MISSISSIPPIAN
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
University reopens 125 parking spaces
Staff Writer
The University of Mississippi is reopening previously blocked off parking spots near the former Kincannon Hall location for the spring 2025 semester. This area includes approximately 125 spots, including a dedicated faculty and staff section. The remaining spots are reserved for those with residential garage permits, according to UM’s director of news and media relations, Jacob Batte. In addition, the university broke ground on a new parking garage, which is officially named Residential Parking Garage - Tower B, on Jan. 6. The new structure will be located in what used to be an adjoining parking lot to the west of the currently standing Residential Parking Garage -
Martin Luther King Jr.
A community-wide dinner and celebration commemorated the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Student Union Ballroom. The University of Mississippi’s Center for Community Engagement continued to honor King’s legacy of volunteerism with a day of service on Monday, Jan. 20. Speakers at the dinner celebration included Vice Chancellor for Access, Opportunity and Community Engagement Shawnboda Mead, junior allied health studies major Devlyn Williams, re-
For the duration of the construction project, part of Ridge Loop will be closed. Residential Parking Garage - Tower A will remain accessible through the Level 1 and Level 2 entrances, though the Level 3 entrance will close during construction.
Ridge Loop will be closed until summer 2026 with the expectation that the new garage will be open in fall 2026, the university announced in a campus-wide email.
The new residential garage will offer students and faculty 1,300 new parking spaces, according to Batte.
“We are always looking for new and creative ways to accommodate the growing parking needs while also preserving our beautiful campus environment,” Batte said.
Rebel basketball faces competitive SEC play
TANNER SHAPIRO Sports Staff Writer
While most students were on winter break away from Oxford, the Ole Miss basketball teams moved into SEC play, with both scoring big wins and facing tough losses.
Men’s
In his second season with the Rebels, head coach Chris Beard has the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team at 4-1 in SEC play and 15-3 overall.
Ole Miss traveled to rival No. 15 Mississippi State on Saturday, Jan. 18 in hopes of continuing an undefeated conference streak, but the Rebels fell short in overtime, losing 84-81.
To tip off conference play, Ole Miss hosted Georgia at home on Jan. 4. The Rebels trailed by two at the half but responded quickly, outscoring the Bulldogs by 14 in the second half and pulling out a 63-51 win. Guard Matthew Murrell led the way for the Rebels, scoring 15 points and Jaylen
Nov. 21, 2024.
Ole Miss cheer brings home national championship
TEDDY KING
Ole Miss cheer finished the weekend with some hardware, winning the Universal Cheer Association College National Championship in the Division 1A Traditional All Girl Category with a score of 91.4.
This marked the first time in program history that Ole Miss cheer placed first in this category. In
2022 and 2018, the team placed first in the All Girl Game Day category and earned top honors in 2023 in the D1A Spirit Program Gameday category. This year’s competition was held at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando.
Cheerleader Malina Sayaovong, a junior marketing major from Oak Creek, Wis., described what it meant to her and the rest of the
team to take home the national championship.
“It meant everything because our goal this year was to be good people before good cheerleaders.”
Sayaovong said. “The first win for a program is always the hardest. I’m excited to see what’s next for the Ole Miss program we are building.”
Head cheer coach Skylar Casey shared Sayaovong’s excitement.
“I’m extremely proud of this team and these athletes,” Casey said in an Ole Miss Athletics press release. “They worked so hard for this accomplishment, and they completely deserve it. The culture and standard that this team set is extraordinary.”
Tower A.
TANISSA RINGO News
Murray dribbles the ball during a game against Oral Roberts on
DANIEL LAUBHAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
MLK Day of Service volunteers make dog toys for the Oxford Animal Resource Center on Jan 20.
SUMMERS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN SIMONE BOURGEOIS News Staff Writer
tired UM Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Iman Gohar, award-winning poet and civic leader Gloria J. McEwen Burgess and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access and Community Engagement Cade Smith. In honoring King’s legacy, speakers addressed the power of community and the need for and possibility of change.
