MISSISSIPPIAN THE Daily
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Oxford locals struggle with housing costs
Residents blame increasing student population for rising rent prices. The university and city officials say they are working on solutions.
HANNAH IVEY
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One thing has increased consistently in Oxford: rent prices.
According to a July 2024 survey from Rent Cafe, more than a third of the apartments in Oxford charge more than $2,000 in rent per month, with the average being $1,834 per month. The bulk of the remaining apartments charge anywhere between $700 and $1,500 per month.
For many Oxford residents, this is cause for concern; however, there is not a general consensus on what the root of the problem is.
Resident perspectives on rent increase
Before purchasing a house in Oxford, Army veteran Mike Watkins was homeless on and off for 10 years.
“When I moved to Oxford, I was helped out through a program that helps veterans get on their feet, so I came from being homeless to getting an apartment,” Watkins said. “Eventually, I got married, had two kids, and I bought a house right before COVID.”
While he has grown to love Oxford, Watkins expressed concern that stories like his are becoming more rare as housing costs increase — pointing to the influx of
WATER VALLEY ART CRAWL
The Water Valley Main Street Association will host its 16th annual art crawl on Friday, Oct. 19. SEE PAGE 5
JORJA CARTER
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Students at the University of Mississippi are grappling with their role in democracy. Some students are skeptical about the value of their vote, while others believe in the importance of civic engagement.
Kennadi Parker, a sophomore allied health studies major from Olive Branch, Miss., shared her disinterest in voting in this year’s elections.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think my vote is important,” Parker said. “The elec-
toral college process makes it feel pointless.”
KJ Johnson, a freshman business and entrepreneurship major from Grenada, Miss., said he is not voting in the upcoming election because he feels uninformed.
“I don’t really know anything about politics. So my vote would just be based on what everybody else is saying and not what I know,” Johnson said. “I feel like my vote could really mess them
SEE VOTE PAGE 3
students as a contributing factor.
According to a study conducted by the UM Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning, the student
CROSS COUNTRY
population at the University of Mississippi has grown from 11,405 to more than 24,000 between 2000 and 2024.
“The problem that we run into
is that the students can generally afford more than the residents can between school loans, parents, Pell Grants and things like that,” Watkins said. “Housing is a big issue for students. It’s one of the major costs that you’ve got to deal with. They tend to pay more for it than a family with mouths to feed would, so some of the working class people are kind of being priced out.”
Jacqueline Cissom originally moved to Oxford eight years ago to go back to school and finish her degree. Now a New Albany, Miss., resident, she is one of the people who have been “priced out.”
“In 2016, my rent was $400 a month in a very nice condo, and rent in 2020 was $425 a month. I moved into a three-bedroom house for $1,050 including cable and water, and then another leasing company took over and (rent) immediately went up $100 per month. This year to renew it went up another $250, and new renters are paying $1,500 a month,” Cissom said.
“My roommate and I
The women’s and men’s teams are both ranked heading into pre-nationals.
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LAVENDER LETTERS
Opinion columnist Kadin Collier shares his experinece as a LGBTQ+ student at UM.
SEE PAGE 8
SIMONE BOURGEOIS
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Zach Adamz finds joy and purpose in a craft that originates from 7,500 miles away: the art of bonsai. Adamz, project coordinator for the University of Mississippi Chinese Flagship, has transformed his backyard into a sanctuary for tiny trees and shares his miniature creations with the Lafayette-Oxford community through his business, Komorebi Bonsai.
Bonsai is a Japanese word that translates to “tree in tray.”
Originating in China and popularized in Japan, bonsai is the process of miniaturizing anything with woody tissue such as trees or shrubs. Bonsai is done by manipulating chemicals produced by the plants and performing intentional restructurings of them.
“It’s really about understanding the life cycle of a tree,” Adamz said. Adamz is from East Tennessee and has enjoyed spending time outdoors since childhood. Twelve years ago, he was
searching for a new hobby. One day, at a garden center, he realized that bonsai was a way to bring the outdoors inside. “That was just the hobby
Mike Watkins looks at family photos in the hallway of his home on Oct. 2.
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Zach Adamz shows off a bonsai tree during the Magnolia State Bonsai Club Annual Show on Oct. 13, 2023.
PHOTO COURTESY: ROBERT JORDAN
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shared the cost, but the increase put us at $675 each in an old house that had unattended maintenance issues, craters in the pavement on the driveway, sketchy neighbors and 23 pages of restrictions in the new lease.”
While Watkins pointed to the influx of students, Cissom said out-of-state residents and the city government may be the crux of the problem. The total population of non-student residents in Oxford has increased from approximately 11,800 residents in 2000 to 27,509 in 2024, according to the World Population Review.
“I started looking for another place last year, and suddenly every rental property had gone up on its price, so I decided to move back to New Albany and just drive to work (in Oxford),” Cissom said. “Working-class people and local people can’t afford the cost of living, eating and shopping in Oxford, and
ics behind owning a property and what stuff costs now. In most of the condos and places where people want to live, the taxes are between $3,000 and $5,000 a year, and with insurance and HOA fees, it just costs a lot of money to own these properties in Oxford.”
