Thursday, September 5, 2024
A student-run organization allows members to experience the world of theater.
SEE PAGE 5
HEATHER MCMAHAN
Comedian Heather McMahan returned to Oxford to perform her stand-up routine.
SEE PAGE 7
HANNAH IVEY thedmnews@gmail.com
Among other changes by Ole Miss Dining intended to make meals more accessible, students can now use the Grubhub app to order at campus food trucks — a change that has mixed reviews so far. Students can order ahead of pick-up at various vendors across campus, however, there is not a check-in system available through
the app for these food trucks. When ordering food at locations in the student union, customers can place their Grubhub orders on the app. Once they arrive at the union, customers signal the app they are there, notifying the food service workers to start making the order. This is not the case at food trucks. Customers have to physically check in at the front window in order for their food to be made.
Alexis Tran, a Hotbox Hibachi employee, described the
difficulties in integrating Grubhub into the food truck’s service.
“It’s definitely made it harder,” Tran said. “It took us a few days to get a real system working because we’re so used to writing on the boxes, and now the tickets are printing, and there’s not a limit, so we can’t gauge how many people are here.”
To order food at Hotbox Hibachi, students must place
Volume 113, No. 2
The Rebels face Middle Tennessee State University on Sept. 7.
SEE PAGE 10
JORDAN ISBELL thedmnews@gmail.com
With a total of 26,706 donors contributing 61,668 gifts, the University of Mississippi received $168.36 million in donations in the 2024 fiscal year, setting the record for the highest fundraising year in the school’s history. This is a $13.26 million increase from the 2023 fiscal year, in which UM received $155.1 million in donations. Donations fund a wide range of
expenditures across campus — including scholarships, individual school improvements and investments into medical research.
“We always get funding for scholarships,” Vice Chancellor for Development Charlotte Parks said. “One thing that people really like to do is help students be able to afford to come (to school here).”
The donations also
University of Mississippi Landscape Services cut down five large trees in the beginning of August in response to safety concerns posed by the trees’ declining health. Two trees in the Circle and three in the Grove were removed.
Additional trees beyond the Grove and Circle also have been cut down during the past few weeks, including one across from Farley Hall on Sorority Row and another on Poole Drive
across from the Sigma Chi fraternity house.
Director of UM Landscape Services Jeff McManus said the recent removals were part of the university’s commitment to maintaining the natural beauty and safety of campus.
“In some cases, structural failure was possible, and the decision to remove them was made to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” McManus said.
McManus explained that the trees were deemed unsafe as a result of disease caused by
the fungus Biscogniauxia a fungus that works to accelerate the decay of trees as well as age-related decline and environmental stress.
According to a study by the Mississippi State University’s Plant Disease and Nematode Diagnostic Services, Biscogniauxia can enter trees through wounds or natural openings in the bark or by small colonies that fester in healthy trees.
The study says that multiple factors can hinder a healthy tree’s ability to defend against the fungus, including drought, extreme heat, wounds,
root damage and toxic chemicals. The study also found that Biscogniauxia thrives in temperatures ranging from 85-95℉. A similar study conducted by the Oklahoma State University found that there is no clear cure or treatment for Biscogniauxia, but that the best way to prevent it is to maintain the tree’s overall health. The recent removals at UM are connected to the falling of four trees in April 2024 caused by heavy rainfall and strong
the order on their Grubhub apps. Then they must check in at the food truck in person in order for their food to be made. This is similar to other food trucks across campus.
“We also don’t have a check-in system, so people are ordering and coming an hour later,” Tran said “We’re making a whole bunch of boxes, and there are boxes sitting around that people haven’t received yet or claimed.”
Kenzie Hall, a junior journalism major, said she believes if food trucks were to follow the approach of student union restaurants, some of their issues could be resolved.
“I’ve only used Grubhub for Hotbox Hibachi, but you have to go to them to confirm your order before they start making it (when you order on the app),” Hall said.
“You have to wait in line once you’re there, so ordering from class on Grubhub becomes pointless because it’s just as fast to wait in line and order it when you get there. If they did it like Chick-fil-A, with a check-in sign, it may be better. But as it is, it’s not worth it.”
Shadrach’s coffee truck employee Bella Kalil gave her per-
continued from page 1
contributed to the Ole Miss Now & Ever campaign, an initiative launched on Nov. 12, 2021 which is intended to fund new department buildings, scholarships and further development of Ole Miss Athletics.
One of the proposed projects funded by the initiative is a new facility for the Patterson School of Accountancy at the corner of University Avenue and Grove Loop. Ranked No. 8 nationally in 2021, the Patterson School of Accountancy hopes to accrue more than $125 million through donations to start construction.
John Brown, a junior accounting major, was impressed with the amount of money his school raised.
“One hundred and twenty-five million dollars is extremely difficult to raise,” Brown said. “We’re making steps in the right direction that can get us more funding quicker, which is super exciting for the future of the accounting school.”
Barbara Beckmann,
spective on the use of Grubhub.
