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    Faculty senate to investigate dean after faculty, staff allege misconduct

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    Michael Knowles lambasts “transgenderism,” “wokeness” during campus appearance

    It’s the law: What every marijuana patient, prescriber, grower and seller needs to know

    Marijuana: Good Medicine? The story behind the stories

    Graphic: Sedley Normand / The Daily Mississippian

    Medical marijuana in Mississippi by the numbers

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    Ole Miss softball loses series to No. 14 Florida, dropping second straight SEC series

    Ole Miss softball loses series to No. 14 Florida, dropping second straight SEC series

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    Ole Miss squeaks out victory against Little Rock

    What the Ole Miss baseball team should be doing, according to fans

    What the Ole Miss baseball team should be doing, according to fans

    Ole Miss defeats Texas A&M: Less than an upset, more than a win

    Kiffin recruits new quarterbacks, leaving 2023-24 starting position in doubt.

    Three takeaways from Ole Miss’ first SEC series win of the season against Georgia

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    Rebels claim first SEC series with victory over Georgia

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    Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

    Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

    Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

    Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

    University prepares for ceremony to unveil contextualization plaques

    Column: Why does Lamar Hall look different?

    Graphic: Sedley Normand / The Daily Mississippian

    Seniors, time is almost up for Ole Miss traditions

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    Dead week could be a breath of life for students

    My Blackness isn’t on a schedule

    I lived in Europe for a semester. Here’s what I learned.

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    My Blackness isn’t on a schedule

    Editor-in-Chief Farewell

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    Faculty senate to investigate dean after faculty, staff allege misconduct

    Michael Knowles lambasts “transgenderism,” “wokeness” during campus appearance

    Michael Knowles lambasts “transgenderism,” “wokeness” during campus appearance

    It’s the law: What every marijuana patient, prescriber, grower and seller needs to know

    Marijuana: Good Medicine? The story behind the stories

    Graphic: Sedley Normand / The Daily Mississippian

    Medical marijuana in Mississippi by the numbers

    It’s the law: What every marijuana patient, prescriber, grower and seller needs to know

    Top 3 takeaways from medical cannabis in Mississippi: the patient perspective

    Top 5 takeaways from medical cannabis in Mississippi: the providers’ perspective

    Top 5 takeaways from medical cannabis in Mississippi: the providers’ perspective

  • Sports
    Ole Miss softball loses series to No. 14 Florida, dropping second straight SEC series

    Ole Miss softball loses series to No. 14 Florida, dropping second straight SEC series

    Ole Miss squeaks out victory against Little Rock

    Ole Miss squeaks out victory against Little Rock

    What the Ole Miss baseball team should be doing, according to fans

    What the Ole Miss baseball team should be doing, according to fans

    Ole Miss defeats Texas A&M: Less than an upset, more than a win

    Kiffin recruits new quarterbacks, leaving 2023-24 starting position in doubt.

    Three takeaways from Ole Miss’ first SEC series win of the season against Georgia

    Rebels claim first SEC series with victory over Georgia

    Rebels claim first SEC series with victory over Georgia

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    Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

    Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

    Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

    Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

    University prepares for ceremony to unveil contextualization plaques

    Column: Why does Lamar Hall look different?

    Graphic: Sedley Normand / The Daily Mississippian

    Seniors, time is almost up for Ole Miss traditions

  • Opinion
    My Blackness isn’t on a schedule

    Dead week could be a breath of life for students

    My Blackness isn’t on a schedule

    I lived in Europe for a semester. Here’s what I learned.

    Photo Editor Farewell

    My Blackness isn’t on a schedule

    Editor-in-Chief Farewell

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Legal deserts in Mississippi

David RamseybyDavid Ramsey
September 14, 2022
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Mississippi politicians have a long history with legal practice. Many elected officials and lobbyists have prior experience in the legal field; however, the “Legal Deserts Index” found that Mississippi currently ranks 44th in the nation in lawyers per 1,000 citizens. For this reason, Mississippi is considered a “legal desert.” 

Legal deserts are areas (primarily rural) in a state where citizens must drive long distances to seek representation or legal counsel. People in legal deserts not only struggle with representation in criminal matters, but also can’t even create a will, properly foreclose a house or get a divorce without spending large amounts of money. 