City and university perspectives
Deputy Director of the Oxford Housing Authority Teasha Sanders affirmed Watkins and Russell’s assumption that the university is a contributing factor to the housing issue.
“The University of Mississippi is a contributing factor to the lack of affordability in our local housing market,” Sanders said. “Ole Miss is part of the charm and cultural vitality that Oxford is known for, and the university brings so much to our local community, but with all the good there are also some issues.”
Sanders commented on the problems non-students encounter in finding affordable housing.
“Many housing complexes and rentals in Oxford cater to college students and rent by the
“Ole Miss is part of the charm and cultural vitality that Oxford is known for, and the university brings so much to our local community, but with all the good there are also some issues.”
- Teesha Sanders deputy director of the Oxford Housing Authority
it’s sickening that out-of-state residents have spurred the greed that is taking place, and the government officials seem very supportive of it.”
John Russell, who owns 15 units of rental properties on South Lamar, College Hill, North Lamar and Old Sardis Road, discussed the housing issue from the perspective of a property owner.
Although he disagrees with Cissom’s contention that the city perpetuates the housing problem, he said the influx of students plays a role.
“The reason things are not affordable is not the city. The city’s job is not to build houses and become a landlord, so people need to take the city out of it. Part of what’s causing the housing crunch is that the university keeps raising how many students they’re bringing in every year,” Russell said. “If we raise our freshman class by 750 kids, we’re going to need another 300 three-bedroom houses for them to move into next year that we don’t have, so the rent is going to go up again next year.”
Russell also said that people need to keep in mind the costs that landlords face. For properties without the presence of the owner, such as rental properties, owners must pay 15% of its market value in property taxes, according to the Cissell Property Management Group in Oxford.
“I own about 15 units of rental property in Oxford, and people need to understand the econom-
ty and the city of Oxford to clarify what the two parties are doing in collaboration to solve the housing problems. At the time of publication, neither party had responded.
Student perspectives
Students shared their views on the issue.
Cooper Sugden, a senior accounting major from Princeton, N.J., lives in a house off of Jackson Avenue and is not worried about the impact of student housing on Oxford residents.
“No, it doesn’t bother me. Students need a place to live, too,” Sugden said
Claire Medley, a sophomore integrated marketing communications major from Carmel, Ind., currently lives in the Pi Beta Phi sorority house and is searching for a housing lease for next year. She understands the concerns of Oxford residents, but she wants to attend graduate school here and realizes that she also needs housing.
“I feel like they’re trying to (build) big apartment complexes to fit all the students instead of residents. I wouldn’t want to live in an apartment if I had a family. They’re taking away the land that could be used as a housing development,” Medley said.
Caroline Dykes, a senior accounting major from Murfreesboro, Tenn., who lives in a house near the square on 18th Street, is not disturbed by the housing pressures on Oxford residents.
“I’ve never thought about it. … Students need a place to live, too. … They’re letting in so many students, and they need a place to live,” Dykes said.
Development of affordable housing
As far as the city’s role, Sanders said the local government is making efforts to develop more affordable housing.
and Urban Development, provides rent subsidies to private landlords on behalf of low-income families.
Sanders explained what causes the backup in allocation of affordable housing.
“The limited availability of affordable and low-income housing is the cause of extensive waiting lists,” Sanders said. “Limited supply is a major issue that leads to applicants remaining on waiting lists for years, and the lack of affordable and low-income housing options means that once individuals secure housing, they are reluctant to give it up, even if their circumstances improve. This creates
ers and Eastover & Owens Place. These homes will be available in 2034 and will be sold at an affordable price to residents who make 60% below the average Oxford income.
Hilliard, as well as other residents, said that increased housing costs add to the total cost of living in Oxford.
“My husband and I both work two jobs now, and sometimes we don’t have enough money to last us until the next paycheck. It’s not just housing difficulties. It’s pretty much everything in Oxford.” Watkins reflected on Oxford’s growth over the years.
bedroom,” Sanders said. “This leads to inflated prices that make it difficult for families looking for affordable housing options. Along with the issue of inflated prices, there is also the issue of increased demand. Students and others are drawn to this area, and with already limited housing options, the problem of affordability increases.”
This year, the university leased 130 furnished bed spaces at the Lark Oxford complex and 65 bed spaces at Gather Oxford Apartments beginning in August 2024. This comes as the latest in a string of efforts by the university to provide enough student housing for historic enrollment numbers.
Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations for the university, responded to Sanders’ statements.
“We recognize that the university’s growth and success draw more people to Oxford, which, along with other factors, contributes to the current housing demand,” Batte said. “We hope that over time the various factors driving prices will balance out, benefiting both our students and local residents. University leaders are committed to continue working toward solutions with city and county leaders to assess the impacts of our growth on the community, helping us preserve the special character of Oxford and Ole Miss that appeals to so many.”
