MISSISSIPPIAN THE
Thursday, March 27, 2025
University seeks private partner to alleviate student housing shortage
MARY EVANS Assistant News Editor
KHARLEY REDMON Editor in Chief
The University of Mississippi is evaluating bids from private developers for construction of dramatically expanded student housing.
The project aims to add 3,500 on-campus beds by 2029 to accommodate growing student enrollment at the university. This project is a shift from the university’s previous plans, announced in August 2023, to construct three new residence halls on the former Kincannon Hall lot.
According to a university request for proposals (RFP) obtained by The Daily Mississippian, the new plan still includes the construction of student housing at the former Kincannon site but adds student housing projects
Ole Miss Basketball treats itself to a Sweet 16
TANNER SHAPIRO Sports Staff Writer
After impressive victories in the first Two Rounds of March Madness, both Rebel basketball teams advanced to the 2025 Sweet 16. Ole Miss is one of only four schools with both men’s and women’s teams moving on to the Sweet 16 of their respective NCAA Tournaments.
Ole Miss Men’s Basketball has not gotten this far in tournament play since 2001.
Head coach Chris Beard, who is in his second year coaching the Rebels, has taken this team to a new level that Rebel fans are not used to. Across all the schools he has coached at, Beard is 5-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Women’s head coach Yolett McPhee-McCu-
in the following locations: a currently undeveloped site next to West Row near the UM School of Law, the current South Parking Lot on Athletics Lane and another site next to the South Campus Recreation Center. The first residences are expected to be completed by summer 2027 and the last no later than summer 2029.
The issue with the initial Kincannon plan was affordability.
“We started (the Kincannon) process in earnest roughly three years ago, in discussions and then some concrete planning,” Provost Noel Wilkin said in an interview with The Daily Mississippian. “We put it out for bids — the bids came back at more than what we could afford. And so we had to pivot.” Choosing a private develop-
You backed Jack!
ASB elections end without
“I ran a campaign last year, and I know that it takes a village to do this. I can’t thank my village enough for tonight; my plans are to get to work tomorrow.”
- Jack Jones Associated Student Body president-elect
HANNAH IVEY
ANNABELLE
MILLER News Staff Writers
runoffs
Jack Jones celebrates with supporters after being named Associated Student Body president outside of the Lyceum on March 25.
Jack Jones, a junior economics major from Murray, Ky., was elected Associated Student Body president in campus elections on Tuesday. Jones, a former ASB vice president, garnered 59.7% of the vote.
“I’m so thankful for all the people that came together over the past week and a half to support me,” Jones said after spring election results were announced on the steps of the Lyceum on Tuesday night. “I ran a campaign last year, and I know that it takes a village to do this. I can’t thank my village enough for tonight; my plans are to get to work tomorrow.” Walker Jacklin, a junior public policy major from
Mobile, Ala., who formerly served as the president’s chief of staff, won vice president with 66.13% of the vote.
“It’s really a tremendous honor, but I have to give glory to God first, for He is the only reason that I’m able to do anything here,” Jacklin said. “The entire message I ran on was asking voters to vote on my record for everything I’ve done for the university. I’m extremely excited to be able to provide the platform that I’ve been working on relentlessly around the clock to be able to ensure that students’ lives get better.” Caroline Croley, a sophomore public policy leadership major from Atlanta, won the secretary race with 57.03% of the vote.
“I’m really excited, and I’m so honored that Ole Miss has picked me to be their next secretary. I just
Ole Miss Women’s Basketball players celebrate after defeating Baylor in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 23.
HOUSING
continued from page 1
er to manage construction of the housing projects — as opposed to the university taking on those responsibilities — will make construction prices more affordable and keep down the costs students pay for housing.
In addition to initial construction of the facilities, the private developer will enter into an agreement for long-term management of the facilities including the provision of maintenance, custodial and landscaping services. The RFP says that the initial agreement between the developer and the university will last 45 years, with options for two 10-year extensions and one five-year extension.
These kinds of partnerships are known as public-private partnerships, or the P3 model, and have been adopted at numerous higher education institutions across the nation. The University of Utah has partnered with American Campus Communities to add 1,400 beds with plans for 5,000 more.
While final selection of a developer was supposed to take place by March 21, according to a timeline in the public RFP, no developer had been selected as of March 26.
In an interview with The Daily Mississippian, Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance Steven Holley discussed the university’s status on developer selection.
“We narrowed down to a set of
to the RFP. Between on-campus housing and Campus Walk, the university has 5,687 bed spaces, which is not enough to house all enrolled freshmen.
The RFP also included statistics
“We put it out for bids — the bids came back at more than what we could afford. And so we had to pivot.”
-
Noel Wilkin University of Mississippi Provost
Semi-suites: two double-occupancy bedrooms connected by a shared bathroom Apartments: mainly for upperclassmen, featuring single bedrooms with private bathrooms Staff apartments: Each housing development must have two to four furnished two-bedroom units for resident staff, depending on total bed count at each building.
Estimated timelines
Here are the estimated timelines for each project site, according to the RFP: West Row: 750+ semi-suite beds for first-year students and a flexible amount of suites and apartments for upper-division students projected by 2027
finalists,” Holley said. “We’re awaiting what they call at this stage of investment a final offer: We believe we can deliver housing at a certain speed for you, expressed in months, for a certain dollar amount.”
After choosing a developer, the university will present a pre-development agreement to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning — the governing body that approves all construction projects at the university — in April or May. SB 2519, which authorizes such public-private partnerships, was signed by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on March 18, according to LegiScan. Holley said that the university has taken extra time in making a final decision due to the length of the contract with the developer.
“They’re with you for a long time, and you need them to really understand you,” Holley said. “So that’s why all the extra time is invested in getting to know them.”
Growing enrollment and the need for more student housing has been a defining issue at the university in recent years. First-year enrollment nearly doubled from 3,037 in fall 2020 to 5,973 in 2024, and during that time, campus housing has consistently operated at 90% capacity or higher, according
that indicated that the trend is set to continue, projecting university enrollment to reach 25,163 students by the 2025-2026 school year.
While the university has in recent years negotiated master leases with off-campus apartment complexes to provide additional student housing, the university has still received criticism for allowing growth in enrollment without developing commensurate parking and housing infrastructure and for not providing services to help students with the off-campus housing search.
Wesley Templet, former ASB Senate chair and leader of its Housing Committee, said the committee views the partnership as a practical solution to UM’s housing needs.
