Oxford community walks to honor those affected by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting (DM Story)

Last night members of the Ole Miss and Oxford community came together to walk in honor of the survivors and lives lost in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Lexy Johnson, senior integrated marketing communications major, organized the walk for her alma mater she graduated from in 2014.

“Parkland is my first home and Oxford is my second home and everyone here is family to me, so it’s great seeing that my second family in Oxford is showing support for my first family in South Florida,” Johnson said.

Johnson decided to organize the walk since she couldn’t be there alongside her former classmates to show condolences to the families affected.

“I knew I needed to do something here to show that we support them and we stand with them,” Jonhson said. “Wednesday is their first day back at school so it actually worked out great that they get as much support as they can before they walk into those doors tomorrow.”

The walk that took place from the Walk of Champions to the Lyceum, was recorded and sent to the principal of MSD High School, Mr. Thompson, to show the teachers and students during their first week back at school.

Johnson gave a speech before the event to thank those who came out and remind them the importance of the walk.

“We aren’t gathered here tonight to talk about the senseless act of gun violence, but instead to honor the victims affected by this tragedy” Johnson said. “We wanna be the light in their darkness and guide them through this really dark and tragic time. They’re eagles, we wanna help them soar again.”

The Meek School of Journalism sponsored the walk and many faculty and staff, like Debbie Hall, crisis communications professor, aided Johnson in putting the walk together.

“Alexa is one of my current students and I found out this week that one of my former students actually has a younger sister that was in the building when the shooter began attacking those students,” Hall said. “This one hit home to me, it’s very close to my heart.”

Hall also participated in the walk to not only support those affected by this shooting, but to support those taking a stand here and in Parkland.

“I think they’re gonna make a difference and I’m proud of them,” Hall said. “I wanna support our kids and the kids in Florida as well.”

Caroline Franco, sophomore general business major, was also in attendance last night due to her personal connection with the recent event.

“I’m from Fort Lauderdale, and it was a big impact on our entire community,” Franco said. “Also just everyone needs to support this, whether your from South Florida or not its great group of people and they need the support now more than ever.”

Oxford Humane Society Revamps its Media Presence for the Pets

The Humane Society’s pet residents are drawing in more attention and adoptions than ever before through the help of their new and improved social media platforms.

Becca Stewart a sophomore accounting major tweeted at OLHS praising their new account. She says that she also enjoys that the twitter is geared more towards college age kids.

“I noticed the change around mid January. I really like [the tweets] and think they’re funny,” Stewart said. “It’s definitely gained the account more attention especially from students.”

Walter Lyle, the man behind the social media and website, joined the Oxford Humane Society and became the first Communications & Outreach Coordinator in December of 2017.

“Before me, this job didn’t exist. The position was actually created for me, I had no one to train with or learn from,” Lyle said. “I spend a lot of time responding to messages, responding to comments, and coming up with content. The more animals I post, the more attention they get, which leads to more adoptions.”

Due to the social media makeover Lyle says they have seen a sharp upturn in their adoption rate and overall public image, which has been damaged in the past.

“There is a small sect of people in the community who seem to find it necessary to make attempts at dismantling our organization for whatever reason, most of it is based on rumors, not founded in truth,” Lyle said. “A lot of what I do [online] is helping people understand exactly what we do and why.”

With the help of Lyle, Facebook likes went from 18,107 to 19,704, Twitter went from 800 followers to 1,429, and Instagram they’re receiving 15-20 new followers a day and now have 1,952 followers. However, Facebook is definitely their highest reaching platform, containing over 19.5k followers.

Lyle says that through studying popular social media accounts on Twitter he found the inspiration for their Twitter persona.

“[They] all utilize humor and seem to have their own personality, even though it’s just a company, it allows their customers and followers to feel like they’re interacting with more of a friend instead of a faceless corporation,” Lyle said.

One student, Phillip Burrow, a sophomore chemistry major, found his pet through the help of their new media presence.

“I first saw her on the website, but after falling in love with her on the website I went over to their Twitter page to see if she was on there and then there she was on the pet of the day,” Burrow said. “After I adopted her, I followed the Twitter page and constantly check it, because they are pretty funny when they post their dogs that are up for adoption.”

 

Burrow with new pet, Gracie, on the day he adopted her.