Keynote speaker McEwen Burgess highlighted the importance of legacy leadership and beloved community, a notion central to King’s work.
McEwen Burgess shared her journey, including the moving story of her father’s dream to attend college and the support that he received from Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. McEwen Burgess emphasized the need for both inner and outer work to create lasting societal change.
McEwen Burgess urged everyone to engage in daily acts of compassion to build a
better future for themselves, their community and beyond.
“It starts with me, and it starts with you,” McEwen Burgess said.
McEwen Burgess emphasized the ability that this generation has to create lasting change.
“I truly believe that our students are the smartest generation ever because you have grown up with the kind of world, or at least parts of it, that we’re imagining, and you have the tools, resources and imaginations that outstrip and outpace current and former generations. I believe that you have a vision for what’s possible and not only a vision for it but a drive to make things different,” McEwen Burgess said.
Gohar, who provided an interfaith invocation for this event, discussed how the principles of Islam align with the King’s activism.
“It is told (in Islam) that everyone should be treated with honor and respect, dignity and a loving kindness. The respect in Islam is the responsibility of each individual to treat all creation with
respect, honor and dignity,” Gohar said. “I believe that the values and the changes that Dr. Martin Luther King called for are very similar to this call from Islam and Muhammad.”
Verna Stokes, an Oxonian and volunteer at the Oxford Community Market, left the celebration feeling hopeful.
“It’s given us the encouragement to empower ourselves and to move forward and do better,” Stokes said.
Sarah Baker, a recent UM graduate who has attended the event every year, identified with the message of legacy leadership.
“You normally think that legacy is something that happens when you are long gone, but it is something that you can leave when you are still living life,” Baker said. “You can impact a place while you are here and then leave that legacy behind.”
During the MLK Day of Service, the volunteers’ work included installing raised beds for a new community garden, socializing rescued animals, cleaning and organizing the UM Career Center closet, writing letters of appreciation to UM Facility Services staff and making teething bracelets to be given to new and expecting mothers.
“The event is important to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. It’s about coming together as a community,” Director of Community Engagement and Assistant Professor of Practice in Community Engagement Castel Sweet said. “Typically, we probably don’t in our everyday, week-to-week routine come together as a community to celebrate community and unity and do that in service. That’s why it’s good to do it at least once a year. So to be able to do that annually is something
that we can look forward to.”
Approximately 180 volunteers signed up for the event, including UM Coordinator of Communication Access Julie Seawright.
“Martin Luther King and his wife did so much community activism, and I just chose to honor their service in this way,” Seawright said.
For Sweet, the MLK Day of Service is more than a day of volunteerism — it is a lifestyle that expands upon the annual memorial holiday.
“Keep finding ways to be in the community beyond just this year, so, not (just) waiting for January but finding other ways to be in service and work on projects together,” Sweet said.
University leases more than 300 new bed spaces for fall 2025
Student housing enters its sixth master lease agreement with an off-campus apartment complex in Oxford.
KHARLEY REDMON Editor in Chief
The University of Mississippi will lease 228 bed spaces at the Flatts at South Campus, located on Whirlpool Drive, July 2025-July 31, 2026.
This is the sixth master lease agreement the university has signed with off-campus apartment complexes. The others include Revel Oxford, Taylor Bend, The Lark, the Quarters at Oxford and Gather Oxford.
In addition to the new leasing agreement, the university is expanding its agreements with Revel Oxford and Taylor Bend Apartments.
The master lease at Revel Oxford will increase from 200 bed spaces to 316 bed spaces and will remain in effect until July 31, 2027. The master lease at Taylor Bend Apartments will increase from 126 bed spaces to 201 beds and will remain in ef -
fect until July 31, 2026, with options to extend the lease yearly until July 31, 2028.