Illustration by Libby Flanagan.

I believe the state needs to begin offering programs that entice lawyers to practice in rural areas. 

The most significant contributor to legal deserts is a lawyer’s desire to move to a highly populated area that offers a steady income stream — unlike rural Mississippi. I can’t blame them. But the problem lies not in the lawyers but in the blind eye the government is turning toward citizens with no legal help. 

States such as South Dakota have started finding solutions by creating Project Rural Practice. According to Legal Deserts Threaten Justice, Project Rural Practice combines funding from the state, rural counties and local bar associations to support young lawyers in small towns and farm counties. This type of support system for young lawyers is mutually beneficial. The rural communities have representation, and young lawyers can gain experience. 

Teach for America is a similar program for teachers that I’ve seen many of my peers take up. Teach for America is a program in which college graduates get funding to teach in impoverished areas for three years before teaching elsewhere. A similar model could be implemented for legal scholars in Mississippi. 

There are programs in Mississippi that help the underserved find legal help, but that’s not enough. Change in Mississippi is tough to make, even when it’s universally beneficial. 

While I can’t give out a magical solution, I can articulate the power of awareness, awareness that a portion of Mississippians don’t have access to basic legal representation. Without this representation, many of our citizens are not being allowed basic freedoms.

For now, we must begin by paying attention to legal deserts in Mississippi.

David Ramsey is a sophomore majoring in journalism and integrated marketing communications from Madison, Miss.

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Legal deserts in Mississippi

David RamseybyDavid Ramsey
September 14, 2022
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Mississippi politicians have a long history with legal practice. Many elected officials and lobbyists have prior experience in the legal field; however, the “Legal Deserts Index” found that Mississippi currently ranks 44th in the nation in lawyers per 1,000 citizens. For this reason, Mississippi is considered a “legal desert.” 

Legal deserts are areas (primarily rural) in a state where citizens must drive long distances to seek representation or legal counsel. People in legal deserts not only struggle with representation in criminal matters, but also can’t even create a will, properly foreclose a house or get a divorce without spending large amounts of money. 

Illustration by Libby Flanagan.

I believe the state needs to begin offering programs that entice lawyers to practice in rural areas. 

The most significant contributor to legal deserts is a lawyer’s desire to move to a highly populated area that offers a steady income stream — unlike rural Mississippi. I can’t blame them. But the problem lies not in the lawyers but in the blind eye the government is turning toward citizens with no legal help. 

States such as South Dakota have started finding solutions by creating Project Rural Practice. According to Legal Deserts Threaten Justice, Project Rural Practice combines funding from the state, rural counties and local bar associations to support young lawyers in small towns and farm counties. This type of support system for young lawyers is mutually beneficial. The rural communities have representation, and young lawyers can gain experience. 

Teach for America is a similar program for teachers that I’ve seen many of my peers take up. Teach for America is a program in which college graduates get funding to teach in impoverished areas for three years before teaching elsewhere. A similar model could be implemented for legal scholars in Mississippi. 

There are programs in Mississippi that help the underserved find legal help, but that’s not enough. Change in Mississippi is tough to make, even when it’s universally beneficial. 

While I can’t give out a magical solution, I can articulate the power of awareness, awareness that a portion of Mississippians don’t have access to basic legal representation. Without this representation, many of our citizens are not being allowed basic freedoms.

For now, we must begin by paying attention to legal deserts in Mississippi.

David Ramsey is a sophomore majoring in journalism and integrated marketing communications from Madison, Miss.

In Case You Missed It

Faculty senate to investigate dean after faculty, staff allege misconduct

3 weeks ago
Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

Re-Rebs: new campus organization aims for a greener Ole Miss

3 weeks ago
Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

Student-run Square Magazine releases annual print edition

3 weeks ago
Michael Knowles lambasts “transgenderism,” “wokeness” during campus appearance

Michael Knowles lambasts “transgenderism,” “wokeness” during campus appearance

3 weeks ago
University prepares for ceremony to unveil contextualization plaques

Column: Why does Lamar Hall look different?

3 weeks ago
It’s the law: What every marijuana patient, prescriber, grower and seller needs to know

Marijuana: Good Medicine? The story behind the stories

3 weeks ago

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