The Daily Mississippian | April 9, 2026

MISSISSIPPIAN THE Daily

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Lauren Stokes talks job termination on the campus from which she was fired

HANNAH IVEY News Staff Writer

Former University of Mississippi employee Lauren Stokes spoke about her controversial job termination during a UM American Civil Liberties Union event on April 7 at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center. Her appearance followed the dismissal of her lawsuit against Chancellor Glenn Boyce by a federal judge on March 16.

Stokes was fired from her position as executive assistant for the vice chancellor for development at the university on Sept. 11 after she reposted an Instagram post to her private account criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the day of his murder at Utah Valley University.

The university issued a press release shortly after Stokes’ firing on Sept. 11. In her court testimony on Feb.

13, Stokes said the press release made her job termination “newsworthy” and left her feeling “utterly condemned.”

“We condemn this action, and this staff member is no longer employed by the university,” Boyce said in the email. “All of us have a responsibility to take seriously our commitment to upholding a civil and respectful campus environment.”

The Daily Mississippian requested comment from UM regarding Stokes’ discussion on campus but did not recieve a response by time of publication.

Much of the conversation at the ACLU event concerned the First Amendment and freedom of speech, with Stokes arguing that her being fired from the university was in violation of this right.

“You can hate what I said,” Stokes said. “I totally understand if you do. That’s the joy:

You can hate it. That’s fine. I can not like what you say, but we can say it. And if two sides can’t say something, then that’s not free speech and that’s also not democracy.”

Stokes’ attorney, Alysson Mills, shared their plan to appeal the ruling that dismissed Stokes’ case to the federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and her hopes for the outcome.

“We expect to have a lot of people speaking in support of us,” Mills said. “I’m hoping that we will have a lot of conservative voices. I do not think this is controversial at all. I think the First Amendment is where we ought to agree, and I think there will be a lot of strange bedfellows in court — and I’m looking forward to that. I want to win because Lauren (Stokes) does not deserve this, and no one who

Oxford Board of Aldermen to revisit proposed public demonstration ordinance

DYLAN THOMAS Assistant News Editor

The first reading of an ordinance that would change the designated assembly area for large-group events or demonstrations from the Square to Bramlett Pavilion 0.9 miles away on University Avenue was postponed at the Tuesday, April 7 Oxford Board of Aldermen meeting.

Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen, who presented the ordinance at the meeting, requested to postpone the first reading of the ordinance to the first board of aldermen meeting in May on May 5 at 5 p.m., due to concerns from the public.

“We had planned to present the changes this evening for the first reading, but we’ve received some comments over the last few days. So what I’m asking for you guys (the

board of aldermen) is to allow us to push this to the first reading in May,” McCutchen said. “We can research these issues and then come back and prepare a document where everybody has an opportunity to express their concerns. We can research those concerns and then give you some proper feedback.”

The first reading is a formal introduction of a city ordinance presented to city officials; the first reading informs the public of the proposed ordinance and serves as an initial step in city procedure. Following the first reading, the board of aldermen would hold a second reading, which would include public debate.

A few hours before the board of aldermen meeting, the UM College Democrats released a joint statement on Instagram criticizing the ordinance. The statement was signed

Graduating seniors navigate unstable job market

Graduating seniors at the University of Mississippi are entering one of the most uncertain job markets in recent years, with The New York Times calling it the worst spring for college graduates since the rise of COVID-19 in 2020.

The New York Times article cites a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, stating that the unemployment rate for college graduates aged 22 to 27 increased from 4.8% in December 2024 to 5.7% in December 2025. In December 2025, Mississippi had an overall 3.1% unemployment rate compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.1%, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

Data collected by the Ole Miss Career Center reflects these challenges locally, with 23% of May

2025 graduates — about 898 of approximately 3,938 students — still seeking employment by graduation last May. The data comes from a self-reported survey shared by the Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness and Planning and is currently unreleased to the public.