“Honestly, it’s made it harder because now we have to explain to everyone that we’re not doing regular orders anymore, and most people don’t want to go through the trouble of downloading the app really quickly,” Kalil said. “Other than that, on our end, the system is easier.”
Grace Hitchcock, who works at The Tea truck, talked about the issues specific to trucks that serve beverages using Grubhub.
“It’s a lot different for us because we’re a beverage company. You know how at Starbucks you order ahead 30 minutes, and you get there, and it’s already melted? That’s kind of how we are,” Hitchcock said. “We’re also outside, so it’s just going to sit there and melt. It’s a little bit different for us to try to find a good system that works, but we’re getting used to it. I don’t want to say it’s better, but it’s not worse.”
Despite the food trucks’ struggles, many students have had positive experiences. Junior linguistics major Hailey Terrell compared the process of ordering with Grubhub to the previous method of ordering food.
“I would say it’s easier now because you don’t necessarily have to wait in line to order your food, so you can go ahead
the first female graduate of the School of Engineering, donated $5 Million to the Department of Chemical Engineering this year.
“(I’m) giving back to Ole Miss for preparing me for a
and get it over with,” Terrell said. “There’s still going to be a wait either way, though.”
Freshman exercise science major Abbott Crouthamel had never ordered from the food trucks before Grubhub, but she appreciates how the app helps her save time.
“I think it makes it a lot easier because I just came from my dorm, and instead of having to
publicly for our engineering course,” Atchley said. “Mississippi State tends to be thought of as the engineering school and Ole Miss as the accounting and business school, so I think it’s awe-
wait in line, it’s ready when I pick it up,” Crouthamel said.
Chip Burr, the resident district manager of Ole Miss Dining, shared that they are aware of some issues with the Grubhub app but said that the problems would be resolved soon.
“Now that our students have returned, the system is experiencing extremely high volumes,” Burr said. “Any-
student fees or funding from the state, and we need extra to be able to do bigger things for the students and provide them with more experiential learning opportunities.”
Other departments also re-
“We can’t do it with just what we are provided through student fees or funding from the state, and we need extra to be able to do bigger things for the students and provide them with more experiential learning opportunities.”
- Assistant to the Dean of the School of Engineering
Christine Hellums
time a customer reports an issue, our team works closely with Grubhub to promptly resolve the issue, and we’re always looking for ways to improve the process. As class schedules settle and students begin setting their routines, we anticipate volumes will level off, and the process will become more intuitive.”
lease. “Where’s the rhythm of life if you don’t have all of that? You may not need the arts to survive, but you do need the arts to thrive.”
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) also received millions of dollars to invest in medical research that improves the health, well-being and economic growth of Mississippians.
The donations include a $5 million gift from Dr. Suthin and Dr. Somprasong Songcharoen, a $2.25 million gift from Melissa Shepherd and Dr. Genevieve Ali and a $1.8 million estate gift from the late Brickell Williamson.
great career and a great life,” Beckmann said. “I hope (these) resource(s) will help Ole Miss Chemical Engineering continue to produce the same quality for future generations.”
Andrew Atchley, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, said large donations give the engineering department more opportunities to develop.
“Ole Miss is not known
some to have more support.”
Christine Hellums, assistant to the dean of the School of Engineering, echoed Atchley’s sentiments.
“It really can’t be done without the donors — whether they are single donors or whether they are industry partners who give us funding,” Hellums said. “We can’t do it with just what we are provided through
ceived generous support from donors. Nancye Starnes donated $4.5 million to support plans for a new recording studio, rehearsal studio and scene shop in the arts facilities.
Starnes said that art is still an important part of our society.
“Can you imagine a life without theater, without music, without dance?” Starnes said in a university press re-
“We greatly appreciate every donor who shares our vision for improving the health of Mississippians by investing in the work of our students, faculty and staff,” LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, said in a university press release. “With private support to UMMC exceeding $30 million three years in a row, we are poised to continue our mission-based work in partnership with individual, corporate and foundation donors.”
NOAH WALTERS thedmnews@gmail.com
Students seeking to participate in the Nov. 5 elections must ensure they are registered to vote — a process that can differ from person to person.
The University of Mississippi’s Voting Engagement Ambassadors guide students through the voting process by hosting outreach events on campus and in the Lafayette-Oxford community. Marshall Pentes, a senior economics major and voting engagement ambassador encouraged students to think about how, where and when they are going to vote early.
“The problem with registration is it’s actually very complicated,” Pentes said. “We do a lot of tabling and outreach so that we’re able to connect with students and members of the Oxford community that have questions and want those questions answered. We compile different resources that we share with strategic partners across the university.”
Students and Mississippi residents
The deadline to register to vote in-person in Mississippi is Monday, Oct. 7. Eligible voters in Mississippi can register at the city clerk’s office, which is located at City Hall in Oxford. If registering by mail, registration materials must be postmarked Oct. 7.
Anyone — including both in and out-of-state students — who has resided permanently in Oxford for at least 30 days is eligible to vote in-person in Oxford, according to a release from Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson. Students must indicate their dormitory or residence in Oxford as their permanent address when registering to vote at the city clerk’s office. Additionally, students will need a place in Oxford where they can receive mail, whether it is their place of residence or a third party mailing facility.
