University of Mississippi eGrove Daily Mississippian Journalism and New Media, School of 10-9-2017 October 9, 2017 The Daily Mississippian Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/thedmonline Recommended Citation The Daily Mississippian, "October 9, 2017" (2017). Daily Mississippian. 206. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/thedmonline/206 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]. Monday, October 9, 2017 THE DAILY Volume 106, No. 28 MISSISSIPPIANTHE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SERVING OLE MISS AND OXFORD SINCE 1911 Visit theDMonline.com @thedm_news Chancellor announces plan for offi cial mascot switch SLADE RAND with the Landshark as the after more than 4,100 stu- with executive committees decisions — in the interest of MANAGING EDITOR offi cial mascot and retire dents voted in an Associated of alumni, faculty, staff and what is best for the future of Rebel the Bear,” Vitter said Student Body-sponsored poll graduate student groups to our university and our stu- in a statement Friday. Vitter gauging student support for help fi nalize their decision. dents. We are focused upon Ole Miss fans will have a said Friday’s announcement the Landshark. Less than 20 “After we received positive moving forward with a mas- new mascot to cheer with served to offi cially retire Reb- percent of all students en- support and endorsements cot that unifi es and inspires, along the sidelines when the el the Black Bear. The Land- rolled across each University from these stakeholder and it is clear that over the 2018 football season kicks off . shark will make its on-fi eld of Mississippi campus voted groups, which was completed past seven years, the Ole Rebel the Black Bear is head- debut Sept. 1, 2018, when the in the poll, which showed this past Thursday, we were Miss family has chosen the ed for retirement, Chancellor Rebels kick off the 2018 sea- that 81 percent of respond- excited to share this tremen- Landshark and ‘Fins Up.’” Jeff rey Vitter announced Fri- son with a game against Tex- ing students supported the dous news with the entire Vitter wrote in his letter day, giving credence and clo- as Tech in Houston. change to the Landshark as Ole Miss family,” Vitter told that Ole Miss Athletics will be sure to a nearly decade-old Vitter sent the offi cial let- the school’s offi cial mascot. The Daily Mississippian. “We responsible for “designing, student movement. ter to all faculty, staff , stu- In addition to this student made this decision in the “I’m excited to announce dents and alumni a week input, administrators met same way we make all of our that we will move forward SEE LANDSHARK PAGE 4 Great 38 race benefi ts local charity Provost Wilkin talks new role, teaching, service Noel Wilkin was announced as provost of the university the end of last month. The DM recently sat down with Provost Wilkin to discuss goals for his new role, how he began his career in aca- demia and his favorite Ole Miss memories. MADDIE MCGEE ing, research and service. The NEWS EDITOR fi rst, in the area of teaching, is to innovate and enhance our teaching strategies to remain The DM: How would you on the cutting edge with re- describe the interview pro- gard to teaching innovation cess to become provost? What and innovative programs that emotions did you experience we’re off ering to students to during the process? help position them for life- long careers. The next area Noel Wilkin: First, I am is research and working with glad our institution did a na- our vice chancellor for re- tional search. I think that’s search and special programs the right process for an insti- to help him to energize our tution like ours, and our com- research activity. munity deserves the kind of opportunity to provide input In service, we are going to into who their provost is. As be adding energy to how we an internal candidate, it made are reaching out to communi- it a little unusual that people ties to enhance the prosperity were coming to campus, and of our state. We want to pour I wanted to get away from our collective energy and cre- campus so they could freely ativity and talents into the operate and I could ensure community in ways that are that the search was not jeop- benefi cial to them. The goals ardized by me being around. centered around that area in- On those days, I scheduled clude lots of little initiatives. meetings in remote locations off -campus so I wouldn’t in- DM: Did you always envi- terfere with the process. I’m sion yourself having a career happy to have the process in academia? completed, and I’m thrilled to be chosen. NW: I started