Gracie Roberts, a senior business analytics and information systems major from Clinton, Miss., has struggled finding a job despite being open to any location and job related to her field of study.

“I think it’s overwhelming,” Roberts said. “I think that you scroll on TikTok or Instagram and every time you hear the word job, it’s usually a video talking about how awful the current job market is and how awful the economy is. That makes it so stressful.” Roberts started her job

is an employee of … any public institution deserves this, but I am mindful that we’re going to have to fight for it.”

Mills referred to the ruling dismissing Stokes’ case against Boyce as the heckler’s veto.

“This is a very important story to tell,” Mills said. “It’s not just about Lauren (Stokes). It’s about what happens when an institution picks a point of view and starts picking winners and losers and communicates to the entire campus, ‘If you say this, you’ll be fired, too.’ It’s very scary.”

Following Kirk’s assasination, at least 27 faculty members faced scrutiny from U.S. colleges and universities regarding comments made about Kirk. At least six sued their institutions of employment for violating their First Amendment rights, according to reporting by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Three professors who sued their institutions were later reinstated to their positions following their lawsuit.

University of South Da -

kota art professor Michael Hook was fired after calling Kirk a “hate spreading Nazi” in an Instagram post. After being suspended by USD, Hook sued the university and was reinstated by a South Dakota district court judge.

Darren Michael, an associate professor of acting and directing at Austin Peay State University, was fired after posting a screenshot of an article with the headline, “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.” APSU suspended Michael with the intention to terminate him, leading Michael to sue. APSU settled with Michael, paying $500,000 and allowing him to return to his position.

Florida Atlantic University finance professor Rebel Cole was placed on administrative leave after responding with threats to an X user celebrating Kirk’s assassination, saying “we are going to hunt you down.” After being placed on leave, Cole sued FAU and was reinstated.

“Unfortunately, (Stokes’ case) is more important now, because the judge basically poured it out. This is, to my knowledge, the only Charlie

“You can hate what I said. I totally understand if you do. That’s the joy: You can hate it. That’s fine. I can not like what you say, but we can say it. And if two sides can’t say something, then that’s not free speech and that’s also not democracy.”

- Lauren Stokes former UM employee

Kirk case that has been totally dismissed,” Mills said. “We’re the first Charlie Kirk case to hit a federal court of appeal, and it’s the Fifth Circuit.”

Stokes talked about the ramifications of her case on other university employees.

“We now know I can’t post anything privately, which means any phone call you have, any text you send, anything you post privately, if you’re talking with a friend and they’re recording you, any of that can be used to fire you,” Stokes said.

Stokes shared her frustration with how the university handled her situation.

“I know there were outside voices that were happening, but there’s always going to be outside voices with any decision anyone makes, whether or not you’re the leader of the university — and when you let that change your decision, you’re for hire,” Stokes said. “I believe in integrity, I believe in empathy, and I don’t think that either of those things was shown on the day that they fired me. It breaks my heart because it truly means that everyone here can go for anything at any time.”

Stokes has dealt with many struggles since she was fired, including being doxed and threats to her place of business — Tarasque Cucina,

the restaurant Stokes owns with her husband, John, and which catered the event.

Tarasque temporarily closed, and Stokes and her husband had to leave town due to these threats. Tarasque has since reopened, and Stokes began promoting it again on social media.

Stokes does not regret sharing the Instagram post that led to her job termination or feel that she did anything wrong

“If you’re going to go down, go down for believing in free speech and not being a racist,” Stokes said. “Those are not controversial.”

Stokes encouraged students and other event attendees to stand up for important issues.

“Keep using your voice,” Stokes said. “Keep speaking up. The whole point right now is people don’t want people speaking up. They want silence. The more people who are silent, the less change will happen. As someone who has been through a doxing — God forbid that happens to you — but it’s going to be okay. Your community will lift you up. Also, get outside. The second you want to reply to someone online, you should get off your phone and please go outside and do something nice for someone else.”

Vice President of the UM College Democrats and se -

nior public policy leadership major Calvin Wood attended the event to support Stokes and her case.