If you are an Oxford-registered voter who is unable to vote in-person on Nov. 5, there is another
option: absentee voting.
Mail-in absentee ballots are available to registered voters who are able to provide sufficient documentation explaining why they cannot vote in-person. These ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5. To vote in-person absentee, the voter needs to visit the appropriate County Circuit Clerk’s Office and adhere to each municipality’s early voting steps and procedures.
If you are a Mississippi resident who is not eligible to vote in Oxford you can also vote absentee.
In-state students registered to vote in their home county but who are in Oxford on Election Day can vote absentee on their
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home county ballot. Students should contact their home county circuit clerk to discuss absentee voting options.
In Mississippi, a driver’s license, UM student ID or another form of acceptable photo identification is necessary for voter registration. Anyone convicted of crimes including but not limited to forgery, felony shoplifting, murder, theft, perjury or receiving stolen property are barred from voting.
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have different polling places. In Mississippi, voting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and must be received before Nov. 13. All in-person absentee voting must be done between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the local city clerk’s office.
For out-of-state students intending to vote in their home states, registration and voting depends on your individual state’s rules. Differing rules exist regarding photo identification and mail-in voting. Further information
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on voting as a college student can be found at vote.gov.
Out-of-state students can also access this spreadsheet compiled by UM Voting Engagement Ambassadors in order to find detailed information on registering to vote in their own state.
Although the process can be difficult to navigate, Pentes stressed the importance of voting.
“If you do not vote, politicians will not hear your voice, and nothing will change,” Pentes said. “We all have issues that we care about. Voting is the best way to make those in power care about the same things you do.”
winds, most notably the tree that fell in the Union Plaza.
“The severe weather events this past year, including a lightning strike to one tree, coupled with natural aging processes, climate condition, disease and continued soil compaction all have had a considerable impact on some of the trees in the Grove,” McManus said.
Foot traffic from tailgating, concerts and commencements in the Grove contribute to the decline of some trees in the area. McManus said many of the Grove trees are reaching the end of their life spans.
“The upcoming football tailgating season poses risks to the Grove trees, particularly due to soil compaction, but this is true anytime large crowds gather under the trees,” McManus said.
Students like sophomore pre-law major Elise Early express mixed feelings on whether the university should make major changes to events to prevent further damage to aging trees.
“The tailgates are what Ole Miss is known for,” Early said. “But if the trees keep falling, it’s going to be a problem for everyone.”
Freshman business administration major Nora Colmer suggested a middle-of-the-road plan of action to address ongoing issues with campus trees.
“I think (the university) should inform more people of this issue and maybe cut down on some of the events in the Grove,” Colmer said. “Have them somewhere else to help preserve the trees.”
Ole Miss Athletics does not anticipate age-related tree decline or environmental factors to impact tailgating this year.
“Landscape Services are working with certified arborists to inspect and maintain the trees in the Grove and the Circle to prevent potential hazards,” Director of Media and News Relations for the University of Mississippi Jacob Batte said. “After football season, the university will address soil compaction and overall root health through processes called soil aerification and root air spading.”
UM Landscape Services echoed that proactive measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the campus community and populate the Grove with more trees.
“Our landscaping team follows a thorough and responsible approach to environmental stewardship,” McManus said. “When trees must be removed due to
health and safety concerns, we carefully plan and execute replanting efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability and beauty of our campus.”
Sophomore public policy leadership and accountancy major Lilly Prather offered a solution to maintain the current campus landscape amid the progressive loss of trees.
“The university should plant more trees now to allow them to grow and cover the Grove,” Prather said. “When the old trees are removed, the Grove will keep the look it has now.” If necessary, UM Landscape Services plans to replace the recently removed trees after football season. No immediate removals are
planned at this time, though McManus said more trees may need to be removed in the future due to disease and environmental factors.
“We will continue to monitor the Grove and other areas of campus closely, addressing any environmental concerns as they arise,” McManus said.
MARY EVANS thedmfeatures@gmail.com
The Ole Miss Women in Government Club will hold its inaugural meeting today at 5:30 p.m. in room 321 in the Gertrude C. Ford Student Union.
The club was founded last spring by Lauren Graves, a junior public policy leadership major, who is now the organization’s president.
“Our mission is to create a community on campus of women who are interested in government and politics and to offer support through networking opportunities,” Graves said.
“We’ve had a lot of success early on in being able to fill an entire executive board without any tabling. Our Instagram has been really active and we’ve been having a lot of engagement.”
With the election season gearing up, Graves said that students can look forward to a variety of events.
“We’re doing a lot of election-related events,” Graves said. “We’re hoping to do an election watch party, a community service project and a table to help people register to vote.”
In addition to these events, the club plans on volunteering with the Dear Jack Foundation, which provides programs for young adults who have recently been diagnosed with cancer.
The group will also host a fundraiser at the Kendra Scott store in Germantown, Tenn. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 to support its initiatives.