“Between the addition of the Flatts and expansions at other complexes, the university has added more
than 300 beds for freshmen and upperclassmen next year,” Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations for UM, said on Friday. The Daily Mississippian requested information
about the number of bed spaces reserved for freshmen and for upperclassmen, the style of the apartments and the rates. The university acknowledged the request. The master lease expan -
sions are a result of growing enrollment at the university, Batte shared. Between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, enrollment increased from 21,596 students to 23,981 students, an 11% increase, according to data released by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning in November 2024.
“The master lease agreement will help the university meet the needs of our growing enrollment,” Batte said.
The university-leased apartments at the Flatts at South Campus will be managed like other university on-campus and off-campus housing.
“Student housing staff will oversee on-site programming and activities to foster a sense of community and belonging that reflects the on-campus experience,” Batte said.
A volunteer steams clothes at the University of Mississippi Career Closet during the MLK Day of Service on Jan 20.
ASHTON SUMMERS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
The Flatts at South Campus
SEBASTIAN LANZ / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Volunteers during the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 20
DAWSON CARTER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Does owning a pet make college a walk in the park?
HANNAH IVEY News Staff Writer
When Isabelle Nieves, a freshman music major at the University of Mississippi, began the fall semester, she was eager to meet new people and gain independence. Leaving her beloved dog, Lucy, at home with her parents in Memphis, Tenn. was a significant trade-off, however.
“Having to leave my dog was very difficult because we were pretty much attached at the hip when I was home,” Nieves said. “Lucy was always with me when I would do pretty much everything. She was my little study buddy. I also miss her sleeping with me at night. She has been doing that since she was a puppy, so I had trouble sleeping the first few weeks without her.”
Lucy still lives at home when Nieves is in Oxford, and Nieves said that having Lucy with her in college would help relieve stress and anxiety.
“I think about her all the time,” Nieves said. “Sometimes, when I’m really
and second-year students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout found that 92% of the respondents with pets at home and 50% without pets said their stress and homesickness would lessen with pet interaction.
Jordan Clark, a junior English major, said living with her cats off-campus, Cheeto and Gravy, helps her manage stress.
“When I become stressed out from school, my cats allow me to take a break from that stress and just sit down and relax,” Clark said. “They help boost my mental health in a positive way when I feel down or upset. When I’ve had a bad day, coming home to my cats puts a smile on my face.”
Clark cares for her pets by carefully planning her schedule around their needs.
“When it comes to balancing school life and my pets, I always put them first,” Clark said. “I always make sure I plan my meetings, class times and study sessions around their feeding schedule so I make sure I’m home to feed them. I don’t get much down-
limit — a restriction that is common for apartment complexes in Oxford. Clark owns three cats, but one lives in her hometown.
“I’ve had my first cat for almost three years now,” Clark said. “The second one I’ve had for two years, and the third one I’ve had for a couple of months. However, she doesn’t live with me yet as my apartment complex doesn’t allow more than two pets.”
UM prohibits pets in residence halls on campus; however, service animals and emotional support animals are allowed under certain guidelines.
According to the Student Disability Services website, service animals are only dogs or miniature horses trained to perform tasks for those with disabilities. Emotional support animals can be any animal that does not pose a danger to other residents, but they are restricted to the owner’s campus housing.
To keep an emotional support animal on campus, students must present documents to Student Disability Services showing that the animal is needed. This is not required for service animals.
Both service animals and emotional support animals can be prohibited from certain environments if the handler is not in full control of the animal, the animal is disruptive, out of control, not house trained, poses a health and safety risk or if the presence of the animal would change the program or environment on a fundamental level.
Beyond on-campus housing, both service dogs and emotional support dogs are also allowed in all of the other student housing options in Oxford.
Junior psychology major Maylen Janovich, who has two registered emotional support cats in an off-campus apartment, Sanji and Nami, said they provide companionship.
hard for me to balance my work and school while also taking care of two pets, but it’s actually a lot easier than people think,” Janovich said. “I feed my pets in the morning before class and in the evening after I get home from work. If I have to work late, my roommate or my boyfriend help out and feed them.”