“I thought this was amazing,” Wood said. “It was so good to see so many people show up in support and to really hear directly from Lauren (Stokes) and Alysson (Mills). It’s cool just to hear their reflection on it all and what the next steps are.” Wood was one of seven witnesses, including UM students, faculty, staff and Stokes herself, who testified on Stokes’ behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on Feb. 13. Madisyn Donley, a thirdyear law student and president of the UM chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, reached out to Mills following the court ruling and requested she and Stokes speak on campus. Donley was happy that the speakers agreed and found the event to be successful.

“I think it went really well,” Donley said. “Everyone was pretty respectful, at least from what I saw. Having a full room was more than we asked for, and people enjoyed (Stokes’) food and getting to support her business, too. Her story needs to be told,

ORDINANCE

continued from page 1

by other campus organizations, such as the Community Alliance Network, UM Environment Coalition, UM Forward, UM Ground Game, UM Southern Progressives Alliance and UM Students for a Democratic Society.

“We are deeply concerned and disappointed by the board of aldermen’s consideration of this proposed city ordinance, which will effectively curtail the Oxford public’s right to gather in a place of prominence and exercise their First Amendment rights,” the statement said. “It is particularly concerning that this proposal has been introduced less than two weeks after

JOB MARKET

continued from page 1

search at the beginning of the 2026 spring semester, but she feels like she should have started earlier.

“I feel a little bit behind,” Roberts said. “I feel like I should have started in November or October, but I also feel like everyone’s in a similar position to me right now.”

Brock Thompson, a senior management major from Naples, Fla., has only been searching for a job since the beginning of March, but he has decided to stop worrying about it. He currently works remotely as a sales representative intern for Axis Medical, a medical device company in Birmingham, Ala., but he is looking for something more permanent.

“It’s been stressful, but I’ve been learning to let go of that stress,” Thompson said. “I feel like I have a really good footing in a really good place regardless of whatever job comes next.”

Though Thompson is choosing not to stress, he

the third No Kings day of action, during which hundreds of citizens gathered at the steps of the Oxford City Hall to express their disapproval of the current presidential administration.”

Community members gathered in front of the Lafayette County Courthouse for a third No Kings protest on Saturday, March 28.

McCutchen cited concerns for safety, space and traffic flow as the catalysts behind this ordinance.

“When we reach those critical masses, we routinely overflow into the sidewalks or the city streets, and this has led to access issues for both the individuals who want to gather but also to those citizens who are using the downtown facilities and businesses,” McCutchen said. “Our intent in making these changes

still makes a point to apply for as many jobs as possible.

“I have been reaching out to a lot of people locally and a lot of small business owners,” Thompson said. “I think that’s the best way to get into the job market, to build up some experience for yourself and grow with a smaller company.”

Thompson would prefer to stay within a 12-hour radius of Oxford, but he is exploring other options.

“As of more recently, I’ve been more open to exploring elsewhere and possibilities of moving, just with the idea that there’s not a huge job market here for early graduates starting their career,” Thompson said.

Emily Clark, a senior hospitality management major from Ocean City, Md., has found it difficult to balance school, her career search and her social life. She began her job search during winter break, and she has had several interviews with no response. She is open to any offer but would prefer to have a job in event planning.

“It’s definitely stressful having to apply for all of the jobs

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is not to limit expression on or near the Square. … It is intended to tailor our ordinance to contain reasonable measures that have nothing to do with the expression or messages of those who want to assemble.”

The joint statement recognized OPD’s concerns but re-emphasized the importance of the First Amendment right to assembly.

“We acknowledge that the Oxford Police Department has a responsibility to maintain public safety and traffic flow; however, we do not believe that these goals justify the city abandoning its commitment to upholding citizens’ First Amendment rights to gather in public spaces as they choose,” the joint statement said.

According to the ordinance, any public demon-

and then also do all of my school work, then adding in making the most of my last semester with all of my friends,” Clark said.