“I’m not gonna say it’s the best option, but it’s definitely a stronger option than what we were currently dealing with,” Templet said. “Private investment is going to be able to come in and do it really quickly, where we might run into a few more boundaries with the university.”
Development details
Here are more details about what the development would include, according to the RFP. Development will include semisuite and apartment-style units:
Kincannon: 750+ semisuite beds for first-year students by 2028 or earlier
South Parking Lot: a flexible number of apartments for upper-division students prior to summer 2029
South Campus Rec Center Site: a flexible number of apartments for upper-division students prior to summer 2029
Parking solutions will be required for most sites, except Kincannon, which will benefit from the 1,000 spot garage that is under construction.
Costs
Semi-suite pricing should not exceed 25% over current on-campus rates. Based on coStar data from November 2024 listed in the RFP, rental rates for the new apartments should not exceed:
1-Bedroom: $8,400/semester
2-Bedroom: $7,100/semester
3-Bedroom: $6,600/semester
4-Bedroom: $5,500/semester
Annabelle Miller contributed reporting.
Realtor recommendations: What do the experts have to say about house hunting?
HANNAH
IVEY
News Staff Writer
Finding housing as a college student in Oxford is more than just picking a place to live — it is a race against time and rising prices. With housing agreements signed months in advance, coupled with an ever-growing population, securing a lease requires strategy.
Local realtors and property managers shared their advice for students trying to find housing.
Coordination and timing
Peyton Adams, a realtor with Cannon Cleary McGraw, identified poor coordination as a common mistake among first-time renters.
“Properties fly off the market, so the more you waste time or drag on during the decision-making process, the higher the likelihood of you missing out on the best properties,” Adams said.
Clayton Faggert, associate broker and owner of OLR Realty, recommended students start searching for housing in late fall.
“The mistake we see the most is people waiting to apply for a property and then missing out on that property,” Faggert said. “I would say starting at the end of the fall, around November, December and January, is the appropriate time.”
Josh Cissell — property manager and owner of Cissell Management Co., a property management company based in Oxford — however, warned against searching for housing too early.
“Often, those who panic-rent in the fall end up settling for limited inventory at higher prices. Instead, students will find more options and better prices if they wait until … most properties become available for lease,” Cissell said.
Adams described the current housing market as highly competitive.
“Many properties never come available on the market and are just passed down year after year. If you find a place you really like, you might have to be aggressive to secure a lease,” Adams said.
Wesley Templet, chair of the Associated Student Body Senate Housing Committee and a junior public policy leadership major, cited availability and pricing as major concerns for students.
“With such a small college town, all of the apartments start selling leases really early in the October through December range for the next August, whereas in a normal city, you’ll find leases that start every month,” Templet said.
A 2023 ASB survey found that 24.5% of the 732 students surveyed experienced some form of housing insecurity while at the university.
The leading cause, cited by 25.5% of respondents, was “leasing season,” the two-anda-half week gap between most lease end dates and new lease start dates. High rent, issues with the university housing department, lack of available housing and roommate conflicts were also factors.
According to data from Rent Cafe, the average rent price in February 2025 for apartments in Oxford was $2,117 — higher than in Jackson ($1,048) and Starkville ($1,385).
Faggert expects prices to remain high due to limited housing availability.
“With the shortage of housing, rents are expected to maintain the level that they’re at now or continue to increase over the next few years,” Faggert said.
Cissell, however, noted there may be a shift in the market.
“Last summer, rental prices began to soften. Now, with a substantial amount of new housing inventory hitting the market, we anticipate prices will continue to level off,” Cissel said.
Understanding the lease
Cissell also advised students to thoroughly review the lease before signing.
“A common mistake firsttime renters make is not fully understanding their lease and the responsibilities that come with it,” Cissell said. “Students need to recognize that these properties represent significant investments, and we’re going to hold them accountable as adults. They should carefully read and understand their lease, know their responsibilities, perform routine maintenance and promptly report property issues to management.”
Adams further cautioned students to be aware of the content in the leases they are signing.
“A lease is a legally binding contract,” Adams said. “Ask for the lease for review before you
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ever commit to signing it. A poorly written lease can cause issues for a tenant long after they move out of a property.”
Templet highlighted key lease details to be aware of.
“You want to know the starting date of your lease and when that might end,” Templet said. “Another thing, especially for apartment complexes, is if you’re renting by the dwelling or by the room. If you’re renting by the dwelling, that means that you and your roommates all pay one rent together. If you pay by the room, then you pay your individual rate per room. You pay differently, and that can affect if you have utilities or whatnot.”
Avoiding scams
Faggert recommended using local property managers for housing searches to avoid scams.
“A big problem people have run into recently is applying for a fraudulent listing,” Faggert said. “Make sure you speak with someone, and make sure that you use a legitimate website to do your research. The fraud rates on realtor.com are much less than they are on some of the other websites.”
For affordability, Faggert suggested Shiloh or Carrollton. For higher-end options, he recommended The Commons, The Reserve, The Mill, Creekside and The Lamar.
Adams weighed in on the safety of housing options in Oxford.
“Almost all student housing in Oxford provides the same level of safety thanks to (the Oxford Police Department) and on-site management,” Adams said.
Adams highlighted Rowandale, The Bluffs East and West and Corporate Student as popular housing options.
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Communicating with landlords
Adams emphasized communication as a crucial aspect of apartment hunting.
“Communication is the most important part of the landlord and tenant relationship,” Adams said. “Signing a lease is a big commitment that marries you to the property and the landlord for a long time. If a landlord is not effectively communicating and acting in a professional manner, then it might be time to look somewhere else.”
Cissell said a lack of communication could be problematic.
“A major red flag students should look out for is landlords or property managers who are consistently unresponsive or exhibit poor communication,” Cissell said.
However, Cissell noted that the leasing season can cause responses to take longer.
“At times, due to the sudden surge of students contacting us simultaneously, it might take a few hours or even until the next day to respond,” Cissell said. “That’s different from consistently poor communication, which can indicate larger issues with the
property or management.”
Parents
Adams said that many parents play a large role in assisting students with their housing search.
“Many parents are still actively involved in paying a portion or all the rent, so it makes sense that they would want to be involved. At the end of the day, it is the student’s decision and responsibility to find housing,” Adams said. “College is most everyone’s first taste of the freedom and responsibilities of adulthood. Being able to navigate rental markets and landlords is an important life skill.” Cissell advised parents to guide rather than control the process.