The OLHS will continue down this new media path because just like their mission, their social media goal is to get animals seen and adopted into loving homes.

“We know people want pets and we want them to think of us. They won’t know we even have animals if we don’t get the word out,” Lyle said. “By posting photos and information about them, we can get people looking at these pets who desperately need homes.”

2018 RebelTHON ready to raise more for Batson Children’s Hospital

February 24th marks the sixth annual RebelTHON event at Ole Miss. Participants and patients will stay up from 3 PM to 3 AM dancing and raising money for Batson Children’s Hospital, the only medical facility in Mississippi devoted to the care of sick children.

RebelTHON serves as a part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ national Dance Marathon movement, a movement uniting college, university and high school students across North America. Students involved in a campus’ dance marathon organization spend a year raising funds and awareness for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Hailey Cooper, president of RebelTHON, has been doing RebelTHON for two years and this year the fundraising goal is $225,000.

“In terms of my fundraising, I’ve taken song requests with my flute that I haven’t played since high school, worn a crayon costume to class, and taken dares like singing the Mississippi State fight song,” said Cooper. “I’ve heard some people this year recreating famous film scenes, carpool karaoke, and wearing a prom dress to finals. People get so creative, and it’s really fun to watch.”

Andrew Russell, Children’s Miracle Network Coordinator, explained that last years past funds of $172,000 went towards renovations for the children’s center cancer floor and this year they will be going towards their new expansion where the hospital will be adding a NICU, PICU, operating rooms and other items.

“I think this year by far the most amount of money will be raised,” said Russell. “The students do a good job of putting out the red carpet for these kids, making them feel special.”

The event consists of dancing and staying on your feet for 12 hours as well as other games and food. Anyone can sign up to dance for the full time as long as they raise a minimum of $100 or people can come between 6-9 and pay $5 at the door to stay for community hours.

Due to the major growth of participants this year, RebelTHON has outgrown their former location, the Turner Center, and the event will be held in the Tad Pad instead.

Senior, Lexie Hill will be participating for the third time due to her personal connection with the Children’s Miracle Network.

“I wanted to be a part of RebelTHON because as a former patient of my local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, I knew how important the work that hospitals like Batson do is,” said Hill.

From the time she was born to when she turned 18, Hill’s CMN Hospital became a home to her.

“From providing the absolute best medical care to simple things like giving you toys and popsicles before and after surgery, hospitals like Batson go above and beyond to make you feel like a normal, healthy kid,” said Hill.

Anyone willing to donate can go to RebelTHON’s donation page and anyone wanting to participate can register online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oxford Bar’s Cover Charges: Who Has Them, Who Doesn’t

When Zach Rabalais was a freshman at Ole Miss in 2013, he remembers freely strolling into his favorite bars downtown on The Square.

Since graduating in 2017 and moving to Memphis, Rabalais still frequently visits Oxford on weekends, but he’s noticed a change in the bar scene.

“My freshmen year there was ever hardly a cover anywhere besides The Library, I’ve never seen a cover at Round Table until the last couple of weeks,” said Rabalais.

But some longtime ‘free’ bars, such as Frank and Marlee’s and The Round Table have either closed their doors or started charging for entry.

Jessie Smith, a fifth year at Ole Miss, would go to The Round Table frequently and recalls never having to pay a cover, even if there was a band playing, until this year.

One weekend, Smith was waiting in line to get into The Round Table and left due to the cover charge.

“It’s very annoying and we’ve started going other places instead,” said Smith.

Roosters Blues House has had a cover since they opened in 2008. Scott Michael, the owner of Roosters Blues House, explained that the bar charges a cover to pay strictly for their rent.

“Rent on the square is astronomical and bottom line is it goes towards making a living,” said Michael.

The bar’s cover varies from night to night, depending on the bar traffic.

With a growing enrollment at the University and an a so called housing crisis, the price of going out on The Square has increased to reflect both the higher cost of living and the larger population.

“If there’s a high rent, and [landlords] find someone to pay for it, that’s demand on the building,” Michael said. “We keep paying it, so they can keep making the price go up.”

Enrollment has grown by an astounding 40.5% over the past decade and by 13.1% in the past five years alone, according to The University of Mississippi enrollment records.

