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    ASB expands legislative council, elects Wesley Templet president pro tempore

    What goes into making Commencement happen for 5,500 graduates?

    What goes into making Commencement happen for 5,500 graduates?

    Stamps Impact Prize awarded to 15 students

    Stamps Impact Prize awarded to 15 students

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    MPower sets on a new path amid low attendance

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    House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

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    Ole Miss Baseball falters on the road against in-state rival

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    Seniors cement their campus legacy with a brick

    Seniors cement their campus legacy with a brick

    Student photographers capture picture-perfect graduation moments

    Student photographers capture picture-perfect graduation moments

    Julien Baker & TORRES ‘send a prayer’ to Oxford

    Julien Baker & TORRES ‘send a prayer’ to Oxford

    Double Decker 28 rocks the Square

    Double Decker 28 rocks the Square

    Grove trees cared for by the Department of Landscaping Services. Photo courtesy: Jillian Russell

    An ode to campus trees and those who care for them

    ‘Sinners’ falls flat on first watch

    ‘Sinners’ falls flat on first watch

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LGBTQ bookstore set to open in Water Valley

Rebecca CorleybyRebecca Corley
October 31, 2017
Reading Time: 3 mins read

In the midst of LGBT History Month, one of the only openly queer and feminist bookstores in north Mississippi opened in Water Valley.

Violet Valley Bookstore sits on Main Street, where a barber shop was originally located. Coulter Fussell repurposed the shop as Yalo Gallery, where she worked with textiles and quilts. However, the 10×40 space wasn’t large enough for her work, so when Jaime Harker, president of the board for Violet Valley Bookstore, suggested using the space for a bookstore, Fussell sublet the area.

Feminist and queer bookstores began popping up in the 1970s because people wanted more variety in their literature diet. Authors that weren’t usually featured in major chain bookstores were made available through the feminist and queer stores.

“Amazon.com and ebooks have dramatically changed how books are sold; unlike 40 years ago, you can buy just about everything you want online if you know what to look for,” Harker said. “What physical bookstores are good for is discovering books, and that’s [what] Violet Valley Bookstore will do for the larger community. It will have a large stock of used books that cover a wide variety of topics, and it will have a smaller run of new books that feature feminist and LGBTQ authors. I hope that readers will discover authors and ideas that fire the imagination.”

LambdaLiterary, one of the largest LGBTQ literary communities on the internet, had no record of any LGBTQ-friendly bookstores in Mississippi as of 2010. Movoto Real Estate has listed Oxford as one of the top three best cities in Mississippi for LGBTQ families. The University of Mississippi houses multiple organizations, including UM Pride Network and Queer People of Color, to help educate the community and support LGBTQ community members.

“I believe LGBTQ authors and books will help both educate and bring more acceptance for the LGBTQ community,” John Lester, university graduate and LGBTQ community member, said. “There is a lack of such products at the moment so I believe it will definitely be a good thing. I think what it means to have an open bookstore in north Mississippi is that Mississippi is starting to change for the better and move forward into the 21 century.”

Lester said he thinks the bookstore will be a place both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ individuals alike can come together and learn more about each other.

 

Violet Valley is in the process of planning a grand opening after the new year, and once the bookstore opens, hopes for opportunities to partner with university of community organizations. Violet Valley introduced a Kickstarter campaign to pay for some of the books, and met its goal amount in four days.

Harker said responses to the bookstore have been mixed.

“I have heard about some concern from people in Water Valley about the bookstore, but much of that seems to be based on misconceptions about both the bookstore and the LGBTQ community,” Harker said. “Those misconceptions are the reason that a bookstore like this is necessary, and I hope that once the store opens, my neighbors will understand that Violet Valley Bookstore is for everyone.”

All of the staff at Violet Valley Bookstore are volunteers. Because of the lack of man—and woman—power, the bookstore will start out by only being open on Fridays and Saturdays. Extension of hours will depend on support of the community. Violet Valley Bookstore also takes book donations. All donations are tax-exempt.

