The Daily Mississippian February 10, 2022

THE

Daily

MISSISSIPPIAN theDMonline.com

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Volume 110, No. 19

Anti-Critical Race Theory legislation alarms some UM students and faculty

ILLUSTRATION: MICAH CRICK / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

VIOLET JIRA

thedmnews@gmail.com

When every Black lawmaker in the Mississippi state Senate walked out in January in protest of a bill prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory in the state’s public schools and universities, all eyes were on Mississippi, yet again. Their seats sat empty — a loud gesture in the quiet Senate chamber — as their white counterparts passed the controversial legislation.

Weeks later, as Senate Bill 2113 has moved to the House of Representatives for consideration, many students who fill classroom seats and the

professors who teach them at the University of Mississippi are worried that passage of the anticritical race theory legislation into law will be devastating to their freedom to teach and learn fair and accurate information about the history and current circumstances in Mississippi and the United States.

What is (and what isn’t) critical race theory?

Before moving into the national spotlight over the past two years, critical race theory had a robust history stretching back to the 1980s. Spanning multiple intellectual disciplines and primarily studied by

post-undergraduate scholars, critical race theory is — simply put — a way of examining and understanding the intersections of race and law in America.

Yvette Butler, an assistant professor of law at the University of Mississippi, teaches Law 743: Critical Race Theory. Despite extensive legislative pushback against critical race theory in Mississippi classrooms, hers is the only class in the state that deals with the topic.

“Critical race theory is, essentially, a post-Civil Rights Era way of asking why the law hasn’t fixed racial inequality,” she said. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of our main statutes that

Wood Security masks up campus STACEY SPIEHLER

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A long-standing security patrol at the University of Mississippi has joined with student ambassadors in the fight against COVID-19 on campus.

Charlotte Thrash of Wood Security followed a student into the POD at Lamar Hall and asked, “Miss, would you mind wearing a mask, dear?”

The student turned around and began patting her pockets to find her mask. “I’m so sorry,” she responded, then put on her mask in a hurry.

Wood Security has been working with Ole Miss for more than five years. Some of their existing duties include monitoring crosswalks, assisting during game days in the Grove and fire watch — when a fire

alarm is broken, they ensure the building is safe while it’s being fixed.

Wood Security’s newest duty for the university is mask enforcement.

“Honestly, it would help so much if every dorm and Greek house would keep a box of masks and hand sanitizer next to the front door,” Thrash said. “A lot of students just absolutely forget. They’ve got so much on their minds. This time of year, they’re taking a lot of tests and …”

Thrash pauses briefly to ask a student to pull her mask over her nose.

“Thank you dear, I sure appreciate that.” Her grandmotherly tone garnered a smile from the student.

Her tone turned serious while she

SEE MASK PAGE 3

basically says in employment, in public accommodations you can’t discriminate against people on the basis of race, sex, national origin, etc.”

The Civil Rights Act marked a turn in the fight for equality in the United States.

“And despite that, obviously, we still have a variety of racial inequities, gender inequities — critical race theorists are like, ‘Let’s investigate the reasons behind that,’” Butler said.

Like many who are familiar with critical race theory, Butler sees the legislation likely being advanced beyond its face value as a bill promoting equality.

Rather, she sees it as a product

of widespread politicization, of pushback against advancements made after George Floyd’s death in 2020 and of a lack of understanding as to what critical race theory even is.

“I do not think my definitions match (theirs), because their definition is wrong,” Butler said.

“Because I don’t think they’ve taken the time to learn what it is and I don’t think they care what it is.”

For example, people opposed to the teaching of critical race theory often claim CRT seeks to label all white students as inherently bad people and all

SEE CRT PAGE 2

Hospitals need nurses

MAKAYLA STEEDE

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Mississippi hospitals are in critical need of 3,000 registered nurses and have stepped up efforts to recruit and retain them, even tapping the state’s nursing school students for reinforcements, but an upcoming graduating class of 727 nursing students will likely not be enough to close the gap.

Many nurses and nursing students are drawn away from Mississippi by the promise of increased benefits and earning potential.

Senior nursing student Olivia Howie at the University of Mississippi Medical Center plans on staying in the Jackson area for a year or two in order to gain experience before applying for a travel nursing position.

“I don’t plan on staying in Mississippi long-term,” Howie said.

“Of course, who knows what the future will bring, but I’m looking for

FILE PHOTO: RACHAEL ISHEE / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

The Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. more opportunities to grow in my career that I feel Mississippi can’t offer.”

Howie credits lower salaries and fewer opportunities for advancement as two of the reasons she does not

SEE HOSPITAL PAGE 3

PAGE 2 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022

CRT

continued from page 1

this bill says is no child shall be told they’re superior or inferior to another. That’s all this bill does.”

McLendon and most lawmakers in the Senate support the passage of the legislation. Gov. Tate Reeves, too, has voiced his support for the removal of critical race theory from schools. In his 2022 State of the State address, Reeves called on the State Board of Education to “combat critical race theory” despite the board’s insistence that CRT is not being taught in any public primary or secondary school.

“I am calling on the State Board of Education to adopt the values that combat critical race theory in their educational efforts. To affirm that Mississippi’s public educators will not indoctrinate students in ideology that insists this country, or this state, are inherently racist.

We will not teach that your race determines your status as a victim or oppressor,” Reeves said.

Because of the bill’s brevity and non-specific language, many people have written off the bill as harmless. It seeks to prevent things that are already outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent legislation.

However, some like Thomas see the bill’s vagueness — which poses opportunities for variance — as its threat.

“Policymakers pass policy, but then people on the ground have to put it into action. When a law

non-white students as oppressed, with nothing that can be done about either situation. According to Butler, a core tenet of critical race theory is that there are no inherent differences between races.

“Critical race theory rejects any sort of inherent differences between races because it was often founded in pseudoscience that was just like, black people are inferior,” she said. “So why would critical race theorists buy into any sort of inherent differences? That wouldn’t make sense.”

