As enrollment numbers at the University of Mississippi continue to increase, students are beginning to realize that campus may be in need of some expansive efforts in order to accommodate the growing student body.
With more than 21,500 students, Ole Miss has the highest enrollment in Mississippi. There are many reasons why students are drawn to Ole Miss, one being how nice the campus is, but after years of growth certain aspects of the campus are starting to seem outdated and underdeveloped.
"When I got here as a freshman, there was only 18,000 students," said now senior John Allen Brown "at that time things like parking just weren't and issue like it is now." With the new parking garage to be completed in August 2014, more than 200 parking spaces with be added, but there are a number of people who don't believe that it will be enough to keep up with the growth of student enrollment.
Student Union (top) Lamar Hall (Left) Commuter Parking Lot (Right)
"I've seen how fast space can fill up when there's a rise in the number of student's, just in the time that I've been here," said sophomore Taylor Gurley "it gets to the point where I'm leaving an hour before my class just so I don't have have to walk all the way across campus."
Other than parking there are certainly other parts of campus that students feel need to be renovated in some way. The Student Union is one of them.
"After seeing what they've done with [Lamar Hall], I think that it shows new buildings son't have to be built, and that the university can renovate what we already have to bring everything up to date." said Junior, Jose Garcia. The Union is a centralized place on campus and houses many of the dining establishments, especially during the long construction of the Johnson Commons dining hall.
"Most of the time, I don't even bother going to the union in between classes because I know how long the lines are going to be," said sophomore Brandon Waite "it just doesn't seem like theres enough places to eat for the amount of people in there at one time." Especially around lunch time, lines are typically wrapped around the entire food court area of the union and seating is equally as limited at most times. The facility planning department has placed "union renovation" on their current projects page on their website but there is no calendar along with it.
There is clearly a plan in place for the University's future and the students that will make up the student body, but the question that remains is how will enrollment numbers continue to rise and potentially make these plans obsolete before they are even acted on?
How Oxford, Mississippi's businesses thrive after the
fans are gone
By: Kate Donlevy A small town known
for William Faulkner, a mediocre football history, and the Grove has
quickly and quietly transitioned into one of the most buzzed about
cities in the South. Tucked away in North Mississippi, Oxford has
reached fame for being a fun fall getaway to watch the Rebels play, or for some,
to watch the girls struggle through the grassy Grove in sky-high
heels. Although it is no secret that Oxford's businesses boom during
football season, we are left wondering what happens to the quaint
little town after the red and blue tents are packed away and the last
of autumn's leaves fall.
Photo by: Kate Donlevy
Despite Oxford's
less than ideal parking and obscene wait times in restaurants, swarms
of people continue to come back each weekend of football season,
packing out the downtown area filled with boutiques, restaurants, and
bars known as the Oxford Square.
But because Oxford is primarily a college town, when the Rebels
finish playing in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the year, many
businesses see a decline in sales.
Laura Potts, a
hostess at Oxford's restaurant, Proud Larry's, experienced her first
football season in the restaurant business this fall. On even the
smallest game weekends, Potts said she dealt with an overwhelming
number of customers from
Thursday at lunch time and lasting until Sunday brunch. For Potts,
this was a completely opposite experience from working last spring,
during the Rebels quiet off-season.
“I
wouldn't say business suffers necessarily, but it's never as crazy as
it is during football season,” Potts said. “There are always
going to be holidays, spring events, and much more to keep things
busy and going, but honestly we need the whole rest of the year to
recover and prepare for the next football season.”
Not
only do restaurants on the Square see a declining trend after
football season, but stores do as well. It is known to most that
football season brings girls racing to get their Ole Miss face
tattoos, boys trying to snag the new Ole Miss collared shirt, and
out-of town fans desperately trying to find a sweatshirt to please
the ever changing weather. University Sporting Goods, a provider of
all of these things, sees around 800 customers on any given Friday
night during football season according to general manager, Mackenzie
Lowery. After football season is over, however, the decline shows its
wrath by late December.
“Business is definitely a lot slower after Christmas,” Lowery
said. “We have noticeably
less customers during January and February.”
Although stores selling fan apparel may be hit harder than others,
clothing boutiques see the same decline in business. Cicada, a
high-end clothing store for men and women, sees their best business
during football season as well. While locals continue to shop there
throughout the year, Cicada employee Katherine Stephens explains that
very few college students can afford the prices without having their
parents in town to pick up the bill.
