Antonella Rescigno.
The University of Mississippi’s first “Build the M” event at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. after being canceled due to rain.
Inspired by similar initiatives from other universities, the Ole Miss Alumni Association has invited freshmen to form the university’s M logo on the football field.
Students participating in the event are also eligible for a free scoop of ice cream from Oxford Creamery and an “Are you ready?” trucker hat while supplies last. Sunny Brown, assistant director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, spoke about the purpose of the event.
“The association really started thinking about ways to connect students,” Brown said. “The university is huge on legacy, so we wanted something that created a legacy with the alumni association. If (freshmen) missed out on Rebel Run, then this is a great opportunity to go and get some pictures on the field.”
Freshman integrated marketing communications major James Buchanan said that he was previously unfamiliar with the concept, but after learning about its meaning, he plans to attend.
“I wasn’t aware about the event until now,” Buchanan said. “However, with the new knowledge I have gained, I plan on going to the event.”
Rivers Allen, a freshman criminal justice major, said that he is hoping that the event becomes a tradition.
“I think it’s a good tradition,” Allen said. “I’ve seen a lot of other schools like Vanderbilt and Belmont do it, and I think it’s cool to be a part of that and have that picture to look back on.”
Buchanan shared a similar sentiment.
“I definitely think this would help build school spirit for students,” Buchanan said. “I feel like this would give us freshmen and new students who haven’t experienced Ole Miss yet a great opportunity to meet new people and build bonds.”
Although the event is aimed toward freshmen, Brown said that the alumni association has created space for upperclassmen in student organizations that have worked directly with freshmen to participate in building the M.
“I do worry about upperclassmen pushback, but we have offered volunteer opportunities to orientation leaders, ambassadors, students and alumni council members, and they’re going to build the outline of the M,” Brown said. “So if you are an upperclassman, and you want to volunteer to help, there is that opportunity for you to do it.”
In addition to participating in the “Build the M” event, the alumni association also encouraged students to apply to the Future Alumni Network, a group for undergraduate students that keeps them connected to the university and its alumni.
“We wanted to build a student membership that allowed students to know the benefits of being a part of the alumni association,” Brown said. “We hope that it’ll be a tradition, and this year (it) is open to the entire freshman class, so we hope that it’ll help us grow our student membership.”
Registration for the Build the M event can be found here.
