MISSISSIPPIAN
Thursday, February 20, 2025
ASB runs the numbers on student housing insecurity
MARY EVANS Assistant News Editor
The University of Mississippi Associated Student Body Senate conducted a survey in fall 2023 assessing student housing experiences both on and off campus. The anonymous survey found that 24.5% of 731 respondents have faced some form of housing insecurity during their time at the university.
For this report, ASB defined housing insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability, access to, or inability to acquire safe, stable, adequate and affordable housing.” The same definition was used in a fall 2020 study conducted by The Housing Insecurity Lab in partnership with LOU-HOME, Inc.
The most common reason cited for housing insecurity was difficulty with the “leasing sea-
son” at 25.5% of respondents.
Leasing season is defined as the two-and-a-half week period between the end of most leases at the end of July and the beginning of new leases in mid-August.
Other reasons cited by respondents include high price of rent, issues with the university’s department of housing, roommate issues, safety concerns and a lack of available housing.
The survey arrives during unprecedented enrollment growth
at UM. The number of new freshmen has increased from 5,241 in fall 2023 to 5,973 in fall 2024, according to the university.
To provide adequate housing for students, the university has entered into master lease agreements with off-campus apartment complexes, including Revel Oxford, Taylor Bend, The Lark, the Quarters at Ox-
Feeling flu? Here’s what to do
flu, RSV and norovirus cases on campus, according to a university press release.
The flu has begun to spread quickly among the student body at the University of Mississippi.
“Out of the 12 hour shifts that we work, we’re seeing an influx of patients right now … about 130 a day. I would say about half of those have the flu or flulike symptoms,” Holly Armstrong, a nurse practitioner at Oxford Urgent Care, said.
The spike in sickness is in line with the rest of the state.
A recent report from the Mississippi State Department of Health shows a 5% increase in positive flu cases compared to the same time in 2024.
Alex Langhart, director of University Health Services, has also noticed the rise in
Jakota White, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Gulfport, Miss., is among the students who contracted the flu within the first two weeks of being back at school for the spring term.
After presenting typical symptoms of the flu, White visited the university’s Student Health Center.
“I knew I was going to test positive, but it still wasn’t fun hearing those words,” White said. “I immediately went to the pharmacy and got my prescription before going home to rest. It sucked missing out on everything I had planned for a whole week, but I definitely felt way too bad to do any of it.”
NEW SHADRACH’S
A second drive-thru location is set to open in April on South Lamar Boulevard.
SEE PAGE 3
IZZY ARTHURS CONCERT
The University of Mississippi senior will take the Proud Larry’s stage Saturday with her full band.
SEE PAGE 4
MATTHEW MURRELL
Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell has embraced his role as a veteran leader in his fifth year with the Rebels.
SEE PAGE 6
Faculty compete with students for parking spots
ANNABELLE MILLER
While there are 2,651 designated faculty-staff parking spots available, the University of Mississippi issued 3,155 faculty and staff parking passes for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to Director of Parking and Transportation Samuel Patterson. This means that 504 permit holders could be left without a place to park at any time.
To ensure every parking spot is being utilized throughout the day, it is common for the university to sell a higher number of parking passes than spaces available. For every designated student parking space on campus, two student parking passes are sold. Faculty parking lots, like student lots,
are located in various spots around campus.
Jonathan Winburn, a political science professor, was unable to find parking in time for his 11 a.m. class after circling lots for 40 minutes.
“There are a couple lots that are my ‘secret lots’ that usually have spots,” Winburn said. “When I went to those, there were students circling trying to get spots, and traffic was so bad trying to get to other lots.”
After 40 minutes of looking for a spot, Winburn had to cancel his next class. He said that was the first time he had to do so and that parking has gotten worse over the last few years.
Winburn said the main parking problem he faces is students using faculty spots. Since July 1, more than 1,024 students have received ci-
PARKING PAGE 3
HANNAH HOANG News Contributor
News Staff Writer
Parents help their daughter move into Residential College South on Aug. 15, 2024.
MARIA RAMIREZ / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
continued from page 1
ford, Gather Oxford and the Flatts, which was newly leased for the 2025-26 school year.
Between on-campus and off-campus sites, 28.5% of students currently live in university housing.
“As enrollment increases, the University of Mississippi, the City of Oxford and Lafayette County have felt increasing pressures on the local housing
Wesley Templet, chair of the ASB Senate committee on housing and junior public policy leadership major, said the survey was created to give students the opportunity to voice their concerns.