Keyona Sutton, a biochemistry major at the University of Mississippi, is concerned about the legislation, even though she doesn’t think it will greatly impact her education in the sciences at the university.

“I just don’t think it’s going to push Mississippi in the right direction at all education-wise. I just don’t see its purpose. And I don’t understand who it’s to protect either,” she said. “My roommates — they’re political science majors and education majors and they’re really upset about it. I have conversations about it over dinner all the time. And they tell me that their professors are already talking about how it’s gonna affect the way that they teach. That’s crazy.”

James M. Thomas, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Mississippi, has researched critical race theory extensively. He, too, sees a disconnect between anti-CRT advocates’ definition of critical race theory and what critical race theory actually is.

“They’ve taken the concept of critical race theory and they’ve turned it into what in academics we would call an empty signifier.

What that means is it’s now a concept devoid of its original meaning, and you can shove any meaning you want into it,” he said. “So now critical race theory is Marxism. It’s civil rights history, it’s post-reconstruction history, all these things that don’t have anything to do with the critical legal framework.”

Both Butler and Thomas Morgan Atkins. see the legislation as being unnecessary. is unclear, what often happens is that the interpretation of that law What is the legislation? will be kind of all over the place,” Described as “Critical he said.

Race Theory; prohibit” on the Thomas described the bill as Mississippi Legislature website, a “blank check — some school SB 2113 caused Mississippi’s districts and school administrators 14 Black senators to walk out. will see its passage and change Authored by 21 Republican nothing. Others may see it and senators, the term “critical race use it as an opportunity to alter the theory” is never coined in the bill’s curriculum and remove certain text. The bill is also short and non- standards under the guise of specific — at just over 500 words, adhering to the law. Some teachers the bill proposes a withholding of may be hesitant to teach as they state funds for public institutions did before the bill’s passage, of learning that affirm, adopt or altering their lesson plans out of adhere to the following tenets: fear.” This, says Thomas, is SB (a) That any sex, race, 2113’s threat. ethnicity, religion or national “When a law is unclear, the origin is inherently superior or interpretation of how it should be inferior; or practiced is going to be varied, and (b) That individuals should be that variance is itself a threat. It’s adversely treated on the basis of going to create uneven educational their sex, race, ethnicity, religion opportunities, uneven educational or national origin. practices,” he said.

House leaders have until Conversely, the authors of the March 1 to pass the legislation out bill see it as necessary — despite of committee or the bill will die.

SB 2113’s principal author, “This bill is not changing McLendon, saying as he presented anything about our past,” Sen. the legislation on Jan. 21 that he is Micheal McLendon said as he “not aware” of critical race theory presented the bill in January. “All being taught at any school in the

state.

There have also been concerns raised that if passed, SB 2113 would violate the constitution, specifically with regards to its attempts to codify what is taught at Mississippi’s higher learning institutions. If passed, the bill could violate the academic freedom of professors.

“We would, of course, have to see the final form of any legislation, but I think any state law that seeks to limit topics for scholarly inquiry, especially ones such as CRT that have a strong academic legacy, could certainly raise concerns over constitutionality, such as in relation to freedom of speech and academic freedom rights,” said Neal Hutchens, a professor and associate chair in the Department PHOTO COURTESY: BILL DABNEY/UM FOUNDATION of Higher Education and affiliated faculty in the UM School of Law. Meghan Curry.

The Institutions of Higher Learning, the governing body everyone, regardless of race, sex “I think a lot of people were for all of Mississippi’s public or other identities, to play a role in worried in the same way I am, that universities, declined to comment, making the law and society fairer this starts out by saying, ‘Oh, we as the bill has yet to become law. for all.” just don’t want to teach people that Thomas likened this bill to the everybody’s biased.’ And it turns House Bill 437 wave of book bannings the U.S. into, ‘We’re gonna stop letting kids Another anti-critical has seen recently, also adding learn about things that we don’t race theory bill introduced that fundamental, institutional think is okay,’” she said. “And so in the Mississippi House of and systemic racism are, factually, then we start cutting out things Representatives earlier this ingrained into the United States that already aren’t super talked legislative session was much more and the State of Mississippi. about, like the Black Panthers, like prohibitive in its restrictions. The “There’s no debate about that. the Black Lives Matter movement Teaching Racial and Universal It’s not a debatable thing. That is — 20 years from now, it might not Equality, or TRUE, Act was an agreed-upon set of facts. Right. be talked about in classrooms, proposed by eight representatives. And so what they are doing is because they’re allowed to cut out Unlike SB 2113, TRUE, a nine- banning facts,” Thomas said. things that could have anything to The House bill is no longer do with critical race theory.” active, having died in committee Neal Hutchens is an expert in on Feb. 1, but its subject matter is higher education law and policy. evergreen.

He worries that legislation like SB Rep. Brady Williamson of 2113 could lessen the likelihood Lafayette County, an author on that the teachers Mississippi needs House Bill 437 and a University will join and stay in the profession. of Mississippi alumnus, could not “I think there are many topics be reached for comment, despite involving education — such as multiple attempts. helping to find ways to incentivize more people to become teachers and to provide better support Where does UM stand?

Meghan Curry is one of the to teachers to make it a more students on the UM campus who enriching profession — that are finds anti-critical race theory deserving of the legislature’s time legislation concerning. A freshman and attention,” he said. “I worry from Indianola, Mississippi, that bills like these may actually Curry passionately denounced make talented individuals less lawmakers’ efforts to codify the likely to enter into or to remain in education as a career.” way we learn.

James M. Thomas said he “This legislation is in no way justified at all. I kind of find it will not change how and what PHOTO COURTESY: ASHLEY MILLS bizarre that this is coming about he teaches, no matter what the given recent events, with the Black legislature passes.

“I’m not changing how I teach.