As students navigate these challenges, the Ole Miss Career Center is working to provide guidance and support.

Anthony Rowan, a career advisor at the Ole Miss Career Center, encouraged students to stay dedicated even when the job search seems difficult.

“While it may seem to be a little bit harder — maybe take a little bit longer — as long as students are continuing to give it their best effort and make sure they are disciplined in their search process, that’s one of the biggest pieces of advice that I tend to give students,” Rowan said.

Rowan said students should devote adequate time to finding a career to have the best chances.

“The biggest thing for students is to just continue to prioritize and keep their job search as a part-time job in and of itself,” Rowan said.

The ability to utilize artificial intelligence is a skill that Rowan believes may help students when they are applying to jobs.

“I think knowing how to use AI or being able to use it in some form or fashion is going to start to become a more commonplace baseline skill that a lot of companies may be looking for,” Rowan said.

Rowan warned against using AI without checking its work but said it was useful for outlining and proofreading application materials.

“There’s a really big emphasis and a need to remain authentic when applying to these kinds of things,” Rowan said. “Using AI to help generate ideas or to check for grammar in these pro-

stration with more than 50 people in attendance is considered a large assembly event. For all public assemblies and demonstrations, organizers must obtain a permit from the Oxford Police Department.

The ordinance specifies that the following should be included in permit applications moving forward:

• Estimated attendance, which the Oxford Police Department or its representative shall consider, but which may be adjusted based on the experience and assessment of the Oxford Police Department

• Requested location and duration

• Description of activities

• Any anticipated need for traffic control, street closures

or public safety support

The city shall review applications using objective, content-neutral criteria, including:

• Public safety considerations

• Traffic and pedestrian flow

• Emergency access requirements

• Impact on businesses and public infrastructure

• Past experience with similar or comparable assemblies If the guidelines outlined are violated, Section 9 of the ordinance specifies offenders will experience revocation of permit, removal from the event area and “any other remedies available under applicable law.”

fessional documents that you’re using is totally okay. I think it’s just a matter of having it generate writing for you without double checking it is where people may get really tripped up.”

The Ole Miss Career Center, which is located in the Martindale-Cole Student Services Center in room 303, offers resources for students who need assistance with obtaining a job.

“Of course, we can’t guarantee a job or an internship for anybody, but we can try our best to, with the resources that we’ve collected and the knowledge that we have, to make sure that students can put their best foot forward,” Rowan said.

Resume, personal statement and cover letter critiques are one of the most popular resources, according to Rowan. Students can also schedule mock interviews and interview preparation sessions.

Career counseling is also available through the Ole Miss Career Center for students who are not sure what career path they want to pursue. These sessions

can include free Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and SuperStrong personality assessments to provide helpful insights into what the student may be interested in. Free professional headshots are also offered at the center. If in search of business clothing, all students are eligible for one free professional outfit per semester through the Ole Miss Career Center’s Career Closet, located in the South Oxford Center. The closet is open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. every Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters.

“We want to try to help in any way we can,” Rowan said. Clark offered her perspective on handling the uncertainty of looking for a job as a senior at UM.

“I just take it one day at a time,” Clark said. “I look for what I can do to try to push me along in the process, but I’m trying to stay as calm as possible.”

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energetic, visually stimulating adventure packed with familiar faces, references and spectacles.

The release of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” on Wednesday, April 1 brought large crowds to theaters across the United States for another big-screen trip into Nintendo’s colorful universe.

The positive response is easy to understand. For longtime fans of Mario and his surrounding cast of characters, the film delivers exactly what it promises: an

For viewers less invested in the franchise, however, the experience may feel overwhelming and muddled, moving at a pace that rarely slows down long enough to explain itself.

The film expands beyond the kingdom-to-kingdom adventures of its predecessor and leans fully into cosmic fantasy. Mario and Luigi are once again pulled

into a crisis but now on a much larger scale. The beautiful animation helps bring the star systems and shifting worlds to life.