“This survey does offer a wide range and diverse span of student voices,” Templet said.
“While there were larger percentages of some demographics (such as graduate students) compared to the full university demographics, the report accurately shows and represents that.”
Off-campus housing
market,” the report said. “These communities are not only experiencing a decrease in housing availability but other issues have also surfaced, including affordability, the market leasing season, eviction, renter education, safety, accessibility and inclusivity.”
Of the respondents — all of whom were anonymous — 71% were graduate students and 29% were undergraduate students. The survey also collected data on the gender, ethnicity, housing locations, ages and other information about students.
Off-campus students struggle with rental costs, lease comprehension and housing availability, with 67.8% of off-campus undergraduates surveyed finding it difficult to secure housing within their budget.
“Finding new housing that fit my budget was very difficult, and I had to settle for a place that was further from campus than I would have liked, was more expensive and unfurnished,” a graduate student said.
International students
The struggle to find housing is especially difficult for international and graduate students, according to the survey.
Thirty-eight percent of international students experienced housing insecurity in the last year, compared to 28% of domestic students, according to the survey. Of the university’s international stu-
continued from page 1
Joe Dikun, an instructional assistant professor in the UM School of Pharmacy, recommended that the best way to fight the flu, especially for college students, is by receiving the flu vaccination around late September or early October in order to be protected when flu season peaks in late December.
“I’d say it’s really critical to get vaccinated. You’re in a high risk environment because of how dense the population is,” Dikun said. “You’re in dorms, you’re in classrooms, you’re in dining halls, in our social gatherings — everybody is in tight quarters, so transmission of these things are more likely,”
However, Dikun said that there are many difficulties that come with encouraging
dents, 66% are graduate students.
International students reported the factors that limit their rental options and detailed the challenges they face, including a lack of a credit score or a guarantor. International students disproportionately struggled to understand the legal aspects of housing, according to the survey, with 45% reporting difficulties versus 22% of domestic students.
Some respondents reported that they faced discrimination while searching for housing.
“I was submitting applications to a majority of rental companies. Whenever I realized that none were calling me back, I looked at the reviews and comments, and many had comments that those companies do not rent to people of color. My current place declined my friend from renting because he was an international student,” an international student said.
Graduate students
Graduate students also reported facing more eviction threats at 5.6%, compared to 1.2% of undergraduates.
Pricing is also an issue, according to the report, with 81.9% of graduate students citing affordability as a major concern.
Of the graduate students surveyed, 57.6% reported maintenance requests, 36.5% reported internet and 30.6% reported rent payments as their top issues.
“Rent in Oxford is UNAFFORDABLE for couples/families because so many single-family homes for rent are leased by the bedroom, making it impossible for a family to rent,” a graduate student said. “There is a housing issue & as graduate students, the stress of housing security makes academic work less important.”
On-campus residents
While a majority of on-campus students expressed satisfaction with living conditions, 29.4% were indifferent or dissatisfied.
On-campus residents also voiced concerns with maintenance, cleanliness and restrictive policies, with 47.7% of students expressing frustration over slow maintenance services. Regarding temperature control, 45.8% of students were dissatisfied.
Of the students surveyed, 80.3% felt secure in their dorms and 72.4% were satisfied with lighting near parking areas. Move-in was smoother with 73.2% satisfaction, while only 26.3% of respondents reported
satisfaction with move-out, with complaints about blue bin availability and check-out procedures.
In response to the survey findings, ASB made a list of suggestions to the university:
1. Hire additional maintenance staff.
2. Ensure housing supports academic and personal development without compromising on quality despite increasing enrollment.
3. Collaborate with RSOs like Better Together to help international students.
4. Consider hiring a full-time staff member dedicated to guiding international students through the housing process and assisting in financial or legal hardships.
5. Create and maintain a list of off-campus housing options that are student-friendly and welcoming to international students.
6. Address the unique challenges faced by graduate students in securing housing.
7. Take steps to prevent discrimination in off-campus housing.
The Daily Mississippian reached out to the university on Monday for comment on the ASB’s recommendations. The university acknowledged the request but has not responded upon publication.
