The Daily Mississippian | February 26, 2026

MISSISSIPPIAN

Volume 114, No. 18

RebelTHON raises record-breaking $305K

TATUM

University of Mississippi students raised a record-breaking $305,211.38 during RebelTHON, a 12hour, student-run dance marathon on Saturday, Feb. 21, that benefitted Children’s of Mississippi, the only children’s hospital in the Magnolia State. Students danced in the ballroom at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the 14th edition of the fundraiser.

The event, which highlights the stories of the children and families it supports, has raised more than $2 million since its inception in 2013. Saturday marked the first time in RebelTHON’s history that the organization raised more than

Jones touts success in State of the ASB Address

Associated Student

Body President Jack Jones delivered his State of the ASB Address to the ASB Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the formal senate meeting in the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union. Jones highlighted accomplishments from the past year and projects in progress — including a students-only ticket exchange platform and a collaboration between the Universi -

ty of Mississippi and rideshare service Uber. Jones addressed ASB’s work with Ole Miss Athletics to bring more student accommodations to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, progress being made on campus mental health and wellness initiatives and ASB’s work with the university after Student Activity Fee funds were frozen by the university following the passage of State House Bill 1193 last year.

SEE ASB PAGE 2

COST OF GROCERIES

We compared the prices of a local shopper’s average basket of groceries at Oxford’s four major grocers.

SEE PAGE 3

$300,000. These donations will fully fund 12 infusion bays within the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Mississippi.

Maddie Grace Lightsey, a senior exercise science major who serves as president of RebelTHON, witnessed compassion and care from Children’s of Mississippi first-hand when her brother was a patient there.

“Being part of RebelTHON has been my way of giving back to the place that gave so much to (my family),” Lightsey said. “For the past four years, RebelTHON has been a cornerstone of my college experience. To close out my time as president with a record-breaking year felt incredibly full circle. This organization means more to me than words can express.”

Aminata Ba named 2026 Truman finalist

ply for the scholarship because of how the award aligns with her personal values.

Aminata Ba, a University of Mississippi junior public policy leadership and economics major from Southaven, Miss., has been named as a 2026 Truman Scholarship finalist.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship awards $30,000 in graduate funding for students looking to pursue a career in public service.

This year, there are 198 finalists from 136 institutions, according to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation website. Ba is one of two finalists from a Mississippi school, with another finalist attending Mississippi State University. There is also a finalist from the state of Mississippi who attends Princeton University.

Ba said she decided to ap -

“I really resonate with the Truman Foundation’s emphasis on public service and leadership,” Ba said. “Growing up in the South and living under these ideas of Southern hospitality, and then also the values that my parents instilled in me, of taking care of other people and making sure others are uplifted. It’s been my life trajectory to ensure that others in my community and around the world are taken care of. And so with the Truman Foundation, it would help contribute to my passion and my aspiration to serve in public service in the future.”

Ba’s passion for public service began during her years at DeSoto Central High School, where she became aware of issues surrounding voting engagement.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Only a season after advancing to the Sweet 16, the Rebels have become bottomfeeders in the SEC. What changed between this season and last?

SEE PAGE 4

“In high school, while doing research for Secretary of State Michael Watson’s ‘Promote the Vote’ civic engagement essay competition, I read a

ASB NEEDS YOU

While our Associated Student Body greatly contributes to the betterment of student life at UM, it cannot address many of the issues students face.

SEE PAGE 5

continued from page 1

Lightsey said 1,312 registered participants joined in the dance marathon.

“We centered everything around the incredible children and families who have been treated at Children’s of Mississippi,” Lightsey said. “Hearing their stories and seeing our campus rally around them made this year especially powerful.”

Hudson Lees, a junior integrated marketing communications student from Natchez, Miss., served as a team captain for her sorority, Kappa Delta. Lees is involved in many of the sorority’s philanthropy efforts, including RebelTHON.

“I wanted to lead with

ASB

continued from page 1

“Last spring, our team, in conjunction with Vice President (Walker) Jacklin, met with Ole Miss Athletics to advocate for improvements at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. I’m proud to say those conversations resulted in discounting concessions, misting stations and affordable chargers in the student section,” Jones said. “Just today, I received a call informing me that athletics is working with their ticket sales partners to develop a ticket marketplace exclusively for our students.”

Jones used his speech to emphasize that the ASB Senate has made positive improvements and to encourage senators to keep up their work as advocates for the university students.

“Our organization serves almost 29,000 people with unique stories, unique experiences and unique challenges. In times like these, student advocacy efforts have never been more important. ASB’s executive officers were well aware of the challenges before us when we began this journey together last spring. We committed ourselves to advancing the student experience in every possible way,” Jones said. “While we do, there will be wins, and there will be missteps.” Jones also highlighted an

TRUMAN

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2018 Johns Hopkins University study finding that onethird of respondents could not name their governor, over 80% could not name their state legislator and nearly three-quarters could not name their senator,” Ba said. “Those statistics shocked me — so much so that I wrote them down on my notes app, where they still sit over five years later. I became motivated to use the resources available around me to make a difference and put a dent in those numbers.”