“Parents handling every detail for their student can actually cause more issues and confusion,” Cissell said. “It’s healthiest and most productive when parents step back, support their student and provide guidance without leading the entire process.”
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S. Gale denley student media center
LARZ ROBERTS Director of Student Media
DENNIS MOORE Editorial Director
GRAPHIC: KAT MOORMAN / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
feel so incredibly blessed, and I’m so excited about what this next year is going to look like, especially working with these wonderful individuals,” Croley said.
The remaining executive board positions were decided as well.
Robert Holliday, a junior business major, was elected treasurer as a write-in candidate, receiving 16.2% of votes.
Diego Abele, a senior political science and philosophy major from Austin, ran unopposed and was elected judicial council chair, and Madison Waldrop, a junior integrated marketing communications major from Birmingham, Ala., was also unopposed and elected attorney general.
Braxton Dagg, a junior integrated marketing communications major from Hurley, Miss., was elected senior class president unopposed. Kaylee Goff, a junior public policy leadership major from Hurley, Miss., was elected senior class vice president.
The academic senators are listed below:
Barrett Adams
Danica Beachy
Jenna Brantley
Lawson Campbell
Evelyn Coon
Kayt Davis
Carson Flanagan
Logan Leibenguth Linley Miles Blake Mitchell
Ethan Navarro
Cole Scott Drew Sheehan
Ashley Sudduth
Blake Williamson
The registered student organizations senators are listed below:
Sara Abdrabbo Kayle
Mary
Joshua Jones-Reed
Prather
Zachary Rifkin Kelly Robinson Jimmil Taylor Davis Thompson Jack Turrentine
Sneha Vuyyuru Paul Winfield
Madison Waldrop with her supporters after being elected Associated Student Body attorney general
LEXI TITUS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Jack Jones celebrates with his supporters.
LEXI TITUS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Braxton Dagg reacts after being elected senior class president. LEXI TITUS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Crash course in cozy: How students make their temporary spaces feel like home
SYDNEY STEPP Assistant A&C Editor
While rented homes can be difficult to decorate because of restrictions on renovations, some University of Mississippi students have crafted spaces that feel like themselves while also staying within their college budget.
Roommates Eleni Zaninovich and Juliana Gomez — plus Ben the cat, the unofficial third roommate — live in a small house right off the Square.
The proclaimed “knickknack” house sits filled with dried flowers, built-in bookshelves and other collected treasures.
Zaninovich, a senior multidisciplinary studies major from Bakersfield, Calif., spoke about how decor that inspires a homey feeling does not happen overnight.
“We started off with a couch that didn’t even have legs or anything. We had to put bricks underneath,” Zaninovich said.
“It’s really just the people in this town have been like, ‘Hey, do you want this free coffee table or this or that?’”
The pair much prefer this space to other apartments or townhouses they have lived in separately because they have been able to fully decorate together.
“It’s so nice to come here at the end of the day,” Zaninovich said. “It’s like, the first time in college, it has felt like a home and not just like a living space.”
Gomez, a senior psychology major from Jackson, Miss., echoed this sentiment.
“It just was very obvious that (the old apartment was) just a placeholder,” Gomez said. “This place is just, again, so easy to make your own.”
Adam Crass, junior computer science major from Atlanta, lives in a townhouse complex on the outskirts of Oxford.
Decked out in couches, lamp-lighting and vinyl records, Crass’s space offers a hangout spot that his friends often visit.
“I have a lot of folks come
over just to hang out or study, or sometimes I’ll throw parties,” Crass said. “People want to come here to hang out because it’s chill. I think that has affected me in a good way. It has made things a lot more social. I always like to keep everything really presentable, because it makes me feel good.”
For Crass, building his own space has helped him connect with not only his friends but also the Oxford community.
“Sometimes I’ll post things on Instagram, and I’ll go to these events and stuff,” Crass said. “And some guys would be like, ‘Oh, I saw that chair you got,’ or ‘I saw that record you got,’ and we always strike up a conversation about that. I’m always at End of All Music checking out their CDs and records. I have a ton of records upstairs.”
Secondhand sources have been useful for Crass as he crafts his living space.
“This couch I got on Facebook marketplace for free,” Crass said. “And I actually found that (chair) in the flea market or antique shop right down the road, the Depot.”
Crass also said that creating a space that made him more comfortable has helped him with his schoolwork.
“It has made me more of a homebody,” Crass said. “So I guess that’s a good thing because that means I can study and get stuff done.”
Bella Bach, a senior exercise science major from Madison, Miss., rents a house on the outskirts of Oxford. For her, affordability was one of the most important factors when it comes to decorating.
“We loved the house, but we knew we wanted to make it really, really cute, (with) plants and a bunch of decorations all over the place,” Bach said. “But we’re also college students, so it needed to be cheap. We got our basics off of Amazon and Target and wherever we could.”
While Bach mentions the basics, the statement pieces in the house are anything but.
“Then we just started going
to thrift stores all the time and estate sales and just whatever we could,” Bach said. “We started flipping furniture and decorations to fit our space and then slowly over time accumulating lots and lots of plants.”
Many things in Bach’s space are flipped or have been upcycled.
“My headboard used to be a twin-size headboard, and I just got a jigsaw and cut off the little feet on the bottom, so it would be like a piece of wall art instead,” Bach said. “So it’s usually just cutting something off, really quick. I have a mirror in there. I just painted the frame, and it looks brand new – very simple painting, cutting something off.”
Living with roommates, Bach likes the shared space they have decorated together but also enjoys the specific comfort of her own room.
“I think you’re on campus all day, and then you come home, and then even sometimes, just the difference of me coming from the living room to my room is like a big differ ence,” Bach said. “I can kind
of just tuck away in my corner and forget that I’m in Oxford, and it’s nice and comfortable.”
Bach shared her advice for any college student who might be struggling with trying to decorate their own space.
“I know it’s a lot of hard work to put up shelves and put up art and do stuff for just a year or two years or whatever, but I think it’s worth it,” Bach said. “It makes you happy.”
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Bella Bach with her flipped headboard in her room
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Adam Crass shows off his CD collection and sound system.
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Bella Bach’s living room
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Addressing the Impact of Social Media and AI on Democracy
A P R I L 1 - 2 , 2 0 2 5
The Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation is convening national thought leaders for a two-day event focused on exchanging insights and exploring solutions. This event is designed for anyone interested in how media and technology are reshaping our nation, including concerned citizens, civic leaders, policymakers, journalists, students and educators.
Seating is limited and meals are included with registration.