The survey also showed that many students do not know about the emergency housing provided at the university, with 40.8% saying they would have considered seeking out UMatter emergency housing services had they known about them. UMatter provides low-cost temporary housing for 14 days.
people to get vaccinated, including the spread of misinformation and mistrust in vaccines, along with the usual fear of needles and shots.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that vaccination rates for the 2024-25 season are lower than the last three seasons. In addition to the challenge of encouraging students to get vaccinated, there is the challenge of treating them once they do test positive for the virus.
“We are seeing a lot of people which means the wait times are longer which means the waiting room is full. There’s just a bottleneck of patients everywhere,” Armstrong said. “And taking care of college students when they’re not with their parents, it’s hard. It takes up time with us talking on the phone to parents when they’re worried. We do a lot of teaching because they just don’t know what to do.”
Armstrong recommended lots of rest for those afflicted with the flu.
“Don’t go to class, don’t go to the basketball game … rest, hydrate,” Armstrong said. “If you’re exhausted and malnourished, you can’t fight anything. A lot of people get scared that they’re going to miss something, but if you truly don’t feel well you shouldn’t be out and about.”
While the flu continues to spread, students will continue to carry on with the semester in hopes that they do not come down with the sickness.
“I’m glad that I feel better now, but it was rough for a while, especially knowing that I was going to have to make up assignments for classes that I missed,” White said. “I definitely wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”
PARKING
continued from page 1
tations for parking in faculty/ staff lots, according to Patterson. Winburn expressed that he would like the university to resolve parking for both faculty and students.
“To me, the only way to prevent students from parking in faculty and staff lots is to put gates up,” Winburn said. “I don’t think the university would do that because they are ugly and they cost a lot of money, but if you want to make sure people are parking where they are supposed to be parking, the gate system is the only one that really works.”
Isis Arantes, an instructional assistant professor of biology, often has to park far from her office or even in unpaved areas — like the mud.
“Sometimes it’s the only spot to find,” Arantes said. She believes increased stu-
dent use of public transportation could help the issue.
Kathleen McGuire, an adjunct history professor, said she arrives on campus two hours early to secure a parking space.
“I shape my day around making sure I get the spot that I’m comfortable having,” McGuire said.
McGuire said she has been noticing this trend as student enrollment has been growing.
UM reached a record high enrollment of 23,981 for the fall 2024 semester — a 2,385 increase in students since last year.
McGuire suggested building more parking structures, which she acknowledges is a difficult task.
“I don’t know what the solution is, but it’s certainly something that I would love to see addressed further,” McGuire said.
A $56 million parking garage project set for completion in 2026 will add 1,331 new spaces for both faculty and students.
The new structure, officially named Residential Parking — Structure B — will be located
in what used to be an adjoining parking lot to the west of the currently standing Residential Parking Garage – Tower A. Patterson attributes the parking shortage to rising enrollment and construction around campus.
“This growth is a positive indicator of the university’s success but has strained existing infrastructure,” Patterson said.
“Faculty, staff and students can view these challenges as part of a broader effort to enhance campus
New location approved for second Shadrach’s Coffee
A second Shadrach’s Coffee location is anticipated to open by early April at 2450 South Lamar Blvd., near the Oxford Self Storage building across from the Harlan Drive intersection.
The first Shadrach’s Coffee in Oxford opened on Jackson Avenue in 2022. The new Shadrach’s location is within the Traditional Neighborhood Business District, which does not allow drive-through facilities; however, the Oxford Planning Commission granted an exception to Shadrach’s.
Brad Akins, who owns both locations, saw the establishment of a second location as an opportunity to bring coffee to an underserved part of Oxford.
“We decided on South Lamar Boulevard because of all of the businesses and homes on that side of Oxford with zero coffee shops,” Brad Akins said. “I had a great opportunity to build on the spot of land across from Phillips Grocery and took it.”
Shadrach’s manager Heath Akins said the company will focus on creating a welcoming environment for both customers and employees.
“I can confidently say that we are a coffee shop that genuinely cares about the happi -
ness and joy of our employees and customers,” Heath Akins said. “We want to treat everyone like they are family and are loved, and I think it shows.”
Assistant manager LeeLee Seicshnaydre said Shadrach’s prioritizes more than just coffee — it is the relationship they form with the community.
“We make sure our drive-thru is designed to get customers their drinks as quickly as possible, but most importantly, each of our baristas knows that a smile and a kind word goes a long way,” Seicshnaydre said. “Brightening people’s days is our biggest goal at Shadrach’s.”
