University of Mississippi students were gifted with a surprise on Nov. 27 when they received an email from the university’s public relations team. The message informed the UM student body about a partial lane and sidewalk closure on the corner of Grove Loop and University Avenue.
The big surprise for the student population, however, was not the traffic problems, but the fact that there was a Grove sign in production.
Parker Hall, a senior chemistry major from St. Louis, has been familiar with the plot of dirt that is the site of the Grove sign, but he had no idea what project was being created.
“Yeah, I saw it. How long has it been going on? Like two weeks, give or take? I don’t know. I just never realized what it was,” Hall said.
The senior thinks the upcoming landmark could become a big moment for the university and a hotspot for the Grove.
“I think it’s a good touch,” Hall said. “Everyone will take pictures there.”
Freshman biology major Ella Frischhertz also did not know the Grove sign was on its way, even from the comfort of her spot at Coulter Hall, which is across the street. When the new addition to the Grove was revealed to her, she shared that although she thinks it is cool, it will not add much to the Grove’s overall ambiance.
“I mean, it’ll be cool to have, but I don’t think it’s gonna change much,” Frischhertz said.
Frischhertz contemplated what the new Grove sign will look like. She would prefer something minimalistic, but then she shared her fear that the sign will get overshadowed by game day festivities.
“I’m thinking elegant and small, just not like a huge distraction,” Frischhertz said. “But we do have all the tailgating in the Grove, so I feel like it would not really stand out because of all the tents everywhere anyway.”
Senior biology major Amani Lyons sometimes works in the traffic box on University Avenue. She has seen the mysterious plot before, but, once again, did not know that the university was putting the sign there.
“I’m an RA, so I saw it last Tuesday on my way home for Thanksgiving break. I was kind of taken aback by it because I didn’t see any signs or anything posted about it beforehand,” Lyons said.
Lyons, like other students, had no idea what the plot was for.
“I honestly don’t know what they’re doing construction for at this very moment, so I can’t really say if it’s a good or bad use of money,” Lyons said. “I haven’t seen any advertisement (of) what it’s supposed to be or display.”
Recently, the university put up a sign that showcases what the Grove sign will look like. In an attempt to inquire further about the appearance and functionality of the sign, The Daily Mississippian reached out to Tupelo-based firm McCarty Architects, who are collaborating with the university on the project. They said that they would not answer any questions and directed the DM to the university for any clarity.
When the DM reached out to the Department of Facilities Planning, the DM was again met with silence.
Other than a vague Spring 2024 completion promise from the university-wide public relations email and sign detailing information about the project, the university has been unclear about what this addition to one of the university’s most famous landmarks will be.
Hall thinks the addition is an effort to keep up with what he describes as an always-evolving Oxford.
“Oxford has been updating, renovating a ton, and I think the university is trying to keep up with it, too,” Hall said.
