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The Daily Mississippian
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    Do you know when you graduate?

    Do you know when you graduate?

    Ole Miss Fashion Week models student innovation on the red carpet

    Ole Miss Fashion Week models student innovation on the red carpet

    “Everlasting” screening explores civil rights activist Medgar Evers’ life and legacy

    “Everlasting” screening explores civil rights activist Medgar Evers’ life and legacy

    Political science department to be renamed after former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus

    Political science department to be renamed after former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus

    ASB confirms new members, elects senators for the 2026-27 term

    ASB confirms new members, elects senators for the 2026-27 term

    ‘Invisible’ buses operate as OUT prepares for fall upgrades

    ‘Invisible’ buses operate as OUT prepares for fall upgrades

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    A bittersweet mixtape for graduation season 

    A bittersweet mixtape for graduation season 

    Evolution or stagnation? Noah Kahan can’t decide in ‘The Great Divide’

    Evolution or stagnation? Noah Kahan can’t decide in ‘The Great Divide’

    Earth Day Sunrise Yoga grounds students

    Earth Day Sunrise Yoga grounds students

    The rivalry continues: Office of Sustainability makes strides in glass recycling drive competition with State

    The rivalry continues: Office of Sustainability makes strides in glass recycling drive competition with State

    Avery Anna brings country fusion to The Lyric

    Avery Anna brings country fusion to The Lyric

    Catch him before he disappears! Meet the magic man of Oxford

    Catch him before he disappears! Meet the magic man of Oxford

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    Stribling, Williams selected in 2026 NFL Draft

    Stribling, Williams selected in 2026 NFL Draft

    Ole Miss Men’s Golf wins first SEC Championship title in 41 years

    Ole Miss Men’s Golf wins first SEC Championship title in 41 years

    Rebel basketball reloads via the transfer portal

    Rebel basketball reloads via the transfer portal

    Ole Miss drops rubber match to Georgia on Sunday

    Ole Miss drops rubber match to Georgia on Sunday

    Meet the Rebels Day set for this Saturday 

    Meet the Rebels Day set for this Saturday 

    Ole Miss Baseball looks to stay hot against No. 5 Georgia

    Ole Miss Baseball looks to stay hot against No. 5 Georgia

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    You might lose friends after you graduate — and that’s okay

    You might lose friends after you graduate — and that’s okay

    Wear the history, not just the fabric: Appreciating South Asian culture on campus

    Wear the history, not just the fabric: Appreciating South Asian culture on campus

    Registering for classes was not a good ‘experience’

    Registering for classes was not a good ‘experience’

    Pick up a paper: Student media matters

    Pick up a paper: Student media matters

    Why you should switch your smartphone for a dumb one

    Why you should switch your smartphone for a dumb one

    What loss has taught me, what you can learn from it, too

    What loss has taught me, what you can learn from it, too

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    The cost of catastrophe: Effects of Winter Storm Fern linger

    The cost of catastrophe: Effects of Winter Storm Fern linger

    Landscape workers clear the way for campus regrowth

    Landscape workers clear the way for campus regrowth

    Meet a lineman who brought power back to Oxford

    Meet a lineman who brought power back to Oxford

    ‘Everyone is your neighbor in a disaster’: Churches step up during crisis

    ‘Everyone is your neighbor in a disaster’: Churches step up during crisis

    Kindness on wheels: Facebook moms rally around young rescue driver

    Kindness on wheels: Facebook moms rally around young rescue driver

    Baptist Memorial Hospital puts patient care first during historic storm

    Baptist Memorial Hospital puts patient care first during historic storm

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    Do you know when you graduate?

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    Ole Miss Fashion Week models student innovation on the red carpet

    Ole Miss Fashion Week models student innovation on the red carpet

    “Everlasting” screening explores civil rights activist Medgar Evers’ life and legacy

    “Everlasting” screening explores civil rights activist Medgar Evers’ life and legacy

    Political science department to be renamed after former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus

    Political science department to be renamed after former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus

    ASB confirms new members, elects senators for the 2026-27 term

    ASB confirms new members, elects senators for the 2026-27 term

    ‘Invisible’ buses operate as OUT prepares for fall upgrades

    ‘Invisible’ buses operate as OUT prepares for fall upgrades

  • Arts & Culture
    • All
    • ° Events
    • ° Features
    • ° Listicles
    • ° Reviews
    A bittersweet mixtape for graduation season 

    A bittersweet mixtape for graduation season 

    Evolution or stagnation? Noah Kahan can’t decide in ‘The Great Divide’

    Evolution or stagnation? Noah Kahan can’t decide in ‘The Great Divide’

    Earth Day Sunrise Yoga grounds students

    Earth Day Sunrise Yoga grounds students

    The rivalry continues: Office of Sustainability makes strides in glass recycling drive competition with State

    The rivalry continues: Office of Sustainability makes strides in glass recycling drive competition with State

    Avery Anna brings country fusion to The Lyric

    Avery Anna brings country fusion to The Lyric

    Catch him before he disappears! Meet the magic man of Oxford

    Catch him before he disappears! Meet the magic man of Oxford

  • Sports
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    • ° Baseball
    • ° Basketball
    • ° Cross Country
    • ° Football
    • ° Golf
    • ° Rifle
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    • ° Tennis
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    Stribling, Williams selected in 2026 NFL Draft