With the introduction of a new drive-thru shop, many residents are concerned about increased traffic on South Lamar Boulevard. Brad Akins assured the community that the new facility will accommodate up to 30 cars, which is more than the capacity of the Jackson Avenue location.
“We have reduced the size of the building but increased the drive thru lanes,” Brad Akins said.
Hiring for the new location is expected to begin soon.
“One of our goals is consistency because we want to make sure that no matter which location you stop at, you get the same great coffee and friendly faces,” Seicshnaydre said.
THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN EDITORIAL staff
KHARLEY REDMON editor in chief dmeditor@gmail.com
CLAY HALE managing editor dmmanaging@gmail.com
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CAMERON LARKIN news editor thedmnews@gmail.com
MARY EVANS assistant news editor thedmnews@gmail.com
JUSTICE ROSE opinion editor thedmopinion@gmail.com
CLAIRE REYNOLDS arts and culture editor thedmfeatures@gmail.com
SYDNEY STEPP assistant arts and culture editor thedmfeatures@gmail.com
TEDDY KING sports editor thedmsports@gmail.com
RUSS EDDINS assistant sports editor thedmsports@gmail.com
Brad Akins added that owning Shadrach’s has been a life-changing experience.
“It means so much and we are so thankful that Oxford has made Shadrach’s their favorite coffee place,” Brad said. “The overwhelming support we have gotten from this community has been simply wonderful, and that has made it possible to open another location.”
ASHLYNN PAYNE design editor thedmdesign@gmail.com
ERIN FOLEY assistant design editor thedmdesign@gmail.com
ASHTON SUMMERS photo editor thedmphotos@gmail.com
JOURNEY GLOVER assistant photo editor thedmphotos@gmail.com
AVERY THOMAS social media manager thedmsocialmedia@gmail.com
FARIDA BELAL online editor thedmonline@gmail.com
JAYLYNN CONNER assistant editor thedmnews@gmail.com
S. Gale denley student media center
LARZ ROBERTS Director of Student Media
DENNIS MOORE Editorial Director
facilities, attract talent and solidify Ole Miss as a leading institution.”
Shadrach’s Coffee construction is underway at 2450 South Lamar Blvd. on Feb. 17.
CALLI HULL / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
A full parking lot near the Tad Smith Coliseum on Feb. 4
ANTONELLA RESCIGNO / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
JORJA CARTER News Staff Writer
Shadrach’s Coffee on Jackson Avenue
PHOTO COURTESY: AVERY STEWART
2025 Ole Miss yearbook available for pre-sale
CLAY HALE
Managing Editor
The Ole Miss yearbook will start pre-sale for the 2025 edition today.
In previous years, the yearbook has been available to University of Mississippi students for free. This year, students will have to purchase their yearbook for either $20 in pre-order or $25 during the week of distribution, which is scheduled for April 28 - May 2.
In years past, the cost of publishing the yearbook has been covered by the Student Media Center and the sale of sponsorships. As the cost of producing the yearbook has increased, sale of individual copies is also necessary to ensure continued publication.
“There’s a common misconception that the yearbook’s cost is covered by tuition,” The Ole Miss Editor in Chief Colin Kennedy, a junior biological sci -
ence major, said. “This hasn’t been the case for some time, and the publication is ineligible for Student Activities Fees.”
Few SEC schools still publish yearbooks, but Kennedy’s top priority is to continue publishing The Ole Miss yearbook.
“What a lot of people don’t know is (the name) Ole Miss comes from the yearbook,” Kennedy said. “We feel like without the book, there’s no school. If we don’t have The Ole Miss, then we don’t have Ole Miss — that’s why we want to keep it alive.”
The Ole Miss was first published in 1897.
To purchase a yearbook, go to @theolemiss on Instagram and click on the Linktree in its bio. The first block that pops up allows users to reserve their 2025 annual.
‘Vibrant
and electric:’
Izzy Arthurs dazzles Proud Larry’s Saturday night
SYDNEY STEPP Assistant A&C Editor
Describing herself as “allergic to genres,” Izzy Arthurs promises a heartfelt and exciting performance on the Proud Larry’s stage Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9 p.m., with Golden Teacher Society opening for Arthurs’ full band.
Arthurs is a senior singer-songwriter from Jackson, Tenn. She has played around Oxford on multiple occasions but primarily performs in her home state.
