23 THINGS I LEARNED BEFORE 23: PART 1
TRIATHLETES SWIM, RUN, BIKE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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DIAMOND REBS WELCOME NO. 2 VANDERBILT
T H E D A I LY
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MISSISSIPPIAN T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
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ASb inVeStiGAtion ReSUltS will be AnnoUnceD monDAY Current ASB Attorney General Rob Pillow will announce the results of one of the most notable investigations in Associated Student Body history on Monday. BY ADAM GANUCHEAU aganucheau24@gmail.com
PHoto By tisHA ColeMAn | the Daily Mississippian
Current ASB Attorney General Rob Pillow announced Thursday night that the results of his investigation into the ASB Judicial Council’s ruling that the title “Colonel Reb” was unconstitutional will be released Monday. Former ASB Judicial Chair Courtney Pearson, who presided over the ruling on her final night in office, insists that the investigation is unwarranted and unconstitutional. Pillow launched the investigation Tuesday night after citing concerns about the legality of the process by which the ASB Judicial Council came to its March 25 decision to revoke the title “Colonel Reb,” which is traditionally given to the male counterpart of “Miss Ole Miss” during homecoming week. Pillow told The DM Thursday night that the investigation is almost complete. “The investigation has been under way,” Pillow said. “We’re
Editorial: Progression embittered by unchecked power BY PHIL MCCAUSLAND pjmccaus@go.olemiss.edu
Our university is filled to the brim with tradition, and the students, alumni, faculty and staff are proud of that tradition. This is a great part of the Ole Miss culture, but sometimes we must abandon those traditions that blind us. Colonel Rebel was removed as our mascot in 2003; it seems appropriate that the personality election title be removed as well. We, the editorial staff of The Daily Mississippian, commend the Associated Student Body for removing this final lingering memory of our old mascot and all the emotions and symbolism tied to it. If we want to change the culture of our university, then we must
be consistent with our message. Colonel Rebel no longer represents the views of the university and its student body. It is time to leave our sordid history behind, move forward and create new, inclusive traditions of which everyone can be proud. We are coming ever closer to a time when we no longer have to be haunted by the actions of the students who came before us. The removal of Colonel Rebel is a big step; our reputation is important. That being said, we do not support how the Colonel Rebel title was removed. The Judicial Council should have anticipated a strong emotional reaction to the issue and left it to the ASB Committee for Student Life, which wanted to conduct a
survey before bringing the issue to the Senate floor. Much of the outrage over this decision stems from the exclusion of the university community’s input and from the Judicial Committee’s ignorance of due process. This decision creates a feeling of distrust and suspicion, instead of the goodwill that we should be attempting to foster on this campus. Discussion and compromise is the best way to move forward. It is hard to believe that this removal of Ole Miss culture was determined by five unelected members of the Judicial Council. If decisions like this are not left to members of the student government, then why are we holding elections? We believe that if all of See EDITORIAL, PAge 4
going to release a statement Monday regarding the results of our investigation.” If the results of the investigation show that the council’s process failed to meet requirements set forth in the ASB Constitution, the council’s “Colonel Reb” ruling will be null and void. But Pearson said she believes that there are no constitutional grounds for an ASB attorney general to launch such an investigation. “As the ASB Constitution clearly states, any ruling of the Judicial Council is final,” Pearson said. “There is no written proof that this investigation is even a possibility in the constitution, and this whole (investigation) essentially opens up so many more doors of what is constitutional or not.” Pearson has given The DM a detailed written statement defending the Judicial Council’s “Colonel Reb” decision, which can be found in its entirety on theDMonline.com. Pearson, who presided over
and signed the council’s decision, addressed many of the questions that have been raised since the news broke Tuesday evening. Pearson distanced herself from the situation Wednesday and did not return multiple text messages and phone calls from The DM. On Thursday, she spoke out. “I take a little bit of the blame for a good bit of all this backlash,” Pearson said. “But not for reasons you’d think. I take some blame because I had expected people to understand things that I haven’t explained. That’s the point of the statement.” The ASB judicial chair has never had a vote in council decisions on the constitutionality of cases. However, the judicial chair is present during every case that is heard and can provide input in discussions about whether or not something is constitutional, according to Pearson. Several students have raised questions about the timing of See ASB, PAge 4
FEATURED ONLINE... ole Miss FrAternity sigMA CHi ForMer AsB JuDiCiAl susPenDeD By tHe uniVersity JuDiCiAl CHAir CounCil Courtney PeArson sPeAKs out.
Continuing CoVerAge oF ‘Colonel reB’ neWs CoVerAge oF ole Miss BAseBAll Versus VAnDy
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