“The event is a fundraiser for our club partnered with Kendra Scott when customers use the on-
line code 20% of sales will be donated to our club to help pay for community service and member meeting materials,” Sadie Daix, vice president of outreach, said.
Daix emphasizes that this organization offers an experience unique from any other organization on campus.
“What sets our club apart is our focus specifically on government and politics, which is a bit different from other women’s organizations on campus,” Daix said.
Daix also emphasized the club’s focus on networking opportunities.
“Networking is a major part of what we do,” Daix said. “We want to provide members with the connections and resources they need to succeed in their careers and to feel supported by their peers.”
Graves encouraged students
to attend the first meeting and see if the organization is for them.
“If you’re interested in gov-
ernment or politics, I encourage you to come to one of our meetings and see what we’re about.”
have at least two semesters to complete before graduating
LYDIA WATERS
Ghostlight Repertory Theatre — the University of Mississippi’s student-run theater company — is set to offer the campus community a slate of student-written productions for its 2024-2025 season.
Ghostlight Artistic Director Kayla Jacobs, a senior design and production major from Ocean Springs, Miss., explained more about the organization’s upcoming season.
“Ghostlight serves as a place for students to experiment with new opportunities in a low stakes environment separate from the mainstage productions of the department,” Jacobs said.
This semester, Ghostlight is producing “Dear Mya,” an original play directed by student playwright Jacob Matthews. Next semester, the organization will produce “Long Live the King” directed by Cooper Thorpe and Hannah Rose Richards and “Silent but Not Silenced” created by Alexa Christian.
“I am very grateful and humbled to be given the opportunity to write, direct and commission my piece, ‘Dear Mya’. I think this play explores very important topics, topics that audiences should strive to learn about, understand and spread awareness about,” Matthews said. “I think exploring the writings of individuals around my age offers wonderful insight into how our generation views the world, what we hope to make of it and what some of us may have experienced before.”
Jacobs encouraged people to join Ghostlight.
“It’s open to anyone interested. No experience (is) required,” Jacobs said. “We love teaching people new skills and processes, so anyone interested can find a way to be involved.”
Alyssa Sheppard, a junior theatre arts major from
Hernando, Miss., reminisced on one of her favorite shows that Ghostlight has produced.
“I first heard about Ghostlight at our new student orientation for our department, and it seemed like a super cool opportunity,” Sheppard said. “I saw ‘The Lightning Thief,’ which is the show that Ghostlight did last fall in the Gertrude Ford Center. This was not the first show I had seen from Ghostlight, but it was by far one of the best.”
Sheppard said that Ghostlight productions provide a valuable learning experience for students.
“If I was not already a part of Ghostlight, I would absolutely consider joining them again,” Sheppard said. “I love what the board stands for and what they are attempting to do by giving students a safe place to explore their craft whether that be design, play writing, performing, directing or more.”
Students who don’t want to be in the spotlight can still get involved with the Ghostlight Repertory Theatre’s shows through costume, set and prop design. There are also opportunities for students interested in technical aspects of production, including sound control and lighting.
Those who are not Broadway bound but appreciate theater are also welcome to enjoy the show and attend Ghostlight’s plays.
“For the people who are not interested in being on the stage, there is a place for everyone in the production process, and for anyone who wants to stick in the audience, a show cannot be successful without people to watch it,” Sheppard said. “I know that all of the people that worked on these shows are so thankful for each and every person that came to see their hard work, and I love the opportunity to support them.”
LYDIA WATERS
thedmfeatures@gmail.com
The Queer Interfaith Alliance is a new organization at the University of Mississippi that aims to mend the divide between campus religious groups and the LGBTQ+ community.
Kadin Collier, an incoming freshman from Hattiesburg, Miss., is the founder and president of the group.
“The club is all about bringing together people of different faiths, religious practices, beliefs and sexualities to understand that there is a way for them to live both truths,” Collier said.
Collier emphasized a desire for inclusivity within the club.
“Whether you’re in the LGBTQ community, wheth-
er you’re straight, whether you’re somewhere in between (or) whether you’re religious, I simply want it to be a space for dialogue, advocacy and education.”
Collier, an Arabic and international studies double major, came up with the idea after attending JumpStart, a pre-college program held for freshmen, and meeting JumpStart Coordinator and UM professor Jared Ramos.
Ramos, who holds a master’s in divinity from Emory University and a certificate in religious education, is the club’s sponsor. Ramos obtained his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, but he did not start exploring the merging of faith
and sexuality until pursuing his master’s degree. At Emory, he joined Sacred Worth, a student organization that shares the same ideals of open dialogue and advocacy.
“I had the opportunity to serve as the chaplain for Sacred Worth in the second year of my program,” Ramos said. “Sacred Worth provided me with a space to explore and accept my queer identity and all the way that it is perfectly compatible with my faith identity.”
Ramos shared his excitement for the start of the Queer Interfaith Alliance at UM.
“Due to those personal and educational experiences when Kadin approached me and shared his vision for a queer, interfaith student organization, I was immediately excited about the prospect of seeing something like that at the University of Mississippi,” Ramos shared. “I was honored when Kadin asked me to serve as the staff adviser for the organization. I think it is important to not only center and encourage the experiences of queer and religious students but also invite conversation and community between students from different faith traditions.”