“When there’s a huge demand to get into places on the square, in order to supply that need, we benefit by having a cover.” said Michael.

Other bars on The Square, like Funky’s, advertise not having a cover. The owner Lee Harris said that he has never charged a frequent cover since opening on February 23rd 2009.

Photo by Kathryn Abernathy

 

“I get a better feel from not charging a cover and having a busy bar all the time, versus charging a cover and turning some people away.” said Harris.

Harris said the only time Funky’s has a cover charge is during football season strictly for crowd control. He says his reasoning for not having a cover frequently comes from him trying to think like a college kid.

“I’d rather them spend the five or ten bucks to buy a drink at the bar,” said Harris.

On the topic of possibly charging a cover in the future Harris said he doesn’t plan on any changes.

“I want everyone that can, to come and experience the bar,” said Harris.

There is a larger majority of bars in Oxford that don’t charge a frequent cover — The Growler, The Blind Pig, The Summit, Funky’s, The Cellar, Local’s, City Grocery, Boure and The Coop.

Bars in Oxford that charge a cover during the weekends include, The Library, The Round Table, Rafters, The Levee and Roosters. While all varying in price.

Bar goers can expect to pay covers ranging from $5 to $20 during the week or weekends, while a football weekend can increase the average price.  

 

House Bill 1505 dies in Committee

By: Kathryn Abernathy

Photo by getholistichealth.com

House Bill 1505, a religious vaccine exemption bill, will not be voted on by Mississippi lawmakers this year. The announcement was made this past Monday by House Judiciary (B) Chair Andy Gipson.

Gipson, who sponsored the bill, posted a facebook status explaining that a few undecided legislators still need more information to make a decision.

“Although I would of rather have passed the bill as drafted, I am very encouraged by this development and am looking forward to researching and finding solutions to the problems by the end of the year,” Gipson said.

The bill, if passed, would of given residents in the state of Mississippi the option to exempt from mandatory vaccines for religious reasons.

“If you have religious convictions against injecting your babies with the products of aborted fetal tissue DNA, monkey, bovine, or pig tissue DNA, or the other products listed by the CDC, then you might support HB 1505,” said Gipson on a facebook group page, Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights.

47 states currently let parents opt out of giving their child vaccines due to their religious beliefs. Mississippi, California, and West Virginia are the three that don’t offer this exemption.

Junior CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ International) member, Eliza Barton is a believer  that all children should receive their vaccines.

“However, if some of these vaccinations really do contain aborted fetuses, I think parents for sure should be able to opt out,” Barton said. “Abortion is an extremely touchy subject for many Christians, so no one should be forced to give their child a vaccination that may go completely against what they believe in.”

Joe Harris has been a pediatrician for 32 years at the Children’s Clinic of Oxford and he understands why people are against giving their child certain vaccines.

“I understand people’s position on abortion, I’m not pro abortion at all, but I think the advantages of the vaccines far outweigh that,” said Harris.

Mississippi has one the highest vaccine rates in the nation, due to it has one of the most strongest vaccine laws in the country. Children can only be exempt for medical reasons.

Harris believes a portion of those that wished for HB 1505 to pass comes from some people’s just general dislike of vaccines.

“I think part of this stems from the fear of vaccines and the displaced notion that vaccines are a cause of autism, they are not. Most definitely not,” said Harris.

Every nationally recognized health organization has endorsed vaccines as a safe and necessary part of public health.

“Vaccines are safe and save lives,” said Liz Sharlot, Director of the Office of Communications for Mississippi State Department of Health. “They offer protection against serious and even deadly diseases.”

That’s not to say vaccines can’t cause a problem Harris expresses.

“Theres two words you don’t use in medicine, never and always. To say that vaccines would never cause a problem is not a true statement and to say they always cause a problem is not a true statement either,” said Harris. “I think that more people attribute things to vaccines than really have occurred.”

It’s no secret that vaccines are a risk. They don’t work 100% of the time, but Harris is still pro-vaccine and believes every child should be vaccinated.

“You want to afford your child every protection you can and vaccines are just one more protection,” said Harris. “Sure there’s a risk, theres a risk involved in these vaccines, but there’s also a risk in getting in your car and coming to my office and the risk there is higher than the vaccine.”