The Daily Mississippian reached out to the universi-
“Mayor Tannehill and the board of aldermen have taken proactive steps to address the affordable housing issues in Oxford by establishing an Affordable Housing Commission,” Sanders said. “The Affordable Housing Commission is currently developing and advocating for policies that address the need for additional affordable housing.”
Residents applying for affordable housing said the process takes a long time.
Oxford native Kayla Hilliard has been on the waiting list for housing for two years.
“Growing up, we really didn’t have a lot of money, but I always tried to work hard to make sure I had my own (money),” Hilliard said. “I got pregnant and needed to find an apartment or house, and to this day, I’m on the waiting list for Section 8 housing.”
The Section 8 program, funded by the Department of Housing
“We hope that over time the various factors driving prices will balance out, benefiting both our students and local residents.”
- Jacob Batte director of news and media relations for the university
a problem for new applicants who will face longer waiting periods.”
Sanders said her department oversees 212 public housing units across four complexes in Oxford.
The LOU-HOME Project, a non-profit organization, is attempting to provide affordable housing opportunities in Oxford by working with developers in Lafayette County to provide two communities in Oxford: Belle Riv-
“Oxford is a great town, and growth versus holding onto what made the town lovable to begin with is a balancing act — but you can’t forget about the people who were raised here and who work here,” Watkins said “If they stop looking out for the people who make the wheels move, then this town’s not going to have much left but a whole bunch of investment properties with nobody to run it.”
John Russell in front of one of his properties on Oct. 15
REESE JOHNSON / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
up, and the wrong person could win just off of that one vote.”
Johnson also said he feels unimpacted by the political system.
“I don’t really care about politics,” Johnson said. “I don’t really know what they do towards me.”
Gabre’el McKinney, an 18-year-old freshman theater arts major, will be voting for the first time this election cycle.
“I plan to vote because without everyone’s vote, it won’t help change the powers that are going to be taking place,” McKinney said. “(The year) 2024 can be a year of change, and we can all do it if we partake in this one thing.”
Julia Harless, a junior Arabic and biology major, shared similar sentiments.
“If one person believes that their vote doesn’t matter, then that encourages everyone else to think the same and that will have an effect in determining the election,” Harless said. “A teacher once told me how one town in California could not get their vote in for the JFK election because of bad weather, but once those votes got in, the election flipped so Kennedy won, and that story has always stuck with me.”
William Teer, program director of student leadership programs and financial well-be-
ing in the UM Center for Community Engagement, said voting is not only about picking a representative. It also shows those representatives what you care about, he shared.
“If you believe in a certain issue that you feel needs to gain traction in your community, but you don’t go out to vote in favor of that issue, there is no chance of any sort of change happening in the area you wanted,” Teer said. “If dozens or hundreds or thousands of us decide to stay home since we say our vote doesn’t matter, it can determine the outcome of the election.”
Marshall Pentes, voting engagement ambassador for the university, addressed students’ concerns about the value of a vote.
“I often remind people that, no matter who they are, they have issues they care about, whether it be criminal justice, the role of the government, the rights of women and marginalized groups or any of many others,” Pentes said. “Voting is the easiest, most effective way to make sure that your elected representatives know about the issues you care about.”
With all the attention on the presidential election, Pentes reminded students that there are other elections to pay attention to.
“Even if you are not in love with either presidential candidate, I am sure that there is a candidate for a state or local election who both shares your priorities and will have a large impact
on your day-to-day life,” Pentes said. “A lot of people focus on the presidential election, so it is important to remember how important local elections are.”
Teer echoed Pentes’ statements.
“The presidential elections always get more attention because there’s hundreds of of millions of dollars that go into the advertisements and awareness from both parties, but we have to remember that a lot of our day-to-day normalities in life are heavily influenced by our mayor, our sheriff and who is on the school board,” Teer said. “Oxford is a wonderful place with a lot of opportunities, but local support can make it even better.”
Aaliyah Wales, an 18-yearold freshman allied health studies major from Chicago, said voting gives her a voice.
“Voting is important because it is my duty to exercise my right as a citizen,” Wales said. “Voting ensures that your voice is heard and changes you want are more likely to happen.”
Hannah Watts, Associated Student Body president and senior public policy leadership major, explained how she sees the significance of voting.
“I fear that the mentality of someone’s vote not counting exists on a large scale, so it is my personal belief that if all of the individuals who thought this way decided to vote, it could truly make a difference,” Watts said. “At the end of the day, foregoing one’s right to vote is forgoing one of the most precious rights given to us as U.S. citizens.”
UM political groups discuss controversial court case
AVA HEFFERON thedmnews@gmail.com
The Ole Miss College Republicans and University of Mississippi College Democrats met to discuss the 2019 Alabama v. Jones case in an organized conversation in Bryant Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The event was hosted by The Center for Practical Ethics.
