THE
Daily
MISSISSIPPIAN theDMonline.com
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Wi-Fi issues impact student and staff performance
Volume 113, No. 6
Oxford shoppers struggle to afford higher grocery prices Mississippi has the highest grocery tax in the nation at 7%. Coupled with inflation, this combination leads to high grocery prices.
MARY EVANS
thedmnews@gmail.com
Ten years ago, the University of Mississippi ranked No. 5 among the nation’s flagship universities for internet upload speeds, according to a 2014 survey by The Huffington Post. While UM’s current ranking is unavailable, anecdotal evidence from students and faculty points to a decline in network reliability and their ability to consistently connect. Razavier Davis, a junior psychology major, has had Wi-Fi difficulties both in class and in his former on-campus home, Campus Walk. “Ole Miss needs to fix the Campus Walk (WiFi),” Davis said. “The router is way too far. I had to go an entire year having very bad internet, and I could barely do my homework (on) time.” On campus, Davis noted that he experienced the most trouble in the student union, especially on the first floor. “I was kicked out of my (online) tests be-
SEE WI-FI PAGE 2
A shopper bags items at the self-checkout in Walmart on Oct. 2.
JORJA CARTER
thedmnews@gmail.com
U
GRAPHIC: HALEY REED / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
niversity of Mississippi students and Oxford residents are struggling to keep up with high grocery prices. Mississippi has the highest grocery tax rate in the United States at 7% and is one of only 13 states to levy a grocery tax, according to Mississippi Today. The price of groceries in the
United States is up 3.2% from 2023, according to the Consumer Price Index. Prices were also up 0.3% from July to August; data for September 2024 will be released on Oct. 10. Katie Jadin, a UM sophomore from Wisconsin, compared her grocery shopping experience in Mississippi with her home state, where most groceries are exempt from sales tax. “There is a noticeable difference
CHRISTIAN TOLLIVER / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
between the prices in Oxford versus at home, especially when purchasing items such as fruits and vegetables,” Jadin said. “Back at home, these items are fairly priced.” Jadin said the price difference has affected how she shops for groceries. “Since things like the fruits and vegetables are outrageous-
SEE GROCERY PAGE 3
The booming business of going blonde OLIVIA QUIN
thedmnews@gmail.com
At noon on Thursday before the 2024 Double Decker weekend, every chair at Oxford’s La Rousse Salon & Spa was filled. On that day, more than 40 clients walked into the salon looking for one thing: blonde touch ups. La Rousse is just one of the 22 salons in Oxford that offer coloring and bleaching services. According to a 2024 GITNUX Market Date
report, 51% of salons say that blonde is their most requested color. At La Rousse, that number jumps to 75%. Emily Prins, manager of La Rousse, said that most of the blonde clientele is ages 15-25. “At least 90% of the college students who come to our salon request lightening services to achieve a blonde hair color, from baby-lights to full-head bleach treatment,” Prins said. Achieving the perfect shade of blonde can take a significant investment of time and money.
The cost of being blonde is rising nationally, according to the Washington Post. Initial bleaching and dying sessions range from $100 to $500, depending on salon, hair condition and shade of blonde. Touch ups are needed every four to eight weeks and range from $100 to $300 per session. This demand for blonde treatment has led many saPHOTO COURTESY: OLIVIA QUIN lons like La Rousse to hire “blonde specialists,” who Blonde specialists perform lightening treatments on two UM students.
SEE BLONDE PAGE 4