Tickets: $25
(Free for Ole Miss faculty and students, but registration is required for everyone. Fee waived at checkout.)
Richard Lui
Keynote Speaker
Charles Blow Elise Jordan Andy Kroll Dr Zeynep Tufekci
Kashmir Hill Dr. danah boyd Meredith Broussard
Bill Adair
Steven Brill
Oxford’s women artists cultivate a community of creativity
CLAY HALE Managing Editor
Oxford is a city that lives, breathes and thrives on art. World Atlas recently dubbed the city “the cultural mecca of the South” in a piece listing the 12 best cities for retirement in the Southern United States.
Female artists, particularly, have made their presence known in town across a variety of mediums. Musical venues, art galleries and local businesses have helped spotlight these artists. Heartbreak Coffee, for example, is a hub for emerging artists, hosting IRIS Room — a multi-format art show.
Fatimah Wansley
Fatimah Wansley, a junior African-American studies major from Jackson, Miss., is a poet who has performed at IRIS Room.
“It was my freshman year in April, and I was so nervous, not because I’m scared to talk or get in front of people — I’ve been doing that my whole life. But I really just started sharing the things that I write,” Wansley said. “I felt so empowered.”
Wansley — a self-diagnosed dramatic — said her love of poetry sprouted from a few places: theater, speech and debate. Wansley finds purpose in spaces where she can “give something to someone, and they can give something to (her).”
She found that her favorite performance outlet was poetry and prose. Once Wansley knew that poetry was her calling, she became deeply immersed in writing and performing it.
“A friend once told me that I am walking poetry,” Wansley said. “(Poetry) feels like I’m talking to people. Yes I’m on stage, but we’re also having a really intimate and personal conversation. And even if you can’t relate to the subject matter, people are still touched, and that’s meaningful to me.”
Over the course of Wansley’s three-ish years writing poetry seriously, she has completed more than 200 pieces. Among her collection, Wansley has many love-centered poems, but she does not consider herself a “love poet.”
“I think that, as women, we are pushed to have these perceptions of ourselves and these perceptions of love while we’re so young, and we’re supposed to have it all figured out,” Wansley said. “That’s just not true.”
Wansley’s work reflects platonic and romantic love, but ultimately, she aims to invoke connection.
“I think that it’s important to connect with women who are also going through some of the same things I’ve gone through,” Wansley said. “Everyone has gone through a breakup before, but their TikTok advice for breakups and then poets’ advice for breakups are two totally different things. It’s because it’s more humanized.”
Eliza Oakley
Connection between female artists and their audience arrives in other artistic formats, too.
Take Eliza Oakley, a firstyear graduate student studying speech language pathology from Southaven, Miss.
During her undergraduate experience at Ole Miss, Oakley — a visual artist who is handy with a paintbrush — hopped on the birthday sign trend. She was so successful that she had to stop taking commissions because she received so many requests.
“It’s hard to find balance because during the week, I’m so busy (with) class, clinic and homework. So, usually during the week, I don’t really have time to paint,” Oakley said. “Most of the time, I try to make sure that I have time for myself on the weekends, and that’s when I paint.”
The painter was initially inspired by her father. When she turned seven years old, her mother enrolled her in art lessons.
“My dad would paint, and so I would do it with him,” Oakley said. “Some of his paintings were in my room growing up, so I’d see them. Seeing what he created made me want to do something similar.”
Oakley’s artistic origins and desire to slow down have not slowed down what most artists experience — pressure.
“Even though I am kind of creating it for myself, there is (still) a pressure to make something good,” Oakley said. “Whenever I make art, I want to be proud of it, and I know anything I make I should be proud of. But sometimes it’s hard if I feel like I didn’t do my best.”
Despite her desire to be perfect with her art, Oakley acknowledges that she thinks all artists should be proud of their work. She is encouraged by being a female artist in Oxford.
“To even think that I could be considered a female artist in Oxford is kind of crazy,” Oakley said. “It makes me feel like I’m actually doing something with my art, just because there are so many inspiring women that create art in Oxford.
Annabeth Moore
In tandem with Wansley, Oakley agreed that Oxford is a place that supports the arts well. Junior English education student and vocalist Annabeth Moore agrees, but she has cited some difficulties with breaking through and getting gigs around town.
“(Oxford) really is supportive of the (arts) scene, but also it is kind of hard, especially for more of a starting-out artist,” Moore said. “If you don’t already have somewhat of a platform, it’s kind of hard to find places to play here.”
After cracking into the Oxford scene by appearing as a guest at The Green at Harrison’s and a few other nearby venues, Moore believes many of the locations are great with supporting her and her alternative sound.
The support Moore has experienced in Oxford feels particularly special for her. She transferred to the university after graduating from Northeast Mississippi
Community College in May.
“To me, this place is like a second home,” Moore said. “I grew up coming to football games here, and my dad went here, my brother went here. So, it’s just kind of like a home already.” Moore, a Booneville, Miss., native, wants to pursue music full time once she graduates. Therefore, with her transition to the University of Mississippi came difficulties finding balance between her passion and school.
“I have like three papers a week, and then I try to fit in time to go home on the weekends to perform at a gig or something like that,” Moore said. “It gets really stressful, but I’m fortunate enough to have time between classes that I can really sit down and work on stuff; and I’m also fortunate enough to have supportive parents who help me go in between the two.”
The balance problem is shared by all three women, but they agree that what they are doing as female artists in Oxford is important. Wansley, specifically, recognized the platform that Oxford has gifted her and why being a female artist in Oxford is an important role.
“Being able to be raw … for other women and with other women helps to build sisterhood and community,” Wansley said. “Some of these things that I’m saying are some of these exact same things that you’ve felt before in your life, but you haven’t felt comfortable to say them. But seeing someone that is comfortable saying them makes you feel safe.”
Fatimah Wansley
ANTONELLA RESCIGNO / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Eliza Oakley
LEXI TITUS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Annabeth Moore
ANTONELLA RESCIGNO / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
The Stews bring ‘Chicken Fight’ to The Lyric
JANE DUNN A&C Staff Writer
You will not want to “Make It Out” of Oxford on Friday, March 28, because The Stews are rolling into town. The doors of The Lyric open for the “Chicken Fight Album Release Tour Pt. 2” at 7 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m.
This tour is in support of the band’s latest album, “Chicken Fight,” which was released in July. This album is a daring collection of songs that mix elements of rock, blues and progressive sounds, with tracks including similar sounds to The Allman Brothers, Audioslave and Pink Floyd.