While in high school, Ba began hosting voter registration drives and registered more than

purpose. My role is about organizing fundraisers and motivating our members, but it’s also about helping everyone understand the ‘why’ behind what we do,” Lees said. “Every dollar raised represents hope and support for families going through incredibly difficult seasons.”

For Lees, this event holds a deeper meaning.

“I was a patient at Children’s of Mississippi, and that experience shaped so much of who I am,” Lees said. “When I joined my sorority, I always knew I wanted to find a way to give back to the hospital that gave me so much.”

RebelTHON’s slogan, “Kids Can’t Wait,” reflects the time-sensitive nature of pediatric health care, emphasizing that children in need require immediate support rather

ongoing project between the university and Uber to bring a rideshare program specifically to university students.

“We’ve been hard at work over the past several years with parking and transportation in order to get that done. That’s been a policy and an initiative that has continued from one administration to the next. I think we’re very close,” Jones said in an interview with The Daily Mississippian. “It’s in the contractual management phase, trying to make sure that Uber and the University of Mississippi can agree on language. … I think that’s something that we’re going to be able to get done very soon.”

After Jones’ speech, the ASB Senate went on to confirm cabinet and departmental nominations and fill two open senate seats.

Riley Mickelson was confirmed as the secretary of ASB, after acting as interim secretary for a short time. Also in the secretary’s department, Ella Berg was confirmed as the deputy secretary of external affairs, and Olivia McArdle was confirmed as the director of programming.

In the president’s cabinet, Luke Habeeb, who previously served as the vice president’s chief of staff, was confirmed as the president’s chief of staff; Sophie Kahle was confirmed as the principal of external affairs; Marlee Cleveland was confirmed as the principal of accessibility; and Keliah White was confirmed as the depu -

100 students at her first drive. On campus, she has grown this commitment through her involvement with the UM Voting Ambassadors, the UM Center for Community Engagement and the UM Voting Coalition.

“The biggest thing that I’m proud of was the voter-friendly competition, which was a huge competition that involved 7,000 members of Greek life on campus and basically created a competitive, but friendly, point competition to encourage voter engagement,” Ba said.

Ba worked in tandem with the Office of National Scholarship Advisement (ONSA) to put together her application. Assistant Director of ONSA Whitney Dedmon-Woods spoke to Ba’s commitment.

“Ami approached every

than postponed solutions.

This year’s RebelTHON theme was “Believe in Champions,” which centered on the strength of “Miracle Kids” and the university community’s role in supporting children and families through fundraising, advocacy and awareness.

“I’m especially excited to stand on the dance floor, not just as a leader but as someone who once sat in those hospital rooms. To now be healthy enough to dance for 12 hours for other children is something I don’t take for granted. This isn’t just about staying on our feet — it’s about standing up for every child who needs hope,” Lees said.

Co-Director of Ignite for RebelTHON Brayden Bullock, a biological science sophomore from Clinton, Miss., says that the annual event is about con -

ty principal of inclusion and cross-cultural engagement.

Former ASB President Sara Austin Welch, who is enrolled in a graduate program at the university, was confirmed as senior adviser to the president.

In the legislative council, Riley Littleton was confirmed as the vice president’s chief of staff.

In the department of justice, Sneha Vuyyuru was confirmed as deputy attorney general of code and constitution. Jack Kimrey and Grace Stucky were confirmed as elections commissioners. All nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote.

Filling the two vacant senate seats, Hannah Oommen, a freshman biomedical engineering major, was elected as an ASB Senator for the committee of academics, and Nate Millen, a freshman accountancy major, was elected as an ASB Senator for the housing committee.

Four ASB members had resigned prior to this senate due to potential conflicts they had with the upcoming elections, according to a statement by Attorney General Madison Waldrop sent out via an Instagram post. Each of the resignees’ conflicts are individual, and there is no blanket reason as to why they left their respective positions. Those members were ASB Secretary Caroline Croley, ASB President Chief of Staff OC Williford, Deputy Attorney General of Code and Consti -

edit and rewrite of her application with openness and a genuine drive to find the best pathway to become the public servant she wants to be,” Dedmon-Woods said. “It has truly been a joy to see her grow and strengthen her goals through this process. … She is such an incredible student and individual who puts her whole heart and effort into her work.”

Ba also credits her success in part to the influence of past Truman Scholars at the university. UM has had five students win the award in the past four years.

“I’m lucky to have an incredible village of people who are service-oriented and former Truman Scholars that have come from this university,” Ba said. “And so through

nection for him, highlighting the importance of its mission.

“To me, RebelTHON means connecting with people across the country to give opportunities to the children of Mississippi that are battling diseases and difficulties that deserve special attention,” Bullock said. “This year’s project will be 12 new infusion bays. We only have the one children’s hospital in the state, so this is pretty important!”

Bullock emphasized the importance that the kids have in the mission of RebelTHON.