“I’m ingrained into the fabric in Tennessee, for sure, and that’s like my home base,” Arthurs said. “But it’s so awesome to be recognized and have an opportunity to play in the second home that I have before I launch out into the world.”
Arthurs has played at Proud Larry’s before, but this is her first time headlining a performance in Oxford.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played (at Proud Larry’s),” Arthurs said. “The difference is that I’ll be bringing down my full band from Tennessee.”
Arthurs’ original songs focus on honestly portraying the human experience.
“I write a lot about human experience, and so a lot of my writing is in a confessional style. So it’s kind of like, write what you know, right?” Arthurs said. “That’s true for me. Writing has always been very honest, and it’s almost unavoidable.”
While she aims to connect with the audience
through her original songs, she will also perform covers.
“For the show, we’ll have a healthy mix of covers, too,” Arthurs said. “If people like Chappell Roan or Fleetwood Mac, it’s gonna be so fun and a good night out.”
Arthurs’ has been writ -
ing on a live EP project.
“(The EP) gives you a really good idea of what the Arthurs show sounds like. And my band is five pieces behind me, so that’s six people in the studio,” Arthurs said. “We had a camera crew in there too, so there’s gonna be mu -
ing music since age 10 and has continued to use it as a creative outlet.
“Writing has kind of been my outlet for catharsis and for processing every stage of life,” Arthurs said. “And I had a few bands in high school. Music has always been really intrinsic to who I am as a person, so songwriting kind of naturally came about.”
Arthurs is work -
sic videos for each song … all captured in one take. So it’s high stakes but high reward.”
Jacob Money, a senior creative writing major from Olive Branch, Miss., hopes to attend the show on Saturday.
“Izzy is phenomenal at every aspect of performance, and it’s so exciting to get to see a future Grammy winner in action,” Money said.
Information about Arthurs
and her upcoming projects can be found at izzyarthurs.com.
“My merch will be coming soon, as will my official music on Spotify and all streaming platforms,” Ar -
thur said. “So this is almost like a preview, a teaser show of what’s about to come.”
The Ole Miss Editor in Chief Colin Kennedy glances at the 2024 yearbook on Feb. 19.
PHOTO COURTESY: MACKENZIE ROSS
Izzy Arthurs
The brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. step out of the crowd at Union Unplugged
CLAIRE REYNOLDS
A&C Editor
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., nicknamed the “Ques,” will be stepping and strolling on the Student Union Plaza for this week’s Union Unplugged 12:15-1 p.m. today. This event, hosted by the Student Activities Association, aims to highlight student organizations.
“This semester we have many (National Pan-Hellenic Council) organizations, Rebel Radio, The Ole Miss Idol Winner — Guy Krauskopf — and UM Ignite,” Student Activities Association Co-Director of Entertainment Bella Van, a senior southern studies major from Kennesaw, Ga., said.
Union Unplugged events occur every Tuesday and Thursday on the Student Union Plaza. Van spoke about why the organization chose this time for Union Unplugged.
“The reason Union Unpluggeds are on Thursdays from 12:15 - 1 p.m. is because students are walking to and from class during this time period, and for the most part, there are no classes during this specific time, which means we’re allowed to have amplified noise,” Van said.
“Students are able to enjoy the performance with classmates and friends when walk -
ing past the Union Plaza.”
This week’s Union Unplugged will feature the Eta Zeta chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which was established at the University of Mississippi in July 1973. Currently there are 16 members, and at least half will perform at today’s event.
Joseph Sharp, an exercise science major from Canton, Miss., is the vice basileus for the fraternity and spoke about why his organization takes part in Union Unplugged.
“We always participate in these (events) because it brings Greek unity to the university as well as advertises our skillset and our performance ability,” Sharp said.
Stepping and strolling routines are an integral aspect of Black Greek Letter Organizations’ traditions. The NPHC organizations, often referred to as the Divine Nine, each have a different routine.
“Students can expect to see us members performing various hops and marches that we do as part of tradition and our very own culture,” Sharp said. “(Stepping is meant) to show our enthusiasm for the fraternity as well as our devotion to community service — including theatrics to give viewers a show.”
Amy Nyary, a senior psy -
chology and Spanish double major from Hattiesburg, Miss., plans to attend today’s Union Unplugged.