The Stews have performed at a variety of venues, ranging from headlining shows at New York’s Bowery Ballroom to festival stages at Bonnaroo and Sweetwater 420Fest. With a rapidly growing fanbase, the Charleston-based band is bringing its signature blend of rock, blues and Southern influences back to Oxford, where they last performed for the public at The Lyric in February of 2024.
Suzie Brown, a junior psychology and pre-med double major from Pass Christian, Miss., described the band’s vintage sound.
“The Stews’ style resonates a lot with what I kind of think of as the ‘college band’ genre,” Brown said. “Kids around here, including myself, love music with a lot of rock influence that sort of mirrors music from the ‘70s and ‘80s, (with) lots of musicianship
and fun guitar solos and stuff you can jam out and dance to.”
While they may have humble origins, the band now has more than 100,000 monthly listeners on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music and 35,400 followers on Instagram.
“I’ve been a fan of The Stews since freshman year when I saw them perform at a frat Halloween party that I really wasn’t supposed to go to, but ever since then, I have been a huge fan,” Brown said. “They’ve even been on my Spotify Wrapped several times. They are all great performers who know how to put on a show, which is why I am never opposed to seeing them again.”
Brown listed a few of the band’s songs she appreciates hearing in person.
“My favorite songs to see live are usually ‘Fireline,’ and then of course ‘9-5’ is always a good time,” Brown said.
JR Ingersoll, a junior pre-law major from Houston, believes the band can be appreciated by many.
“The Stews stand out with how catchy their songs are,” Ingersoll said. “I feel like they are a band that is really easy to get into.”
Jack Crawford, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Madison, Miss., is eager to see what the band’s concert will hold.
“I’m super excited for them to rip some tunes and get everybody in a good mood, which is something they’re really good at,” Crawford said. “I think their
• Former • Practiced the
music style allows them to cater to a variety of tastes within the Oxford crowd. They do a great job of transitioning from gentle melodies to rockstar tunes.”
The Stews’ touring schedule — spanning from intimate venues such as the Windjammer in Charleston to the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. — has allowed the band to develop its style of live performance.
Ingersoll emphasized the importance of a band’s live performance skills for connecting and growing a fan base.
“Live music is very important,” Ingersoll said. “A live show can give you a new understanding and appreciation for a band and their songs, as you only get one chance to play a song live, unlike recording when you can have multiple takes.”
The Stews are known for their ability to engage the crowd, and their shows are full of surprises. Whether it is a deep cut from their debut album or an extended jam session showcasing their impressive musicianship, Brown said there is something for ev-
eryone at the band’s concerts.
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“They have such a variety. There are plenty of songs I can just turn on to jam to while studying, driving or just hanging out that are more chill,” Brown said. “They definitely have something for every vibe, which is a large reason why I love them and why I think they are so successful.
• Former years.
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• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Practiced at his privately owned law firm for 45 consecutive years- located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.
• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 different Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses each and every semester at the University of Mississippi for 29 consecutive years.
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• Former Association;
• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 Procedure courses each and every semester for 29 consecutive years.
• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at The University of Mississippi since1981.
• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for over 6 years.
• Still practices at his privately owned law firm for 55 consecutive years - located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.
• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.
• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.
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• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at the University of Mississippi since 1981.
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• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.
• Practiced at his privately owned law firm for 45 consecutive years- located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.
• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.
• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.
• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 different Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses each and every semester at the University of Mississippi for 29 consecutive years.
• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at The University of Mississippi since1981.
• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for over 6 years.
• Former Vice President and President Association; member of the Mississippi
• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.
Former years.
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• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.
• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.
• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.
• Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to the Mississippi Commission on Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations of the Canon of Ethics and All Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice of Law. Occupied the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman and served for 18 years.
• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.
• Practiced at his privately owned law firm the same place, being the Oxford Square,
• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.
Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.
Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to the Mississippi Commission on Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations of the Canon of Ethics and All Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice of Law. Occupied the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman served for 18 years.
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• Member of the American Jurist Institute - Top 10 DUI/DWI Attorney for Mississippi
• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.
Voted
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• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys Advocacy for DUI Defense.
• Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi.
• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.
• A Founding Member of the National College for DUI Defense conducted at Harvard Law School.
• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.
• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.
• Selected by the Attorney and Practice Magazine as one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Attorneys, et cetera.
• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.
• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.
• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.
• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City years.
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• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys Satisfaction Award by the American Institute
• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City years.
Listing of these previously mentioned areas of practice does not indicate any certification of expertise therein.
• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State of Mississippi each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.
• Selected Satisfaction
• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers Organization.
• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.
• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.
• Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.
• Former Vice President and President of the Association; member of the Mississippi Bar
• Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys
• Member of the National League of Renowned Attorneys - Top 1%
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• Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi.
• Selected by the Attorney and Practice Magazine as one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Attorneys, et cetera.
• Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice Vice Chairman and Chairman and served
• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi”
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• A Founding Member of the National College Harvard Law School.
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• Member Defense
Preston Hall, Bennett Baugus, Wyatt Griffith and Blake Dobbs
PHOTO COURTESY: GARRETT CARDOSO
P.B. JERNIGAN A&C Staff Writer
To kick off the spring season, local grocery store Chicory Market will sponsor the Mid-Town Spring Fest, featuring a variety of small businesses around the Mid-Town Shopping Center on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Multiple vendors, artists and restaurants will sell food and drinks and host activities.
Chicory Market will offer live music, vendor samples, an artists market and a crawfish boil available for purchase. The End of All Music will DJ from 10-11 a.m., Oxford School District’s Orchestra will perform from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Horace Willis will perform from 1-2 p.m. Additionally, Johnston Hill Creamery, an artisanal cheese chop located inside Chicory Market, will offer free samples.
Avery Sams, a Chicory Market employee and freshman civil engineering major from Oxford, will be among the artists selling watercolors and mixed media pieces.
“Chicory draws in a crowd that is so unique to Oxford, and
Local businesses ring in spring
being in a college town, it’s so important that they’re here to help diversify the area,” Sams said.
Natalie Elizalde, a freshman majoring in biology from Houston, expressed excitement about attending the event and the artists market.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone brought, plus I love little markets like that and being outside in the beautiful weather sounds amazing,” Elizalde said.
Vine Bottle Shop, located next door to Chicory Market, will have discounts and giveaways for wine and spirits. On the other side of Chicory, The Depot Antique Mall will have in-store discounts.
Hands-on artistic activities will be available for kids and adults.