According to the university’s website, The Center of Practical Ethics aims to “(Focus) on pragmatic solutions to pressing and contentious moral and political issues through intensive research, collaboration and dialogue and ethical analysis. The Center fosters civil dialogue on a range of ethical issues through events and programming open to the campus community and the public through its public-facing pillar.”
In Alabama v. Jones, Mar-
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shae Jones faced manslaughter charges after initiating an altercation that resulted in a miscarriage. The case was dismissed by Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynniece Washington, who stated that “families on both sides of this matter suffered,” according to ABC News.
Jake Barksdale, a junior political science major and member of the UM College Democrats, shared how he thinks the students’ conversation went.
“(Our discussion) was a lot less controversial than I thought it was (going to) be,” Barksdale said. “You’re just sitting across from a person four feet away.
I definitely think that I gained new perspectives, and I like to think that I provided new perspectives as well as clarifications on people’s perspectives that I hadn’t had before.”
Barksdale said the two
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sides did not see eye-to-eye on certain points of discussion.
“There was definitely disagreement on whether or not the fetus was a person (in Alabama v. Jones),” Barksdale said. “But there was a general consensus on the case, and it was a civil conversation.”
However, some members felt that the conversation strayed from being civil.
“I definitely think our group strayed away from talking about why we came here, and at times, it did feel like a debate,” Cade Kelly, a member of the UM College Democrats, said.
Kelly, a freshman accounting major, shared this sentiment.
“I definitely think that I gained new perspectives, and I like to think that I provided new perspectives as well as clarifications on people’s perspectives that I hadn’t had before.”
-
Cass Rutledge, chairman of College Republicans, shared his opinions on abortion policy.
“More broadly, I think that mothers and fathers who find themselves in unplanned
“I thought we were just going to talk about the case, which from what I understood was about abortion; however, the child was not aborted, so that wasn’t the case. But I definitely kind of understood (views that oppose mine) a little bit more.”
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pregnancies should be supported, whether that’s reforming the foster system or making fathers pay for child support while the mother is pregnant or also expanding tax credit,” Rutledge said.
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‘Blithe Spirit’: Horror on the stage, not the football field
Theatre Oxford’s
production promises spooky fun for the Halloween season.
Tori Hutchinson and Jacob Hall read their lines during a recent rehearsal for Theatre Oxford’s production of “Blithe Spirit.”
NATE DONOHUE thedmfeatures@gmail.com
It is “spooky” season in Oxford, and for any Rebel fans who were not sufficiently haunted by Ole Miss Football’s performance in Baton Rouge, La., there is another opportunity for a frightening thrill: Theatre Oxford’s “Blithe Spirit.”
The performance is set to take place at the Powerhouse on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The plot of “Blithe Spirit” follows an English author who, in search of an idea for his next work, makes the mistake of involving the supernatural.
Gavin Lane, a junior theatre arts major from Las Vegas and the production’s stage manager, provided more details about the performance.
“‘Blithe Spirit’ is a hilarious dark comedy that centers around aristocratic London author Charles Condomine, who needs inspiration for his newest thriller novel,” Lane said. “He summons psychic medium Madame Arcati to his residence to hold a seance, but something goes wrong. The ghost of his ex-wife Elvira begins to haunt Charles, proving to him that the afterlife is indeed nonfiction, unlike his books.”
Jackie Daniels is the director of “Blithe Spirit.” After moving to Water Valley, Miss., in 2018, she worked as a board member at Theatre Oxford. Daniels has high expectations for the performance.
“This is an extremely tal -
ented cast, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with them,” Daniels said. “The audience should expect to be thoroughly entertained.”
Lane described some of the exciting challenges he has faced working as stage manager.
“The biggest challenge for me and my assistant stage manager, Keelie (McClellan), is what we like to call ‘tracking’ for the props and for the set,” Lane said. “Essentially, we have to keep track of every single prop, set piece and decoration on that stage, down to the cigarettes.”
Moreover, the 1940s time period in which the play is set, as well as the social etiquette of the era, present their own difficulties.
“Since this show is a period piece centering around the wealthy, we have to make sure the details are correct,” Lane said. “(The characters) need to have the right cups for each drink, the proper sized plates, and saucers and the tables need to be set a certain way.”
A large contingent of this cast is composed of familiar faces from around the University of Mississippi campus.
“One of our biggest goals at Theatre Oxford is to unite the community,” Lane said. “This show will be the first show at the Powerhouse that has heavy involvement from students and faculty. The board, the management team and even some of our actors and understudies are students and faculty. This
show, and the shows coming afterward, are a great way to see the Ole Miss family putting on shows in the community that everyone can enjoy.”
Lane’s debut with Theatre Oxford came last year when he acted in the Ten Minute Play Festival. After stage managing “Blithe Spirit,” he will serve as director for Theatre Oxford’s next show, “Peppermint Bear.” Though he has not been with the Theatre Oxford for very long, he has grown familiar with his fellow crew members.
“Even though I’m relatively new here, the theater world is so small that I already knew everyone coming in,” Lane said. “I have become good friends with all of these people either through the Ten Minute Play Festival, my work at the Ford Center or the Department of Theater and Film at Ole Miss.”
