THE DAILY
MISSISSIPPIAN
Monday, April 17, 2017
Volume 105, No. 125
T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I S S I S S I P P I S E R V I N G O L E M I S S A N D OX F O R D S I N C E 1 9 1 1
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Governor announces bicentennial concert Oxford welcomes annual Green Week KIARA MANNING
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our towns and communities and showcase what makes Mississippi truly great,” Ray said. Bryant praised North Mississippi’s literary and musical tradition, and said Oxford serves as the perfect backdrop for the bicentennial celebration. “It all began here,” Bryant said. “This is a very special and unique place.” Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter and Mayor Pat Patterson welcomed the governor to town and uncovered the poster for the summer concert together. Vitter said he is excited about the chance to host these events and hopes
Green Week is returning to the Oxford community this week to provide students, faculty and staff opportunities to come together and talk sustainability. Starting Monday, the Green Fund and local partners will host a series of city-wide events aimed to promote sustainability on campus. Green Week 2017 will kick off on campus with the Tree Trail Walk on Monday and Tuesday. A licensed arborist will lead a guided tour of the trees around campus during the walk. The tours will leave from the Phi Mu fountain on campus at 10 a.m. Monday and 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Joe Scott, a Green Week marketing and communications intern, said the Office of Sustainability works with the Green Fund on projects year-round, including recycling on game days. Scott said the Office of Sustainability handles a variety of projects around campus year round. The projects are funded by the Green Fund. The week’s first off-campus demonstration will be presented by the Mississippi Dance Company on the Mud Island River in Memphis. The Green Fund partnered with the dance company for Mississippi River Water Dance to support the National Water Dance Movement. According to The National Water Dance Movement’s website, the group believes artists and dancers need to take the lead in addressing environmental issues. The dance will begin at 2:30 p.m. Scott said Green Week is a success because it provides unique opportunities for students to get involved and
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PHOTOS BY: MARLEE CRAWFORD
Gov. Phil Bryant (left) and Mayor Pat Patterson (top right) speak at the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration press conference at Rowan Oak on Thursday. Steve Azar (bottom right) sings an original song, “That’s Mississippi,” at the press conference Thursday.
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Thursday, Gov. Phil Bryant announced Marty Stuart will headline the Governor’s Concert at the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration North in Oxford this summer. Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter, Mayor Pat Patterson and Mississippi’s own country music star Steve Azar joined Bryant on the Rowan Oak front lawn to unveil the city’s plans for Mississippi’s 200th birthday. Eight members of the Ole Miss Columns Society ushered the crowd of Oxonians through the trees to their seats Thursday after-
noon. The governor is planning events across the state to honor Mississippi’s bicentennial, and said Oxford is a perfect spot for the summer concert. “Billy Faulkner would be proud to know we’re going to throw a big party here in Oxford,” Bryant said. He invited locals and students alike to the Ford Center on June 24 for a free celebration of Mississippi’s music. Mac McAnally, Steve Azar, Shannon McNally and Philadelphia native Marty Stuart will perform that night after a showcase of the state’s musical heritage by Jay Dean, executive director of the Arts Institute of Mississippi.
Before revealing which Mississippi musicians would be performing at the Ford Center this summer, Bryant spoke about the past that has made Mississippi the richly cultured state it is today. “The difficult years, the challenging years left an undeniable mark on the state of Mississippi,” Bryant said. Visit Mississippi director Craig Ray led the event at Rowan Oak. He thanked local members of the Oxford Board of Alderman and university staff for their help in organizing the summer concert. “By hosting these bicentennial events in three major regions of the state, we are able to celebrate with