The Oil Shed will have a porch pot demonstration, showing people how to decorate and arrange planters for porches, and Oxford RX will provide free art activities for kids.
Outdoor physical activities, without requiring registration, will be included as well. The YMCA will have free outdoor fitness classes, with Zumba at 10 a.m. and spin at noon. A free heated
vinyasa yoga class will be hosted by Southern Star Yoga at 11 a.m. Restaurants including Big Bad Breakfast, Volta Taverna, Jensei and Good Day Cafe are offering food, drink and music options. Big Bad Breakfast will have a lemonade stand, activities for kids and a “Midtown” cocktail special.
Volta Taverna will have halfprice margaritas and mojitos. Jensei will be open with a limited menu, drinks from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and music by DJ Gordo. Good Day Cafe will also have live music performed by Zechariah Lloyd.
Henry Smith, a sophomore journalism major from Oxford, expressed his excitement for the live music and the way the Spring Fest is strengthening the community’s connection.
“Through the Mid-Town Spring Fest, Oxford businesses are building real and personal ties to the area,” Smith said. “I play bass in a local band, Golden Teacher Society, so it’s always great to hear live music and see local artists of all different mediums come together to show off the creativity and passion of Oxford.”
Playboi Carti brings ‘MUSIC’ to listeners’ ears (finally)
NATE DONOHUE
Playboi Carti released his third studio album, “MUSIC,” on Friday, March 14. Initially teased as “I AM MUSIC,” it marked the Atlanta rapper’s first album release since “Whole Lotta Red” in 2020.
Playboi Carti has a reputation as one of the most bizarre personas in rap. He frequently wears devil horns in his music videos and at his concerts, and his music is characterized by moans, shrieks and slurred vocals, bolstered by a heavy reliance on autotune and electronic beats.
His music is sometimes referred to as “vamp rap” and incorporates aspects of punk rock and rage music. Though many of his fans worship him with a cult-like devotion, there is also a subset of people who find him intolerable.
In 2024, the rapper released “ALL RED” and “Timeless” on streaming services, along with a handful of other songs on YouTube, such as “BACKR00MS” with Travis Scott, “KETAMINE” and “2024.”
Despite being unavailable on Spotify or Apple Music, these songs were vastly popular and led to speculation that Carti’s album was going to be released in 2024. The artist also made several comments on social media suggesting that the album’s release was imminent.
But 2024 passed without an album.
In early 2025, a billboard in Miami, printed in the same characters as the already-released “I AM MUSIC” album cover, announced: “MUSIC IS COMING.” Other bill-
I give the album an 8/10. Playboi Carti’s music can be hard to digest in large quantities, and “MUSIC” is about 10 songs too long; by the last few tracks, I was aching for vocals that were even vaguely lyrical. Tracks like “POP OUT” and “OPM BABY” are ugly and painful to listen to. However, the production throughout the album is fantastic. Several tracks with mediocre vocals, such as “CRUSH,” can get by thanks to addictive beats. There is a good variety in tone; some songs are upbeat, bouncy and catchy, while others are grinding, gravelly and harsh.
boards popped up throughout the country. Another one read “SORRY 4 DA WAIT.”
On Wednesday, March 12, Carti announced on social media that the album would finally drop on Friday, March 14. Yet even on the night of the release, the delays continued. “MUSIC” was supposed to be released at midnight Eastern time, but when the time came, the release was pushed back to 3 a.m. The album ended up dropping at 7 a.m. — a final slap in the face to those stalwart fans who had stayed true amidst the agonizing wait.
Structurally, the album is unique. Thirty tracks long, “MUSIC” is bold, fast-paced and energetic. The songs are short, snappy and sharp; many are supplemented with features from some of the most prominent rappers of the decade. Travis Scott is featured four times, Kendrick Lamar three times — which is very
unusual, since Lamar rarely provides features — Future twice and Lil Uzi Vert twice. Some of these features are only cameo appearances. On “CRUSH,” Scott is little more than a voice chanting in the background, and on “MOJO JOJO,” Lamar merely provides adlibs. On the other end of the spectrum, Future’s verse on “TRIM” dominates the song and blends beautifully with the piano.
Playboi Carti does an excellent job of welcoming other voices into his unusual sound. Artistically, Lamar, whose crafty, poetic lyrics were good enough to win a Pulitzer Prize in 2018, is the polar opposite of Playboi Carti. Yet Lamar does not feel out of place on this album. On “GOOD CREDIT,” the beat accelerates for an intense Lamar verse in which the West Coast rapper giggles, mutters and croons in a pitch-altering frenzy.
The features also help temper Playboi Carti’s own vocals,
which can become mind-numbing and obnoxious when not broken up. For example, on “TOXIC,” British grime rapper Skepta’s heavily accented and harshly enunciated verse provides an excellent contrast to Playboi Carti’s croaky mumbles.
Also, since “Whole Lotta Red,” the artist seems to have altered his vocal style. Formerly the rapper’s singing was high-pitched and breathy, but in his recent features on songs like “FE!N” and “Type Sh–t,” Playboi Carti’s voice is throaty and deep — almost indistinguishable from his older music.
“MUSIC” sees the rapper blend both old voice and new. In his second verse on “RATHER LIE” — which is perhaps the best song on the album thanks to a softly sung chorus by The Weeknd and a euphoric beat — Playboi Carti alters his pitch between lines, sounding like a back-and-forth between two totally different artists.
Although the initial album originally excluded several of Carti’s singles from last year, the artist released a sort of expanded project entitled “MUSIC – SORRY 4 DA WAIT” on March 25, 2025, which included four additional songs at the end of the album. “BACKR00MS” and “2024” were among them.
Indeed, in a rap scene where uniqueness is prioritized — where merely imitating what has previously been popular is no longer good enough — Playboi Carti has carved out a niche that is entirely his own. The Atlanta rapper unapologetically embraces a polarizing subgenre of rap. Moreover, it is unrealistic to expect “MUSIC” to live up to five years’ worth of hype. In this album, Playboi Carti shows tremendous growth without abandoning his identity. He manages to expand his artistic range while also remaining true to his style.
“MUSIC” album cover
PHOTO COURTESY: 2025 AWGE / INTERSCOPE RECORDS
GRAPHIC COURTESY: CHICORY MARKET
A&C Staff Writer
in and the Lady Rebels look to move on to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2007.