Joe Atkins, the chair of the public relations committee at Theatre Oxford, is looking forward to the production.
“This is an exciting production for Theatre Oxford and for the community of Oxford,” Atkins said. “Noël Coward’s play is a true classic, and it’s a perfect fit with Halloween coming up. Also, it’s the playwright’s 125th birthday. Perfect timing.”
Tickets can be found on the Theatre Oxford website starting at $13 for Theatre Oxford members and children, $16 for students and seniors and $21 for those who do not fall into either of those categories.
PHOTO COURTESY: JOE ATKINS
continued from page 1
that I picked, and that’s the one that stuck,” Adamz said.
Adamz began his bonsai journey by reading books and watching YouTube videos. Through experimentation and self-study, Adamz taught himself the basics. At the beginning, he found he was skilled at keeping the trees alive. However, the artistic aspect was more difficult for Adamz.
“That’s the part I had to learn,” Adamz said. “I found out I could keep anything alive, but to have art look good was something
I really had to delve into.”
Now Adamz derives artistic satisfaction from making his trees look natural and aesthetically pleasing for others to admire. In 2019, during his graduate education, he traveled to Seoul, South Korea. While there, he apprenticed at the Korea Bonsai Museum, where he became a qualified bonsai master.
In addition to his work with Komorebi Bonsai, Adamz is the Chinese Flagship program Coordinator at UM. He holds a doctoral degree in Asian Studies from the University of Texas. Adamz shared that his degree in Asian Studies is unrelated to his interest in bonsai but provides a broader context for his work.
“It wasn’t inevitable that I get interested in bonsai at all,” Adamz said. “I really came to it through a different avenue than my interest in Asia.”
Although bonsai began as a hobby for Adamz, it has since become a way for Adamz to relieve stress, connect with nature and exercise his creative and scientific sides.
“I became more productive with my schoolwork. I was able to focus more at work and when I was at home. … I could relax,” Adamz said.
Bonsai has also presented Adamz with an opportunity to practice mindfulness.
“Understanding how the tree works, how it grows and spending that time with the tree takes you to the next level
of contemplation with yourself and with something that can’t communicate with you on a verbal level,” Adamz said.
When Adamz began his relocation to Oxford in 2021, he had approximately 600 trees. He started selling them to whoever would buy them to make room for the move. It was at this point that he realized the business potential of bonsai, and he continued selling his trees to buy more trees.
Adamz launched Komorebi Bonsai in January 2023. He now sells trees, conducts workshops and demonstrations and rents bonsai trees for events and permanent displays.
Adamz enjoys working on bonsai privately, with his children and with mem -
bers of the community.
The next event that Komorebi Bonsai will host is a demonstration on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m.-noon for the Oxford-Lafayette Newcomers and Friends Club at the SPARC auditorium of the North East Mississippi Electric Power Association offices.
In addition to more community-centric events, Adamz hosts workshops and private sessions that can be booked through his website or by emailing the business at kobo.bonsai@gmail.com.
“It’s a paradox, and I think the human mind is fascinated with paradoxes,” Adamz said. “To see something that is tiny but looks giant just fascinates our minds inherently.”
Water Valley hosts 16th annual art crawl
CLAIRE REYNOLDS
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The Water Valley Main Street Association will host the town’s 16th annual art crawl on Friday, Oct. 16. Art enthusiasts can peruse homes and businesses opening their doors for the event and mingle with local artists from 6-9 p.m. Following the crawl, which has 14 stops, an after-party will be held from 9-10:30 p.m.
In addition to being the owner of stop #13, Mulberry Lane Resale Shoppe, Katelynn Dillard is a member of the Water Valley Main Street Association. This is Dillard’s first year as a co-chair for the art crawl.
“What’s really fun about the Water Valley Art Crawl is that it features both locally owned and operated businesses as well as historic homes,” Dillard said. “You get to see (artists’) workspaces, their personal collections of art from other artists as well as their own art featured in their own homes.”
Stop #1 on the crawl is The Blue Melon Rendezvous. Mari Foster is the creator of this gallery, which highlights the work of experimental artists. Stop #2 is The Magnolia Coffee Company, the parent company of the Magnolia Copper Top food truck on campus. At this location, guests can watch musical performances and listen to ghost fables and tales about Robert Johnson.
Stop #3, Bozarts Gallery, will feature nine visual artists
of mixed media and one harpist. University of Mississippi English professor and owner of Bozarts Gallery Annette Trefzer was one of the founding members of the Water Valley Art Crawl.
Stop #4 is the home of Kate Donovan and Leslie Joblin, also known as the Cat Head House. The house was featured in the June issue of Better Home & Gardens magazine because of its bold and vibrant color scheme and decorative style.