Cody Waters, a junior accountancy major and cat owner of four and a half years, also enjoys the companionship that comes with pet ownership in college.
“Having him up here has been an amazing experience,” Waters said. “It’s nice having a companion to come home and see. I live with three other dudes, but they knew the cat before I brought him up to college. They enjoy his company as much as I do.”
Waters, who lives in an off-campus apartment, has experienced very few issues in owning his cat.
ficial because it gives me a reason to get outside all the time and go for walks,” Benge said.
For students who are unable to own pets but still enjoy the companionship and company that pets provide, volunteer opportunities offer an alternative.
Sital Sigh, a volunteer with Second Chance Animal Alliance, encourages college students to get involved through fostering, adoption events or the group’s Doggy Day Out program. Second Chance Animal Alliance is a pet organization in Oxford that specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals.
“I would argue that temporary pet ownership, like being a foster or taking a dog on a day out, is a good fit for a lot of college students,” Sigh said.
stressed, I think about how I need a hug from Lucy.”
Nieves is one of many college students who struggle with separation from their pets.
A survey of first-year college students by Washington State University researchers found that 75% of the respondents experienced pet separation anxiety on some level. One in four reported experiencing moderate to severe symptoms.
Likewise, a survey of first-
time during the day because of this, but my pets come first.”
Owning a pet in college presents some challenges.
“One of the downsides I’ve had to deal with is the vet costs in a college town,” Clark said. “Vet costs here compared to my hometown are much higher, and that can take a toll on me financially.”
Clark has also faced restrictions with housing, such as her apartment complex’s two-pet
“I have two pets. I got my first cat as a freshman in college and my second between my sophomore and junior years,” Janovich said. “Both of my pets are actually registered emotional support animals, so I find it very beneficial to have them with me, especially over breaks when not a lot of my friends are in Oxford.”
Despite being a full-time student and holding a job, Janovich said caring for her pets is easier than what she imagined.
“One would think that it’s
“Trying to balance his health and my other responsibilities isn’t easy, but I try my best to give him attention while I’m not working on something,” Waters said. “Other than cleaning the litter box and dealing with him wanting to claw things, there haven’t been many problems.”
Similarly, junior nursing major Grace Benge said her dog, Sadie, has been a positive influence.
“I have plenty of time for my schoolwork. She actually keeps me company while I do it, so it actually makes it easier. I definitely think it’s bene-
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL staff
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Sigh believes most college students make responsible pet owners, despite concerns about their commitment to long-term pet ownership.
“I feel like there could be a stigma around ‘Oh, well, college students are going to leave in four years and not have the dog anymore,’ but we’ve seen a lot of responsible pet owners come from college students who have their dog for a long time,” Sigh said.
Jordan Clark’s cat, Cheeto
PHOTO COURTESY: JORDAN CLARK
Grace Benge’s dog, Sadie
PHOTO COURTESY: GRACE BENGE
Students turn over a new leaf for spring semester with resolutions
MEREDITH ANDERSON
A&C Staff Writer
Like people across the country, many University of Mississippi students made New Year’s resolutions, aiming to improve their social lives as well as their study and health habits as they enter the new semester.
One of the main goals for Gillian Volz, a junior risk management and insurance and real estate double major from Denver, is to make academic success a key focus of the semester while maintaining a healthy social life.
“A few resolutions I have would be prioritizing classes and dividing up each class little by little each day but also spending enough time to focus on myself and enjoy the moment because school is flying by,” Volz said. “Before we know it, we’ll be away from our friends and working real jobs. (I want to) enjoy the moments with my friends and have things to look forward to at the end of each week.”
However, finding the motivation to sustain resolutions can be difficult for many. Volz shared a technique she utilizes when she loses the motivation to maintain her goals.
“If my motivation is stuck, I’ll take a brain break and go for a walk around my neighborhood or Lamar Park,” Volz said.
Maddie Boone, a junior finance major from Cincinnati, has a similar goal.