The film borrows heavily from the imagery of the beloved video games that have been staples in pop culture since the 1980s, yet “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” reshapes and reimagines its reputation in a heartwarming family blockbuster with constant movement.

That momentum is both one of the film’s strengths and its biggest weakness. The movie wastes almost no time moving from one set piece to the next, often prioritizing momentum over clarity. Entire sections of exposition are brushed aside so the next visual idea can arrive, particularly in the film’s early stretch when Rosalina is captured from her intergalactic kingdom and the audience is quickly transported from one new planet to another.

For audiences already familiar with the Super Mario universe, that approach works

because much of the emotional connection comes from that recognition. For those less attached to Nintendo franchises, however, the speed can make the story and its beats feel scattered.

Commercially, the film has already proven that Mario’s theatrical appeal remains enormous. According to IMDbPro, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has grossed more than $370 million globally in its first five days of release, positioning it among the year’s biggest openings. A near-even split between domestic and overseas revenue also reflects the appeal that these characters have, especially for a franchise whose strength depends heavily on visual familiarity and nostalgia rather than classic storytelling.

For a film built directly around pre-existing affection, its commercial success reinforces the fact that the brand continues as one of the most dependable draws in family entertainment.

The voice cast of this fran-

chise continues to expand and deliver. Returning performers Chris Pratt and Jack Black sound increasingly comfortable in their roles, bringing more personality than novelty this time around.

New additions like Donald Glover as the fan-favorite dinosaur Yoshi and Brie Larson as the intergalactic princess Rosalina stand out as welcome and fitting inclusions to the universe.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” succeeds at what it most clearly wants to be, as it is a bright, fast and enthusiastic celebration of a beloved franchise aiming to make as much money as possible. It may not fully bridge the gap for viewers without any attachment to its world, but for those who grew up with these characters, it offers enough charm and laughs to make the ride worthwhile.

Parker McCollum unites

‘Gold

Chain Nation’ at the Pavilion

JESSICA JOHNSON Assistant A&C Editor

Country music star Parker McCollum will take the stage at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. tonight as part of his 2026 tour. The event is hosted by Ole Miss Athletics.

Openers for the show include season six runner-up of “The Voice” Jake Worthington and emerging country star and former Western cowboy Tyler Halverson. A meetand-greet with McCollum will take place prior to the concert.

McCollum’s Oxford stop, originally scheduled for Feb. 5, was postponed due to ongoing recovery efforts from Winter Storm Fern. In a campus update email dated Feb. 2, the university announced that tickets purchased for the original date would be honored, and for those unable to attend on April 9, refunds will be available at point of purchase.

Raised in Conroe, Texas, McCollum draws inspiration from traditional Americana and country music artists like George Strait. McCollum signed to MCA Nashville in 2019 after releasing two studio albums and three

EPs as an independent artist.

He is a two-time winner at the Academy of Country Music awards, receiving the “New Male Artist of the Year” award in 2021 and “Visual Media of the Year” award in 2023 for his song “Burn It Down.”

McCollum recently released a deluxe version of his 2025 self-titled album on March 20, featuring four new songs.

Keelin Duncan, a freshman sports management and integrated marketing communications major from McDonough, Ga., was excited when she was requested to work backstage at McCollum’s show by her supervisors at Ole Miss Athletics. She is a student worker for the event management department within Ole Miss Athletics.

“It is always exciting to hear a bigger name coming to Oxford,” Duncan said. “Live music is one of the things that makes Oxford as special as it is, so getting Parker McCollum here is really fun.”

Ava Douglas, a senior journalism major, has been a longtime fan of McCollum and was eager to get tickets for the show.

“I plan to be at the show tomorrow,” Douglas said. “I’ll actually be in the pit. I’ve been

a fan since he first became famous, and he always stood out to me. … I was really excited when I found out he was coming because I never really expected him to come to Oxford.”

Some students expressed their excitement on the Ole Miss Athletics post from Sept. 19, 2025, announcing McCollum’s original Oxford show date.

