Columns Society is more than ‘just a uniform’

Aside from working the skybox at a football game or ushering at the freshman convocation, the University of Mississippi Columns Society has a lot on its plate.
The Columns Society is an organization composed of 12 men and 12 women who work as hosts and hostesses for the faculty, student body, alumni and prestige of the university. Ole Miss sanctioned this elite organization four years ago for the 2008 presidential debate that was held on the campus.
In order to be a member of this society, a student must display certain qualities or characteristics that promote the university’s image and uphold its noble creed.
“A resume doesn’t matter,” said Marianna Breland, public policy senior and president of the Columns Society. “We look at the heart when it comes to selecting our new members. Columns needs people who actually care about an individual’s first impression of the university — people who are passionate about Ole Miss.”
Like a few other organizations, getting into the Columns Society is an extremely selective process.
“Members of the Columns Society possess the talents of leadership, communication skills, humility and service,” said Ellison Brown, biochemistry senior and current Columns Society member. “The society is a powerful way to get involved on and off campus and could possibly open doors for networking.”
Becoming a member of the Columns Society seems tough, but staying in seems even more challenging. Because the organization is so professional, members are expected to follow a strict dress code and are expected to be very punctual.
Besides the fact that the Columns Society is relatively new and many do not know much about it, students wonder if the society has certain secrets. Moreover, some rumors even say the society chooses its members by favoritism.
“We’re not a secret society or anything like that, but we are very close,” Breland said. “The Columns Society shares a close bond because we all made a pledge of commitment, service, integrity and to give our humble hearts to this organization. We are also very diverse — black, white, pharmacy majors, public policy majors, extremely involved and not that involved.”
Lauren Wright, a junior public policy major and Columns Society member, said she believes that if the Columns Society has secrecy, it’s only because of the organization’s protocol.
“Columns stresses professionalism,” she said. “When it comes to admission into the organization, we’re not going to let anyone know that they are a member before they are supposed to.”
In order to be a member, a student must have at least a 2.75 GPA, be in good judicial standing with the university, successfully complete the application and undergo two intense interviewing processes.
Schools such as the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama have organizations similar to the Columns Society, and Ole Miss hopes to network with them in the future.