“The kids really are our champions, and we are here to show that there are hundreds of people here to support them and their families through their time with the hospital. It is our aim to give the champions a chance to enjoy being a kid and give the fam -

ilies a chance to watch their child shine,” Bullock said. For Bullock, his experience with the organization has been made meaningful by the impact the annual event has had.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years with RebelTHON, and I can’t wait to keep giving more to the champions with each passing year. What we do is life-changing,” Bullock said. “It isn’t just about the money we raise, it is the community that the champion families and UM students get to experience and feel. Kids Can’t Wait.”

tution Ella Key and Deputy Attorney General of Elections Engagement Lucy Allen.

ASB Senate unanimously passed five bills concerning the ASB Code and Constitution. The bills focused on updating written policy with ASB practices and clarifying the language used within the code and constitution.

Two of the bills divided record-keeping roles, such as the historian and legislative aides, to ease the process of managing with ASB records.

The last piece of legislation passed was a senate proclamation, SP 26-1, formally expressing gratitude to every individual and organization who helped clean and repair the University of Mississippi, Oxford and Lafayette Coun -

their support, through their advice and through just the incredible model that they’ve set, I’ve been blessed to be able to follow in their footsteps.”

The 2026 Truman Scholars will be announced on April 24. If named a Truman Scholar, Ba plans on putting the award toward pursuing her juris doctorate, specifically with an eye for her passion for voting rights in the South.

“I’d like to pursue voting rights and civil rights as an emphasis at a law school, and hopefully from there … I’d like to become a civil rights attorney in the South and support voting rights efforts in Mississippi,” Ba said.

Ba said the best advice for students looking to apply to be a Truman Scholar

ty after Winter Storm Fern. “We just wanted to put out a big thank you to everybody (who has) helped … rebuild the Oxford community throughout Winter Storm Fern,” Chairman of the Committee of Athletics Jack Turrentine in his proclamation presentation. “(It includes a list) directly from the university of all the organizations that they wanted to make sure that we thank, and we tried to add on anything else that we can think of.”

is to not psych yourself out. “That’s something that I did at the beginning,” Ba said. “But when your heart is in the right place, when you are someone that has dedicated your time to serving others, then it is definitely worth taking a shot. And the process has truly been one that is like that. It puts you in a very reflective state, and really only strengthens your desire to continue to work in public service.”

Who has the cheapest groceries in Oxford?

TAF FLANDERS

A&C Staff Writer

When a college student moves off campus and meal plans become too costly, grocery shopping becomes a weekly routine. Despite a growing campus and local population, residents have only a few options to choose from on their weekly shopping trip. We looked at four full-service grocery stores in Oxford to compare prices to aid shoppers on a budget.

The methodology here is simple: The Daily Mississippian recorded prices for the same basket of groceries at Kroger, Larson’s Cash Saver, Walmart and Dollar General on Feb. 24. The staff sought out the cheapest variation at each store — typically a generic brand.

The corporate behemoth Walmart offered the lowest basket price at $37.79, followed by Larson’s Cash Saver at $39.21 and Dollar General at $46.11. Kroger was the most expensive, coming in at $46.24.

Notably, though, some stores shined in specific categories while others fell short. After reading this article, a student might even be compelled to shop at multiple stores to save big. Here’s the full breakdown, from cheapest to most expensive:

Pros

No. 1 Walmart

• “Everyday Low Prices” — Walmart’s slogan is not lying. Due to the company’s size, Walmart can offer steep discounts with their suppliers, which translates to cheaper groceries.

• More than a grocery store — Walmart is the only grocer on this list to offer services such as oil changes, photo printing and fishing licensure.

Cons

• Overwhelming shopping experience — Compared to the other stores in this list, Walmart has the most items on the shelves and cars in the parking lot. For those looking for their shopping experience to be a “weekly reset,” this store may not be the best fit

• Economic impact — The chain’s ultra-low prices come at a cost for local communities. A 2024 study found that communities actually became poorer after Walmart moved in compared to communities without a Walmart.

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No. 2 Larson’s Cash Saver

Pros

• Affordable bread and butter — Larson’s white bread loaves and sticks of butter were lower than all of their big-chain counterparts.

• Local business — Larson’s Cash Saver is the only local grocery store out of these four businesses. In fact, Larson’s is currently the only local, full-service grocery store in Oxford with comparable prices to Walmart. In the case of Kroger and Dollar General, Larson’s offers lower prices.

Cons

• Higher specialty costs — For items that are not considered the “basics” or have no generic replacement, Larson’s prices are a bit higher. For example, a pint of vanilla ice cream at Larson’s was $2.67, which was more expensive than the other grocers.

• Construction chaos — Larson’s is located on a crowded section of University Avenue, where general construction on the road and a new roundabout has been ongoing for the past year.

No. 3 Dollar General

Pros

• Cheap generic brand — Dollar General’s in-house generic brand, Clover Valley, seems to be the second cheapest generic brand on the list, trumped only by Walmart’s Great Value brand.