Stop #5 and #6 are GG’s Flowers and Gifts and the Water Valley Main Street Association office, respectively. Glenda Gordon, owner of GG’s Flowers and Gifts, has been selling an array of unique home decor since 201. The Water Valley Main Street Association, the nonprofit sponsoring the art crawl, will feature the works of the nationally renowned Mississippi quilter named Coulter Fussell.
The next two stops are more historic homes. The Creekmore House, stop #7, is where poet and novelist Hubert Creekmore grew up. This stop will feature a quilter, a ceramicist and a sculpture artist. Stop #8 is the Grapefruit House, home of Macon Humphries and Graham Hamaker, the artists who run the grapefruit clothing company. Their home will feature four artists.
Stop #9 is The Stitchery, a newly opened needlepoint shop owned by Camille Breckenridge. This stop will transform into a fiber art market composed of
three artists with a quilter, an artist who does abstract embroidery and a crochet artist.
Stop #10 is aptly named “TIN” — an abbreviation for the nonprofit organization This Is Noteworthy. TIN will display the works of photographer Alan Messer and house a sculptress Tori Smith in their space. TIN will also showcase the creations of several local and regional artists.
“Alan Messer has photographed an endless list of greats, from John Lennon to David Bowie, Diana Ross, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash and many more. He will be present at the event,” Dillard said.
Stop #11 is the Courthouse Cafe, where Susan Tamboli, a painter, will be present, followed by stop #12, where Jonathan Kent Adams will open the doors of his art studio and display some of his own work.
Dillard’s business, Mulberry Lane Resale Shoppe, is stop #13. Dillard chose to feature watercolor artist Robbin Whitfield, who shares the store’s passion for being environmentally conscious.
“What I love about Robbin is she is not only an artist, but she’s a naturalist and a kayaker. So she gets in her kayak (and) goes kayaking with all of her art supplies to a remote place in the swamp,” Dillard said. “She makes her own natural pigments and paints with them in the swamp using the natural paints, and that’s her work that we’ll be featuring.”
The final stop on the art crawl, #14, is McDaniel Made Workshop. Justin McDaniel, owner of the wooden furniture workshop, is the co-chair of the art crawl alongside Dillard. McDaniel made the watercolor map of the art crawl locations that has been featured on the Water Valley Mainstreet Association’s social media and website. McDaniel’s workshop will house two painters.
The band “The All Tore Up,” led by UM Biology Professor Steve Brewer, will provide music for the after-party located
at the Courthouse Commons. The 16th annual Water Valley Art Crawl is free for anyone who wishes to participate and is open to all ages.
“It’s all about just a free community event, and the artists are there to mingle, meet people, but also they’re there to sell their work,” Dillard said. “So people throughout the evening are welcome and encouraged to talk with the artists, get to know them, get to know their body of work and buy something from them to really show how much they support (them).”
Attendees of the 15th annual Water Valley Art Crawl sit in the courtyard of Magnolia Coffee Co. on Oct. 14, 2023.
PHOTO COURTESY: HALLIE THOMAS
Ole Miss Cross Country off to a running start
The women’s and men’s teams are both ranked
WILSON ENGERISER thedmsports@gmail.com
With the women’s team ranked No. 22 nationally and the men’s team ranked No. 6 in the South region, Ole Miss Cross Country is off to a strong start. Both teams look forward to pre-nationals, hosted in Madison, Wis. Their first meet of the season was the Memphis Twilight XC Classic in which the women’s team ran a 5K and the men’s team ran the four-mile race.
The women’s team won first overall with a score of 25, led by juniors Sarah Schiffman and Beth Arentz, who ran 17:37.7 and 17:37.8, respectively. To round out the top five runners, Frances Luna and Ainhoa Brea received sixth and seventh with times of 18:18.8 and 18:26.3.
Adrienne Luna finished ninth with a time of 18:34.7.
The men’s team won first with a score of 48, with four of their top five runners coming in the top 10. Caden Townshend ran a 20:07.2, Aidan Hodge ran a 20:18.87, Landen McNair ran a 20:20.47 and Gabe Scales ran a 20:31.30. Stone Smith rounded out the top five Rebel runners with a 21:02.25, to finish 22nd overall.
The next meet they participated in was the Gans Creek Classic in which the men’s team finished seventh and the women’s team finished third.
The top runners for the women’s team all finished in the top-50 with senior Loral Winn finishing fourth overall. The other scoring runners were Sophie Baumann who finished 18th with a time of 20:27.3, Sarah Schiffman who finished
26th with a time of 20:35.6, Beth Arentz who finished 32nd with a time of 20:45.0 and Hannah Ielfield who finished 43rd with a time of 20:57.9.
The men’s team finished seventh with a score of 238. They were led by a strong finish by Toby Gillen who finished sixth with a time of 23:13.7. Aiden Britt and Elyas Ayyoub were the next scoring runners who finished 21st and 40th, with times of 23:39.3 and 23:58.8, respectively. Finally, Jack Meijer and Landen McNair finished 78th and 101st to round out the Rebels’ top five with times of 24:27.2 and 24:37.1.