Among other events, the organization plans to create an open forum for dialogue through historical education and the dissection of religious texts.
“(One of the ideas we have) is bringing professors and giving short talks at meetings, because one thing that a lot of queer people who are religious struggle with is unpacking all of the historical context behind the scripture or beliefs that condemn their sexuality,” Collier said.
Collier hopes students feel welcome to help shape the culture and future of the
The University of Mississippi Department of Parking & Transportation (DPT) in Oxford, Mississippi hereby gives notice of enactment of the University’s Traffic and Parking Regulations for the 2024-2025 academic year. These rules and regulations are enacted by the Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning, State of Mississippi, and are effective from and after July 1, 2023. The full text of such rules and regulations are available at www.olemiss.edu/parking the website of DPT.
Queer Interfaith Alliance.
“My dreams for the club are to expand it to a visible space on campus — where every Ole Miss student who is queer
union. But also, it’s one of the most diverse states, and I want people to realize that while we are in the Bible Belt, there are so many people in the Bible Belt
“The club is all about bringing together people of different faiths, religious practices, beliefs and sexualities to understand that there is a way for them to live both truths.”
-
Kadin Collier
freshman Arabic and international studies double major
or who is religious, who is both or who is neither — can come together and act and serve, and to be educated and educate others,” Collier said. “Mississippi is one of the most polarized states in the
that are queer and religious.”
Students who are interested in joining the Queer Interfaith Alliance can find more information on the ForUM or on their Instagram page @ umqueerinterfaithalliance.
cited attendees of the show.
PALEIF RASPBERRY
Heather McMahan, an Atlanta native who graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2009 with a BFA in Theatre Arts, returned to her college town to perform a standup routine written exclusively for the Oxford audience at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 29. From performing small open mics in Los Angeles to selling out Radio City Music Hall in New York and releasing a Netflix stand-up special titled “Son I Never Had,” McMahan has amassed quite the following in recent years. Jared Smith, a freshman international studies major from Long Beach, Miss., has been a fan of McMahan’s since 2020 and was among the ex-
“I’m a big fan of Heather. I listen to her podcast. I follow her on all her social media, so I was so excited when I got to have this opportunity to come see her live,” Smith said.
The evening began with an opening routine from comedian Raymond Padilla, who is a frequent guest of McMahan’s popular podcast “Absolutely Not!” He warmed up the crowd with jokes about his experiences as a gay man, which served as an appetizer to the daring and explicit jokes that were to come.
McMahan’s set started with a hype video and music reminiscent of those played at an SEC football game. The comedian immediately captivated the audience’s attention by calling out attendees who arrived late and showing facial expressions, movements and
mannerisms — a skill set she attributes to her theater degree.
She talked about her Southern upbringing and the unrealistic expectations that Southern women have to uphold, which segued into her revealing that she has been writing a TV show about the fictional experiences of a woman in Mississippi.
Soon after, the jokes about Ole Miss started rolling in and never stopped. They were mostly focused on her own experiences as a “Reb,” but she did poke fun at the recent social and cultural landscape of the university. Telling jokes about her time living in the Crosby dorm and pledging the Delta Gamma sorority, she provided a provocative retelling of her college experience.
“I really enjoyed the show more than I thought I would. She was a part of sorority life like I am, so I found myself relating to a lot of her jokes,” senior early childhood education major and Oxford native Riley Mullen said. “I feel like everyone in the crowd found themselves relat-
ing to some part of the show and that made it feel very special.”
The set ended with an “Absolutely Not!” segment in which she gave Ole Miss and Oxford “absolutely nots,” similar to the schtick of her podcast, riffing off jokes with submissions from the audience.
She closed out the show with an impactful quote that represents McMahan’s destiny for greatness.
“Eli Manning’s from here, William Faulkner’s here, but I’m Heather McMahan!,” she shouted as she strutted off the stage with the crowd roaring with applause behind her.
After the show, McMahan met with a group of students to answer questions and discuss show business. Professor of voice, speech and acting Rory Ledbetter took a group of 20 students to see McMahan’s show as a part of educational programming for the Residential College South.
“Heather was a senior in the BFA Acting program when I first
started teaching at the University of Mississippi. I taught voice and speech in the Senior BFA Acting Studio courses that she took,” Ledbetter said. “Heather invited the students to stay after the performance and do a Q&A with her. It was fantastic; Heather gave them amazing pearls of wisdom about performing comedy and navigating the entertainment industry.”
During the meet and greet, she revealed her early career struggles, her journey to finding confidence as a performing artist and how much joy stand-up brings her.
“If people come to my show and say, ‘Hey, you took me out of my s ty day,’ I did my job,” McMahan said.
AARON BARROW thedmfeatures@gmail.com
Ayanna Norman, a junior allied health studies and psychology double major from Corinth, Miss., became the first University of Mississippi student to be awarded the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The Voyager Scholarship program is a collaboration between the Obama Foundation and Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. The scholarship, which was awarded to 100 college juniors across the United States, is designed for young leaders with a notable role in public service.