Lives Matter movement,” she said. “This bill basically states that But I’m tenured. And I’m white. page bill, aimed to prohibit a they’re going to make the white And I’m a dude. I’m not contingent number of things from being demographic, their kids and their faculty. I’m not a man or a woman taught in school, such as “race people comfortable at the expense of color who has to go up there and or sex scapegoating,” criticism of talk about a contentious issue and of knowledge to other children.” certain capitalistic themes, and Curry, an African-American potentially be viewed as having an “that either the United States of studies and public health double- ax to grind because of the color of America or the State of Mississippi major, believes that the legislation, their skin or their gender,” he said. is fundamentally, institutionally, He worries that for university if passed, has the potential to or systemically racist or sexist.” impact the quality of education professors, the passing of such Broadly, the bill sought to she and other Mississippi students legislation will cause some ban what it refers to as “divisive professors to shy away from receive at public institutions. concepts,” but to Butler, critical “I do think those bills greatly teaching as they would otherwise. race theory is not divisive and “Our recent history at impact the quality of education shouldn’t be seen as such. that I receive as I am an African this university shows that the “Critical race theory, while American studies major along with administration often does not often pushing against some public health,” she said. “I feel like support faculty who, through principles that we take for granted it’ll definitely impact the material academic freedom, teach and write (and being seen as controversial in that the teachers or professors and talk about very contentious that way), is actually not divisive are allowed to deliver to me but it issues and then experience if divisiveness is about separating won’t impact information that I’m blowback from external actors. people into categories and making allowed to access outside of the Our university doesn’t have a good them enemies with one another,” classroom, which I am fortunate track record of protecting us,” Butler said. “CRT theorists often to be able to say because others Thomas said. “So I don’t give a ---argue that we should look at the don’t have the same access, and if these bills pass. I’m not changing world in a way where we can create with this bill, others won’t get the anything. I can’t say the same for a as much intergroup solidarity lot of my colleagues. I know a lot of opportunity.” as possible. It was not just Black Morgan Atkins, a public them are deeply worried.” people marching for equality University of Mississippi policy leadership major and during the civil rights movement. the Associated Student Body Communications did not respond It was done with people of all president, is worried about the to inquiries about the teaching of races. Identifying and critiquing direction this legislation takes critical race theory from The Daily harmful systems makes space for Mississippian.

Mississippi’s public education.

THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 3

HOSPITAL

continued from page 1 intend to remain in her home state.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median salary for a registered nurse in the United States, as of 2020, was $75,330 with an average hourly wage of $36.22.

However, the average salary of a registered nurse in Mississippi falls behind the national average and totals $61,250 with an hourly wage of $29.45.

Of the 50 states, this makes Mississippi the second-lowest paying state for nurses in the country, with only South Dakota falling closely behind them.

When looking for jobs, nurses are more likely to be drawn to states like California, which offers an average salary of $120,560, or Massachusetts, which offers an average salary of $96,250.

Mississippi is also losing registered nurses to travel nursing agencies like Aya Healthcare or Cross Country Nurses, which offer wages and sign-on bonuses that many Mississippi hospitals cannot afford to offer.

At the time of writing, Aya Healthcare’s website has a job listing for a registered nurse needed in Anchorage, Alaska, that pays up to $6,499 a week, and Cross Country Nurses lists a position in Minneapolis that pays $7,050 a week.

Aya Healthcare and Cross Country Nurses are two of the travel nursing agencies on senior UMMC nursing student Julia Fant’s radar for employment after she graduates and receives her certification.

“I just feel like there are more opportunities for work in other states, and I have always wanted to travel,” Fant said.

Some Mississippi hospitals have put out incentives in an attempt to attract nurses who are searching for work.

Singing River Hospital has branches in southern Mississippi, and its website offers sign-on bonuses up to $15,000 for registered nurses.

Bill Henning, the CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-

North Mississippi, said that Baptist is dealing with staffing shortages by increasing the quality of the work environment.

One way they’re doing this is by offering mental health resources to nurses who experience increased pressure and exhaustion due to the pandemic.

“We are also intensifying our recruitment efforts, offering numerous incentive programs and continuing to make Baptist a great place for any healthcare professional to work,” Henning said.

UMMC has partnered with a private company called Healthier Mississippi People to help recruit and incentivize newly graduated nurses by offering a starting hourly wage of $25.50 and

a $5,000 sign-on bonus for those who are willing to make a two-year employment commitment.

However, for upcoming nurses like Howie, these incentives are not enough to keep them in the state longterm. She believes the state needs nursing unions to advocate for safer nurse-topatient ratios, higher pay and better working conditions.

“For me, moving out of my home state of Mississippi has always been the goal even before I decided to go to nursing school,” Howie said.

Fant echoed Howie’s concerns.

“Pay is a major factor,” she said. “But also, it is illegal to form a nurse’s union in Mississippi, and I feel like nurses desperately need one.”

HG BIGGS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

A discarded, disposable mask lies in the grass outside the student union on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

MASK

continued from page 1 talked about “the darkness” of the campus shutdown. From the initial total suspension of classes in March 2020 to the shortening of the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, students have experienced a

lot of interruption to their learning.

But Thrash’s voice brightened as she said, “All it takes is a mask to keep Ole Miss going.”

Nate Juda, a nontraditional graduate student, also can be found in the front lobby of Lamar Hall typing at his computer. The next natural step was being

hired as a COVID-19 student ambassador.

“I guess this is considered a graduate assistant position, although I would have preferred something more academic,” Juda said. “I’m not with Wood Security.”

Juda stops to ask a student to put his mask on before he comes in next time.

“You can absolutely tell

the people who forgot to put theirs on. It’s an immediate reaction, and it’s usually in their hands,” Juda said.

“They have a lot on their minds.”

If a student forgets to bring a mask altogether, Juda keeps a box on his table and a few bottles of sanitizer.

The university is monitoring COVID-19 data,

cases and guidance from health officials and will continue to adjust protocols according to updated information.