    Stribling, Williams selected in 2026 NFL Draft

    Ole Miss Men’s Golf wins first SEC Championship title in 41 years

    Ole Miss Men’s Golf wins first SEC Championship title in 41 years

    Rebel basketball reloads via the transfer portal

    Rebel basketball reloads via the transfer portal

    Ole Miss drops rubber match to Georgia on Sunday

    Ole Miss drops rubber match to Georgia on Sunday

    Meet the Rebels Day set for this Saturday 

    Meet the Rebels Day set for this Saturday 

    Ole Miss Baseball looks to stay hot against No. 5 Georgia

    Ole Miss Baseball looks to stay hot against No. 5 Georgia

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    • ° Ask a Philosopher
    • ° Diary of a Black Girl
    • ° From the Editorial Board
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    You might lose friends after you graduate — and that’s okay

    You might lose friends after you graduate — and that’s okay

    Wear the history, not just the fabric: Appreciating South Asian culture on campus

    Wear the history, not just the fabric: Appreciating South Asian culture on campus

    Registering for classes was not a good ‘experience’

    Registering for classes was not a good ‘experience’

    Pick up a paper: Student media matters

    Pick up a paper: Student media matters

    Why you should switch your smartphone for a dumb one

    Why you should switch your smartphone for a dumb one

    What loss has taught me, what you can learn from it, too

    What loss has taught me, what you can learn from it, too

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    The cost of catastrophe: Effects of Winter Storm Fern linger

    The cost of catastrophe: Effects of Winter Storm Fern linger

    Landscape workers clear the way for campus regrowth

    Landscape workers clear the way for campus regrowth

    Meet a lineman who brought power back to Oxford

    Meet a lineman who brought power back to Oxford

    ‘Everyone is your neighbor in a disaster’: Churches step up during crisis

    ‘Everyone is your neighbor in a disaster’: Churches step up during crisis

    Kindness on wheels: Facebook moms rally around young rescue driver

    Kindness on wheels: Facebook moms rally around young rescue driver

    Baptist Memorial Hospital puts patient care first during historic storm

    Baptist Memorial Hospital puts patient care first during historic storm

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Opinion: Let’s keep saying ‘Ole Miss’

Online DeskbyOnline Desk
February 11, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read

On Monday, Feb. 3, The Daily Mississippian published an opinion column titled “We need to stop saying ‘Ole Miss.’” The author, Zach Borenstein, compared the affectionate nickname of our university to racially charged phrases, but he misses the point of tradition entirely.

My friends and I recently discussed the waning respect for tradition on our campus. From changing the school mascot to governing bodies voting to move the Confederate statue to contextualizing many buildings on campus, Ole Miss has lost its identity. Those who do not take the time to understand the importance of tradition may never know the beauty of our campus. The sweeping changes our great university has had over the past few years are indicative of a historically ignorant society.

The attack on Ole Miss reminds me of attacks the Left has levied against several American traditions. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Columbus Day are no longer acceptable because their histories are marred by oppression of minorities, but when we write off these days as “racist” and “insensitive,” we forget how important they were to the founding of this nation.

Thanksgiving is not a symbol of the white man’s domination of Native Americans, at least not anymore, nor is Columbus Day praising the horrible sins done to indigenous people. In fact, virtually no one celebrates these holidays in that context. 

Like all countries, the United States has some moments to be extraordinarily proud of and others to look on with grief for the pain caused to others, but both Thanksgiving and Columbus Day — along with many other American traditions — culminate the founding and success of a nation built on freedom and justice. We remember these days to laud the great American spirit, not relive the horrors done to past generations. 

Similarly, this is how we engage with traditions at Ole Miss. I agree with Borenstein and others that the origin story for the term “Ole Miss” is not one to celebrate. However, like many things in life, it has taken on a new meaning: that of affection for the school that nurtures us and grows us to change the world around us. 

Few who utter the name “Ole Miss” conjure up images of slavery and oppression of black people. Rather, we reminisce over the joys and struggles, laughter and tears, triumphs and failures at this wonderful university. The traditions of our school are encompassed in the name “Ole Miss” as it ties together generations of alumni who have forged their path and accomplished great things. 

Ole Miss is James Meredith and his revolutionary stand to desegregate the university. Ole Miss is first-generation Mississippi residents and their push to bring education to the poorest corners of this state. Ole Miss is Saturdays in the Grove and weekends in the right field of Swayze. Ole Miss is a top-tier research university and highly ranked accountancy program. Ole Miss is all of these things and more because generations of students have devoted their time and talents to shape the culture and traditions that our proud university stands on. 

Why toss such a meaningful nickname to the wind because its distant history wasn’t pretty? The once muddied name “Ole Miss” has taken on new meaning and created a place built on traditions we can all be proud of. So, don’t change the name of the university. Keep Ole Miss a place where students understand its traditions and take pride in the institution it has become.

Lauren Moses is a junior economics and political science major from Coppell, Texas.

Tags: Ole Missopinion
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