“My first goal is to balance my social life and academic life. My first few semesters I was very social but wasn’t involved in school as much as I’d like to be, but then last semester, I really focused on school and wasn’t super social, so I still haven’t found that balance yet,” Boone said.
Boone adopted a second resolution centered around prioritizing a healthy diet.
“My next goal is to focus on eating right. Since being in college, I don’t get the nutrients I need simply because I either eat on campus or grab a snack from my pantry instead of taking the time to cook a nice, filling meal that has all the nutrients I need,” Boone said.
Rockwell Marcel, a senior geology major from Columbus, Miss., is entering the spring semester with several resolutions.
“My New Year’s resolutions are to finish out my last semesters at Ole Miss as strong as I can, to do something for the (geology) department to bet -
ter me and them … and lastly to better understand the relationship between religion and geologic history,” Marcel said.
Grayson Easterling, a second year law student at the UM School of Law from West Point, Miss., has set well-rounded goals that focus on many different aspects of his daily life.
“Goal number one: Remember that sometimes, less is more. Goal number two: I plan on speaking to someone new each day. Goal number three: I’ll read more books for leisure rather than only for class,” Easterling said.
Both mental and physical fitness are a common goal among college students.
Hagyn Paul, a senior geological engineering major from Woodbridge, Va., wants to maintain her commitment to working out to help ease the stresses of classes and decrease the time she dedicates to her phone each day.
“Last semester, I really got into going to workout classes, and I realized how much it helped me with my ability to stay focused with my school work. I struggle with anxiety, and the workouts allow me to manage my anxieties. This semester, I
Oxford Fiber Festival attracts an assortment of crafters
SYDNEY STEPP Assistant A&C Editor
The Oxford Fiber Festival, one of the South’s largest celebrations of the fiber arts, will kick off Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25, at the Powerhouse. The festival will include free and paid classes and a market filled with vendors selling supplies and finished products.
Program director and coordinator Stacey Sanford explained the mission and idea behind the festival.
“We are part of a bigger organization now called All Y’all Fiber,” Sanford said. “They/we are responsible for promoting and encouraging and preserving the fiber arts, whether that is quilting, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross stitch, rug hooking — whatever the fiber is. We want to preserve and promote those hand crafts.”
Sanford explained that the festival typically draws from 400 to 800 attendees and participants. Due to the ice and snow storm that enveloped Oxford, the festival was remote last year, with guests from six countries joining the online festivities.
Many vendors come to Mississippi specifically for the Oxford Fiber Festival.
“We pull in some pretty big names in the fiber world,” Sanford said. “We have vendors that only come to Mississippi once a year, and they only come to us.”
The festival was started 15 years ago by the local knitting shop Knit 1 and then moved under the care of an Arts Council incubator, where the program transitioned from an exclusively yarn-based space to a community-based, inclusive place for all crafters.
This year, classes and vendors focus on a variety of fiber arts disciplines. There will be classes for all skill levels and interests. The lineup features beginner classes in cross stitch and needlepoint as well as more advanced classes such as crocheting, knitting and lacemaking.
Perhaps the most unique class in this year’s roster is a kudzu-weaving class.
“We have a basket weav-
want to make sure I prioritize the workouts and also focus more on school,” Paul said.
Paul’s other resolution is to detach from her cell phone so that she can live more in the moment.
“I also want to be on my phone way less,” Paul said. “I deleted Instagram off of my
phone, and after a day or two I didn’t even miss it. This spring, I really want to show myself that I can be a way better student without these distractions.”
ing class that is super fun because kudzu is so prevalent here,” Sanford said. “And yes, vines and plants count as fiber; if you can have cotton yarn then yes, kudzu is considered a fiber. That is a very, very cool hands-on class.”
Water Valley, Miss., needlepoint shop The Stitchery will teach a needlepoint class titled GrandMillenial: Needlepoint 101.