Both teams look ahead to the pre-nationals meet in which they hope to continue to improve before the SEC championship and start of NCAA meets.
HOW TO PLAY
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats. DIFFICULTY LEVEL
ACROSS 1- Compare; 6- Neat; 10- Frozen waffle brand; 14- Senseless; 15- Praiseful poems; 16- Strip of wood; 17- Scout unit; 18- Blue hue; 19- Portable shelter; 20- Conger; 21- In the lead; 23- Bluegrass instrument; 24- Koran religion; 26- State Farm rival; 27- Lighted by the sun; 29- Scope; 31- Capital city of Western Samoa; 32- Magna ___; 33- Where the buoys are; 36- In spite of; 40- U-turn from WSW; 41- Harvests; 42- Actress Heche; 43- Gets ready; 44- Lengthier; 46- Physician to Marcus Aurelius; 48- Capital of Yemen; 49- Put a new price on; 50- Take as one’s own; 52- Ignited;
55- Plugging away; 56- Olive genus; 57- Objects of devotion; 59- Tartan skirt; 60- Crowd noise; 61- Craze; 62- Kitchen add-on?; 63- Sun. speeches; 64- Gardener’s tool; DOWN 1- Low-cal; 2- Memo starter; 3- Chief constituent of china clay; 4- Music producer Brian; 5- Kathmandu native; 6- Tribal symbol; 7- Brain wave; 8- Six feet under; 9- Fashion designer’s monogram; 10- Executor’s concern; 11- First American to orbit Earth; 12- Marijuana; 13- Director Preminger; 22- Magician’s prop; 23- Started; 25- Cabbage salad; 26- Architectural pier; 27- Having a sound mind; 28- Atop; 29- Rough files;
30- Liberal pursuits; 32- Bloke; 33- Songfest; 34- Feminine suffix; 35- Teen follower; 37- Like some vbs.; 38- High schooler; 39- Comedian Carvey; 43- Missouri feeder; 44- Child seat?; 45- Punctual; 46- Understand?; 47- Leaning; 48- Flies high; 49- Autumn tool;
Shaving cream additive;
Honeybunch;
Would ___ to you?;
Peter the Great, e.g.;
Surgery sites, briefly;
Family man;
Loral Winn competes in the SEC Cross Country Championships on Oct. 28, 2022.
PHOTO COURTESY: REED JONES / OLE MISS ATHLETICS
DM SPORTS DESK thedmsports@gmail.com
Alabama @ Tennessee:
35-28 Tennessee wins
(Wilson Engeriser)
Week 8 college football pick ‘ems
This is one of the most exciting rivalries in the SEC. While Tennessee looks to capitalize on a reeling Alabama team, the Tide looks to rebound during an up-and-down season.
One of the major storylines in college football this season is the downfall of Alabama. After beating Georgia in a top-ranked game, the wheels have fallen off. The Crimson Tide lost to Vanderbilt by five points, and instead of rebounding and destroying their next opponent, the Tide almost lost to South Carolina.
Tennessee started the season 4-0 but lost to Arkansas by five points two weeks ago. The Volunteers rebounded with an overtime win against Florida. With quarterback Nico Iamaleava and running back Dylan Sampson, Tennessee’s offense is the star of the team.
This will be a matchup that disrupts the SEC standings for what feels like the umpteenth time this season. Neyland Stadium will be rocking and Alabama will suffer a second upset loss of the season at the hands of the Vols.
Georgia @ Texas:
45-42 Georgia wins
(Luke Dunavant)
The Georgia Bulldogs will
Memorial Stadium to face the dominant Texas Longhorns.
After giving up 31 points to a banged up Mississippi State team, the Bulldogs will look to prove that they are still one of the best teams in the SEC. Quarterback Carson Beck has thrown for 1,818 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Bulldogs’ pass game has been their only saving grace, as the run game has yet to hit its stride.
back, with 11 sacks this season; Tyrion Ingrahm-Dawkins remains in the lead with three sacks. However, the Bulldogs are not as skilled at intercepting the ball, as they only have three interceptions this year. After demolishing the Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 34-3, the Texas Longhorns are clearly the best team in the SEC. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is back at the starting position, throwing
Kansas State, Colorado is sitting at 4-2 and has already matched its win total from a season ago.
Superstars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have not disappointed to start this year, as both have put up electric numbers.
Arizona has lost two straight games against Texas Tech and BYU since knocking off then No. 10 Utah in Salt Lake City. The Wildcats started the year ranked in the top 25 before losing to
on fire in the ground game. Although Feagin was injured in Illinois’ victory over Purdue last week and is expected to miss a few weeks, do not expect the Illinois offense to stop rolling.
The Michigan Wolverines have struggled a bit this season after losing Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and most of their starters to the NFL. The defense has looked average, and the offense is not as as explosive as it was last year — mainly due to the team’s issues at quarterback and an inability to pass the ball — making the offense extremely one dimensional and easy to shut down.
Expect a victory from the Illini in their first ranked matchup at home in the last 24 years.
