Kandance Webley

Dancing is an art form that uses the body to create and express emotion. The movements, footwork, and facial expression work together to create an untold story. In this video two members of Beyond Movement, a dance crew at Ole Miss, demonstrate how a story can be told through the art of dance. Link

Cobra Security Directs Ole Miss Campus

The theme of the story is with the higher population of students attending Ole Miss, there is now Cobra security on campus directing traffic. They are here during the week day from 8am to 2pm.These sequences show officers doing their job and letting cars go by. This sequence shows emotion due to the officers making sure people are safe crossing the street and cars go when they are supposed to.



link

Game Day at Vaught-Hemingway

The theme of this story is the game day experience for Ole Miss fans. Both sequences support this theme by showing different aspects of the Alabama game, from football game itself to the Pride of the South halftime show. These sequences personalize the story by taking the view of one fan in a skybox suite.

Students Rally Protests of Amendment 26 at the Court House

The theme of this story is students voicing their opposition to Amendment 26 at the court house. Both sequences support this theme be showing the crowd rallying at the court house to those passing by. These sequences personalize the story by showing the diverse crowd with their signs banding together to rally their cause.

UM Students Use Group Studying for Finals

The theme of this story is that UM students are studying together to improve their final grades. The first sequence shows the two girls putting their heads together to tackle a difficult assignment. The second sequence shows them using visual learning skills by practicing on the board. These sequences personalize this theme because they show students studying together and teaching each other for finals.

Grove Preparation

The theme of this story is the preparation that goes into getting the grove ready for a game day weekend. The first sequence shows the trailer full of garbage cans, and the men that dispense them throughout the grove. The second sequence is what the workers do to get the sidewalk ready and clean. It shows a man blowing the sidewalk clean and another putting in signs along it. The sequences personalize the story by showing what people do to get the grove ready every football game weekend.

The Theme of the story is how to properly train a dog.  The sequence is of Ziggy, a 6 month old Morkie.  This personalizes the story by adding a real life situation.  The sequence can be seen by clicking on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSMcgOiIQbA

Ole Miss Campus Traffic/Parking Woes

The theme of the story here is observing the everyday pain and struggle Ole Miss students must endure just to drive around on campus and/or find a parking spot without being ticketed. The first sequence shows the surprising amount of cars at the main four-way stop on University Ave. at the edge of campus late in the afternoon. In this sequence cars are always moving by and traffic is consistent. The second sequence shows the mad rush for a parking spot at the Student Union during common dinner hours. The video shows one car park, while two more cars go by without any spots, as well as a few who decide to pull up in front of the Union and leave their car parked while they go inside. The sequences make the story personal because these are things that all Ole Miss students can connect upon because they all encounter these pains daily.

Daily Routine To Stay In Shape

                                                                             

        The theme of this story is how Patrick Reid prepares himself for his routine bike ride to stay in shape. This first sequence is of Reid airing his tires, for a safety preparation, before he starts his ride. The second sequence is of Reid starting his bike riding. It communicates the theme because it shows his exercise routine of riding his bike. They are personalized, because is shows how his daily routine is an easy way to stay in good shape.  

Parking Struggles

The theme of the story is the struggles students at Ole Miss are having parking every day due to increased enrollment and overselling parking decals. The first sequence is of a line of cars waiting for someone to leave. You see the student get into his car and leave, and another car takes his spot in a matter of seconds. The second sequence is a student trying to find a spot. Eventually, he decides to just park in faculty parking and take the risk of getting a ticket. The sequences personalize the story because they show the struggles students at Ole Miss go through on a daily basis to get to class on time.

The Typical Journalist in the New Journalism World

Leslie Smith is a serious Journalism student who has been a special correspondent for News watch. Smith has a special talent in editing videos and she loves making documentaries in her spare time. She spends a lot of her time in the Journalism School editing in the video room throughout the semester.

