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    University cuts support for Oxford Pride

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    ASB expands legislative council, elects Wesley Templet president pro tempore

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

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    Stamps Impact Prize awarded to 15 students

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

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    Seniors cement their campus legacy with a brick

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    Student photographers capture picture-perfect graduation moments

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    Julien Baker & TORRES ‘send a prayer’ to Oxford

    Double Decker 28 rocks the Square

    Double Decker 28 rocks the Square

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    Diary of a Black Girl: senior sign-off

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    Opinion: How to avoid summertime sadness

    Ask a Philosopher: How do I quell my public speaking fears?

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    danah boyd: Journalism connects people in a healthy social fabric

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    Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

    Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

    University cuts support for Oxford Pride

    University cuts support for Oxford Pride

    ASB expands legislative council, elects Wesley Templet president pro tempore

    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

    MPower sets on a new path amid low attendance

    MPower sets on a new path amid low attendance

  • Sports
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    • Game Recap
    House v. NCAA settlements gets approved, universities can now directly pay athletes

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

    Ole Miss Softball takes series against Missouri

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

    Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

    Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

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

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

    Ole Miss Softball dominates Rocket City Softball Showcase

    Ole Miss Softball battles through SEC Tournament

    Ole Miss softball falls to No. 1 Tennessee

    Ole Miss softball falls to No. 1 Tennessee

  • Arts & Culture
    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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    Lavender Letters: senior sign-off

    Diary of a Black Girl: senior sign-off

    Diary of a Black Girl: senior sign-off

    Opinion: How to avoid summertime sadness

    Opinion: How to avoid summertime sadness

    Ask a Philosopher: How do I quell my public speaking fears?

    Ask a Philosopher: Why do other people not understand me?

    A farewell from Opinion Editor Justice Rose

    A farewell from Opinion Editor Justice Rose

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    Why evangelical Christians need to feel the heat on climate change

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    Elise Jordan: Artificial Intelligence will completely transform world

    danah boyd: Journalism connects people in a healthy social fabric

    danah boyd: Journalism connects people in a healthy social fabric

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    Meetali Jain holds Big Tech accountable

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Opinion: If you don’t think you should run for ASB, you should

Katie DamesbyKatie Dames
March 1, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read

I never thought I would get involved in Associated Student Body (ASB). I am an out-of-state, non-Greek-affiliated, mixed-race woman, and I thought this would limit my chances of getting elected during my freshman year. After becoming a legislative aide, I learned from mentors of all backgrounds who encouraged me to run for an open Senate seat and eventually moved up the ranks to become a Senate chair. I learned eventually that who I am did not disqualify me for office, but how was I to believe otherwise? 

During the academic year of 2016-2017, the year before I came to Ole Miss, the legislative branch was staggeringly white: out of 48 Senators, 45 of them were white. With the 23% enrollment of ethnic minority students on University of Mississippi campuses the following year, that 9% ethnic minority representation on Senate signaled a stark contrast between ASB and the student population. That doesn’t even mention the gender imbalance in leadership; that year, all six ASB executive offices were held by men. 

Thankfully, with a lot of hard work, this landscape is far different now since ASB has made strides to improve inclusivity over the past year. The Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement chairs introduced a scholarship to cover dresses and fees for more inclusive participation in the Parade of Beauties. Mandatory bias training is now included in the Code and Constitution. However, this change didn’t happen overnight, ignorant of biases and identity. When I was appointed to be the ASB Senate Chair of Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement last year, I was told to “avoid identity politics” in my legislation and “find a way to unify campus.” However, for women and ethnic minorities, what people perceive identity politics are simply our regular politics, which can hurt our prospects in the political process. 

A study published in 2017 found that while women and ethnic minorities are punished for mentioning diversity and identity in the political sphere, white men are applauded for it. Look no further than our own ASB presidential elections last year to find evidence of this. After Barron Mayfield’s election the DM published a story titled “Mayfield elected ASB president,” where he was noted for being “vocal about his support for the ASB Senate resolution to relocate the Confederate monument from the Circle to the Confederate cemetery before it passed.” Leah Davis, his black and female run-off opponent, co-authored the legislation and led conversations about the statue among ASB leaders before the legislation was even proposed, but these accomplishments were not mentioned in the article. I applaud Barron for supporting diversity, but what should be noted is that UM elected a man whose campaign was primarily celebrated for supporting what his black woman opponent did. 