“Babe, wake up, Parker McCollum is coming to Oxford,” Avery Grantham, a senior journalism major, commented on the Ole Miss Athletics Instagram post.

University of Mississippi alumni also expressed excitement about McCollum coming to campus.

“This is the best day of my life,” Mimi Williams, a UM alum who graduated in 2024 with her bachelor’s in legal studies, commented on the Ole Miss Athletics Instagram post.

Jaylynn Conner contributed reporting.

What is the future for Ole Miss Baseball head coach Mike Bianco?

Sports Staff Writer

Despite head coach Mike Bianco leading Ole Miss Baseball to a national championship in 2022, the Rebels have not met the expectation established after many years of winning, leaving Bianco’s job potentially in question.

Bianco has been at the helm for 26 seasons. During his tenure, Ole Miss has been to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., twice, advanced to eight super regionals, played in 19 regionals and won the SEC Tournament twice.

However, the Rebels have underperformed in recent years. In 2023, Ole Miss went 6-24 in conference play and failed to make the SEC Tournament. In 2024, the Rebels posted another losing SEC record at 11-19 and went oneand-done in the conference tournament in Hoover, Ala.

Last season was their best stretch since the title run.

The Rebels finally finished above .500 in the SEC at 1614. Their postseason placement was bolstered by a deep SEC Tournament push, during

which they beat No. 2 seed Arkansas and eventual national champion No. 3 seed LSU. They even hosted an NCAA Regional, which only made the season-ending loss to mid-major opponent Murray State sting even more.

So far this season, Bianco and the Rebels are off to a precarious start. Overall, the roster looks promising, but some out-of-conference stumbles and SEC losses could be cause for worry.

Bianco is the longest-tenured active head coach in SEC baseball. After the 2022 title, he signed a contract extension that, including this season, has three years remaining. His base salary is $1.26 million per year, and his buyout is 80% of all remaining money owed.

In a sport like baseball, which brings in a relatively small profit compared to football and basketball, firing a coach with a large buyout could place a financial strain on a school’s athletics program. Moving on from Bianco, however, is not out of the question given the increasingly short leashes for coaches across college athletics.

Mike Bianco talks to Cannon Goldin in the game against North Alabama at Swayze Field on

LSU hired Jay Johnson in 2022, and he has already won two national championships. Mississippi State hired Chris Lemonis in 2019; he led the Bulldogs to the 2021 national title but was fired in 2025. Now, under new head coach Brian O’Connor, the Bulldogs are a Top Ten team and seem poised for a postseason run. In March, South Carolina parted ways with head coach Paul Mainieri after he went 6-28 in SEC play in a season and a half. Examples like these, paired with the rapidly evolving NIL era, have raised expectations for coaches. Athletic departments want fast turnarounds and sustained success.

Many people are calling for Bianco’s firing or at least expecting it. Ole Miss fans have recently started tagging Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Sports Keith Carter in posts on X with remarks against the long-time coach. There is even a hashtag for it: #firebianco. Carter replied to one of these fans on Thursday, April 2.

“Joe … we all hate losing but the insufferable losers like you and others who

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.

tweet at me in the middle of the game from their parent’s basements is just ridiculous. Be better,” Carter said.

But how likely is a Bianco firing? The program has enjoyed undeniable highs under his leadership, including the program’s sole NCAA title, and plenty of fans would happily sign him to a lifetime contract.

Realistically, Carter could simply wait for Bianco’s deal to expire, then hire someone new. The deal currently has only two and a half sea

sons remaining. This would be much cheaper than buying out Bianco. Still, it is unclear whether Carter will hold off or make a move.

Students embrace seismic shifts in the energy drink market

LENORA COLLIER Opinion Editor

MACKENZIE MCDARIES Opinion Staff Writer

When thinking of essentials for the average college student, a few obvious items come to mind: an adequately functioning computer, noise-cancelling headphones and a sturdy backpack.

