During my time at the University of Mississippi, I can truly say that I have experienced the ups and downs of Mississippi life. I have experienced the high-energy events hosted by different organizations such as RASA, ESTEEM and NAACP, but I have also witnessed horrific events similar to the protest that occurred last semester.
As a Black woman here at the university, events such as the confrontation on campus last May between pro-Palestine protesters and counter-protesters remind me that this institution was not created with my matriculation in mind. Yes, plenty of minority students here often say that this institution is where they belong, and I agree, but we cannot overlook the treatment that students still face. I am calling attention to the fact that the pro-Palestine protesters did not receive proper justice or acknowledgment after they were belittled with hateful language and racially charged gestures and had food thrown at them.
The university’s first statement acknowledging the protest was dismissive and overlooked the treatment of the pro-Palestine protesters. The second statement issued, while more assertive in language, came off as damage control as videos from the protest began to hit national media outlets.
That fateful day was an example of the issues we brush beneath the rug, hoping that ignoring them will somehow improve things. When reality rears its ugly head and is met with applause and celebration, we must call a spade a spade. Many people of color associate Ole Miss with aggressive, angry emotions influenced by the university’s dark history that still bleeds into the present. There is no denying the history this campus holds, but whether people want to face it or not, the university’s gruesome history is a mirror to all that Mississippi once was. And you cannot move forward without acknowledging the steps it took to bring us this far.
While the university itself accepts mistakes of the past, it is evident there is still a problematic culture that quietly exists. Our reality is much more nuanced and unique among campuses across the country.
It is without a doubt that election years at the university are heavily prepared for; minority students brace themselves, faculty and staff strategize and activists plan their steps. I hope that as a campus community we can strive to prove that regardless of campus history, there are people actively fighting not only to change the narrative but also to make this campus a place where all students can thrive.
The University of Mississippi is a place where students come to prepare themselves for the arguments that we are bound to face after college. We sit in classes and prepare for counter-arguments that we know are to come. We walk past buildings we know were once built by slaves and we make history similar to the people before us.
As we begin the fall semester, I hope that every student will never forget that they belong on this campus. Your voice and perspective are needed to transform the University of Mississippi into what we hope even the state of Mississippi is to become.
Remember how far we have come and know that it took determined individuals such as James Meredith, Donald Ray Cole, John Donald, Theron Evans Jr., Paul D. Jackson, Linnie Liggins, Kenneth Mayfield, Alva Ruth Peyton and Henrieese Roberts to bring us this far. Even though there is a way to go, I have no doubt that the students here can bring forth the same change for the generations after them.
Regardless of your political affiliation, there must be action this fall semester. I implore students to register to vote and advocate for their beliefs while remaining respectful to others on campus. This semester, students will be empowered to step up and demand the desired changes.
Bre’Anna Coleman is a senior political science major from Drew, Miss. She is also the Black Student Union President.