The UM COVID-19 Dashboard showed a total of 36 active on-campus cases as of Feb. 8.

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Mississippi legalizes medical marijuana VIOLET JIRA

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Medical marijuana is legal in Mississippi after Gov. Tate Reeves signed legislation legalizing the plant for medical use on Wednesday, Feb. 3. Senate Bill 2095 — the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act — authorizes the use of cannabis for individuals with qualifying medical issues to use marijuana as treatment.

Mississippi becomes the 37th state in the union to legalize marijuana in some way.

The 445-page bill codifies every inch of what Mississippi’s medical marijuana program will look like, from the transportation of marijuana to its distribution. The Mississippi State Department of Health, who will oversee the program, will begin accepting medical marijuana license applications in June.

Individuals who wish to benefit from the program will have to be certified by a qualified medical practitioner after an in-person exam and acquire a registry identification card from the MSDH. Dispensaries — stores that sell cannabis — cannot be located within 1,000 feet of childcare facilities, schools or churches without special permission. Patients are authorized to purchase up to

FILE PHOTO: KATHERINE BUTLER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

On Feb. 3, Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2095 — the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act — into law, legalizing medical marijuana for individuals with qualifying conditions. three ounces — just over 85 grams — per month.

“There is no doubt that there are individuals in our state who could do significantly better if they had access to medically prescribed doses of cannabis,”

Reeves wrote in a statement shared to Twitter. “There are also those who really want a recreational marijuana program that could lead to more people smoking and less people working, with all of the societal and family ills

that that brings.”

This signing of this legislation marks the end of a saga that stretches over a year for those who voted for Initiative 65 in November 2020. Mississippi voters overwhelmingly voiced

their support at the polls for medical marijuana, but the initiative was struck down by the Mississippi Supreme Court, after justices argued the Mississippi ballot initiative process was constitutionally flawed.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 5

Hill Country Roots to plant 2,000 trees for service day GRACE TEMPLE

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Hill Country Roots, a student-led environmental service organization, will plant 2,000 trees at the UM Field Station on Saturday with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

The effort is part of the HCR’s Day of Service, which will mark the official start of the first student-run tree farm in Mississippi, according to Matt Knerr, a junior biochemistry major and current president of Hill Country Roots.

Knerr said the organization began with only four members who were concerned about erosion in the Oxford community. The organization identified that erosion in Oxford was largely caused by land developing companies who clear-cut their plots, causing soil runoff and decreased water quality. This is especially significant near low-income housing areas.

“HCR was formed to plant trees and advocate against

this method of development, with the goal of reducing erosion and putting trees in the ground that’ll outlive all of us,” Knerr said. “HCR still has this goal at heart, but I’ve expanded it to include students and serve as a point of introduction into environmentalism.”

Former HCR member Maya Kaup spoke about the importance of the organization’s founding mission in a 2020 HottyToddy. com article.

“We all shared a love for trees and a concern about how many trees were being cut down for new developments,” Kaup said. “We started meeting every two weeks to discuss how we could preserve, protect and plant trees in our community.”

Now, the organization has over 100 members who are dedicated to environmental learning and volunteering to improve the community.

Knerr said he got involved in Hill Country Roots his freshman year after he attended an event where they gave away free saplings. He

walked away with two peach trees.

As the trees grew, so did his immense passion for sustainability. This sparked Knerr to begin the groundwork of a tree farm that he hopes will create a template for other schools throughout the state to replicate.

“I want this to be a chance to get new students connected to sustainability and environmentalism,” Knerr said. “As president of HCR, I care about facilitating others’ passions and providing the resources and mentorship necessary to make (improvements to) Oxford and Lafayette County.”

Beyond planting trees, Knerr says he wants to lead an event that people will enjoy and talk about for years to come.

“HCR has plans to expand the tree farm to grow 5,000 trees over the next year and a half, all of which will be out planted into the LOU area to improve water quality, prevent erosion and put people in contact with the earth and with environmentalism,”

GRAPHIC COURTESY: HILL COUNTRY ROOTS

Knerr said.

Kendall McDonald, the associate director for the Office of Sustainability, is the staff advisor for the event.

McDonald said this event will help regenerate and inspire members of the community, especially during the stressful times the pandemic has brought to individuals.

“These trees will help generate oxygen, bioremediate pollutants, prevent erosion, provide shade to our future generations and support a healthy LOU community,”

McDonald said. “Beyond this, the event will help bring community members together for a day spent in the fresh air doing something good, which we all need from time to time.”

The service event will take place on Feb. 12 from 12-4 p.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Jackson Avenue Center at 11:15 a.m. to caravan to the UM Field Station, a few miles northeast of campus, where the trees will be planted.

Oxford Public Library: We’re here for every person

GRACE TEMPLE

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When Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee threatened to withdraw funding from the Ridgeland Public Library for providing LGBTQ+ material in January, it ignited a media firestorm that stretched across the country and even overseas, inviting the typical criticisms of Mississippi back into media cycles. When Mississippi best selling author Author Angie Thomas tweeted a fundraiser for people to donate to the library, it invited supporters of the library to bash the state as a whole.

Lori Barnes, director of the First Regional Library System, which includes the Oxford Public Library, said that local lawmakers do not have any control over what materials are accessible at the public library. Barnes said lawmakers are very supportive 37013

both financially and actively and the library couldn’t ‘do what they we do’ without them.

But, McGee’s threat to withhold funding remained just that, a threat. He legally could not purge all LGBTQ+ books from the public library.

The story continued to circulate widely, however, what was missing from most of the headlines was an acknowledgement that the Board of Alderman in Ridgeland voted down the mayor’s actions, and that other library systems in Mississippi offer extensive catalogs of LGBTQ+ material.

Barnes said the Oxford Public Library is committed to the freedom to read by providing services for all aspects of the community. There is a very diverse community in Oxford, and the library collection should reflect that diversity.