“It feels unreal (to be a recipient of this award), to say the least! I think I’ve gone back to reread my congratulatory email and essay responses in disbelief over 20 times now. It also feels like I’m on the right path in service, as this opportunity aligns perfectly with the projects I’ve been envisioning,” Norman said. “Now I get to bring those visions to life, and I feel truly blessed and grateful to be chosen as a recipient of such an honorable award.”
Director of the Office of National Scholarship Advisement and Croft Associate Professor of History
and International Studies Vivian Ibrahim discussed what the scholarship entails.
“This award is a collaboration between President Obama and the Airbnb owner Chesky to fund rising juniors $50,000 over two years plus $10,000 for travel,” Ibrahim said. “The students are committed to public service and will meet for leadership classes and create a cohort to empower the next generation of public servants. This is the third year of the award.”
Norman, who ultimately plans to attend nursing school, will use the funds to study issues of healthcare access in underserved communities.
“With this life-changing scholarship comes the chance to pay it back to the community. The Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship has not only provided me with financial aid but is also giving me the resources to plan and pursue a summer project of service. With these resources and the guidance from advisers, I will be working over the coming months to develop a project aimed at addressing healthcare disparities,” Norman said.
Norman said that she plans to use her education and experience as a Voyager to help Mississippi communities.
“Looking into the future,
I plan to continue focusing on healthcare disparities and use my summer voyage and the network provided through the scholarship to implement community-based interventions starting in Mississippi,” Norman said. “I also plan to establish an outreach program that focuses on supporting students aspiring to enter the healthcare field. The program will be based in Mississippi, with plans to expand to neighboring states and potentially globally once it becomes sustainable, with the goal of creating widespread change.”
While the Voyager Scholarship is highly competitive, Ibrahim urged interested sophomores to apply, as it helps them prepare for other competitive awards they may wish to pursue in the future.
“The application process is great practice for later national scholarship awards like the Truman, Fulbright and Rhodes. It asks questions about how the candidate is passionate about making transformative change to benefit society and what they are already doing,” Ibrahim said.
Norman also encouraged students to apply and gave them a piece of advice.
“With this scholarship choosing only students from
a large pool of applicants, I almost didn’t apply, thinking my application was just a drop in the bucket. But it’s important to believe in yourself and the work you’re doing because they’re looking for those who are committed to making a positive change,” Norman said.
“And to those who may not receive the award, don’t let that discourage you from continuing to fight the good fight. The process of applying is valuable in itself, as it gives you the opportunity to reflect on what you want to change and how you plan to achieve it.”
RUSS EDDINS
thedmsports@gmail.com
With several fall club sports about to start competition, here is an outlook on the season:
The Ole Miss Club Baseball team starts its season on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The team, part of the National Club Baseball Association, is an all student-led team with no official coaching staff.
Ole Miss Club Baseball is set to play four series in the fall, including games with Vanderbilt University and Georgia College and State University, and a spring schedule against mostly SEC opponents. The Rebels will hold home competitions at American Legion Park in Batesville, Miss., on Nov. 16 and 17.
Ole Miss Club Baseball President and catcher James Moore shared the team’s goals for this season.
“We hope to be above .500 this year,” Moore said. “We definitely just want to keep building on the success we had late last year and most of all just have fun.”
The Ice Rebels start the season on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch, Miss., against Washington University, with game two of the series on Sept. 14.
The Division II Ole Miss hockey team is coming off of an improved but underwhelming season. However, with several top players set to return with a year of college experience, the team is expected to be significantly more competitive.
Joseph Robinson, one of the team’s top forwards, was sidelined for all but five games last season due to injury. Now fully recovered, Robinson is ready to contribute in the upcoming games.
Richard Mugler, the team’s top goalie, also missed most of the Rebels’ games due to injury. This season, he is set to deliver strong goaltending, starting in the majority of series throughout the year.
Ole Miss will welcome Division I team Alabama and ACHA side Arkansas to the Ice House on Nov. 15 and 16 and the following weekend on Nov. 22 and 23.
The Rebels recently introduced an additional Division III hockey team. The 2024-25 season will be the first year Ole Miss has two teams competing at once. Al-
though ineligible for the playoffs, the Division III Rebels’ first game will be Sept. 13 at Eastern Kentucky University.
The new team will be led by head coach Mike McAteer and assistant David Dachille.
Ole Miss Club Rugby’s first scrimmage of the fall is Sept. 14, followed by its first official match on Sept. 21.
The Rugby Rebels will host home competitions at the Blackburn-McMurray Sports Complex, formally known as the Ole Miss Intramural Fields. They will play two seasons, one in fall and the other in spring. In the fall, they play with 15 players on each team, and in the spring they field seven per team.
The fall schedule features single matches of two 40-minutes halves, while the spring has two seven-minute halves. Spring season games consist solely of tournaments, so several games are played in one day.
The team competes against Mississippi State University, the University of Memphis, the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Louisiana State University and Georgia Tech in the fall.