• Multiple locations — Unlike the other three grocers on our list, Dollar General has more than one location in town. There are five Dollar General stores in Oxford, making them the easiest to access.

Cons

• No by-the-pound produce — Dollar General’s produce section is meager and often varies in availability from store-to-store. For budget shoppers, their lack of by-the-pound pricing is disappointing. We tried our best to show the Dollar General equivalent to the other three stores using average weight. We also found the North Lamar Boulevard location had the biggest produce selection.

• No fresh deli — You will not see a butcher at Dollar General. Their meats are pre-packaged, with ground beef only sold in plastic rolls.

No. 4 Kroger

Pros

• Specialty items — If a recipe requires an oddly specific or novelty ingredient, Kroger might be the best option. For example, Kroger has the largest range of international foods out of the four stores.

• Gas discounts — Shopping at Kroger comes with some relief when filling your car with gas. Shopping using a free Kroger card builds up monthly, per-gallon discounts on gas from their on-site station. Some Shell gas stations also allow you to use your Kroger discounts.

Cons

• High prices — Students shopping at Kroger will likely notice higher prices, even on generic-branded items. Kroger, however, does issue a huge amount of coupons, some of which are customized weekly based on your shopping habits.

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What went wrong with Ole Miss Men’s Basketball?

NATE DONOHUE Assistant Sports Editor

Last year looked like the beginning of a dynasty. In his second season as head coach, Chris Beard led the Rebels to a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001, where they narrowly lost to No. 2 seed Michigan State. Then came this season.

The Rebels fell to 11-16 (3-11 SEC) with their 94-75 clobbering at the hands of No. 12 Florida on Saturday, Feb. 21. As of Feb. 25, they are third-to-last in the SEC and, barring a miraculous championship run in the SEC Tournament, will fail to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

What went wrong?

Frankly, the Rebels lack athleticism and flash.

Consider guard Matthew Murrell, a key contributor on the Sweet 16 team. A 6-foot-4-inch combo guard, he was No. 39 on ESPN’s Top 100 list for the class of 2020. He played for Ole Miss for five seasons and leads the program in games and minutes played.

During his time in Oxford, he was primarily known as a sharpshooter (No. 4 in program history in 3-pointers made) and a tenacious defender (tied for No. 4 in program history in career steals). In the NBA, this is referred to as a “3-and-D” player. He was more likely to pull up for a contested jump shot than make a physical drive toward the basket. Yet, during his Pro Day in 2023, he slammed home a between-the-legs dunk.

A sharpshooter — a 3-and-D guy — on last year’s team was still capable of a between-the-legs dunk.

Obviously, this is an unfairly specific metric for athleticism. Some of the best basketball players in the world do not have the vertical jump or body coordination to accomplish this, yet they still possess other, more practical skill sets.

Murrell also did this on an empty court, without any defenders present. He currently plays for the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, so he is by no means an ordinary player.

But consider the rest of the Sweet 16 roster. Guard Sean Pedulla broke games open with his three-level scoring. He had

29 points against No. 1 Auburn last year and was the go-to option in crunch time, hence his dagger 3-pointers against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament and No. 11 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He was recently signed to the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-way contract.

Guard Jaylen “Juju” Murray’s flashy handles, no-look passes and step-back 3-pointers embodied the streetball-esque play style of a New York City point guard. Guard/forward Dre Davis was most dangerous in the low post and short corner; he had the physicality to get to the rim against big defenders, yet the finesse to drop in shots close to the basket.

Forward Malik Dia had surprising agility, mobility and handles for a 6-foot-9-inch player.

Forward Jaemyn Brakefield, though he was not fast, carried a Luka Dončić-type mastery of fundamentals that made him a menace to any isolated defender.

These six all had one thing in common — an extra gear. Each one did not have to do everything themselves, yet all possessed the ability to take over the game.

That extra gear is exactly what this year’s roster lacks.

Guard Ilias Kamardine is not fast enough to beat his defender off the dribble and put defenses on their heels, which would create driving lanes and open looks for teammates. Guard AJ Storr is a knockdown shooter at all levels, but he lives and dies by the fade-away, the turnaround jumper and the contested pull-up; like Kamardine, he lacks the burst that made last season’s backcourt so dangerous.

Dia has shown flashes, but without Murray, Murrell and Pedulla on the perimeter, opposing defenses are more concentrated around the paint. Besides, Dia’s skillset is more suited toward wing play than it is the bruising, pounding post play of a true power forward or center — something this team sorely lacks.

Guard Patton Pinkins occasionally fills the scoring column thanks to his solid 3-point shooting, but he struggles to create shots on his own.

Besides these four, the Rebels utterly lack scoring options.

The KenPom rankings tell a dismal tale. These rankings were developed by Ken Pomeroy, a sorcerer of college basketball prediction, and

SUDOKU©

Puzzles by KrazyDad

have long been regarded as the holy grail of college basketball analysis. KenPom rankings “breakdown teams on a possession-by-possession basis, analyzing the offensive and defensive performance per 100 possessions,” per Nate Cunningham at Sports Illustrated.