“Really one of the beautiful things about working in a library is that we’re here for every person in this community,” Laura Beth Walker, the branch manager of the Oxford Public Library, said.

UM Law student CJ Winship, a native of Ridgeland, wrote a recent editorial for the Mississippi Free Press, detailing how important it was to her to be able to find LGBTQ+ resources at her local library during a time of deep personal struggle. “(It) helped me realize I was not alone in my feelings and that others like me existed,” Winship, who now openly identifies as gay, said. “I found several self-help books that helped put my mind at ease and reassure me that I was not broken.”

Ally Watkins, the youth librarian of the Oxford Public Library, said there have not been any major complaints about LGBTQ+ materials in the library. However, the library has a challenge policy containing a series of steps that people who want to talk about materials can go through.

“The library is more than just materials. We offer programming, resources, computers and all kinds of stuff,” Watkins said. “We

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do our best to be a gathering place for the community.”

See “Ridgeland mayor is an embarrassment,” Opinion, page 11.

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PAGE 6 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022

Darty in the ‘Sip OWEN PUSTELL

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This article marks the second installation of a new series highlighting the changing of the guard in Rebel football. I will be taking to the film in order to watch, breakdown and evaluate notable Ole Miss athletes who have either declared for the draft or are transferring into the program.

Stat Breakdown Listed H/W/P: 6’3”, 215 lbs, QB Future Pro Comparison: Matt Corral In a Nutshell: Jaxson Dart has flexed a powerful throwing arm which allows him to get the ball from A to B with little hesitation.

Dart has shown the ability to throw with pinpoint accuracy and hit receivers in stride, at shoulder height. While he has demonstrated the ability to make every throw in the book, Dart will need to grow into his own talent and adjust to the speed of college football.

Strengths For those who are new to the world of football scouting, a “cannon” is an industry term for a quarterback who can throw absolute rockets.

Jaxson Dart has a cannon. He throws the ball with authority and intent.

Against Washington State, he showcased his ability to throw balls fast, far and accurately. One particular play with 11:55 left in the second quarter stands out.

Dart was on the right hash throwing a 10-yard curl to the boundary side of the field.

Dart was in the shotgun and took a two-step drop before hitting his receiver on the timing route. From its release to catch, the ball probably changed altitude by a foot, if that. Dart’s throw went in a nearly perfect straight line, minimizing the time the ball spent in the air.

This is beneficial for a few reasons. First and foremost, it gives the defense as little time as possible to react to the pass and make a play on the ball. This means that receivers need to gain less separation for Dart to have a legitimate target, essentially making their job easier.

Secondly, it means that the receiver does not have to fight back to the ball.

Usually, on curl or comeback routes, the receiver will have to fight back towards the QB in order to box out the DB and keep the throwing window open. This minimizes the yardage gained and lowers the probability of a completion. The throw was especially important given the situation, as it was third and ten with Dart throwing from about six yards deep in the end zone. However, what makes Dart a truly

elite prospect is that he can not only throw with power and drive in the short game, but can also throw finesse routes downfield. Granted, being able to target Drake London makes this task a little easier, but Dart is able to make 50/50 balls turn into 70/30 balls. He does this by reading the defensive back’s body language when they are in coverage downfield and throwing the receiver away from their momentum. If the DB is over the receiver and has their hips and eyes turned upfield, Dart will throw the receiver a back shoulder pass, which is the furthest point from the defensive back and close to the receiver (this is also how you draw pass interference).

If the cornerback is trailing, Dart will put air under the ball and throw the receiver a traditional deep pass, once again having the ball land so that the receiver’s body is between it and the defender.

While Dart certainly tries to make plays through the air first, I would not discount his ability to run at all.

Similar to Matt Corral, Dart is an opportunistic scrambler whose spread offense opens up running lanes as plays develop, or on QB draws.

Dart and Corral are nearly identical on the ground, with both of them having the ability to avoid tacklers despite not having elite agility or physicality.

Dart also runs with the same reckless abandon which had Ole Miss fans simultaneously cheering and cringing as Corral lowered his shoulder into safeties and linebackers with no regard for his long term health.

While there is no guarantee that Kiffin will give Dart the same rushing liberties as Corral, do not fear that the dimension has been lost from the Rebel offense. In general, Dart has the moxie and swagger of a superstar. He will fit into the Ole Miss culture perfectly both on and off the field. I would also expect him to be a strong locker room presence.

It is telling that Michael Trigg was willing to follow him nearly anywhere in the transfer portal.

Dart also plays with his head on fire. He does not slide, and when he throws an interception he lays out like a safety to make a tackle. Although one of the most popular and greatest quarterbacks just finished his time in Oxford, Jaxson Dart is the perfect replacement candidate.

Weaknesses Although Dart has the potential to be a dominant quarterback, he is not there yet. Most importantly, Dart needs to learn to control himself. His play-making ability is clearly there, he has shown that he can break

sacks, throw on the run, hit deep balls and perform just about any other tasks asked of him. However, he needs to know his limit.

Dart can sometimes get over excited at the prospect of a big play and force throws downfield or try to do too much. If we turn to the Washington State game once again, we can see a prime example of this. With 4:11 left in the third quarter, Washington State brought a five-man pressure which confused the offensive line and wound up sending a free blitzer. Dart evaded the rusher, stepped up and rolled out to his right keeping his eyes downfield before diving and throwing a Patrick Mahomes-esque pass nearly 50 yards downfield, where a defender undercut it and picked it off.

These are the moments where you cut your losses and chuck the ball into the second deck. Importantly, Dart is young. This is not a problem unique to him and is certainly fixable. Dart can also let the rare throw get away from him. There are times, usually when hitting a 10-20 yard out breaking route, where Dart will misfire completely and ground the ball five yards off target. Once again, this is something that will likely come with development as he works on completing his full throwing motion and footwork on every snap.