LSU @ Arkansas: 30-17 LSU wins (Nate Donohue)
After beating Ole Miss in an overtime thriller in Death Valley, the Tigers will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to face a Razorbacks team that upset No. 4 Tennessee two weeks ago. Razorback Stadium is undoubtedly a hostile environment, so this could very well be a trap game for the Tigers.
Of major concern for Arkansas is the health of quarterback Taylen Green, who is still nursing a bone bruise he suffered against Tennessee. Green has thrown for over 1,500 yards on the season and rushed for over 300. The 6-foot-6 junior signal caller had the bye week to heal, but he remains as a questionable component of this game.
Regardless of whether Green plays, LSU should win this one.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier found his stride late in the Ole Miss game, throwing a touchdown with 27 seconds left in regulation and then throwing a game-winner on LSU’s first offensive play in overtime. The Tiger defense, too, is stingy, forcing two turnovers against the Rebels and sacking quarterback Jaxson Dart six times.
Kentucky @ Florida: 20-13
Florida wins
(Tanner Shapiro)
Kentucky will travel to the swamp where they look to bounce back after a tough loss to Vanderbilt last week. The Gators also are coming off a gut wrenching loss where they took a ranked Tennessee team to overtime.
Florida lost quarterback Graham Mertz for the rest of the year with an ACL injury, leaving five- star freshman DJ Lagaway to get the start. Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff struggled in the loss against Vanderbuilt, throwing for a measly 158 yards. The run game struggled as well, as the Wildcats ran the ball 31 times with little success.
Florida’s bright spot in what has been a rough season has been the wide receivers. Chimere Deke and Elijhah Badger have been great for the Gators in SEC play.
KAT MOORMAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Lavender Letters:
‘Ole
Miss has got a long way to go to support LGBTQ+ students’
“For
every queer student at our school, whether you are out or not, know that it will be hard, but at the end of the day, it is worth it.”
KADIN COLLIER
thedmopinion@gmail.com
Being gay at Ole Miss is not always smooth sailing. That is unsurprising given the prevalence of bigotry and the fact we live in one of the most staunchly conservative states in the union. As the son of Christian missionaries, my sexuality has always been a point of contention – but that internal conflict resurfaced in college.
But what I have found intriguing, in the most fearful way possible, is just how far behind progress this university is in accepting queer students. While I have definitely enjoyed my sixish weeks here, I have also experienced discrimination and outright hatred — just because I am not a masculine man who likes women.
If I had a nickel for every time I was called the f-slur, given a side-eye or weird look by a pledge or received a snarky comment, I could probably afford rent in Oxford. But jokes aside, vitriol against the LGBTQ+ community runs rampant in our cozy college town, from Friday nights at the bars and dinosaur denying religious extremists in the Circle to the infamously raucous frat parties. Harassment like this seems to spike on game days at the Grove. After all, drunk words are sober thoughts, and it is no secret most Rebels tailgating are three High Noons deep and tipsier than one of the Grove squirrels on espresso.
Thankfully, I am pretty thickskinned, so the harassment I face does not dig deep. What I am more worried about is the way this culture of hatred impacts students who are struggling silently with their sexuality and stifles progress for representation and acceptance.
PSA: There are not fewer queer students at Ole Miss than at any of the gay liberal arts schools. There are fewer openly queer students. The continued use of more extreme insults (like the f-slur) and even more tame descriptors like “gay” to describe something negative, forces closeted queer people to shut the door and lock it from the inside.
In an environment that os-
Opinion Policies:
Kadin Collier
tracizes identities that are different, why would anyone want to openly embrace that identity?
When applying to Ole Miss, I considered it as a safety school, the last resort and the place I would actually attend only if I did not receive adequate scholarships or need-based aid from the elite (but socially liberal) universities I eagerly applied to. One instance that almost dissuaded me from choosing Ole Miss was after I posted my pictures on the “Class of 2024” Instagram page. Comments began to pile up, mostly from burner accounts but many from prospective students criticizing me, how I looked and more specifically, my queerness.
After days of second-guessing myself and jotting down countless pros and cons lists, I picked the University of Mississippi – mainly for the scholarships but also because I knew quite a few people attending.
Ultimately, I think I made the right choice. I will not sugarcoat it. Ole Miss has got a long way to go to support LGBTQ+ students. Right now, it is hard to be who I am, especially in the face of backlash, but the one thing I have to remember is that my existence is revolutionary in itself.
For every queer student at our school, whether you are out or not, know that it will be hard, but at the end of the day, it is worth it. Being visible and proud is making life here safer, more fun and more inclusive for the next class and generation of Ole Miss students. It will get better.
Kadin Collier is a freshman Arabic and international studies double major from Tokyo.
Editor’s Note: The Lavender Letters is a collection of open letters written by members of Ole Miss’ queer community highlighting the many joys and hardships that come with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the South — and in particular on this campus. If you are interested in writing a letter, email thedmopinion@gmail.com.
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. Third-party 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.