Last season, the Rebels ranked No. 22 on offense and No. 23 on defense nationally per KenPom. This season, they were ranked No. 92 on offense — the worst under Beard at Ole Miss — and No. 74 on defense.

Hindsight is 20/20, but the lack of offensive volume should not have come as a surprise. Other than guard Kezza Giffa, who averaged 14.6 points per game at High Point last season (he averages 6.6 points per game this season, as of Feb. 24), none of the incoming transfers averaged double figures in 2024-25.

Since it was unclear how this random assortment of apparently evenly-matched players would stack up against each other, the roster was quickly labeled as possessing “depth” — an emphasis for Beard since SEC Media Day in October 2025. Back then, this quality seemed like an asset.

“I think it’s safe to say that depth could be a real ally of our team this year,” Beard said. “Of those 16 players (on the roster), we literally have 13 or 14 guys that are gonna play here for our first scrimmages and exhibition games coming up.”

Depth, however, becomes problematic when no players separate themselves from the pack. This season, only four players average more than 20 minutes per game — compared to seven from last season. In 2024-25, Pedulla, Murray and Murrell all averaged at least 30 minutes per game. This season, only Kamardine exceeds this threshold.

Beard’s use of a deep rotation this season — some games, as many as 13 players see the court — is more of a desperate search for someone, anyone, who might give the team a spark rather than a distribution of minutes among a wealth of riches.

So, what’s next?

“My promise to them (the fans) — and I don’t make a lot of promises, but I’ll deliver on this — is there’ll be better days, sooner than most people think,” Beard said in a postgame press conference after the Florida loss on Feb. 21.

Dia looks to the scoreboard during the game against Auburn on Feb. 1, 2025,

But how will the program reach these better days?

The roster needs a major overhaul. Two ranked prospects are set to join Ole Miss from high school: four-star combo guard Yohance Connor, who verbally committed in November, and three-star small forward Jaron Saulsberry, who signed on National Signing Day a few months ago.

Considering the fact that forward Niko Bundalo, the highest-rated recruit in program history, averages only 3.2 minutes per game this season, these additions might not mean much.

Transfers are the name of the

game in college basketball. Beard needs to land splash transfers who were stars on their previous teams, players who will immediately factor in as potential all-conference selections. Pedulla, to illustrate, was the go-to guy on Virginia Tech, and Davis scored 15 points per game at Seton Hall in 2023-2024. Otherwise, in a conference which has become one of the toughest in the country, Ole Miss Men’s Basketball’s woes could continue.

HOW TO PLAY

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

INTERMEDIATE

Person with new parents; 47- Sonnet part; 50- One of the Great Lakes; 51- Tidy up; 52- Mined materials; 53- ___ Lanka; 56- Swiss river; 57- Toiletries case; 59- Singer John; 61- Fashion magazine; 62- Freelancer’s encl.;

63- Chairs; 64- Bird feed; 65- Grounded jets; 66- “ Darn!”; DOWN

1- Iams alternative; 2- Put in order; 3- ___ soup yet?; 4- Jiffy; 5- Marionette; 6- Psychiatrist’s response; 7- Hockey goal part; 8- Like a recluse; 9- Be; 10- Thick; 11- Finished, terminated; 12- Greek temple; 14- Give a new title to; 22- Egyptian cobra; 24- Mtn. stat; 25- Unsettling; 26- “Chicken of the sea”; 27- Org. co-founded by Helen Keller; 28- Dilute; 29- Tattled; 32- Suffix with glob; 33- Military camp; 34- Carrot or turnip; 35- Unchanged; 36- Singer Brickell; 38- Delay; 39- ___ Rhythm; 42- Charge per unit; 43- Sounds; 45- Hawk homes; 46- Rap’s Dr. ___; 47- Bobby of the Black Panthers;

Steve of country music; 49- Spirited horse; 51- Scottish refusals; 52- Evict; 53- Headliner; 54- Roster used to assign duties; 55- Part of MIT; 58- Univ. aides; 60- Spearheaded;

“While

‘What you do matters’: ASB can only accomplish so much

our Associated Student Body

MACKENZIE MCDARIES

Opinion Staff Writer

Students aspiring to make a difference in their community often seek various avenues for involvement; they might join clubs, participate in Greek life or try to run for a position in the Associated Student Body. However, the service efforts of these students seldom attend to the most crucial needs of the university community. There must be a more effective means of doing so.

ASB has been successful at improving students’ dayto-day life at the University of Mississippi. In the annual State of the ASB Address on Feb. 24, ASB President Jack Jones asserted with confidence that “the state of our Associated Student Body is strong.”

Jones discussed recent ASB successes, ranging from money raised for the Christopher C. Holman Memorial Fund for student emergencies, improvements to the student experience at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, expansions in Mental Health First Aid training and more.

These accomplishments are remarkable, but a simple reality

greatly contributes to the betterment of student life at UM, it cannot address many of the issues students face.”

remains: There is only so much a student government can do.