“I think it’s so amazing that Omega Psi Phi is being showcased, as they and all the other NPHC organizations do such a great job of showcasing the service and talent of their members,” Nyary said. “I’ve been lucky enough to
go to a couple of probates, and it is an environment of joy and celebration unlike any I have ever experienced.”
Nyary expressed that the event sheds light on student talent that might otherwise be unrecognized.
“It’s so important, particularly during Black History Month, that the university does their part and uplifts or -
Latest Lumineers album brings nostalgia amid unrest
Indie-folk duo The Lumineers released their fifth studio album, titled “Automatic,” on February 14. The 11 track, 33-minute-long album is packed with hard-hitting lyricism that will resonate with a 2025 listener while maintaining the now-iconic — though maybe overplayed — sound that popularized the band.
I have been excitedly anticipating “Automatic” since the single “Same Old Song” preceded the album’s release on Jan. 8. The upbeat track painted an image of a lover who is making the most of the moment; however, instead of being a happy love song, it instead quickly turns into a piece about recognizing that our time in life is never guaranteed.
The repeating refrain of “Same old song / We sing the same old song / We sing the same old, same old, sad song” emphasizes the idea that the world we live in is cyclical, even if new events keep happening. In the beginning of the song, the singer references his grandmother’s death in his adolescence and later implies that it is the same kind of grief as losing his mother’s guitar after it is stolen.
“You’re All I Got” is a track about loving and needing something despite the complications it presents. This song is a top contender for my favorite on the album, primarily for the line “And I can’t give it up like Sisyphus below the rock,” which alludes to the idea that, even if a love for something will crush you, you cannot leave it alone.
“Keys on the Table” offers another perspective on the ideas in “You’re All I Got.” The song talks
ganizations like Omega Psi Phi that have historically not been visible on our campus,” Nyary said. “I really look forward to seeing the Ques stroll.”
CONTACT THE A&C DESK AT thedmfeatures@gmail.com
about desperation in a failing relationship. Similar ideas are present in prior album “III,” which discusses topics such as mental health and addiction.
While some songs seem to be about personal relationships such as “A–hole” and “You’re All I Got,” many songs on the album can only be listened to and understood in a sociopolitical context.
When I listened to “Better Day” for the first time on the way to Kroger, the only thing I really noted about it was the pretty piano in the background of the otherwise mellow song. Only when I sat down and truly listened to the song did I realize the message that The Lumineers had packed into it.
The song is “dreaming of a better day,” one in which teenagers don’t “lead the crusades” and in which blue lights do not keep “red eyes awake.” The juxtaposition of a soft melody with harsh but true lyrics almost brought me to tears and makes it my favorite off the album.
“Better Day” is then followed by the second instrumental of the album, titled “Sunflowers.” The instrumental utilizes a familiar melodic motif that can be recognized in “Patience,” the final instrumental track from their 2016 album “Cleopatra.” While some may see a purely instrumental track as a hindrance, it allows “Better Day” to breathe while also preparing for the final track, “So Long.”
Lyrically, “Automatic” is an impressive album, though the sonic masterpieces that we have grown to expect from The Lumineers are missing in this project.
SYDNEY STEPP Assistant A&C Editor
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. members stroll during the Union Unplugged BAR edition on Feb. 29, 2024.
MARIA RAMIREZ / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Matthew Murrell leads
ITEDDY KING Sports Editor
er in a breakthrough year for Ole Miss.
In his three years with Whitehaven High School in Memphis and one year at IMG Acad emy, Murrell was rated a four-star guard by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals. The Memphis native signed with Ole Miss in 2019 as the No. 2 prospect out of Tennessee and the No. 39 ranked player nationally.
Murrell has stayed with Ole Miss for the entirety of his collegiate ca reer and waived his chance to enter the NBA draft af ter four sea sons in order to use his last year of eligibility.
“It’s been great to me. You don’t usually see this nowadays in college bas ketball, staying at the same school for five years,” Murrell said in an in terview with The Daily Mississippi an. “So just to be able to say I’ve done that here at Ole Miss, it’s special.”
Murrell has been an asset to the Reb els lineup since his freshman season in 2020, when he played in all 28 games, starting in three of them. He finished his freshman season shooting an av erage 31.1% beyond the arc and 55.6% from the free throw line.
Murrell’s decision to stay with the Rebels stemmed from his desire to play in the NCAA Tour nament.
