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Thursday, November 2, 2017 THE DAILY Volume 106, No. 42 MISSISSIPPIANTHE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SERVING OLE MISS AND OXFORD SINCE 1911 Visit theDMonline.com @thedm_news ‘Diversity is our advantage’ Oxford Vice chancellor presents on changing attitudes, connecting values responds to banned novel LASHERICA THORNTON STAFF WRITER Through the eyes of the young Scout Finch, an audi- ence reads about society, ha- tred, prejudice in the crim- inal justice system and the American South in Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” More than half a centu- MICHAELA WATSON ry after its publishing, Bi- STAFF WRITER loxi Public School District “Often people’s resistance comes from banned the book from its not knowing,” Katrina Caldwell said eighth-grade curriculum in to a group of 50 students in the library early October because of of- Wednesday night. “We have to change at- fensive and derogatory lan- titudes, change the narrative. We have to guage. After a national out- fi nd the ways our values connect.” cry declaring the importance Caldwell, vice chancellor for diversi- of “To Kill a Mockingbird” ty and community engagement, spoke as a critical look at racism, about connectedness and diversity. Her offensive language and dis- lecture was part of the “Are You Ready? crimination, Biloxi officials Dialogue Series,” which aims to start con- decided parents must sign versations between students and faculty a permission slip to allow about diffi cult and important topics. their child to read the nov- Hosted by the library, this week’s topic el. It is no longer a required was “Just Mercy,” the university’s 2017 part of the curriculum. Common Reading Experience book, that According to the Washing- is required for many First-Year Experi- ton Post, the school district ence classes. removed “To Kill a Mocking- bird” because several people “Just Mercy” recounts the chilling story PHOTOS BY: XINYI SONG felt uncomfortable due to of Walter McMillian, a young black man Katrina Caldwell speaks to students concerning connectedness and diversity Wednesday night. who was wrongfully sentenced to death racist language in the novel. Oxford High School prin- for the murder of a white woman with create sustainable change, you have to get on this campus.” cipal Bradley Roberson said whom he was involved. uncomfortable. Try something diff erent.” Caldwell discussed ways to solve ineq- he is aware of the contro- Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mer- At the lecture Earnest Stephens, proj- uity and representation problems. versy in Biloxi, but Oxford cy,” founded and now runs the Equal ect coordinator for the NASA Mississippi “We have to fi gure out the why on the High School is not following Justice Initiative, an organization which, Space Grant Consortium and First-Year personal level, and also try to understand the example set in Biloxi. among many other things, seeks to exon- Experience professor, echoed Caldwell’s larger societal issues that might keep peo- “To Kill a Mockingbird” will erate wrongfully imprisoned people, and sentiments. ple out,” she said. continue to be a tenth-grade also to aid those who are mistreated while “Being a change agent is never comfort- Caldwell also stressed the importance curriculum text in Oxford incarcerated. able,” he said. of persistence in trying to make change. School District. “It’s a calling for justice. I think that In this discussion-based lecture, Cald- “Keep trying to change things even “Here at Oxford, our Bryan is an important representation of well invited students and faculty to share when you fail,” she said. “Our fi rst at- teachers and students do a having a strong narrative of who you are issues they feel are aff ecting Ole Miss. tempt might not be successful, and might great job of communicating as a person, and more importantly what Kelle Thigpen, junior pharmaceutical even make it worse. But you have to keep the themes of the book and you can contribute to the world.” Caldwell sciences major, cited a lack of representa- trying for anything to change.” the importance of what that said. “I think just from his story, it’s clear tion in public spaces as one problem. Caldwell fi nished the lecture with an book brings to light as far as that each of us has the capacity to make “When I go to the Grove, I see so much appeal to take advantage of people’s dif- some of the critical issues in changes in the world.” of one type of person,” she said. “It’s not ferences. our society,” OHS assistant Caldwell said she works to increase an intentional discrimination, there’s “Often in