There is one business in
Oxford that does not seem to slow down throughout the year:
the hotel business. Each year, as soon as Ole Miss finalizes their
football schedule, phones begin ringing off the hook at every hotel
in Oxford. Rooms at Oxford's Hampton Inn are typically booked nine
months in advance, according to hotel manager, Rebecca McChesney.
Even though rooms are in highest demand during football season, an
off-season for hotels may be nonexistent once you consider all of the
other events that occur in Oxford.
“With graduation, the Double Decker Festival, and freshman
orientation, there isn't an off-season for us anymore,” McChesney
said.
An off-season may be nonexistent in the eyes of Oxford locals as
well. In a town where there are so few choices of where to shop, eat,
or go out for a drink, the
permanent residents do not have much of a choice but to spend their
time and money on the Square. With 49.8 percent of Oxford's
residents aging over 30-years-old, according to the Chamber of Commerce, they are the ones who will keep Oxford alive and
flourishing for years to come. The college students, football fans,
and tourists come and go, but the permanent residents will continue
to develop businesses, host events, and give the rest of the world a
reason to visit the slice of paradise known as Oxford, Miss.
Sue Hodge, a lifetime Oxford resident, gives her views on Oxford's
There are several ways to get a building named after you on the Ole Miss Campus.
Alexander Bondurant did it by establishing intercollegiate football here in 1893.
James Stockard and John Martin did it by donating a large amount of land on which the school was founded.
Sarah Isom did it by becoming the first ever female professor at the University of Mississippi.
All
of these people are remembered for their contributions to our
revered and beloved institution. Their names are visible on the brick
outer walls of lecture halls and dormitories becuase they gave a large
swath of their time and effort to the well-being of Ole Miss.
James K. Vardaman and Paul B. Johnson Jr. left different legacies for themselves.
In
their years after leaving the university, they each rode political
platforms based on segregation and white supremacy, Johnson even going
as far to physically block James Meredith from enrolling here when he was lieutenant governor (Johnson would be elected governor two years later).
Vardaman, governor 60 years before Johnson (1904-1908),
was known across the state as "The Great White Chief" for his speeches
filled with violent hatred geared towards African Americans. He even drove a significant number of blacks out of the state altogether.
Both of those men got their buildings, too. Vardaman Hall sits on
Dormitory Row West, right up the hill from Johnson Commons. The JC, as
it is known, is a mere 200 feet from the statue erected in James
Meredith's honor. The same man that Johnson tried to bar from acceptance
into the school.
So why, after years of repairing its reputation,
would the university not change the names of these buildings to honor
somebody who adds an arguably more positive image to the school?
Many think that doing so would be running away from the problem.
Dr. Jennifer Stollman, who works in the William Winter Institute for
Racial Reconciliation (located in Vardaman Hall), explained the decision
to keep the names.
"For
those who do know the history of these individuals, they might believe
that this amounts to supporting the actions and beliefs of these
men. Others have felt that to erase these names amounts to
attempting to keep hidden the history of the university," Stollman said
Tuesday evening, "While perhaps, I wish the building carried a different
name, it does give me an opportunity to teach campus community members
about the history of the university and these people and also the
efforts of those individuals who fought racist policies."
Johnson Commons, a dining hall at Ole Miss named after late Mississippi politician Paul B. Johnson Jr.
A
portion of students, however, do not know about this part of the
history of Ole Miss. When they are actually informed about the men the buildings in question
are named for, the main reaction seemed to be "who cares?"
Many students, along with sophomore Abi Lako, see the building name as part of a campus with a rich culture, if anything, and think the name change would be petty.
"The
campus holds well to its traditions," Lako said, "We're not trying to be racist, but
why should we change the name and create unnecessary confusion even if a
few people are offended?"
As
far as the student body goes, it may be less than a few people that
even know about the history behind the names of the buildings. This may
be why various efforts to change the name of Vardaman Hall in recent
years haven't gained significant traction, according to Dr. Stollman.
Lako, who is from Detroit, MI, takes the governors' political careers out of the equation.
"What did they do for the school? They weren't just a racists."
Both
had exceptional careers as students at the university. Each man studied
law at Ole Miss, while Johnson did hold the honor of being the only
sophomore ever elected student body president.
