes, grass, and weeds. Representing the New South are the franchises; Checkers, Winn-Dixie supermarket, and Days Inn.

In each image, the artist utilizes angles, lines, and shadows wrapped around colors of black, white, and gray. The 23 images are the brain child of geographer, writer, and photographer David Zurick, professor at the University of Kentucky.

Zurick has traveled through the winter months and county roads of the South, since 1996, permitting various landscapes to dictate what the South was all about through the lens of a vintage view camera.

"The sheet film provided me with excellent negatives," Zurick wrote in his 2010 book "Southern Crossings Where Geography and Photography Meet."

http://www.eku.edu/news/professors-new-book-examines-dichotomy-american-south

David Wharton, assistant professor of Southern Studies and director of Documentary Projects at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, read the book and invited Zurick to Ole Miss for an exhibition.
"The exhibit began in August before the fall semester, and David was here in September and spoke to several of my classes," Wharton said. "The reception from the students was great."

Zurick captures the Old South and the New South with a collection of rivers, woodlands, gardens, antebellum homes, and farm life combined with modern buildings, highways, and cities, bringing geography and photography together and a new appreciation for the South.

Freshmen Continue to Read

As the freshman class of 2015 settles down after a few weeks of college classes, Student Affairs is celebrating their recent success. This recent success was the freshmen common reading program. The common reading program is one book that the entire freshmen class is given to read over the summer before fall classes.

A few weeks ago author Rebecca Skloot came to visit campus and give the keynote address at the freshman convocation. If you are not a freshmen or faculty member, you were probably wondering why she was here. Skloot is the author of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, the common reading book chosen by the faculty at the University of Mississippi.

Because of the overall success of the program, UM has chosen to continue the freshmen common reading program. “This past year was a pilot year, it went well and we had a lot of positive feedback,” Banahan said.

A small committee formed by Leslie Banahan, vice chancellor for student affairs, selected the book. The committee consisted of Associate Provosts; Robert Cummings, English professor; Dewey Knight, associate director of financial aid; and one librarian.

“The book is used by 100 different schools,” Banahan said. “It had a broad appeal, while telling a compelling story.”

The committee to choose the book has also decided to let all faculty members help nominate a book for the upcoming class. “It helps students being able to talk about one subject matter, and forming different opinions,” explained Banahan.

But was the reading program all the rage between freshmen and should they continue?

Lauren Loyless, freshmen, said, “I believe it was a good idea, it brings people together while having a conversation starter.” Loyless said she enjoyed the different topics in the book, citing science and philosophy in there.

Loyless also believes that the university should continue with reading program. “If students take the time to read the book, it can be a huge success.”

Some freshmen, on the other hand, Loyless is worried about. “Some of my friends were like no, I’m not going to take time to read this.”

While we may not know exactly how effective this common reading program is right now, the university will know down the road after a few more freshmen classes come through.