our lives, we look for catego- principal Chandler Gray opportunities for all students and advo- nothing stopping you from going there, ries of how people are diff erent, we im- said. “We haven’t had any cates four primary ways to aff ect change. but when you don’t see yourself repre- mediately see the ways we are disconnect- issues as far as people wor- She said those ways were to get close to sented you’re less likely to try to engage ed,” she said. “I’m hoping we don’t have ried about anything in the the issue at hand, get uncomfortable, stay in that.” to look for crisis moments to bridge that book. Teachers do a great hopeful and fi nally change the narrative. Maliah Wilkinson, sophomore com- divide. How we bridge that gap across “First, you’ve got to get close to the is- munication sciences and disorders major, diff erence makes us stronger. Diversity is sue, get proximate,” Caldwell said. “To said that “inclusivity isn’t targeted enough our advantage.” SEE NOVEL PAGE 3 IN THIS ISSUE... OPINION NEWS LIFESTYLES SPORTS Pedestrians, drivers on campus Memory Makers National Novel Writing Month Matt Luke continues to motivate Talking about issues of pedestrians’ safety on Students discuss volunteering Embark on your journey to becoming a After two emotional losses and key injuries, campus and available solutions experiences at local nonprofi t novelist with these tips spirits in the locker room remain high PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 SEE THEDMONLINE.COM PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 2 NOVEMBER 2017 OPINION THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL STAFF: LANA FERGUSON editor-in-chief [email protected] SLADE RAND managing editor [email protected] MAGGIE MARTIN copy chief [email protected] RACHEL ISHEE MADDIE MCGEE news editors [email protected] SAM HARRES GRAYSON WEIR sports editors [email protected] MARLEE CRAWFORD TAYLAR TEEL photography editors [email protected] DEVNA BOSE lifestyles editor [email protected] JONATHAN GIBSON assistant lifestyles editor [email protected] COLUMN LIAM NIEMAN opinion editor On-campus pedestrians deserve respect [email protected] garner you a ticket. The speed limit on campus when walking, whether in HAYDEN BENGE So, what am I getting is 18 miles per hour, but that the crosswalk or not. With ETHEL MWEDZIWENDIRA at? Pedestrians, in does not seem to curtail the this in mind, the university design editors general, are disrespected massive amount of speeding should come together to [email protected] and disregarded even in that continues to occur. discuss this problem with walkable neighborhoods. Sometimes one questions if pedestrians and drivers and I’m not denying that many it is even worth crossing the put forth ideas like putting EMILY HOFFMAN pedestrians make drivers street, even at a moment that speed bumps or road tables social media editor understandably angry, but a you feel safe. in place. NOVEL ton of metal is a dangerous The university is not a The pedestrian should continued from page 1 ADVERTISING thing to control and we should race track, and according always be a priority especially SALES MANAGER think of the implications of to university rules, the on a college campus where Blake Hein JONATHAN LOVELADY drivers navigating around pedestrian has the right of walking is the norm, and, [email protected] STAFF COLUMNIST pedestrians. way. Explicitly, it says “in though I commend the Our campus should be an crosswalks,” though I admit university for closing roads SALES ACCOUNT Driving is a privilege, environment where you can that this tends to be ignored more than was expected, EXECUTIVES but within our country, walk between classes (or by walkers as well. conversations should still Cameron Collins it has been consistently work) and not have to risk People deserve to get to be held regarding this Sam Dethrow portrayed as more of a right. your life to cross the street. their destination safely, issue. Even though walking Ethan Gray Everywhere you drive all Let me tell you a story: whether the pedestrian or seems to be discouraged Kathryn Hathorne over the state and in many You walk gracefully down the driver, and adding a in our country due to the other places, you see little if the sidewalk on campus and few seconds to your drive sprawl of suburbia and rural S. GALE DENLEY any sidewalk at all. prepare to cross the street or simply watching where communities, Oxford and STUDENT MEDIA CENTER The pedestrian, in this way, and--boom--the car barely you are going in order to Ole Miss are different and has been devalued in our seems to notice but manages slow down shouldn’t be that should be treated as such.