So Many Lines and So Little Time

The theme of this video is how the employees at Wal-Mart need to open more lines to customers to diminish the wait. The sequences tell the story because they show a real customer walking past empty lines and waiting. They also show the Wal-Mart employees standing around in a group while lines are extremely long and many items are being purchased. The sequence of the girl adds personalization to my story.

(link to come)

Breast Cancer Awareness Gets Men Attention

The theme of the story is how breast cancer knows no boundaries, it affects men, as well as, women. The first sequence is a response from a male stating why this event got his attention. The second sequence shows the different methods the organizers used to raise awareness. They are personalized because we have a close-up and other students partaking of the event.




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Posting a sequence

Describe it ... see previous example.

Feature Story

As Jessica Haynes quickly weaves yarn into the loops of braided hair, she thoroughly explains the process and steps of completing a sew-in. Jessica is a full-time student of the University of Mississippi, and a part time beautician from Arkansas. “I learned how to do hair when I moved in with my aunt, “Jessica says. Since the beginning of fall semester, Jessica has built a small cliental of a few close friends and has been promoting her business in hopes of a rapid expansion of her cliental. “I do hair on the side to make money and to try to support myself,” she states. “I’m a very independent person.”

Since the age of 15, Jessica has been self sufficient. To the best of her abilities, she has financially supported herself and even purchased her own car; but Jessica did not become this GI Jane over night or by choice. This burden fell on her by fate.

It was one week and day after her 15th birthday. Jessica, her mom, and her siblings had just gone dress shopping for her first prom. Jessica pauses to recall this day, “I shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve told this story a thousand times. ” She sighs and then begins to speak again, “On the way back she smoked a cigarette and ate her food. Me and her were sort of into it about a prom dress, so I wasn’t really talking.” The day had seemed as any other until a blink of an eye, Jessica found herself in the hospital in hopes for the survival of her mom. “Thirty minutes before she fell back”, Jessica says, “she said 'You know I love you.' After that, I knew it was over. Her mom had died from a stroke.”

As soon as the funeral was over, Jessica was whisked away to first live with her aunt in Biloxi, Mississippi. Her dad was murdered at young age, so living with her aunt was the best option. “Now that I think back, I wouldn’t have made that choice,” she says. Jessica and her aunt were not compatible. They constantly argued and on many occasions that left Jessica to fend for herself. Jessica’s love hate relationship, with her aunt, drove her to move back to Arkansas to stay with her brother. Jessica hoped for better living conditions, but quickly she realized this may not be the right decision. Her brother was not the best caregiver because he was also young. Finding a meal, some money, and attending school became her biggest issues.

Shortly thereafter, Jessica moved back in with her aunt. She realized in order to better her lifestyle she would have to be more independent. At the age of 17, Jessica put a $6,000 dollar down payment on her a hybrid Toyota Camry, so she could have her own means of transportation. She learned how to do hair from her aunt, so she could make money; and she has paved her way to come to college. “What keeps me going is my family; my brothers are the only two things I have left. I want them to see stuff they haven’t seen. ”

Feature Story

Peru is always close to the heart of Alise Darnell, literally. “I wear my necklace of Peru every day, I always want to keep it close to me.”

Alise Darnell is a senior Chi Omega from Jackson, MS. Alise has always had a passion for helping others and spreading the word of God. Alise’s passion for service emerged at a very young age. She grew up as an only child, so she immersed herself into her church’s community.

“It was lonely at times growing up, and I found a lot of comfort in my church and youth groups.” She volunteered frequently, but always wanted to directly help other communities. It was through her church that Alise first heard of the poverty in Peru.

“I remember going to my high school youth group and listening to members talk about the mission work and trip, and I knew it was something I had to participate in.”

For the past seven years, Alise and a group of missionaries have traveled to Peru in order to spread hope and help lives. Alise mainly works in the slums of Pachacutec, which is right outside of Lima. The mission trip is faith based, but the volunteers also help enhance the town. They construct churches and build structures for the natives to use as schools or meeting places. The missionaries also teach the citizens about Christianity. “We have morning prayer walks where we go around to all the houses and knock on the doors. We pray with the families and it is a great way to connect with the community.”

