Donald Cole is speaking at the Overby Center on Thursday for "Ole Miss after the Crisis."
Hayden Phillips
JOUR 271
Oct. 14, 2012
Ole Miss after
the Crisis
406 Words
UNIVERSITY,
Miss. – Three Panelists gave their thoughts on how the University of
Mississippi has progressed within racial discrimination. With David Sansing,
the Ole Miss historian, as the moderator of the discussion, the Overby Center
on campus had a packed crowd on Thursday.
“It
is exciting that after 50 years, we, the University, are taking a look in the
mirror. An honest look,” said Valeria Ross, the assistant dean of students for
multicultural affairs and volunteer services.
It
has been 50 years since James Meredith was admitted into the University of
Mississippi as the first African American student to attend the school. This
time, with the anniversary, is very important to Ole Miss and the students and
faculty. As Ross said, it is important that we, as a whole, reflect on the ups,
downs and trials that African American students have gone through at The
University of Mississippi.
The
other speakers were Gerald Walton and Donald Cole. Each panelist spoke for
about 20 minutes reminiscing from his or her experiences on the matter.
Attention was kept tight since they all had interesting and relevant stories to
tell.
“It
is great that the school is showing respect and concern during this time for
what has happened,” said Jake Reed, a student at Ole Miss.
Gerald
Walton was the dean of the liberal arts school at Ole Miss in the late ‘70’s.
Walton has done many good things throughout his career at the University. He
started the Black Studies Program here on campus and got Cleveland Donald to be
in charge of it.
Cole,
a faculty member and administrator at the University of Mississippi, displayed
his recollection of stories from when he was at Ole Miss starting in 1968. He
enrolled as an African American just six years after Meredith had been admitted
and said that rebelliousness had not slowed down at all for the students.
“Protesting
was natural to us. It was going on all over the country with Vietnam and
everything. We were protesting way left though. We even wanted the sports teams
to be integrated,” Cole said with a hint of joking sarcasm.
Ultimately
there was light shown on students and faculty during the discussion.
“Yes,
it is true that we have a lot to be guilty of but the best we can do is go and
sin no more,” Walton said.
Source Contact Info:
Jake Reed - 662-379-5253
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