PHOTO COURTESY : AMANDA CHOU / THE DAILY TROJAN

Jaxson Dart looks downfield for an open receiver during a game against UCLA on Nov. 20, 2021.

Takeaways As previously mentioned, Dart is the perfect successor to Matt Corral. They have similar play styles and attitudes, and both boast incredibly high ceilings as future projections. Lane Kiffin hit the nail on the head with this one. With the right supporting cast, Dart has the talent and potential to be a day one draft pick and an Ole Miss great. However, it is crucial that the rest of the offense meets him halfway.

Of course, it is great to dominate the transfer portal like Lane Kiffin has, but at the end of the day it is more important to bring in steady recruiting classes. In the last three recruiting cycles, Ole Miss has brought in just two 4-star receivers who have combined for no catches in their four total years of experience. Competing in the SEC as a non-traditional powerhouse is not only difficult, but crucial to build off your own success on the recruiting trail. This year, Ole Miss finished third in the SEC, yet pulled just the 10th best recruiting class in the conference. The incoming transfers will make Ole Miss a tough matchup again next year, but most of these players will stay for one year, maybe two. Ole Miss has just secured their second straight elite talent at quarterback and is in the national spotlight as a fun program to be around.

This is a golden opportunity for the program to capitalize and gain real, long term momentum.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 7

Point guard Daeshun Ruffin out for season

AIDAN GALLARDO

thedmsports@gmail.com

HG BIGGS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

University of Mississippi guard Daeshun Ruffin looks up the court during a game against Kansas State.

Daeshun Ruffin will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee during the second half of Ole Miss’s 76-72 victory against LSU last Tuesday.

Ruffin, a freshman, was playing at an extremely high level prior to the injury.

Ruffin was averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The week before his injury, he had been named the SEC Player of the Week.

Junior guard Jarkel Joiner was Ole Miss’s leading scorer (13.6 points per game) before he suffered a back injury against Texas A&M on Jan. 11.

Ruffin was forced to step up

as the Rebels’ primary ballhandler and scoring option.

He certainly embraced the new role and shined in the spotlight.

“Daeshun was just hitting his stride and was establishing himself as one of the best point guards in the SEC,” Ole Miss Head Coach Kermit Davis said. “I feel badly for Daeshun, but I know he will attack rehab with a great maturity and will return stronger than ever next season. Our team has been very resilient all season long, and we expect no difference against a really good Florida team on Saturday.”

It seems as if Ruffin can’t avoid the injury bug. In the first game of the season against New Orleans, he

suffered a broken right hand that forced him to sit out for eight games.

Ruffin attended Callaway High School in Jackson, where he led them to multiple district titles and state championship appearances.

He was the first McDonald’s All-American signee in program history, as well as the Rebels’ highest-ranked recruit ever. The four-star prospect was ranked No. 1 in the state of Mississippi and No. 40 in the nation. Saying that this is an enormous loss for Ole Miss’s team is an understatement.

With seven games remaining in the season, it’ll be interesting to see if the Rebels can find a way to be resilient.

Men’s basketball falls to Florida in overtime DILLON CADER

thedmsports@gmail.com

The Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team lost 62-57 in overtime to the Florida Gators in the two teams’ second matchup in as many weeks.

Ole Miss let a game slip away that they probably deserved to win. They out-rebounded the Gators by 12, coming down with 44 and allowing Florida to grab just four offensive boards the entire game.

The Rebels out-defended and out-worked Florida for the majority of the game. Florida shot 41% from the field, but Ole Miss’s ability to limit them to one

shot per possession for most of the game all but shut down the Gator offense.

The problem for the Rebels this game was shooting. Ole Miss shot just 31% from the court in a game where both teams scored only 48 points apiece in regulation.

Jarkel Joiner was able to play after missing the last eight games with a back injury. Despite looking healthy on the court, he wasn’t able to find his game and finished with just seven points, knocking down only three of his ten shots.

Ole Miss started out the game hot, jumping out to a nine point lead midway through the first half and eventually took the same

The Voice of Ole Miss

lead into halftime. The Rebels were controlling the tempo of the game with their lockdown defense and were shooting at a serviceable rate.

Florida was able to get back in the game early in the second half due to Ole Miss’s inability to make shots. The Rebels went a little over ten minutes in the second half without hitting a field goal. They scored just one point in the first ten minutes and would eventually score just 18 in HG BIGGS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN the entire half.

Despite the Rebels’ poor University of Mississippi guard Austin Crowley drives past a Kansas shooting, they were still out- State opponent during a game on Jan. 29. rebounding the Gators and outworking them on the In overtime, the Rebels Ole Miss falls to 12-11 and defensive end. Both teams went missed critical free throws and 3-7 in conference play. They’re through several long periods of turned the ball over when they a team that shows a lot of heart time without scoring, making desperately needed a basket. each and every game as they for one of the sloppiest games Florida’s Colin Castleton got hot continue to fight despite battling of the year so far. in overtime and almost single- so much turmoil with injuries Ole Miss’s best play was handedly secured the win for the and a number of disappointing to just shoot it and go get Gators. losses. it as second-chance points Castleton led the way in The road won’t get any provided for a large portion of scoring for the Gators with easier for the Rebels as it was the offense in the second half. his 17 point, seven-rebound announced earlier in the week With the game tied at 48, performance. Tye Fagan led the that Daeshun Ruffin would miss Ole Miss had the ball with 29 Rebels in scoring with 15 points the rest of the season with a torn seconds left but was unable to but committed eight costly ACL. capitalize on the opportunity. turnovers.

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PAGE 8 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022

UM students on Olympic controversy AIDAN GALLARDO

thedmsports@gmail.com

The 2022 Winter Olympics are officially underway in Beijing despite the increase of uneasiness from surrounding nations.

So, why is this year’s Olympic Games controversial?

It is due to the accusations towards China’s authoritarian government regarding human rights and genocide. Authorities in China have reportedly detained over a million Muslims in the country’s westernmost province, Xinjiang.