While sharing about her time in Peru, Alise became visibly emotional. “The culture of poverty has widened my perspective on life and shown me what things I take for granted. I have realized all the daily distractions that I think are so important are in fact trivial compared to the situation in Peru. My mission work has strengthened my faith and taught me to realize what is most important in life.”

This coming summer, Alise is going to be one of the mission leaders in Pachacutec. “It is a place where I have grown and find the Lord and I want to make sure this program continues into the future.”

Emily Lovejoy

Hailing from Lexington, KY, Emily Lovejoy, a junior at the University of Mississippi, has made a significant impact on greek sorority Tri Delta's national philanthropy. Lovejoy was an active member of several clubs in high school, and now being the Tri Delta Philanthropy Chairman is just another to addition to the list. Tri Delta's philanthropy is working together with St. Jude Hospital, and Lovejoy recently received the Tri Delta Philanthropy Chairman of the Year.
“I really wanted to get involved in Tri Delt and to have a leadership title. I love St. Jude, so I figured what a perfect way to get upclose and do more to try and help the families and raise more money for them,” Lovejoy said.
Members of Tri Delt are confident Lovejoy is dedicated to St. Jude and that she has made a significant impact.
“I was in shock when I got the phone call from Helen, our chapter advisor when she told me I won the award, but so happy. I don't necessarily think I deserve this award. I just wanted to do more to help St. Jude and remind our chapter what Tri Delta is all about,” Lovejoy said.
Lovejoy took the time and planned a chapter retreat to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis last spring. This being the first visit for any Tri Delta chapter.
“I have never heard more rave reviews about a Tri Delta function. I have had girls coming to me begging for another visit and asking what more they can do to help. It has truly been a blessing to see how inspiring this trip has been to so many people. It was a stressful trip to plan but it was so worth it,” Lovejoy said.
Natalie Vermillion, a sophmore Tri Delta, also commented on Lovejoy's positive impact. “Emily is seriously the best Philanthropy Chairman. She is so sweet and does anything she can to help people. I am so proud of her she got the award. All of her hard work paid off and got noticed.”
"It's an honor for me to work for St. Jude and meet all the wonderful people I have met. As much as we have changed their lives, they've changed ours. We are so fortunate to live as close to Memphis as we do so now we can plan more trips to St. Jude," Lovejoy said.

Chi chapter was nominated for Most Improved Chapter and Rookie of the Year. Helen Baker, Chapter Advisor for Tri Delta at Ole Miss commented, “Emily Lovejoy has turned this program around completely. There is nobody better to give this award to than her. She is organizing so many more events to raise money for St. Jude. She is the best for the job.”

The Big Event

We probably all have volunteered in some aspect at least once in our community, but when it is an event with over one thousand people volunteering for one service project, it’s a different story. That is exactly what the Big Event this past spring was – a unique event.

The Big Event is the biggest service event in Oxford’s history benefitting Oxford and Lafayette County.

Virginia Burke, former ASB President, led the way for the Big Event to be brought to the Ole Miss campus. Burke said “The focus of the Big Event was geared towards areas of the Oxford community that do not typically receive much attention.” Event volunteers got a chance to help the community by assisting with numerous tasks like cleaning yards and basements, painting houses, and other chores that needed to be done. Rainy weather did not keep over twelve hundred students from Ole Miss from participating in the local event, which exceeded all of the goals and expectations of the organizers of this community-wide service project. The large number of participants really speaks volumes for the commitment of the Ole Miss students to serving the Oxford community which they temporarily call home.

Sarah Rogers, former ASB Director of Community Service, heard of the idea of such an event from students that attend Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. This similar event has been going on for at least 30 years in College Station. Following the successful event in Oxford, Rogers said “The event gave students the opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation to the Oxford community for all they do to support our campus.”