While ASB greatly contributes to the betterment of student life, it cannot address many of the issues students face. Jones seemed to acknowledge this when he said that there are still “many challenges ahead, both internally and externally.”

Unfortunately, the problem lies beyond the capabilities of ASB. The organization can work to lower stadium hot dog prices and plaster the campus in posters all it wants, but that does nothing to help the students affected by, for example, the housing crisis in Oxford or insufficient parking on campus. To no fault of its own, there is not much it can do.

“We can’t control what happens in Washington, (D.C., or) Jackson. We can’t control what happens in the Lyceum,” Jones said.

I believe that if we want progress, we have to realize that the achievements of ASB only scratch the surface of what we can do ourselves; it is our responsibility as members of the university community to pick it up from there and become agents of change on our own.

When Jones said, “We can’t control what happens in Washington,” he was right. A student senate resolution alone will not make our rent any cheaper or build extra parking decks on campus. However, students are not completely powerless.

We can attend city government meetings, call and write to our legislators and organize to speak up about what matters to us as valuable members of the Oxford community. We can even make our voices heard to alumni, who can further call upon the university to take necessary action.

While ASB cannot directly solve some issues, thousands of informed students gathering together — “fierce advocates,” as Jones called us to be — can absolutely have an effect on the world around us.

The State of the ASB Address demonstrated that our student government is doing everything it can to better our time here at UM. Still, it is students who must work to improve our experience.

“You are important,” Jones said as he closed his address. “What you do matters.”

Jones

MacKenzie McDaries is a freshman Arabic and political science major from Murfreesboro, Tenn.

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• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Practiced at his privately owned law firm for 45 consecutive years- located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.

• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 different Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses each and every semester at the University of Mississippi for 29 consecutive years.

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• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and Procedure courses each and every semester for 29 consecutive years.

• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at The University of Mississippi since1981.

• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for over 6 years.

• Still practices at his privately owned law firm for 55 consecutive years - located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.

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• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at 1981.

• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.

• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.

• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 different Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses each and every semester at the University of Mississippi for 29 consecutive years.

• A Founding Harvard

• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the years.

Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to the Mississippi Commission on Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations of the Canon of Ethics and All Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice of Law. Occupied the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman served for 18 years.

• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at the University of Mississippi since 1981.

• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for over 6 years.

• A Founding Member of the National College for DUI Defense conducted at Harvard Law School.

• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Selected Advocacy

• Former Municipal Court Judge for the years.

• Selected Satisfaction

• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.

• Practiced at his privately owned law firm for 45 consecutive years- located at the same place, being the Oxford Square, Downtown, Oxford, Mississippi.

• Former Vice President and President Association; member of the Mississippi

• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.

• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.

• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 different Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure courses each and every semester at the University of Mississippi for 29 consecutive years.

• Former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau

• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.

• Selected Organization.

• Practiced at his privately owned law firm the same place, being the Oxford Square,

•

• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.

• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at The University of Mississippi since1981.

• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for over 6 years.

• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.

• Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to the Mississippi Commission on Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations of the Canon of Ethics and All Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice of Law. Occupied the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman and served for 18 years.

• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Oxford, Mississippi for 8 years.

• Former Vice President and President of the Lafayette County Bar Association; member of the Mississippi Bar Association, etc.

• Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice Vice Chairman and Chairman and served

• Taught the Mississippi DUI Law and 5 diff Procedure courses each and every semester for 29 consecutive years.

• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.

Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.

• A Founding Member of the National College for DUI Defense conducted at Harvard Law School.

Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to the Mississippi Commission on Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations of the Canon of Ethics and All Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice of Law. Occupied the positions of Vice Chairman and Chairman served for 18 years.

• A Founding Member of the National Harvard Law School.

Member of the National League of Renowned Attorneys- Top 1% Awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Distinction by RNCC.

• Member of the American Jurist Institute - Top 10 DUI/DWI Attorney for Mississippi

• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.

• A Founding Member of the National College for DUI Defense conducted at Harvard Law School.

• A member of the Chancellor’s Trust at the 1981.

A Founding Harvard

• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys Advocacy for DUI Defense.

• Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi.

• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.

• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.

• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys in Mississippi by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.

• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys of Mississippi for Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys.

• Former Municipal Prosecutor for the City years.

• Selected by the Attorney and Practice Magazine as one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Attorneys, et cetera.

• Selected Advocacy

• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys Satisfaction Award by the American Institute

• Former Municipal Court Judge for the City years.

Listing of these previously mentioned areas of practice does not indicate any certification of expertise therein.

• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Organization.

• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.

• Selected Satisfaction

• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF MERIT for 1989 from the Mississippi State Bar given to one Attorney in the State of Mississippi each year for outstanding contributions to the practice of law.

• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers Organization.

• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.

• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi” in the Grove’s Choice Awards.

• Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.

• Former Vice President and President of the Association; member of the Mississippi Bar

• Member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys

• Member of the National League of Renowned Attorneys - Top 1%

• Member of the National League of Renowned Attorneys- Top 1%

• Awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Distinction by RNCC.