In order to make the University of Mississippi inclusive for all, its leadership must represent the student body. Today, petitions are available for the spring general election on ASB’s website, and I encourage everyone who cares about this school to run, no matter what you think might be stopping you — whether it be race, gender or Greek status. You matter, and you have the opportunity to show people like you that they matter, too. 

Katie Dames is a junior international studies major from St. Louis, Missouri.

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

3 weeks ago
Ole Miss Softball takes series against Missouri

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

4 weeks ago
Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

1 month ago
Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

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

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

1 month ago
Ole Miss Softball dominates Rocket City Softball Showcase

Ole Miss Softball battles through SEC Tournament

1 month ago

Opinion: If you don’t think you should run for ASB, you should

Katie DamesbyKatie Dames
March 1, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read

I never thought I would get involved in Associated Student Body (ASB). I am an out-of-state, non-Greek-affiliated, mixed-race woman, and I thought this would limit my chances of getting elected during my freshman year. After becoming a legislative aide, I learned from mentors of all backgrounds who encouraged me to run for an open Senate seat and eventually moved up the ranks to become a Senate chair. I learned eventually that who I am did not disqualify me for office, but how was I to believe otherwise? 

During the academic year of 2016-2017, the year before I came to Ole Miss, the legislative branch was staggeringly white: out of 48 Senators, 45 of them were white. With the 23% enrollment of ethnic minority students on University of Mississippi campuses the following year, that 9% ethnic minority representation on Senate signaled a stark contrast between ASB and the student population. That doesn’t even mention the gender imbalance in leadership; that year, all six ASB executive offices were held by men. 

Thankfully, with a lot of hard work, this landscape is far different now since ASB has made strides to improve inclusivity over the past year. The Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement chairs introduced a scholarship to cover dresses and fees for more inclusive participation in the Parade of Beauties. Mandatory bias training is now included in the Code and Constitution. However, this change didn’t happen overnight, ignorant of biases and identity. When I was appointed to be the ASB Senate Chair of Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement last year, I was told to “avoid identity politics” in my legislation and “find a way to unify campus.” However, for women and ethnic minorities, what people perceive identity politics are simply our regular politics, which can hurt our prospects in the political process. 

A study published in 2017 found that while women and ethnic minorities are punished for mentioning diversity and identity in the political sphere, white men are applauded for it. Look no further than our own ASB presidential elections last year to find evidence of this. After Barron Mayfield’s election the DM published a story titled “Mayfield elected ASB president,” where he was noted for being “vocal about his support for the ASB Senate resolution to relocate the Confederate monument from the Circle to the Confederate cemetery before it passed.” Leah Davis, his black and female run-off opponent, co-authored the legislation and led conversations about the statue among ASB leaders before the legislation was even proposed, but these accomplishments were not mentioned in the article. I applaud Barron for supporting diversity, but what should be noted is that UM elected a man whose campaign was primarily celebrated for supporting what his black woman opponent did. 

In order to make the University of Mississippi inclusive for all, its leadership must represent the student body. Today, petitions are available for the spring general election on ASB’s website, and I encourage everyone who cares about this school to run, no matter what you think might be stopping you — whether it be race, gender or Greek status. You matter, and you have the opportunity to show people like you that they matter, too. 

Katie Dames is a junior international studies major from St. Louis, Missouri.

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

3 weeks ago
Ole Miss Softball takes series against Missouri

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

4 weeks ago
Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

Ole Miss Baseball wins big at home against UT Martin

1 month ago
Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

Is the university getting closer to a cap on admissions?

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

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

1 month ago
Ole Miss Softball dominates Rocket City Softball Showcase

Ole Miss Softball battles through SEC Tournament

1 month ago

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