The event was more than one geared to helping the community. It also gave students the opportunity to show their appreciation to the Oxford citizens. Residents must endure increased traffic, crime, noise, and overcrowding due to the University’s location in their town. This event was just one way for students to give back to the residents who help to make Oxford a special place. Burke says “I was so excited for these student’s as well as myself to go out and give a little back to the Oxford community to show our gratitude and to also thank them for all of their support.”

Atheist Leads Episcopal Youth Event

Halloween weekend will mark the seventy-fourth Happening youth event, where high school students in the Episcopal diocese will congregate to sing, laugh and share in the joy of Christian brotherhood. Who better to lead this weekend of self-discovery than eighteen-year-old atheist Sarah Shirley?

“She got picked on a lot in high school,” says close friend and Happening Small Group Leader Maria Wilson at last week’s Happening Staff Training. Maria, coloring bubbles and patterns into her “shrinky-dink” (what will become personalized name tags for the Happeners), speaks casually, as if to no one. “I think that’s why this weekend is so meaningful to her, you know? Instead of lashing out her anger, she solves it in a way that helps others.”

Sarah, a native of Clinton, MS, along with her team of Gophers (staff members designated to fetch snacks and other items for the small group they are assigned to), Small Group Leaders and Prayer Warriors (who sit in a room all weekend and pray for every individual “Happener”), are shaping up to be the most dynamic team yet.

Small Group Leaders are in charge of standing in front of around 50 Happeners, plus staff, and relating painful stories of their youth designed to parable the way Jesus’ love and acceptance has helped them through the trying times of their adolescence and puberty.

Says Happening Coordinator Jason Woodcock, “People respect her; she knows exactly who she is, and because of that, she can accept others for who they are. She has all the qualities necessary to be our rector this Happening. She was a great pick.”

Happening Rector is a position specifically chosen by the prior rector of each youth weekend.

Sarah oversees the progress of the Small Group Leaders’ speeches, and will also talk about the dichotomy of her relationship with Jesus, and the ups and downs of coming to terms with her atheism.

Says Maria, “We’re so excited to hear her talk about it. It’s going to shock a lot of people, but maybe these kids going through Happening, who are having a tough time, like a lot of us did, maybe this will help them sort out a lot of things in their own lives.” She hands her shrinky-dink off to another staff member and picks through the markers on the floor. “It’s not just a title anymore. It’s how you react to others, with love and acceptance. That’s why Sarah is our rector, she's a friend to everyone.”

Garcia Dismissed From South Carolina

It seems that throughout his short college career South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia could not seem to stay out of trouble. After so many second chances, the University finally drew the line with the senior quarterback on Tuesday as he was officially dismissed from the team, which seemed to come as a shock the SEC world.

"We are all saddened that this has occurred," said head coach Steve Spurrier, who seemed the most disappointed of anyone after receiving news of Garcia's dismissal. "We all feel like we've given Stephen numerous opportunities to be a student-athlete here at South Carolina. Obviously, he has chosen not to follow the guidelines of his reinstatement contract. We wish him the best."

Spurrier has been the one that has come to Garcia's rescue every time he seemed to get in more trouble or come under scrutiny from Gamecock fans after his inconsistent, roller coaster career filled with suspensions and misbehavior that has kept the nation guessing for how long he would remain on the team. Even in the preseason when the media and coaches clearly agreed that sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw clearly outplayed Garcia in every category, Spurrier still defended him and made him the starter.

The Head Ball Coach couldn't save him this time, however, as the Tampa, Fla. native failed the required drug and alcohol screening test for both marijuana and alcohol, forcing the school to dismiss him from the team for good.

"Being a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina is a privilege, not a right," said South Carolina Athletics Director Eric Hyman on Tuesday. "And we remind all of our student-athletes that there are consequences for their actions. For Stephen to return and remain with the football squad this fall, we agreed on several established guidelines. Unfortunately, he has not been able to abide by these guidelines and has therefore forfeited his position on the roster. We wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in his life."