Arguably, none of these are as important as the holy grail of daily necessities. Caffeine, whether you take it in a cup or can, is a cornerstone to the very culture of America. According to the American Medical Association, 85% of US adults consume 135 milligrams of caffeine daily.

College students drinking caffeine is a tale as old as time, so it is no surprise that this statistic holds even more true for this demographic.

According to a nationally representative survey conducted by Grand Canyon University, 95% of college students say they consume caffeine, spending on average $20.82 a week.

While the benefits and negatives of caffeine as a substance have generated substantial debate, the question of market trends offers interesting insights.

In Oxford, a college town crawling with loaded tea shops, pop-up coffee chains and aisles lined with an impossible number of caffeinated options, staying awake has never been easier.

Increasingly, however, students are beginning to opt for branded energy drinks to find their fuel. From Celsius, Red Bull, Monster, Bubbl’r and beyond, the bulk-bought products sold at su-

permarkets simply outcompete the price of barista-style coffee.

According to market research firm Circana, between July 2024 and 2025, energy drink unit sales increased by 6.3%. Unit sales of ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages, however, fell by 4.8%.

A surprising competitor contributing to this trend has entered the Oxford caffeine market. It is not local or even a small business.

The UPDATE “energy drink,” co-founded by Beverly Hills billionaire and socialite Kim Kardashian, has made waves at Walmarts across the nation by offering energy without the traditional ingredient of caffeine.

While branded as an energy drink, UPDATE contains zero caffeine; the key ingredient is paraxanthine, the compound your body naturally produces after consuming caffeine.

The UPDATE formula promises to “eliminate the crash, jitters and overstimulation” that caffeine drinkers typically suffer from while still delivering “four hours of focused energy when you need it most.”

What distinguishes UPDATE is not merely its celebrity association or ingredient label, but its branding. Much like many energy drink campaigns in recent years, the brand has targeted female consumers with bright, fruity flavors and claims of wellness.

UPDATE’s corporate strategy is not unique in its gendered marketing. In February, Monster Energy launched the female-focused FLRT energy drink line, offering its own array of flavors from “Guava Lava” to “Berry Tempting,” promoting wellness ingredients such as collagen and biotin.

The energy drink industry is undergoing a broader shift towards health-conscious branding to meet demands from consumers, according to Tony Guilfoyle, CCO at Celsius Energy Drinks.

While it is easy to discount the relevance of national brands to the relatively tiny town of Oxford, the style and tactics of marketing moguls affect caffeine consumers everywhere.

At a college where caffeine is ubiquitous, how are University of Mississippi students responding to drastic shifts in the energy drink market?

Jared Smith, a sophomore international studies and Spanish double major from Pass Christian, Miss., said that he consumes an UPDATE drink daily.

“I actually really enjoy the drinks because of their ‘clean’ energy,” Smith said. “When I used to drink (other) energy drinks, just the sheer amount of caffeine without anything else would send me either into shakes or deep lows after the caffeine high wore off.”

He said that drinking UPDATE, by contrast, did not result in the same side effects due to the use of more natural compounds instead of caffeine.

Furthermore, Smith believes that his peers will take well to the changing energy drink market.

“I think a lot of students have become more health conscious and more interested in what exactly we areputtinginourbodies,”Smithsaid.

He compared the pivot in the energy drink market to the soda industry, with drinks like Ollipop and Poppi growing in popularity as “clean” soda alternatives.

Not all college students,

however, share this view.

Junior political science major A’Davion Bush, from Indianola, Miss., said that his personal caffeine use is “more about function than taste.” Bush said his energy-relat ed drinking habits fluctuate based on his needs at any given time.

“I do not think most students are going to choose a drink just be cause it is marketed as healthier,” Bush said. “College students still care a lot about price, convenience, taste and whether it actually gives them the energy boost they need.”

Bush argued that clean er energy drink options may find success among UM stu dents who are already invested in wellness and lifestyle trends.

“For others, the deciding factor will still be what is accessible, af fordable and effective,” Bush said.