Fellow sophomore John Lewis showed apathy when asked whether he thought the building names should be changed.
"No one really knows the meaning behind the names. If people would stop talking about them, there wouldn't really be an issue."
Lewis
did admit that it could send mixed signals for those who did know the
history behind the names. You can watch his full take on the issue
below.
Although
students may want the names to stay the same for the sake of less
confusion, Stollman sees the change as unnecessary for
different reasons.
"I
believe that changing symbols, names and traditions are important if
they impede the work done on the campus and hurt its participants,"
Stollman said, "However, I do believe that we need to move beyond
looking at just symbols, names, and traditions and work to change the
systemic, infrastructural and individual racism and oppression on
campus. I believe that through this a sustained cultural change can take
place."
Ole Miss locals tell their opinions on Oxford as a college town.
Many see Oxford, Ms as a college football town with many
college students who come to Ole Miss to study multiple degrees. Students come from all over the United States. But many never
think that there are families that live in Oxford and make up a big portion of it. There are also many students that were born and raised in Oxford with their
families. You may think why did they choose Ole Miss?
Photo By: Maggie McDaniel
Local Oxford native currently a senior at Ole Miss Susanna
Rychlak chose to go to Ole Miss her senior year for many reasons. Rychlak is an International study major who is currently studying abroad in
Perugia, Italy. She had many other options for college as the graduating class senior
body president. What really drove Rychlak to Ole Miss was the Croft Institute,
which recruited her. For Rychlak growing up in Oxford was special to her
because it’s always changing and she can always discover something new.
According to Rychlak there is so much history to appreciate including the
University, Faulkner, the Blues, and many more, but at the same time it is an
incredibly modern community.People
constantly are producing new, innovative art, music, cuisine, and an audience
of citizens to appreciate it.
“It has been more than a college experience; going to Ole
Miss has given me life experience,”
says Rychlak.
For Sam Moffett, also an Oxford native and a senior at
Auburn University chose to not stay in
Oxford for college. Moffett is currently studying architecture and design, which was his main reason for attending Auburn. According to
Moffett most of his graduating high school class attended Ole Miss and maybe
10-20 percent went off to college. After
living in Oxford his whole life it became exhausting and Auburn gave him the
chance to put himself out there and meet so many people.
“It’s freeing to leave all the things
that are comfortable or familiar for something better. I also love my
parents very much and even though I miss seeing them, being just 5 hours away
has been great and makes the trips home really special,” says Moffett.
Senior at Oxford high school, Mary
Randall Ivy is going to attend Ole Miss next fall. Ivy hopes to major in Speech
Pathology and minor in music. She has known since she was little that she was going
to attend Ole Miss. Living in such a big college town has never really phased
Ivy. According to Ivy when she was little many of her babysitters were college
students. The only bad thing about Oxford to Ivy is the traffic and she thinks
Oxford just needs to expand more. Ivy cannot wait to attend Ole Miss and knows
she will probably still go home to do laundry and eat a nice home cooked meal
every once and awhile.
For Oxford local Meta Ginn, mother of two, who graduated from
Ole Miss decided to stay in Oxford
after graduating. Ginn and her husband stayed in Oxford, because that is where
they got jobs right out of college. According to Ginn she wants her children to
both attend Ole Miss, because it is a family tradition and a great University.
Sometimes she wishes she lived in a bigger city, but the biggest benefit to her
is she can go anywhere in Oxford and always run into someone she knows.
“We
love that it is safe and small, but provides so much opportunity to see and do
things. It is such an incredible community,” says Ginn.
Katie Krouse Local Oxford Native tells about her memories when she was a little girl and why she chose Ole Miss.
For my final story, I would like to write about the OMASH organization. I want to focus on how it has helped students majoring in the hospitality field after they have graduated. Look to see if the numbers are different for students who gained experience through this program compared to those who did not.
For my final project I want to look into the increase of students who have applied for class disabilities, the increase in students who experience anxiety, ADD or ADHD throughout the course of being in college classes. For this story I would interview a variety of teachers and advisors in different departments for opinions and statistics. Also I would interview the health center.
For my final story project I want write about the expansion of the sports football stadium and the future addition of the basketball stadium and get people's reaction to whether or not they like it and if they think the university should spend their money on these projects. I would like to talk to students, teachers and possibly Ole Miss football and basketball coaches about this matter.