I’ve been missing most and just trying to get on the right track with the program. I feel like this to be a great year.” starts with Ole Miss, rell has guided the 80 victories. So season, Ole Miss cured three Top ference wins. If Rebels stay consistent through the end of SEC play, Murrell and the team could secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s first appearance since the 2019-20 season.
“It was a great feeling. After everything I’ve been going through this year, just to feel like you finally got your head above water and finally be able to have a great game you’re capable of having.”
Murrell has battled lower body and knee injuries all season and was forced to sit out a few crucial games for the Rebels.
Beard referenced the respect he has for Murrell during the Kentucky postgame press conference.
“I’ve said it before and just (have) a lot of respect for him and admiration of what he does on a daily basis. What he does with his 24 hours each day,” Beard said. “Just a lot of respect for him. Matt is doing what you have to do at this level when you’re banged up to give yourself a chance to try to help your team each night.”
Murrell and the Rebels will compete against Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip off is set for 2:30 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network.
“We sell out every home game at this point,” Murrell said. “As a college athlete, this is what you want, the attention towards the sport that you play, and now we’re getting more known on a national scene. That’s big for the program and for the school.”
Murrell notched his first 20-point game this season when Ole Miss upset No. 14 Kentucky 98-84 on Feb. 4. Murrell finished his performance with 24 points and six shots from beyond the arc.
For Murrell, a long awaited win like that became a great feeling.
“That’s definitely a big win. But due to the SEC schedule, you can only celebrate wins for so long,” Murrell said.
drives to the basket during a game against Oral Roberts on Nov. 21, 2024.
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers
Matthew Murrell
DANIEL LAUBHAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Men’s and women’s tennis teams open SEC campaigns on the road
NATE DONOHUE Sports Staff Writer
The Ole Miss Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams begin SEC play for the 202425 season this weekend, Feb. 22-23. Both teams will be on the road for their first matches. The men will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to face Arkansas on Saturday, Feb. 22. The women will head south to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Men’s
Ole Miss will play in Arkansas against the Razorbacks, who are 10-3 on the sea son. Arkansas’ most recent action came in a double-header on Feb. 9, when they lost to Middle Tennessee State Univer sity 4-2 but beat Tennessee State 4-0. Notably, the Razorbacks beat Nebraska 4-0 earlier this season. However, Arkansas has been inconsistent throughout the season; Middle Tennessee State is only 6-6, as is Tul sa. Overall, the Rebels look like the stronger team, and there is a chance they will catch the Razorbacks on an off day. Regardless, the Rebels need to come ready to play.
On Friday, Feb. 14, Nebraska dealt Ole Miss its first loss of the sea son. The Rebels responded well on Sunday, dominat ing Alcorn State in a double-header to improve to 9-1 on the season. This marked the Rebels’ best start to a season since 2021-22. The Reb
els swept the Braves in all singles and doubles events. Among the best performers for the Rebels were freshmen Matthieu Chambonniere and Benjamin Martin, both from France. The rookies won all three of their singles matches over the course of the weekend and were vital in keeping the matchup close against Nebraska. Chambonniere leads the team in singles victories this season with 16. Additionally, Chambonniere and Martin won in doubles in both matches against Alcorn State. Another excellent performer was freshman Kai Milburn from Queenstown, New Zealand. Milburn won four matches — two singles and two doubles — in the doubleheader against Alcorn State. The freshman doubled his collegiate singles win total from two to four.
Women’s
The Lady Rebels will face a daunting task against LSU, as the No. 16 Tigers are 8-1 this season — their sole loss coming against No. 7 Michigan at the ITA Division I National Women’s Team Indoor Championship on Feb. 7-9. The women’s team had to scrape off the rust last weekend in their first match in more than two
weeks. Though they lost to Iowa 1-4 on Sunday, Feb. 16, the Lady Rebels bounced back to defeat Alcorn State 7-0.
Sophomore Andrea Nova was a bright spot in the otherwise gloomy matchup against Iowa. The Prague native won 6-0 in doubles alongside senior Lucie Petruzelova and added a hard-earned singles victory that came after a tiebreaker in set two.
Nova also added doubles and singles victories against Alcorn State on Sunday. In her singles match, she did not lose a single game, winning 6-0 in sets one and two. Her doubles win, once again alongside Petruzelova, marked the pair’s fourth doubles victory of the season. Petruzelova, too, beat her opponent in singles.