According to a report published by the Human Rights Watch last year, the Chinese government committed crimes against humanity that included torture, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and separation of families against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims.

Some of the Ole Miss community offered to share their thoughts regarding if they would still watch the Olympics with all of the controversy going around.

Here’s what they had to say: “I would still watch it because the athletes deserve to be seen,” sophomore exercise science major Mina Tran said. “They didn’t do anything related to China. They’re just there to compete.”

Viewership in the US alone is down 48% since the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

However, students in Oxford are still tuning in.

“I would still watch because I love watching the U.S. in the Olympics, but I think the athletes should use their platform in the Olympics to say something about the controversy,” freshman general business major Eliza Chatfield said.

Muslim activists are

calling this year’s Olympics “The Genocide Games.”

Activists believe that the Chinese government will use the Olympics to legitimize itself and create a distraction from the abuses.

Back in December, the United States, along with other nations such as Canada, Denmark and the United Kingdom, announced a diplomatic boycott — meaning government officials will not be attending the Olympic Games — to protest the abuses created by the Chinese government regarding human rights.

While there is a diplomatic boycott, there are no athletes who have skipped the games in acts of protest.

“The Olympics are a way for countries to celebrate their culture and accomplishments,” junior journalism major Gia Witt said. “If anything, it’s a good thing that these games have brought these controversies to light because otherwise, they might not have gotten enough coverage.”

Another issue at hand for China is on how they can prevent COVID-19 from affecting the Olympics.

Chinese authorities have created an extensive branch

of bubbles, officially known as the “closed loop,” which separates the Olympic Games from the city.

Athletes will be tested daily and are forced to travel in dedicated vehicles, even if a place is nearby.

A bubble is a term that sports fans should be all too familiar with. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NBA created a bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The bubble proved to be effective because there were zero reported COVID-19 cases. This is mainly due to the fact that there weren’t any fans in attendance and the players and coaches weren’t allowed to leave the property.

China hopes to have similar success while hosting the 2022 Beijing Games this year.

This year’s Olympics acts as a national achievement for China because the city of Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. It’s also the first time China is hosting a global event since the COVID-19 outbreak when they were forced to close down their borders two years ago.

PHOTO COURTESY: JAE C. HONG. / AP PHOTO

A man watches a rebroadcast of the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 9

No. 25 Ole Miss suffered 68-64 loss to No. 15 LSU JANE ROB PANNELL

thedmsports@gmail.com

No. 25 Ole Miss Women’s Basketball (18-5, 6-4 SEC) fell 68-64 to No. 15 LSU (19-4, 7-4 SEC) in a hard-fought battle Monday night at the SJB Pavilion. However, Shakira Austin and Angel Baker both had memorable nights, reaching the 1,500-career point mark.

Despite scoring the first bucket of the game, the Rebels got off to a slow start.

Following the first points scored, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run. Ole Miss responded with some lockdown defense and a 7-0 run of their own, retaking the lead. In a back and forth affair, LSU then went on a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead and end the first quarter.

The Rebels struggled

with scoring throughout the second quarter until they sparked a 6-0 run, which cut LSU’s lead to 27-23 heading into the locker room.

The Rebels came out hot offensively in the second half, bringing the score to 27 even. However, consecutive turnovers for Ole Miss led to the Tigers taking an 11 point lead.

The Rebels never gave up, with an 8-0 run bringing them within 4 points with under 60 seconds left in the contest. The Tigers made the necessary free throws to ultimately pull out the 68-64 road win.

After the game, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin was asked about the team’s performance over the stretch of four ranked opponents in five games.

“Would we like to win

those games right now? I mean, absolutely. You’re at home, you have a little crowd.

You want to try and win those games when you can.

But we’re going to continue to collect and learn. Because we have a lot more basketball to go, and I’m not talking about just regular season…I think it’s going to help us make a strong run in the SEC tournament,” Coach Yo said.

“It’s like you keep taking these tests, you keep taking tests, you keep taking tests.

You’re learning.”

The Rebels documented a 40% field goal percentage compared to the Tigers 37.3%.

However, the Rebels went just 2 for 12 on threes, shooting a mere 16.7% from beyond the arc.

Ole Miss was led by Baker with 20 points, followed by Austin with 11 and Lashonda

HG BIGGS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

University of Mississippi guard Lashonda Monk dribbles down the court during a game against Georgia on Jan. 30.

Monk with 10. Madison Scott made a huge impact on the boards, coming out with a season-high 15 rebounds.

The Ole Miss bench was also a difference-maker tonight, recording 32 of the 64 points.

The Rebels will head to Starkville for their next battle against rival Mississippi State on Sunday (Feb. 13) at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.

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PAGE 10 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022

University Museum highlights the artwork of Theora Hamblett CLASSIFIEDS INFORMATION The DEADLINE to place, correct or cancel an ad is 12 p.m. one business day in advance. The Daily Mississippian is published Monday through Friday.

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WILL JONES

thedmfeatures@gmail.com

As the University Museum preps for the semester, they invite us to take a look back at one of Mississippi’s most influential artists. Despite her passing in 1977, folk artist Theora Hamblett’s work remains a vital touchstone in the state’s artistic development.

Born in Paris, Mississippi, in 1895, Hamblett composed hundreds of works, illustrating the internal, the external and the existential.

These paintings highlighted her childhood memories, the greater rural Mississippi landscape and the vast wonder of her religious dreams and visions — the main subject of the museum showcase, titled: “Theora Hamblett: Holy Symbols.”

In 1954, following an accident, Hamblett broke

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her hip and was forced to undergo surgery, relegated to a hospital setting for many weeks. With this life-altering event serving as the catalyst, she spent the remainder of her days replicating the spiritual symbols that flooded her consciousness, prolifically churning out a varied and PHOTO COURTESY: THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM extensive collection of paintings, mosaics and fabric “Butterfly with Exploded Wing” works, all of which personified her religious faith, and all head of a boarding house. yet remains complex in their of which are featured in the Through these invaluable greater existential ties. Some experiences, Hamblett works more directly represent University Museum exhibit.