Two standout players to watch this year include se-
nior journalism major and flyhalf Jake Daley and sophomore electrical engineering major and scrum-half Austin Turner. Bennett Murphy, a sophomore criminal justice major and back row rugby player, commented on his teammate’s skill and performance.
TAYLOR
HILL
thedmsports@gmail.com
After the Olympics — which included two silver medal finishes from competitors with connections to Oxford — students expressed their desire to watch more of the sports that stayed on their screens for two weeks.
While Rebel fans get to enjoy basketball, tennis and track — what are the sports that Ole Miss does not have and other SEC schools do?
Rowing
The SEC added rowing — a sport in 150 countries and
six continents — as the 22nd sponsored sport on Friday, Aug. 23. Joining the University of Alabama and the University of Tennessee, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas are approaching their first SEC Rowing Championship in May 2025.
Last year, both Tennessee and Alabama’s rowing teams competed in the Big 12 Rowing Championship, where the Crimson Tide took third place. Alabama holds its competitions at the Black Warrior River, roughly 40 minutes from campus, and the team has visited rivers, lakes and other bodies of water across five states.
If Ole Miss put together a
rowing team, a competition could be held in the state of Mississippi, at locations such as Enid Lake and Sardis Lake.
Swimming and diving
Mississippi State University, Oklahoma and Ole Miss are the only three SEC schools that do not have women’s swimming and diving teams.
Until 2021, Ole Miss had an active women’s SEC swimming and diving team, which competed for many years until the university discontinued the program due to financial considerations. Ole Miss no longer offers men’s or women’s varsity swimming and diving teams in SEC competitions.
Title IX restricts the ability to add another male sport without adding another women’s sport. Considering financial constraints and the focus on other sports, a male swimming and diving team might not be in the cards for the Rebels.
Addison Johnston, a sophomore classics and anthropology major, said she would like to see swimming and diving added to Ole Miss’ slate of sports
“After watching the Olympics, I would love to see our Rebels compete in swimming and diving,” Johnston said.
Nine SEC teams have women’s gymnastics teams. Over
four months, these teams competed for the NCAA championship, where the Louisiana State University Tigers took home their fifth national title. SEC schools generally have 19 to 40 gymnastics competitions from January to April; the SEC championships are held in March, and the NCAA championships are held in April. Morgan Toporek, a junior business major, expressed interest in watching gymnastics if it were to become a sport at Ole Miss.
“I would be so excited to go to the meets if we formed a team,” Toporek said.
LILY GREEN
Senior middle blocker Sasha Ratliff has made a name for herself during her time playing volleyball at Ole Miss. The senior has been consistent on offense and defense, allowing her to be one of the top middle blockers in the SEC.
Background
Ratliff is originally from Atlanta and attended Pace Academy, where she was a three-time Georgia 3A state champion, an Under Armour All-American and a two-time All-State selection.
Outside of high school competition, Ratliff also played with A5 Volleyball and in the International Showcase with professional teams in locations including Italy, Japan and Africa. On top of volleyball, she also spent time playing basketball.
Although she was originally committed to play at the University of San Diego, Ratliff chose to follow a dif-
ferent direction and committed to Ole Miss. She has played with the Rebels since the 20202021 season, and the 2024 season will be her final season competing with the Rebels.
Career highlights
Ratliff has built a strong resume of achievements since her debut season in 2021. That year, she was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) South All-Region and All-SEC teams.
Ratliff later received Preseason All-SEC Honors in three consecutive seasons, 2022, 2023 and 2024. She was also named to the All-SEC and AVCA All-Region teams in 2022.
Aside from all of her achievements, Ratliff continues to display talent on the court. She recorded 104 blocks in 2023, putting her at 11th in the SEC for the most blocks. Ratliff also recorded at least 100 blocks for the Rebels in seasons prior with her best being the 2021 season when she recorded 129 blocks.
Ratliff sits at nearly 1,000
Be prepared before the next power outage.
career kills — currently 952. Her best season for kills was in 2022, when she recorded 333.
What’s next?
Ratliff and the Rebels are on the road against the Uni
versity of Northern Colora-
IAN SPARKS
thedmsports@gmail.com
Following a big season opening win against Furman, Ole Miss will host Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday, Sept. 7 in its week two matchup. The upcoming meeting between the Rebels and Blue Raiders will be just the second game between the two schools. Ole Miss came out victorious in a 45-17 win in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2001.
Both the Rebels and the Blue Raiders are entering week two 1-0, with Middle Tennessee defeating Tennessee Technological University in its season opening win 32-25.
MTSU is coming off a 4-8 season last year, and coach Rick Stockstill was fired after 18 seasons with the program. Former Vanderbilt head coach and Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason is now at the helm.
With two wins against the Rebels as a head coach in 2016 and 2018, Mason is familiar with Ole Miss in a competition setting. As a head coach, his teams have faced the Rebels seven times with a 2-5 record, with both Rebel wins at home.
Middle Tennessee’s offense is now led by quarterback Nicholas Vattiato, who ended the Blue Raiders’ last game with one touchdown, 210 passing yards and 20 completions out of 35 pass attempts. Other notable standouts from the Blue Raider offense include running backs Frank Peasant and Jaiden Credle and wide receiver Myles Butler.