Men’s basketball
Ole Miss faced North Carolina in the First Round of the tournament. The Rebels came in as underdogs, according to multiple sportsbooks. However, the game was a beatdown in the first half as the Rebels jumped out to a 18-point lead at half-time. The Rebels were led in scoring by Sean Pedulla and Dre Davis. Despite North Carolina never taking the lead during the matchup, the Rebels slowed down the pace and the Tar Heels caught up the second half, cutting the Rebels’ lead to two points with 53 seconds left. Pedulla hit a late three to make the lead five, and the Rebels sealed a 91-78 First Round win.
Ole Miss moved onto No. 3 seed Iowa State in the Second Round, with the Rebels still labeled as underdogs. On paper, this was an uneven matchup for Ole Miss. The Cyclones were a much taller team, and they played very physical basketball, something that Ole Miss has not handled well all season.
The Rebels started out slow on offense, as Iowa State got off to a 15-8 lead. After that, the Rebels got hot, and they ended up shooting 57% from the threepoint line. The Iowa State Cyclones struggled all night, shooting 36% from three-point range.
Pedulla led the way for the Rebels again scoring 20 points, and Jaemyn Brakefield added 19 points as the Rebels cruised to the Sweet 16 to face No. 2 Michigan State.
Michigan State is a semi favorable matchup for Ole Miss.
The Spartans are not a very good shooting team, placing last in three-point percentage in the Big 10. However, they rebound the ball well, as they are led by 6-foot-9 forward Jaxson Kohler, who averages 7.5 rebounds a game.
The Rebels need to continue their success from three, while also playing sound defense and forcing turnovers. The coach-
ing battle between legendary coach Tom Izzo and Beard should be exciting to watch.
The battle between Pedulla and Spartans guard Jaden Akins will be fun, as both guards love to control the tempo.
The Rebels and Spartans are set to play Friday, March 28 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Tip off is set for 6:09 p.m., and the game will be streamed on CBS.
Women’s basketball
Head coach McPhee-McCuin and the Lady Rebels have been on a tear recently, winning their last two games.
Ole Miss had made the Sweet 16 just once in the past 25 years before hiring McPhee-McCuin in 2018. The Rebels’ game on Friday against No. 1 seed UCLA will be their second appearance in the Sweet 16 in the past three years.
The Lady Rebels’ first matchup during this year’s tournament was against the No. 12 seed Ball State. The Rebels jumped out to an eight-point lead in the first quarter, and after that it was all Rebels.
Starr Jacobs led the team with 18 points on an efficient 6 of 7 shooting. Scott also added 15 points in the dominant 83-65 win.
Ole Miss then faced a talented Baylor team in the Round of 32. The Bears, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, started the game with an impressive 20-16 lead over the Rebels.
After halftime, the Rebels outscored Baylor in both the third and the fourth quarters. Sira Thienou was elite for Ole Miss, scoring 16 points and securing six rebounds. KK Deans added 13 points off the bench and was a huge spark in the game as she hit some crucial shots.
UCLA, the Rebels’ next opponent, is 32-2 in the regular season. UCLA is led by star center Lauren Betts, who averages 19.7 points per game and shoots 60 % from the floor.
What is unique about this matchup is the relationship Ole Miss forward Christeen Iwuala has to UCLA Women’s Basketball. Iwuala played two seasons with the Bruins before transferring to Ole Miss this season.
Despite Iwuala’s decision to transfer, UCLA head coach Cori Close spoke of the team’s commitment to supporting their former teammate.
SUDOKU©
Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell blocks a shot by North Carolina guard RJ Davis as teammate
reaches for the ball during the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21.
“We have actually watched Ole Miss a lot because Christeen Iwuala is on their team, and we love her, even though she used to be a Bruin,” Close said in an interview with Athlon Sports. “But we are ‘Wually’ fans, as we call her, and we just think she’s spectacular. So we’ve tuned in, as a team, to a lot of games.”
Bruins forward Janiah Barker is also an excellent player, scoring and rebounding at a high level.
The key for the Rebels is to continue to go to the free throw line while also stopping the paint production of the Bruins. It is important that McPhee-McCuin is prepared to play physical defense and try to speed up UCLA to tire out their bigs.
The Lady Rebels and the Bruins will tip off at 9 p.m. Friday, March 28 at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash. The game will be streamed on ESPN.
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.
CROSSWORD
Rebelette Brenna Brooks shares passion for dance on and off the field
NATE DONOHUE Sports Staff Writer
Many Ole Miss students would say rushing the field after the Georgia football game was one of their favorite moments. Brenna Brooks would agree; however, the difference between her and other students is that, as a member of the Rebelettes, she was on the sidelines throughout the game.
The Rebelettes are dancers who perform at athletics events at Ole Miss. Brooks, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Chandler, Ariz., has been on the team for four years.
She fell in love with Ole Miss while taking tours of various SEC schools, including Kentucky and Tennessee. As soon as she visited Oxford, Miss., she knew she had found her home.
“My best friend and I were touring schools,” Brooks said. “We came (to Ole Miss) first, and we drove around campus, and I was like, ‘I’m coming here.’ I felt it in my heart that this was where I was supposed to be.”
Like her teammates, she has been dancing her whole life; her path to the Rebelettes, however, was a bit unconventional.
Shortly before her audition for the Rebelettes, Brooks tore her ACL. The injury took place while her high school team was practicing for the Arizona statewide competition.
“I tore it turning,” Brooks said. “My coach said, ‘Do that turn section one more time,’ and the last time I did it, I tore (my ACL).”
Her high school coach reached out to Rachel Levetzow, the Rebelettes’ coach and explained the situation. Levetzow allowed Brooks to submit videos of highlights from her performances with the high school dance team.
“Kind of like how football players have film, I have film on myself,” Brooks said. “From my junior and senior years, I
put together a video, and that’s what I submitted to (Levetzow). … I did an interview with (Levetzow), too, and then she allowed me to be on the team.”
Brooks emphasized that these were, indeed, unique circumstances.
“It was a huge blessing because no one ever makes (the team) off of video,” Brooks said. “Everybody comes to try out in person.”
Brooks said that a sport like dance is especially hard to return to after a torn ACL, as the sharp, precise movements required in dance make it difficult.
“I’ve never heard of any other dancers who have torn their ACL and come back from it and been able to dance,” Brooks said.
The Rebelettes maintain a busy schedule during football season, practicing every weekday.
They practice indoors at the Tad Pad Monday through Wednesday and outdoors at the Pride of the South practice field Thursday and Friday with the marching band. Throughout the year, the Rebelettes also attend strength and conditioning workouts at 6:30 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday with an athletic trainer from the Ole Miss Baseball team.