• Member of the American Jurist Institute - Top 10 DUI/DWI Attorney for Mississippi

• Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi.

• Recipient of the DISTINGUISHED AWARD the Mississippi State Bar given to one outstanding contributions to the practice

• Selected Organization. • Recipient the Mississippi outstanding

• Awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Distinction by RNCC.

• Selected by the Attorney and Practice Magazine as one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Attorneys, et cetera.

• Appointed by the Mississippi State Bar to Attorney Ethics and Attorney Violations Mandatory Rules concerning the Practice Vice Chairman and Chairman and served

• Voted

• Voted “Best Attorney in Oxford, Mississippi”

Member

• Member of the American Jurist Institute - Top 10 DUI/DWI Attorney for Mississippi

• Member of the American Association

• A Founding Member of the National College Harvard Law School.

• Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi

• Member of the National League of Renowned

• Selected by the Attorney and Practice Magazine as one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Attorneys, et cetera.

• Awarded the United States Congressional

• Selected as one of the Top 50 DUI Attorneys Advocacy for DUI Defense.

• Member of the American Jurist Institute Mississippi

• Selected as one of the Top 10 Best Attorneys Satisfaction Award by the American Institute

• Selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers

• Member of the American Society of Legal Defense Lawyers in the State of Mississippi

Member • Awarded • Member Mississippi • Member Defense

This Black History Month, The Daily Mississippian compiles stories that uplift voices in the Black community at the University of Mississippi. For more Black History Month content, visit thedmonline.com.

Black students share where they find community on campus

JAYLYNN CONNER

A&C Editor

Across the University of Mississippi campus, Black students find a sense of belonging in a variety of places and university programs.

Addison Williams, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, feels at home in Black-centered organizations.

“I found community within organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers and my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,” Williams said. “They are safe places for Black people.”

In her free time, Williams can often be found at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union, building friendships among fellow Black students.

“As a Black student, I have found a sense of community within the Student Union,” Williams said. “A lot of times, Black students like to hang out and just mingle with one another in between classes, and it’s always a good vibe and very welcoming to Black students.”

Like Williams, Keith Thomas III, a senior allied health studies major, discovered a sense of camaraderie while sitting at the tables on the first floor of the Union.

“When I come to the Union, I feel like you go and find who you align with,” Keith Thomas said. “You just naturally find that.”

Kori Jeffries, a sophomore international studies major, finds the environments in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Croft Institute for International Studies the most welcoming.

“I found community in things like Croft’s Minority Engagement Council and the honors college Minority Engagement Council where I can talk with other minority or marginalized students,” Jeffries said. “We can talk about the issues that we face on campus, and that makes me feel more seen and heard.”

Musa Thomas, a senior majoring in multidisciplinary studies, finds fellowship in church, political organizations and community service. He is the president of the Colonel Reb Foundation, head of events for the UM chapter of Turning Point USA and treasurer of Young Americans for Liberty.

“I found community in church and groups I share common beliefs in — political organizations, volunteering events and volunteering groups,” Musa Thomas said. Musa Thomas said he be-

lieves that Black students can better find familiarity if they do not focus on race.

“You just have to look past race, and you can easily find community,” Musa Thomas said. “Listen to the words of Martin Luther King Jr. that we need to judge by the character of a person, not by their skin.”

Rather than a particular social setting or organization, Jada Pernell, a junior history major, finds belonging in classes that connect to her lineage. For Pernell, these classes align with and

inform her daily experiences.

“I would say I have found community in most of my African American studies classes,” Pernell said. “I think it’s good to know that there are reasonings behind the things that we see and experience on a daily basis.”

REAGAN TAYLOR Sports Staff Writer

‘Black history is every day for us’: Lady Rebels celebrate Black History Month

The NCAA reported that 28% of women’s college basketball players are Black as of 2025, the highest percentage among all women’s college sports. For Team 51, the Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team, this rings especially true — every player on the roster is Black.

The Lady Rebel’s celebration of Black History Month starts with its leader, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. Her support for Black History Month echoes down through the rest of the team.

Despite a recent tough slate of four ranked matchups in eight days, the head coach stayed committed to honoring Black History Month, specifically in the South Carolina game.

“We go to game day in Columbia, (S.C.), and Dawn (Staley) and

I are the first two Black coaches to be featured on a (College GameDay), so we’ve had a lot of celebration,” McPhee-McCuin said in a press conference on Tuesday.

McPhee-McCuin made history as the first Black head coach of Ole Miss Women’s Basketball. Staley, the coach of South Carolina, is the only Black coach to win multiple national titles in women’s college basketball history.

McPhee-McCuin also looks forward to traveling to Florida, where the celebration will continue.

“We go to Florida; that’s their Black history game. So it’s been pretty cool and something that … we’re proud of to be able to celebrate,” McPhee-McCuin said.