His point rings particular ly true, as cost is an important factor in determining which products will be successful.

As energy drinks are becoming more popular nationwide, the change in price reflects one potential reason why they have become a competitor to other types of caffeinated beverages; data show that year-over-year price increases for energy drinks reached their peak at 6.2% in 2022, while coffee and tea options increased by 12%.

This trend indicates that the substitution effect is a primary driver for the success of energy drinks; when prices for coffee and tea rise, many will opt for cheaper alternatives.

Ultimately, it is clear that the energy drink market is making an obvious shift toward providing healthier, cleaner alternatives to the traditional energy drink, a

move that will likely find success among students in Oxford and throughout the United States. By being more particular in our consumption of caffeinated beverages, consumers could play an even greater role in the future of the energy drinks industry.

MacKenzie McDaries is a freshman political science and Arabic major from Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lenora Collier is a sophomore international studies major from Hattiesburg, Miss.

CONTACT THE OPINION DESK AT thedmopinion@gmail.com

Grief, growth and the lessons in between

RILEY ALTIERE Opinion Staff Writer

I have always dreaded one distinct feeling in my stomach, where your heart sinks and your insides become knotted.

Whenever that feeling arrives, I’m 12 years old again, awakened by my mother who said she had to talk to me. In a half-dreaming daze, I stumbled into her room and climbed onto her bed, figuring this talk would be about my poor attitude or grades — something that was easily reparable. Suddenly, my world flipped upside down. That feeling I hate so much overtook me for the first time. It was as if the bed I was sitting on had disappeared beneath me.

“Daddy passed away,” my mother explained, three simple yet shocking words that seemed too heavy for the air to carry.

It was like I had fallen off the playground and had the wind knocked out of me, only I hadn’t. I was not on the playground. I had not fallen. I was in bed crying with my mother, whom I had never seen cry before.

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Now, seven years later, that feeling is not as painful or sharp. It no longer crashes into me but drifts in like a memory that refuses to fade. It comes in brief waves.

That feeling will always be there.

It comes in the form of guilt when I catch myself calling my adoptive father, John, “Dad.” It comes when I think of my friends with two birth parents who know everything about them.

My dad knows nothing about me past the age of 12. My favorite color is no longer pink, as he would remember, and I don’t seem to find swimming, soccer or Disney Channel nearly as exciting anymore. Those pieces of me are frozen in time for him, untouched and unfinished.

What would it be like to see him now after seven years of his absence? What would I tell him about? Would we finally be able to really know each other, more than just favorite colors and songs? Would he be sitting with me right now as I brainstorm my next article?

That once-overpowering feeling of dread now reminds me of how impermanent life is.

How lucky I am to experience an abundance of joy in my life.

I do not dread that feeling now. It gently pulls me back to what matters. Not only do I have one life to live but so does everyone else. It may seem counterintuitive, but that feeling I felt for the first time as a 12-year-old girl has formed me into the young woman I am today.

I am no longer an envious, selfish or angry person. I am joyful. I am kind. I find joy in my sorrows because I know they will lead me to more joy. I love others even when they don’t love me because I know that everyone gets that same gut-wrenching, stomach-twisting feeling that I do.

Grief is not easy. Initially, I harbored anger and resentment. I would not believe anyone who said that there is a good result of the tragedy that had taken place, because how could something so painful ever lead to something good?

It takes time, but in changing your outlook, you can change the outcome of how you react to hard things.

We must appreciate the good in the bad and dwell in those feel-

Riley Altiere and her father

ings. See the joy in darkness. That joy can shine a new light in your life — sometimes, that light is the thing that keeps you going.

Columns do not represent the views of The University of Mississippi or The Daily Mississippian. The Daily Mississippian welcomes letters to the editor, which should be emailed to thedmopinion@gmail.com. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. They may be edited for clarity, brevity and libel. Third-party letters and those with pseudonyms or no name will not be published. Letters are limited to one per individual per month. Letters should include contact information, including relationship to the university, if applicable.

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