Things didn't seem to bode well for Garcia beginning with his performance on the field through the first half of this season in a year in which the Gamecocks began the season ranked #10 in the AP poll and looked to rise to their lofty expectations by the media.

So far this season, Garcia completed 61-of-118 (51.7 percent) passes for 844 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions in five games against mediocre competition, his nine interceptions being the most of any quarterback in the nation. His final start as a Gamecock on October 1st was his final downfall before news of his screening, as South Carolina lost 16-13 to a non-impressive, unranked Auburn team in front of the home crowd in Columbia. In this game, Garcia completed a mere 9-for-23 passes for 160 yards with two interceptions, leading the Gamecock offense to a dismal 289 total yards on only 52 plays.

After Garcia's disappointing performance, sophomore Connor Shaw was named the starter for last week's Kentucky game to see if he could get the struggling offense to put up some numbers. Although it was against a very bad Kentucky team, Shaw proved he was the man for the job as he completed 26-0f-39 passes for a career-high 311 yards with 42 rushing yards and four touchdowns, leading the Gamecock offense to 639 total yards, their most offensive yardage in a game since October 21st, 2001 against Vanderbilt (656), and their largest win over an SEC opponent since joining the conference in 1992.

With Garcia no longer a distraction for the team, the Gamecocks can finally commit to a quarterback and move on with their season, forever rid of the player that has taken a fanbase hungry for success on his roller coaster ride of a college career.

Manna in Oxford

There is more to Oxford than the university being ranked the third top - ranked party
school by the Princeton Review. There are passionate and well- rounded students
who spend their Thursday afternoons at St. Peters Episcopal Church working
together to make a meal a for the recipients of Manna since 2003. The
recipients of Manna are residents who are referred from the Interfaith
Compassion Ministry who live in the Oxford Housing Authority.

The kitchen is full of college students who work together to make Manna work. The
group of students cooks the food, package the meals into disposable plates,
clean the dishes, and deliver the food. Jennifer Varner, a junior, sorority
member, comes every Thursday and helps prepare the meal said,” I really enjoy
it and is glad she can use her talents for something good.”

Also in the kitchen is Logan Rush who was just recently elected Colonel Reb. Logan said,
"I started doing it my freshman year and to be honest my initial
motivation was that there was another Sigma Chi that was the director at the
time and I wanted a good philanthropy. I think at the time I didn't really see
it as a way to help people I because another way to get involved with a
philantropy, and it really didn't have that much importance. I really didn't
know what it was. I started working and cooking and it still didn't mean that
much. It wasn't until I actually started to deliver the meals seeing that side
of Oxford like the projects and lower income apartments. Seeing these people
when they come home from school who probably aren't going to get a meal because
the only meals that they receive are at school. I saw the work we were doing. I
saw the point of it. I saw the people we were helping and that is when it hit
me that it wasn't so much just that would look good on my resume or medical
school. That we are actually making a difference where I am at and helping
people just to help them since I have the opportunity to help them and the
means and the blessings too. When I start to get busy and think of Manna like a
chore. It is nice to think back on the people and that provides the motivation
for it. "

Also in the kitchen is ,Logan Rush ,who was just recently announced Colonel Reb. Logan said,
"I started doing it my freshman year and to be honest my initial
motivation was that there was another Sigma Chi that was the director at the
time and I wanted a good philanthropy. I think at the time I didn't really see
it as a way to help people I because another way to get involved with a
philantropy, and it really didn't have that much importance. I really didn't
know what it was. I started working and cooking and it still didn't mean that
much. It wasn't until I actually started to deliver the meals seeing that side
of Oxford like the projects and lower income apartments. Seeing these people
when they come home from school who probably aren't going to get a meal because
the only meals that they receive are at school. I saw the work we were doing. I
saw the point of it. I saw the people we were helping and that is when it hit
me that it wasn't so much just that would look good on my resume or medical
school. That we are actually making a difference where I am at and helping
people just to help them since I have the opportunity to help them and the
means and the blessings too. When I start to get busy and think of Manna like a
chore. It is nice to think back on the people and that provides the motivation
for it. "

When I went to the apartments and help deliver the food I noticed how the residents lived,
and it was kind of diverse community with one Ole Miss student, African
Americans, and a Caucasian lady. Laurie Williams, a Caucasian, disabled lady
said, “I enjoy the interaction with the young people. It gives me something to
look forward to and it does help a lot and I appreciate it. “I did see children
running to the door with a big smile and the adults were glad to get the food
also.

