University of Mississippi eGrove Daily Mississippian Journalism and New Media, School of 4-4-2013 April 4, 2013 The Daily Mississippian Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/thedmonline Recommended Citation The Daily Mississippian, "April 4, 2013" (2013). Daily Mississippian. 843. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/thedmonline/843 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Journalism and New Media, School of at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Daily Mississippian by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DAILY T HURSDAY , A PRIL 4, 2013 | V OL . 1 0 1 , N O . 1 1 7 MISSISSIPPIAN T HE S T UDEN T N EW S PAPER OF T HE U NIVER S I T Y OF M I ss I ss IPPI | S ERVING O LE M I ss AND O XFORD S INCE 1 9 1 1 OFFICIAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL RULING ‘Colonel Reb’ ruling Serving as the judicial chair for the 2012-13 academic year, Courtney Pearson signed the following account of the Judicial Council’s actions in issuing a resolution concerning the constitutionality of the personality election title of “Colonel Reb.” This decision, signed March process revealed 25, has sparked much debate across campus, the Oxford community and the Ole Miss family as a whole. The decision is currently being reviewed, as it is the product of a constitutionally The Daily Mississippian obtained a copy of the official record questionable process, according to current ASB Attorney General Rob Pillow. of the Associated Student Body Judicial Council’s ruling that “Colonel Reb,” the title given to the the equivalent of “Mr. Ole Miss,” was unconstitutional. Current ASB officials have initiated an investigation into the process of the council’s ruling, and many people have expressed their opinions about the situation. THOMAS GRANING | The Daily Mississippian ASB President Gregory Alston discusses “Colonel Reb” during an interview. BY ADAM GANUCHEAU Student Life) felt it was more [email protected] important to accurately rep- resent their constituency, the The Associated Student student body than to rush Body Judicial Council ruled the process. They wanted to that the title “Colonel Reb,” conduct a survey to seek fur- the student-elected male ther input from the student counterpart of Miss Ole body.” Miss, was unconstitutional Two weeks later, an anon- on March 25. The council ymous complaint, which voted unanimously in favor questioned the constitution- of the decision, according ality of the “Colonel Reb” to the official record of the title, was filed in the Office council’s meeting, which was of Student Conduct and ad- obtained by The Daily Mis- dressed to the Judicial Coun- sissippian Wednesday after- cil on March 19. noon. “An anonymous complaint Current ASB Vice Presi- was filed, and the ASB Ju- dent Morgan Gregory said dicial Council took the ap- a resolution regarding the propriate steps to hear the use of “Colonel Reb” was complaint,” former ASB Ju- submitted in an ASB Senate dicial Chair Courtney Pear- committee meeting March 5, son, who presided over the but it did not pass out of the ruling, said Tuesday night. committee. “We followed the appropri- “The resolution was killed ate guidelines that we could before it was available for have according to the most a Senate vote because the current codes and constitu- ASB Senate Committee for tion.” Student Life believed that Pearson did not respond to more student input was nec- multiple attempts to contact essary,” Gregory said. “Spe- cifically, (the Committee for See COL. REB, PAGE 5 Teachers and all State Employees are now covered for weight loss surgery. Call for more information 27000 662-234-3303 800-969-6908 OPINION PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 4 APRIL 2013 | OPINION THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL STAFF: EMILY ROLAND editor-in-chief [email protected] AUSTIN MILLER managing editor [email protected] HOUSTON BROCK campus news editor [email protected] MOLLY YatES asst. campus news editor [email protected] GRANT BEEBE SUMMER WIGLEY city news editors [email protected] PHIL MCCAUSLAND opinion editor [email protected] DAVID COLLIER sports editor [email protected] JENNIFER NASSAR lifestyles editor [email protected] JOSEPH KATOOL | @katoolbag | The Daily Mississippian QUENTIN WINSTINE photography editor COLUMN [email protected] THOMAS GRANING What Col. Reb means to me asst. photography editor [email protected] as a mascot, including being that was lost and is backward was “From Dixie with Love.” in the Grove on game days thinking. Now it’s the Col. Reb title. TISHA COLEMAN and getting high-fives as he Finally, I am told that I must What is next? IGNACIO MURILLO led the team down the Walk be cognizant of the feelings of I have heard some say that design