LSU defeated No. 6 UCLA 4-2 in the consolation bracket of the ITA National Women’s Championship and left No. 3 Oklahoma State winless, earning a 4-0 victory. This was the highest-ranked win in the history of LSU women’s tennis.
Ole Miss faces a tall obstacle here. Nova’s performance last weekend was without blemish, but the Lady Rebels will need more than her to take down the red-hot Tigers.
If there is any coach in women’s tennis with enough experience to prepare a team for a fight like this, it is Ole Miss Coach Mark Bevers. Last weekend, Bevers achieved 300 career wins — all of which came at Ole Miss. Bevers undoubtedly knows how major an opportunity this is for his team, and he will ensure that they arrive in Baton Rouge equipped for a tough matchup.
The clash of meritocracy and DEI
ADDERLEY Opinion Staff Writer
Meritocracy — the idea that success is based solely on ability and effort — has long been praised as the foundation of a just society. The notion that hard work pays off, regardless of background, seems simple enough, but reality
has often been far more complex, especially for minorities and other historically marginalized groups.
Now that concept is under scrutiny after President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Decades of progress are now in question, leaving an urgent debate: Can meritocracy and DEI coexist?
The role of DEI in the workplace
DEI is not a new topic of debate. Once optional corporate initiatives, DEI programs have become essential frameworks shaping hiring, promotion and workplace culture. Companies are now more accountable than ever for diversifying their workforce and creating equitable opportunities. These policies help address barriers that so-called
merit alone often fails to overcome.
Because of DEI hiring and retention rates for marginalized groups have improved, and access to education has expanded.
Yet critics argue some DEI efforts prioritize demographic representation over objective qualifications, pressuring hiring managers to meet diversity quotas at the expense of merit-based criteria such as skills, experience and performance.
Some high performers, regardless of background, may feel undervalued in a system that appears to prioritize diversity benchmarks. At the same time, candidates hired under these initiatives may feel their qualifications are questioned and that they were chosen to check a box rather than on merit.
But does the problem lie with DEI itself or with those implementing it? Are hiring managers failing to find candidates who are both qualified and diverse?
The myth of meritocracy
In 2025, pure meritocracy remains more myth than reality. The playing field has never been level, whether people choose to acknowledge it or not. For many, success requires working exponentially harder just to receive a fraction of the opportunities granted to others.
This is where the confusion between “equality” and “equity” emerges. Imagine everyone gets the same box to stand on and see
Opinion Policies:
over a fence. But what if some people are still too short? The solution isn’t to deny them a view — it’s to provide different-sized boxes so everyone can see over the fence.
Meritocracy assumes an equal starting point, but systemic barriers — education, wealth disparities, professional networks — continue to shape opportunities. In that sense, meritocracy has always been an incomplete ideal: a privilege for some, a myth for others.
The path forward
No system is perfect, and replacing one flawed model with another isn’t the answer. But dismantling DEI initiatives without addressing the inequities they were designed to fix is a step backward.
In response to political pressure, some companies are scaling back or eliminating DEI programs. Corporations such as Target, Amazon, Walmart and McDonald’s have announced plans to end certain DEI policies, triggering public backlash and boycott threats. Consumers are now questioning how to support minority-owned businesses while still accessing everyday essentials.
Black- and brown-owned businesses, as well as women-owned enterprises, are caught in the crossfire. Many have contractual agreements with major retailers that prevent them from simply removing their products and launching independent ventures.
The impact extends beyond corporations. Historically Black colleges and universities also stand to lose vital federal support. The executive order revokes previous directives backing affirmative action and DEI initiatives, potentially reducing funding for programs designed to promote diversity in higher education. HBCUs already receive significantly less federal funding than predominantly white institutions, and this move threatens to further limit resources for students who rely on them.
Ironically, critics argue DEI contradicts corporate goals, yet the existing imbalance has already skewed the system. If anything, DEI efforts attempt to correct past injustices rather than create new ones. True equality cannot exist without first addressing inequities. The real issue isn’t choosing between merit and inclusion — it’s redefining both in a way that acknowledges systemic disparities while striving for excellence. The path forward requires both those in power and those affected to work toward a society where merit can truly thrive, not despite DEI, but because of it.
Chequoia Adderley is a senior integrated marketing communications major from Pascagoula, Miss.
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.
CHEQUOIA
Kai Milburn
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