Additionally, she appreciates the university community’s local efforts to commemorate Black History Month. Specifically, she men-

tioned the members of Black Greek life chapters who danced at halftime of the LSU game on Feb. 19.

“I know all of the NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) members came out and performed at halftime. I really appreciate the university (supporting) that … and (shining) light on it,” McPhee-McCuin said. “That’s what Oxford is about. That’s what Ole Miss is about. We’re inclusive, and we support diversity, as well. … (There is) nothing better than being able to celebrate it for sure.”

The players look to McPhee-McCuin as a role model. McPhee-McCuin believes that coaching athletes who come from difficult backgrounds, some of whom are Black athletes, can pose unique challenges. For her, every challenge presents an opportunity to serve as a positive role model that

some players lacked as children.

“When you’re a Black woman coaching Black players, it is 10 times more difficult,” McPhee-McCuin said in an interview with ESPN reporter Ari Chambers. “There are tons (of players) that come from (a) single parent. Well, there’s a lot of trauma that comes along with that. And when they come and play for an example of a mother figure, that trauma comes with them.”

Ole Miss Forward Cotie McMahon discussed how McPhee-McCuin’s identities as a fearless leader and a Black woman are part of the reason why the team holds her in such high regard in an interview with Chambers.

“Coach Yo is the queen of misunderstood. I feel like people either love her or they hate her,” McMahon said. “I think it’s just for the simple fact that she’s a very

strong, independent Black woman with a strong voice, as well.”

Though traditions honoring Black players and coaches are important, Ole Miss center Desrae Kyles said in a press conference on Tuesday that honoring Black accomplishments should not be limited to a single month. Instead, such celebrations should take place regularly and be ingrained in the fabric of Black athletes’ daily routines.

“It’s very important for us, obviously, as young Black women, but we celebrate it every day,” Kyles said. “Black history is every day for us.”

Diary of a Black Girl: the art of finding your voice

“The more I poured into others, the more I understood that I never needed to leave Mississippi but to invest in it.”

LAUREN JAMES Opinion Staff Writer

Mississippi is the place that forever calls my name.

As a child, I believed our state was special because it was called the Magnolia State, signifying dignity and nobility. I would spend peaceful mornings fishing with my father at Sardis Lake, wander through the farmer’s market smelling the fresh flowers and baked goods with my mother and live what felt like a quintessentially Southern, small-town life.

I grew up in Hernando, Miss., where the community is strong and the population is predominantly white. While I was never made to feel less-than, I carried a quiet awareness that I was not like everyone else.

I longed to understand my place in the world. In elementary school, I began to notice that most of my classmates did not look like me. Their skin was not dark like mine. Our moms did not style our hair the same.

I also sensed that they did not feel as out of place as I did. It seemed like everyone else had learned how to socialize effortlessly, but somehow, I missed that lesson.

As one of the only Black girls in my classes, I was hyperaware of how I presented myself. I learned to be agreeable, soft-spoken and the “model minority.” I began to shrink myself, believing that if I could be an idealized version of myself, I would belong.

As antsy preteens tend to do, I questioned my parents, the people around me and myself. Most of all, I began questioning my Southern roots.

When I started learning more

Opinion Policies:

about Mississippi’s history, I felt a certain anguish in my heart that I could not verbalize. As a Black American, I struggled to understand why I was told to feel proud of a place that had once fought so hard to deny people who looked like me dignity and nobility.

I felt like I was being pulled in different directions by two of the most important parts of my identity; this place raised me but also wanted to oppress parts of who I was.

The Magnolia State no longer felt dignified and noble to me — just complicated. I dreamed of being anywhere else, so I would not have to grapple with that harsh reality.

During hot Mississippi summers, I would lie outside, letting the sun graze my skin, wondering what it would feel like to be older and be “the next great something.” I did not want to feel small anymore.

I tried everything I could to realize myself. I started to dance to build confidence. I joined speech and debate to strengthen my voice. Yet, I still felt something inside of me calling me to do something bigger than myself.

By my sophomore year of high school, I wanted to go to college in some faraway state. I was convinced I had to escape Mississippi if I ever wanted to do more.

When I finalized my Ole Miss commitment my senior year, a deep disappointment dawned. I had conditioned myself to believe that staying here meant I was settling and letting go of my dreams. Had I let myself down?

During my first year at UM, I realized that I owed it to myself to keep searching for my purpose, no matter where I was.

The best way I knew to find my

way in a new community was to pour my heart into it. So, I made serving my motto. I discovered my love for community engagement and working with non-profits.

Tasked with tutoring a young girl who reminded me of myself at her age — shy, uncertain and perhaps a bit scared — I did what I wished someone did for me. I shared encouragement and lessons I wish I had known back then. Slowly, I started to rediscover the voice I had shrunk away long ago. In uplifting my community, I found myself. The more I poured into others, the more I understood that I never needed to leave Mississippi but to invest in it. My own nobility lay in the place that ever called me.

Lauren James is a sophomore integrated marketing communications major from Hernando, Miss.

CONTACT THE OPINION DESK AT thedmopinion@gmail.com

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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