The exhibit’s curation was learned of the recently religious iconography, such as Department images of the Holy Trinity, the led by Museum Collections established Project Assistant Grace of Art at the University of Creator’s Star and the Greek Moorman, who researched Mississippi, enrolling in an cross. These symbols are and selected the works, evening painting class, and artfully reiterated throughout designed the layout and transforming her passing the collection and despite interest into an evergreen their iconic-nature, remain installed the exhibit. highly personal to Hamblett.

“This show was designed vocation.

Despite her late career When Hamblett around the symbols that “Holy Symbols” bequeathed the “Holy Hamblett saw in her religious start, represents the work of a Symbols” collection to the dreams and visions,” Moorman said. “Along with seasoned prodigy. The exhibit University of Mississippi, highlighting the symbols provides a unique glimpse into the museum not only became themselves, I wanted to really the latter half of her artistic the recipient of the largest show how Hamblett worked career, not only through the single collection of her work, in a variety of media. She works themselves, but also but was also given explicit didn’t just paint. She explored through their explanatory instruction that the works be given priority over all her different ways to portray these supplements.

“The text that accompanies other works in exhibition, symbols — some of which you might recognize if you were the exhibit is mostly from conservation and scholarly raised in a Christian faith and two places. Lucy Turnbull, study. Decades later, her wish others that are specific to her a former director of the has come true, as the “Holy University Museum, wrote Symbols” collection becomes and interpreted by her.”

While Hamblett beautifully about Hamblett’s available for a whole new maintained an avid, lifelong symbol work in her 1984 generation to experience.

“I am just so happy to have interest in learning about the exhibition catalog essay ‘O arts, her adolescent focuses Look! Heaven is Coming to been able to facilitate this were primarily her faith and Earth: Dreams and Visions of iteration of our permanent teaching the gospel, among Theora Hamblett.’ Other text Theora Hamblett exhibition other subjects, by working comes from Hamblett herself,” and to be able to continue to as a schoolteacher in her Moorman said.“It was very share her wide variety of work hometown during the early important to her that her with the public” Moorman 20th century. Following her visions not be misinterpreted, said.

“Theora Hamblett: mother’s passing in 1939, and as a result, she provided to whom she had become a written explanation of many Holy Symbols” is on view at the University Museum a permanent caretaker of them.”

Each work feels evocative this spring.

Additional for, Hamblett migrated of a collective memory, information on the artist and toward Oxford, where she simultaneously worked often a childhood memory, exhibit can be found on the as a seamstress and the as personified in “Butterfly University Museum website. with Exploded Wing” (1959),

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THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 11

OPINION

ILLUSTRATION: VANESSA CLARK / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN

Ridgeland mayor is an embarrassment WILLOW CROSBY

thedmopinion@gmail.com

Move over “Fahrenheit 451,” a new dystopia is in town. People of all ages have been captured by the dystopian literature that fills bookstores and libraries, but most have never believed that such things would come true in the United States. After all, this country was founded on individual freedoms and rights. However, a Mississippi mayor is here to try to prove that belief wrong. Earlier this year, Mayor Gene McGee of Ridgeland proposed to withhold funding to the public library until it purges every LGBTQ+ book off its shelves.

This type of censorship, solely based on McGee’s personal beliefs, would only help create an uneducated community, as it is a person’s personal freedom to educate themselves on whatever topic

they choose.

News outlets big and small have picked up on the story that a Mississippi mayor is attempting to withhold $110,000 from a public library until all LGBTQ+ books have been discarded.

As this news spreads, the image of bigotry and hate is painted over the entirety of the state of Mississippi.

McGee has publicly stated that attempting to withhold this funding to the public library comes from his personal Christian beliefs, and that he “only serves the great Lord” when it comes to this decision. This directly goes against the U.S. Constitution, which requires the separation of church and state. The fact that McGee practically admitted that he, a government figure, is willing to go against the Constitution based on his own bigoted values proves how he should not be working in the

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government.

The good news, however, is that the Mississippi community is not standing for this, along with the Board of Aldermen who voted down McGee’s proposal. Almost 2,000 people have already donated over $87,000 to the library, and hopefully, more donations will come in as time goes on. One of the main groups that have helped raise this amount of money is, believe it or not, furries. The furry community found out about the issue in Mississippi and, using Twitter to spread the message, organized to support the fundraiser.

On top of raising money, many have spoken out against the blatant attempt at censorship. Ole Miss hosted a brown bag “Religion for Lunch” talk Feb. 1, where members of the UM community discussed McGee’s decision.

This decision might just backfire

on him, as now more and more people are talking about and showing support for LGBTQ+ issues.

The idea that a public authority figure is actively trying to censor a basic topic within society is disgusting.

Taking away LGBTQ+ imagery can be disconcerting to youth, as only seeing heterosexual couples portrayed in literature can make some youth feel ostracized.

Additionally, it takes away educational literature people might need in order to create

a well-informed opinion.

Many Ole Miss students come from Ridgeland, and taking away a resource that these students can use to educate themselves will only hurt the student body as a whole.

Censorship of this magnitude should not be tolerated, and we as Mississippi residents need to protect our freedom.

Willow Crosby is sophomore majoring accounting from Tupelo.

a in

Opinion Policies: Columns do not represent the views of The University of Mississippi or The Daily Mississippian. The Daily Mississippian welcomes letters to the editor, which should be emailed to thedmopinion@gmail.com. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. They may be edited for clarity, brevity and libel. Thirdparty letters and those with pseudonyms or no name will not be published. Letters are limited to one per individual per month.

Letters should include contact information, including relationship to the university, if applicable.

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PAGE 12 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 10 FEBRUARY 2022

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*Valid for first time, local guests only. Must be redeemed during staffed hours.

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