Last week, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart nearly doubled Vattiato’s stats, putting up 418 passing yards, five touchdowns and 22 completions out of 25 pass attempts. Dart also became the first player since Joe Burrow in 2019 with more than 350 passing yards
in a half. Between Dart and Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons, they combined for 529 total passing yards, which was the most in school history.
Looking at the defensive performances of both teams, MTSU managed to keep the game close and secured a narrow victory. Although the Blue Raiders conceded 25 points, the Rebels’ defense held Furman to a shutout last week, marking Ole Miss’s first shutout since 1999. The defense also didn’t allow a single red zone appearance for the Blue Raiders.
This week the Rebels will continue to try and live up to the hype that has been built around the program this season. Similar to last week, Ole Miss is the clear favorite to beat MTSU and improve to 2-0 before this season’s first road trip next week at Wake Forest.
Kickoff for the MTSU contest is 3:15 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
Puzzles by KrazyDad
HOW TO PLAY
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.
ACROSS 1- ___-a-brac; 5- Mr. T’s former group; 10- Voodoo amulet; 14- “That smarts!”; 15- Tractor pioneer John; 16- Fusses; 17- Singer McEntire; 18- Comic DeGeneres; 19- Roster used to assign duties; 20- Commander in chief of a fleet; 22- Smokers receptacle; 24- Zero; 25- Sigh of satisfaction; 26- Chinese menu phrase; 29- Whopper; 32- Hired parker; 36- Out of port; 37- Colonize; 39- Former Bush spokesman Fleischer; 40- In spite of; 43- Tap output; 44- Sailor; 45- Cleveland’s lake; 46- Perfect Sleeper maker; 48- Hi-___; 49- Stair part; 50- Magician’s prop; 52- Simpson trial judge;
53- Leads on; 57- To-do lists; 61- Wall Street pessimist; 62- Flat contract; 64- Pressing need; 65- Liberal pursuits; 66- Minimum; 67- Area; 68- Baseball’s “Walking Man” Eddie; 69- Yoga posture; 70- Sporting blade; DOWN 1- Aboriginal rite site; 2- Felt sorry about; 3- SALT subject; 4- Woodcutter power tool; 5- Let’s Make ___; 6- Narrate; 7- Moray; 8- Length x width, for a rectangle; 9- The brainy bunch; 10- Stewart of home tips; 11- Smell or fragrance; 12- Spanish dance; 13- Anthem starter; 21- Tractor-trailer; 23- Refuge; 26- Grannies; 27- ___ Mio; 28- Unit just above a yard; 29- “The Merry Widow” composer; 30- “Who’s there?” reply; 31- Kett and James; 33- Dens; 34- Bert’s roomie; 35- Large cat; 37- Sault ___ Marie; 38- PC linkup; 41-
CHEQUOIA ADDERLEY
thedmopinion@gmail.com
Football season is back in full swing at Ole Miss, and for students and Oxford residents alike, it is a time in which energy is high and excitement is at its peak.
As a participant in these festivities, it is hard to say anything negative about a game day in the Grove. The sense of community is at an all-time high — alumni, students, fans and fun-seekers unite with the common goal of seeing Kiffin and the squad earn a win.
Conversely, there would be an equal amount of dissatisfaction expressed if you were to ask those who do not partake in game day activities.
With the madness of football season, the last thing people tend to think about are the people who are required to work during the game.
Food service workers struggle to deal with an overload of hungry, possibly inebriated customers because the buildings are not made to accommodate so many people.
Working at Chick-fil-A in Oxford, I have watched our entire team over-stock, rearrange things and go over protocols the day before a home game because we know what to expect. Yet it is often in vain. No matter how much preparation we do, we simply cannot be ready for the crowd that is to come.
This past weekend, a game staff member came to order sandwiches for security who had been working nonstop. Predictably, the workers had their hands full all day managing the volume of visitors. Thus, they had not eaten. I cannot even function at 8 a.m. without
something in my stomach.
On top of that, we have welcomed perhaps the largest freshman class in school history. Sound familiar? It is probably because we said that last year and the year before. The number of students here at Ole Miss has only increased and will continue to do so — a buck against national trends.
Although more enrollment opens doors for more fun, involvement and opportunity, it creates the unique mayhem that comes with a SEC school outgrowing its small town roots. Some may feel as though it is one day of craziness that subsides by the end of Saturday. In reality, life in Oxford becomes increasingly inconvenient — not just for one day but for an entire weekend.
When Sunday comes and everyone has recovered, our beloved visitors head to their respective homes while we Rebels are left to pick up the pieces and do it all again the next week. The weekend binge is a grand affair that is also quite draining for some beyond just a measly hangover.
For many, Saturday nights in Oxford will be remembered not just for football and tailgates but also for the chaos that ensues. Think about this next time you chat with one of the university’s many staffers working on game day or take a trip down to the Square to celebrate.
Chequoia Adderley is a senior IMC major from Pascagoula, Miss.
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