“Many handcrafts have been forgotten, but I am happy to know that needlepoint is making a comeback,” Camille Breckenridge, owner of The Stitchery, said.
A student studies in the Grove on April 16, 2024.
ANTONELLA RESCIGNO / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
The Holly Dyeworks display from a previous Oxford Fiber Festival
PHOTO COURTESY: STACEY SANFORD
Your on-campus store for all things Ole Miss visit
online at ole-miss.bncollege.com or in The
Your on-campus store for all things Ole Miss visit us online at ole-miss.bncollege.com or in The Student Union
RE H I RING! Join the B&N Ole Miss Team email bksolemiss@ bncollege.com to apply or go to indeed.com Follow Us! @olemissbookstore
bksolemiss@ bncollege.com to apply or go to indeed.com
@olemissbookstore
bncollege.com to apply indeed.com
RE H I RING! Join the B&N Ole Miss Team email bksolemiss@ bncollege.com to apply or go to indeed.com Follow Us! @olemissbookstore
Your on-campus store for all things Ole Miss ole-miss.bncollege.com or WE' RE H I RING! Join the B&N Ole Miss Team email bksolemiss@ bncollege.com to apply or go to indeed.com Follow Us! @olemissbookstore
Your on-campus store for all things Ole Miss ole-miss.bncollege.com or in The Student Union WE' RE H I RING! Join the B&N Ole Miss Team email bksolemiss@ bncollege.com to apply or go to indeed.com Follow Us! @olemissbookstore
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HALLIE DAVIS
A&C Staff Writer
As the spring semester of the 2024-2025 school year commences, University of Mississippi seniors reflected on their experiences leading up to their final months as undergraduate students.
From giving advice to their freshman selves to setting goals for their last lap, here is what four UM students are looking to get out of their last semester of their senior year.
Gabrianna Hill, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Amory, Miss., is looking forward to a more laid-back semester as she continues the process of applying to graduate schools.
“My biggest goal for this next semester is to simply have the process of graduate school applications and interviews go smoothly. This spring semester feels like it will pass by faster than this past semester,” Hill said. “I’m thinking the spring semester will be lots better because of infinitely less stress having already learned the process of applying for graduate schools and a light at the end of the tunnel feeling.”
As the anticipation regarding graduation has set in, Hill is eager for the future.
“Yes, graduation has mostly hit. I haven’t prepared much for it, but I’m so excited for what’s ahead that I barely have time to mourn the past nearly four years,” Hill said.
While many dread starting their adult life after college, Hill welcomes it with open arms.
“I am hoping to achieve my masters in speech-language pathology. After that, I will get a job wherever I can and start my life,” Hill said. “Something that excites me the most about the next chapter of my life is getting a place to myself and decorating the house of my dreams.”
Kai Nihira, a senior business management major from Yorba Linda, Calif., hopes to spend the spring semester job hunting.
“My biggest goal will be to get a job offer as I prepare to graduate. I have had small jobs in the past but will be looking forward to a fulltime ‘adult’ position post-graduation,” Nihira said. “I plan on going
Notes from seniors:
into law enforcement. One of the jobs I am applying for is with the University Police Department.”
As a member of the Ole Miss Rugby Club, Nihira hopes to relish his last season with the group he has been with since his freshman year.
“I will miss being able to suit up one last time with my rugby brothers. I have had a blessed opportunity to suit up for my teammates and the university. Yelling the Hotty Toddy chant one last time as a player will be emotional,” Nihira said.
While reflecting on how fast this semester has approached, Nihira gave advice to the upcoming senior class, who will soon be in his shoes.
“Now that graduation is less than five months away, I have begun to notice how fast my time at Ole Miss has been. Each semester seems to be going faster and faster, and now here I am at the end of my undergraduate career,” Nihira said. “Enjoy every bit of your senior year as it goes by quickly and take time to reflect on how far you have come. Furthermore, I encourage making a list of all that you have accomplished during your time at Ole Miss.”