out as a PHOTOS BY: BILLY SCHUERMAN pharmacist, and in that pro- DM: What are some of fession, I learned a lot about your goals as provost? Runners competed in a 3-miler, 8-miler or half marathon during the 2017 Great 38 Race Weekend. The races started and interacting with people and fi nished on campus, with the fi nish line on the 38-yard line of the fi eld in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The event was helping people accomplish NW: I have a number inspired by Chucky Mullins, the Ole Miss football player who wore No. 38. He was paralyzed during a game and later died their objectives. Pharmacists from complications from his injuries. The event’s proceeds benefi t the Roy Lee “Chucky” Mullins Memorial Scholarship of diff erent goals, and they Endowment, which assists Ole Miss students who have a physical disability or demonstrate exceptional fi nancial need. probably would be best cate- gorized in the areas of teach- SEE NOEL WILKIN PAGE 3 IN THIS ISSUE... OPINION LIFESTYLES LIFESTYLES SPORTS Debating the mascot change The Killers are back Sundance to Oxford Film Fest Rebels drop third straight Now that the university is adopting the Landshark Pop rockers release new album fi lled ‘Walking Out’ to be screened Monday Auburn dominates fi rst-half performance , carries as the mascot, what do our columnists think? with retro sound night at Oxford Commons it to 44-23 win PAGE 2 SEE THEDMONLINE.COM PAGE 5 PAGE 8 PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 9 OCTOBER 2017 OPINION COLUMNS THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL STAFF: Debating the Landshark mascot change LANA FERGUSON editor-in-chief [email protected] For: Landshark 'symbolizes unity' SLADE RAND managing editor tic,” but so was the Black “Fins Up,” and it caught on firm believer of “to each his [email protected] Bear, considering there across demographics. own,” but we need a mascot are only about 150 of those You can continue to wear that will unify us instead of bears in existence in our your “tradition,” because continue to divide us. MAGGIE MARTIN state. at the end of the day, that’s Through it all, the Land- copy chief As a university, we must your freedom of expression shark continues to cap- [email protected] acknowledge the turbulent and none of my business, tivate our school and its history of our institution but students decided by an plethora of fans. Nothing RACHEL ISHEE and understand that any 81 percent margin in a stu- makes more sense than MADDIE MCGEE previous mascots do not dent government poll that having something unique, news editors and will not ever reflect the Landshark just makes not something created out [email protected] JONATHAN LOVELADY STAFF COLUMNIST our university’s path to sense as our mascot. With of legend or a misjudged creating a more diverse en- lots of conversation and a attempt to undermine the SAM HARRES The Landshark hand ges- vironment and upholding multi-day window open to status quo, as our mascot. GRAYSON WEIR ture is a charismatic sign our standard of academic vote, our campus was effec- Our mascot should stand sports editors that, when thrown up, achievement. tively clear on what we, as a for all of us so that when we [email protected] brings unity and acknowl- The tradition of “Fins student body, wanted. travel the country (and the edgment of our school pride Up” is not something just Regardless of this evi- world), we can shout “Hot- MARLEE CRAWFORD to all of us. It is not covered recently thought of out of dence, tradition continues ty Toddy” to one another TAYLAR TEEL in “legendary controversy” nowhere: It all goes back to to come up in debate to and throw up the hand sign photography editors but is a prideful symbol the 2008 football season. justify stances on previous with it. [email protected] that symbolizes unity and After a plethora of losses mascots, but I concur that doesn’t offend anyone. year after year, a winning our institution and its de- Jonathan Lovelady is a Nevertheless, some have season captivated fans and mographics were entirely junior economics major DEVNA BOSE an issue with the new mas- players alike. Linebacker different when those mas- from Los Angeles. lifestyles editor cot, saying it is “unrealis- Tony Fein threw up the first cots represented us. I’m a [email protected] JONATHAN GIBSON assistant lifestyles editor [email protected] Against: 'Here we go again' LIAM NIEMAN to do with Ole Miss’ admin- I am not trying to suggest cause of the ease of student opinion editor istration and the Associat- that the referendum was voting or political apathy, [email protected] ed Student Body.