During men’s and women’s basketball seasons, the Rebelettes have a lighter schedule; practicing Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for an hour at the Tad Pad. These practices are mainly for rehearsing and practicing their media break routines for home basketball games.
From November through January, the team prepares for competition, practicing seven days a week, two sessions a day, in anticipation of the Universal Dance Association College Nationals. The competition takes place in mid-January at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
The Rebelettes have had an
impressive history at the UDA Nationals. In 2022, they won the D1A All Girl Game Day title, and they won the D1A Spirit Program Game Day title in 2023. In 2024, they placed second in the D1A Spirit Program category, and this year they placed second behind Ohio State in Spirit Program Game Day category.
Brooks believes all the rigors of training are worth it come competition time.
“You feel the reward of all your hard work,” Brooks said. “You get to put it on the stage and be proud of everything that you’ve been working so hard to put together.”
Brooks competed at the UDA with her high school team; now, collegiate-level UDA competitions are a chance for her to not only put her skills on display, but also catch up with old dancing friends who compete for other universities, such as Grand Canyon, Tennessee and Alabama.
“It’s fun because you get to see all your friends on different dance teams,” Brooks said. “We’ve watched each other grow up in high school, and now we get to cheer each other on in college.”
Another fulfilling aspect of being a Rebelette is welcoming a new class of freshman dancers.
Brooks is a College Dance Prep Master for College Dance Prep, a company that trains high schoolers throughout the country who hope to dance at the collegiate level. Last year, she helped teach two of the girls who made the Ole Miss team.
“It’s so rewarding when I train girls, and then they make the team,” Brooks said. “I’ve been working with them for a year, and now they’re my teammates. … It’s a win-win.”
The College Dance Prep sessions are held over Zoom, but for the women who visit Ole Miss, Brooks offers in-person lessons. In addition to critiquing technique, Brooks also helps them with the
CELEBRATING
interview portion of their tryout, when they will be asked questions about Ole Miss’ past and present: Who was Johnny Vaught, who is the football coach currently, etc.
Brooks also enjoys teaching local middle school dancers. She sees teaching as a way to continue to stay involved with dance as she gets older.
“Like any sport, you can only (dance) for so long. I want to try, as long as I can, to hold on to me doing it, but I’ll always have teaching in my back pocket.”
Of course, Brooks’ own dancing career is not over yet. After graduation, she plans to try out for the Tennessee Titans cheerleading squad.
“I’ve always wanted to see how long I can (continue) my dancing career,” Brooks said.
Brooks’s interest in the Ti-
tans springs from Hayden Hubbell, a former Rebelette who now cheers for Tennessee.
Over spring break, Brooks visited the Titans facilities and met the coach, the general manager and the other cheerleaders. She explained that this was a welcoming environment.
“I mentioned I wanted to try out for the NFL to (Hubbell), and she said, ‘You should come join the Titans (cheer squad) with me,” Brooks said. “You walked into the Titans (facilities), and it was so at peace. Everyone wanted the best for you, everybody wanted to get to know you, and it made me feel so at peace with this decision to try out for the NFL.”
Ole Miss Football players showcase talent at Pro Day
LUKE DUNAVANT Sports Staff Writer
Rebel football players hoping to be drafted in the NFL have one of their final chances to showcase their talent on Friday, March 28 at the Ole Miss Pro Day in the Manning Center. The event is closed to the public, but fans can stream Pro Day Coverage on SEC Network+ at 10:45 a.m.
Prior to Pro Day, players have the chance to participate in the NFL Combine. The Combine is a four-day, invite-only event where players can show off their agility with a 40-yard sprint and position specific drills as well as interview with NFL team scouts.
Pro Day is a way for all NFL Draft prospects to showcase their talent with similar drills to the NFL Combine – including athletic testing, position specific drills and personal interviews with NFL scouts. This event is also a chance for play-
ers to find ways to significantly improve their draft stock.
A recent example of someone who soared in their draft stock is BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who catapulted himself into the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after his Pro Day.
This year’s Pro Day is hosting 26 Ole Miss Football prospects. Four Rebels expected to draw attention are quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Tre Harris, defensive lineman Walter Nolen and defensive lineman JJ Pegues.
Jaxson Dart
Dart is an interesting prospect in every sense of the word. He is predicted to go as high as ninth in the NFL Draft to as low as the second round in some mocks. What is clear, however, is that he is the third best quarterback in the draft behind Sheduer Sanders and Cam Ward. While he could move up to the second best, it is doubtful, as Colorado’s Sanders will like-
ly have a great Pro Day as well.
The quarterback is coming off a good year, passing for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also ran for 495 yards this past season, making him one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the draft.
Most analysts compare Dart to Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix because, while he will not “wow” someone, he is consistent in his decision-making. He is also coming off a solid NFL Combine performance, and has a chance to significantly raise his draft stock with a good showing.
Tre Harris
Harris had an inconsistent 2024 season after suffering a recurring hip/groin injury that left him out of most games. He totaled 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns. When he was on the field, Harris was flat out dominant, but the problem was he could not stay on the field.
He looked healthy at the
combine, running a 4.54 40yard dash, a good time for a receiver of his type. If Harris can showcase his talents at Pro Day, he could sneak into the first round of the draft; he is currently being mocked anywhere in the second round.
Walter Nolen Nolen is the most comfortable first round pick of any of the Rebels. He is mocked as a Top 10 pick to a mid-to-late first round pick. Nolen’s Senior Bowl performance proved he is unblockable and is a dangerous player on the defensive side of the ball. He is coming off a 26 tackle, six-and-a-half sack season — very good numbers for an interior defensive lineman.
He attended the combine but opted out of the 40-yard run. His talent is unquestioned, and he should put on a show on Friday.
The thing to note are stories from potential interviews with teams, as that is a big ques-
tion mark with him right now.
JJ Pegues Pegues is one of the most interesting defensive lineman in this draft simply because he can play both sides of the ball. Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin used him in goal line and short-yardage situations this past season. Pegues had seven touchdowns, and on the defensive side he had 18 tackles and three-and-a-half sacks.
Pegues’s draft ranking is all over the place, as some people have him in the third or fourth round, where others have him in the fifth or sixth round. He ran a 5.15 40 yard dash with an impressive 10-yard split at 1.82.
The main thing to look out for is whether Pegues repeats what he did at the combine and works out as a tight end/running back and defensive lineman.
Brenna Brooks
PHOTO COURTESY: BRENNA BROOKS
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