2024 Homecoming King Caleb Ball, a senior political science major from Ingomar, Miss., re-
flected on his fall semester fondly and expressed hopes to experience just as much joy during his last few months at the university.
“My fall semester was truly my favorite semester at Ole Miss. There were so many fun things that happened, but winning homecoming king was truly my biggest highlight and something I will cherish forever,” Ball said.
Ball hopes to use his last semester at Ole Miss to finalize his post-graduation plans while cherishingthetimehehasleftoncampus.
“My biggest goal this semester is getting into law school and deciding where I want to go after graduation. I plan on attending law school in New Orleans, Seattle or New York City,” Ball said. “I am so excited to start this next chapter of my life with a new change of scenery. I’ve lived in Mississippi since fourth grade and am ready for a new place, but Mississippi will always be home.”
While looking toward his future, Ball felt sentimental about being away from Ole Miss — the institution that has provided him with a sense of comfort and made him feel welcome since his freshman year.
“If I could talk to freshman year
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Caleb, I would tell him to not be too hard on himself because who he will be come senior year will be someone he is so proud of. Ole Miss has always given me a sense of safety. Even though it is a large SEC school, Ole Miss has a way of making its people feel known and loved,” Ball said. “I will miss that feeling of being known and supported by a community of people. I will also miss my friends who have truly changed my life and made me the person I am today.”
Amari Johnson, a senior English major from Ocean Springs, Miss., hopes to end the spring semester with pride in herself and her hard work while also taking time to think about her future.
“(I have) a larger workload this semester, including extracurricular activities. I hope that I am able to juggle it all and do well in the end,” Johnson said. “Teaching has been my dream job since I was a little girl. I love working with children, and I really want to combat the literacy crisis we’re in.”
Looking back on her time at Ole Miss, Johnson appre-
ciated the community that has helped her along the way.
“I will definitely miss my friends most of all. As a queer person of color in Mississippi, it can be really hard to find like-minded people that you can be completely comfortable around. My friends have really helped me along the way,” Johnson said.
Johnson emphasized the importance of perseverance when giving advice to herself as a freshman.
“I would tell my freshman self not to give up. I graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and those were two very hard years of my college career,” Johnson said. “I am a first-generation college student, so I didn’t really have help when it came to my future, so I went to city college. I worked two jobs while taking online classes to save up and move here. I’d let her know that she makes it happen in the end.”
shooting 62% from the floor.
Following the home win, the Rebels took on the Razorbacks Jan. 8 in Fayetteville, Ark., where they defeated Arkansas 73-66 to secure their second SEC victory. This win was the first time that Ole Miss has won in Fayetteville since 2015. Transfer forward Malik Dia shined, scoring 21 points, and teammate Sean Pedulla added 16 points and three assists.
Ole Miss faced LSU at home Jan. 11. The Tigers and the Rebels battled to a two-point game going into halftime. Similar to their game against Georgia, the Rebels pulled away in the second half. Ole Miss forced 17 turnovers in a 77-65 victory. Dia was a force in this game, scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The Rebels travelled to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on then No. 4 Alabama. While the Crimson Tide opened as a 9.5 favorite, Beard and the Rebels held one of the highest scoring
teams in the nation to only 64 points. Ole Miss forced 21 turnovers, and the Crimson Tide shot a mere 25% from three. Dia had another dominant performance, scoring 23 points and adding a staggering 19 rebounds. The Rebels delivered a 74-64 win and claimed their first ever Top-5 road victory.
The Rebels will host Texas A&M on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at The Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN 2.
Women’s
The Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team and head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin have reached a 4-2 record in SEC play so far.
Most recently, the Lady Rebels travelled to Starkville to face Mississippi State on Sunday, Jan. 19, defeating the Bulldogs 71-63. Guard Madison Scott led the way with 30 points.
The Rebels started SEC play on the road Jan. 2 at Auburn, where they beat the Tigers 85-58. Guard KK Deans was the leading scorer of the game with 20 points and two assists.