In Case You Missed It

House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

1 month ago
Ole Miss Softball takes series against Missouri

Ole Miss Softball advances to World Series for first time in program history

1 month ago
Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

2 months ago
Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

2 months ago
Ole Miss Baseball falters on the road against in-state rival

Ole Miss Baseball falters on the road against in-state rival

2 months ago
Ole Miss Softball dominates Rocket City Softball Showcase

Ole Miss Softball battles through SEC Tournament

2 months ago

LGBTQ bookstore set to open in Water Valley

Rebecca CorleybyRebecca Corley
October 31, 2017
Reading Time: 3 mins read

In the midst of LGBT History Month, one of the only openly queer and feminist bookstores in north Mississippi opened in Water Valley.

Violet Valley Bookstore sits on Main Street, where a barber shop was originally located. Coulter Fussell repurposed the shop as Yalo Gallery, where she worked with textiles and quilts. However, the 10×40 space wasn’t large enough for her work, so when Jaime Harker, president of the board for Violet Valley Bookstore, suggested using the space for a bookstore, Fussell sublet the area.

Feminist and queer bookstores began popping up in the 1970s because people wanted more variety in their literature diet. Authors that weren’t usually featured in major chain bookstores were made available through the feminist and queer stores.

“Amazon.com and ebooks have dramatically changed how books are sold; unlike 40 years ago, you can buy just about everything you want online if you know what to look for,” Harker said. “What physical bookstores are good for is discovering books, and that’s [what] Violet Valley Bookstore will do for the larger community. It will have a large stock of used books that cover a wide variety of topics, and it will have a smaller run of new books that feature feminist and LGBTQ authors. I hope that readers will discover authors and ideas that fire the imagination.”

LambdaLiterary, one of the largest LGBTQ literary communities on the internet, had no record of any LGBTQ-friendly bookstores in Mississippi as of 2010. Movoto Real Estate has listed Oxford as one of the top three best cities in Mississippi for LGBTQ families. The University of Mississippi houses multiple organizations, including UM Pride Network and Queer People of Color, to help educate the community and support LGBTQ community members.

“I believe LGBTQ authors and books will help both educate and bring more acceptance for the LGBTQ community,” John Lester, university graduate and LGBTQ community member, said. “There is a lack of such products at the moment so I believe it will definitely be a good thing. I think what it means to have an open bookstore in north Mississippi is that Mississippi is starting to change for the better and move forward into the 21 century.”

Lester said he thinks the bookstore will be a place both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ individuals alike can come together and learn more about each other.

 

Violet Valley is in the process of planning a grand opening after the new year, and once the bookstore opens, hopes for opportunities to partner with university of community organizations. Violet Valley introduced a Kickstarter campaign to pay for some of the books, and met its goal amount in four days.

Harker said responses to the bookstore have been mixed.

“I have heard about some concern from people in Water Valley about the bookstore, but much of that seems to be based on misconceptions about both the bookstore and the LGBTQ community,” Harker said. “Those misconceptions are the reason that a bookstore like this is necessary, and I hope that once the store opens, my neighbors will understand that Violet Valley Bookstore is for everyone.”

All of the staff at Violet Valley Bookstore are volunteers. Because of the lack of man—and woman—power, the bookstore will start out by only being open on Fridays and Saturdays. Extension of hours will depend on support of the community. Violet Valley Bookstore also takes book donations. All donations are tax-exempt.

In Case You Missed It

House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

1 month ago
Ole Miss Softball takes series against Missouri

Ole Miss Softball advances to World Series for first time in program history

1 month ago
Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

2 months ago
Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

2 months ago
Ole Miss Baseball falters on the road against in-state rival

Ole Miss Baseball falters on the road against in-state rival

2 months ago
Ole Miss Softball dominates Rocket City Softball Showcase

Ole Miss Softball battles through SEC Tournament

2 months ago

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