editors of Champions. others. Since others dislike the this argument is nonsense, When the decision was title of Col. Reb, then I should that it is missing the point. But KIMBER LACOUR BY TRENTON WINFORD made to determine a new on- respect that and approve its I then read quotes like this SARAH PARRISH [email protected] field mascot, I was not exactly removal. What is missing, from the chair of the African copy chiefs thrilled. I understood Ole though, is a respect for what American Studies Depart- I grew up as one of the big- Miss’ need for a mascot. After Col. Reb means to me. ment, which was included in JON HAYWOOD gest little fans of Ole Miss all, I wanted little Rebels to Even further, what does Col. the ESPN film “The Ghosts of online editor sports. I donned Rebel gear have a physical embodiment Reb mean to Ole Miss? Every Ole Miss”: “Any symbol that for school, and I made sure my of the Ole Miss spirit as I had year since 1940, the student can be remotely construed or friends who supported Missis- growing up, even if it wasn’t LEANNA YOUNG body has elected a Col. Reb: a interpreted as having any kind sippi State were well aware of the character that I enjoyed male on campus who best em- of racial insensitivity should sales manager each Ole Miss success. I had as a child. While I am not ex- bodies the spirit of the univer- be eradicated.” [email protected] a stuffed dog named Rebel, actly enamored with the Black sity. Notable alumni like Rob- With people, especially MICHAEL BARNETT which has great sentimental Bear mascot, it isn’t meant for ert Khayat, former Ole Miss employees of the university, JAMIE KENDRICK value to me. On the Christ- me. I understand that, and I chancellor, and Ben Williams, saying things like that, am I COREY platt mas tree every year, I would am OK with that. the first black football player really so clueless to make the account executives hang a Col. Reb ornament On the other hand, I am at Ole Miss, were honored slippery slope argument here? with my name on it. not OK with the recent deci- with the Col. Reb title during I honestly do not believe so, KRISTEN SaltZMAN When Col. Reb was re- sion to remove the title of Col. their tenures on campus. and if you look at what has NatE WEatHERSBY moved from the sidelines, I Reb from the personality elec- Ole Miss is currently on a been done and what is being creative staff was too young to really know tions. I am told it is because slippery slope. It started with said around you, I think you what it meant. As I grew up, the title is blatantly racist. I am things that absolutely needed would agree. I still ardently supported the told that Ole Miss is moving to be banned, such as the S. GALE DENLEY STUDENT school without a mascot. I forward. I am told that any- Confederate flag — or, well, Trenton Winford is a junior MEDIA CENTER tried to explain to people one who continues to support sticks. It then moved on to a public policy leadership major PATRICIA THOMPSON what Col. Reb meant to me the title is clinging to a war misunderstood mascot. Next from Madison. director and faculty adviser THE DAILY The Daily Mississippian is The Daily Mississippian welcomes all com- MELANIE WADKINS MISSISSIPPIAN published daily Monday ments.Please send a letter to the editor addressed advertising manager through Friday during the to The Daily Mississippian, 201 Bishop Hall, The University of academic year. University, MS, 38677 or send an e-mail to DEBRA NOVAK Mississippi [email protected]. S. Gale Denley Student Contents do not represent Letters should be typed, double-spaced and creative services manager the official opinions of The Media Center no longer than 300 words. Third party letters and 201 Bishop Hall University of Mississippi AMY SAXTON or The Daily Mississippian those bearing pseudonyms, pen names or “name administrative assistant unless specifically indicated. withheld” will not be published. Publication is Main Number: limited to one letter per individual per calendar 662.915.5503 DARREL JORDAN Letters are welcome, but month. chief engineer Email: dmeditor@gmail. may be edited for clarity, Student submissions must include grade clas- com space or libel. sification and major. All submissions must be THOMAS CHAPMAN Hours: Monday-Friday, turned in at least three days in advance of date of media technology manager 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ISSN 1077-8667 desired publication. OPINION OPINION | 4 APRIL 2013 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | PAGE 3 COLUMN Our shared racist tradition anonymous complaints.” The as our mascot, yet let the title tegration of Ole Miss,” “The point. decision later states, “The re- of “Colonel Reb” denote the university’s founders and The remarks that appealed moval of Colonel Reb (Rebel) “Mr.