On the road at Texas A&M Jan. 5, the Lady Rebels started off hot in the first half, leading 41-25. However, the Rebels were outscored in both the third and fourth quarters, and the Aggies defeated Ole Miss 60-58.
McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels bounced back with a 87-59 home win against Vanderbilt on Jan. 9. Guard Kennedy Todd-Williams led the team with 25 points and shot 5-7 from three. She also added six rebounds and seven assists.
The Lady Rebels faced their first AP Top 25 conference opponent with a road match Jan. 12 at then No. 18 Alabama. Starr Jacobs and Deans had great performances for the Rebels, but Ole Miss came up short, losing 84-78. The Crimson Tide’s Zaay Green and Aalyah Nye combined for 59 points, which was enough to carry the Tide to victory.
After taking down Florida at home 94-69 on Jan. 16, the Rebels improved to 12-5 and 3-2 in the SEC. Sira Thienou led Ole Miss with 29 points and went 5-6 from deep. The home team used
a great third quarter, winning against the Gators 31-17.
The Lady Rebels will continue conference play this week, when they host No. 7 Texas on Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Pavil -
Ole Miss Golf tees off for a promising spring season
RUSS EDDINS Assistant Sports Editor
Ole Miss Men’s golf is ranked No. 1 among NCAA Division I teams in the country, according to the most recent poll from SCOREBOARD. The Ole Miss women’s team is ranked No. 19.
Junior Michael La Sasso and the men’s team have six tournaments left in the regular season, while senior Caitlyn Macnab and the women’s team have five.
Men’s
The men’s team will tee off competition in Statesboro, Ga., in the Thomas Sharkey Individual. This event is scheduled for Feb. 1-2.
The following week, the Rebels will head to Puerto Rico to compete in the Puerto Rico Classic. They will face SEC foes LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
To kick off March, Ole Miss has the Cabo Collegiate
in Los Cabos, Mexico, on the schedule for March 2-4. This event will feature mostly Power Four opponents. For their final tournament in March, the Rebels will compete March 1718 in Pauma Valley, Calif. Vanderbilt will host the Rebels in Franklin, Tenn., for the Mason Rudolph Championship on April 4-6. Ole Miss will travel to
West Point, Miss., to wrap up the regular season. Mississippi State will host the Rebels as part of the Mossy Oak Invitational April 14-15.
The 2025 SEC Championship will take place in St. Simons Island, Ga., on April 23-27.
Finally, the NCAA Championship will be held at Omni Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., from May 12-28.
Women’s
To open the spring semester, the women’s team will compete in the Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande with Purdue hosting the tournament. Along with the Boilermakers and Rebels, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Auburn, Minnesota, LSU and several other schools will compete in this tournament Feb. 2-4.
Two weeks after the Puerto Rico Classic, Louisville will host the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Fla., Feb. 16-18. Some of the SEC’s biggest schools will compete, including Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama and LSU.
Staying in Florida, the Rebels will participate in the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-9.
For the penultimate regular season tournament, Ole Miss will travel to Aiken, S.C., to compete in Old Barnwell Derby Match Play. South Carolina will host the tournament March 16-17.
To end the regular season, the Rebels will stay in South Carolina and take on Clemson in its invitational March 28-30.
The SEC Women’s Golf Championship will be held in Belleair, Fla., April 14-16.
Finally, the NCAA Championships at Omni Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., will be May 5-21.
ion. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN.
Mariyah Noel drives to the basket during a game against Christian Brothers in the Pavilion on Oct. 28, 2024.
ANTONELLA RESCIGNO / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Ole Miss golf players Michael La Sasso and Caitlyn Macnab
PHOTO COURTESY: JOSIE HUTTON AND EMMA TRAINOR
RESULTS & BENEFITS
Muscle Recovery
Reduces Cellulite
Stress Reduction
Increased Calorie Burn
Detoxification
Lower Blood Pressure
Anti-Aging & Skin Rejuvenation
Improved Circulation
Weight Loss