To become involved with Manna please contact, campus director,
Logan Rush, at jlrush@olemiss.edu, or he
said “ you can just show up on Thursday s at St. Peters church. There is a 2:30
cooking shift and 3:30 cleaning shift. You can also help deliver.”

There really is more to Oxford than the parties and there are students
who have a big heart.

Ultimate Underdogs

The Southeastern Conference is known for its epic football games every Saturday in the fall that has two teams pounding it out on the gridiron in what is usually a thriller all the way until the last second. However this Saturday in Oxford, Miss., the matchup between the Ole Miss Rebels and the No. 2 nationally ranked Alabama Crimson Tide does not have that sort of feel.

Instead, this SEC Western Division matchup is surprisingly one-sided according to Sportsbook.com with Alabama projected as a 25.5 point favorite to beat the Rebels, which is one of the worst underdogs Ole Miss has ever been in a home SEC contest.

So for Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt and his squad, this week’s game gives them an “us against the world” mindset as they go through their preparations for the challenge ahead. In their minds, they know the only people giving them a shot to win this game are themselves.

But they try not to listen to the odd setters for they know they can only control what they put into each and every play throughout the game.

“I always try to be as honest as I can with our guys,” Nutt said in a press conference Monday. “I thought last week we got better as a football team. From Fresno State on, we got better. That is what is important. Everyone has a responsibility to get better. Whether you are playing against the Green Bay Packers or Alabama, there is not much difference. You have to play extremely hard and eliminate mistakes.

“That is what we have been putting our emphasis on. We want to get better, eliminate mistakes and have a tremendous attitude. We have a great opportunity.”

That opportunity, however, will come against arguably the nation’s best defense, which is ranked third in the country in total defense giving up just 191.33 yards per game. So for the Rebels to have a chance of competing with the Crimson Tide, they will need to air the ball out as Alabama is giving up just 39.83 yards on the ground this season.

Sophomore wide receiver Ja-Mes Logan, whose first season in a Rebel uniform saw Ole Miss finish 4-8 and 1-7 in SEC play, is excited for the opportunity and knows the only way to gain people’s respect is to go out and compete as hard as they can.

"We are used to being the underdog,” Logan said. “We can't control what people say about us. All we can control is what we do. We talk every day after practice about playing hard and trying to prove people wrong about us. It's always fun to play a top five team. You just have to be prepared and play a really good brand of football against teams like this."

Senior left tackle Bradley Sowell has been in this role before. Sowell was a member of the 2008 Rebel squad that took down the Florida Gators, who won the National Championship that season, in Gainesville in one of the greatest college football upsets of all time.

“They have some big, NFL-looking guys on their team, and we just have to fight them,” Sowell said. “That’s our goal –– just go out there fight them and see where that takes us. We are not worried about the spread. We were something like 24-point underdogs against Florida. This is the SEC. Every team has talent.

“It’s just a 60-minute game. All we have to do is be better than Alabama for 60 minutes, not all week. If we go out there and lay our hats out there and our hearts (out there), you never know what can happen.”

Last Day of Freedom

Imagine you are a senior at a university and graduation is in less than two weeks. You would
probably be wondering where you would be in 6 months and how different your life was about to come, but how would you feel if you knew that in 6 months you would be behind bars for up to 3 years?

John Smith was a senior at the University of Mississippi within days of graduation when he was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana with intention to distribute. John knew mostly what to expect as he was placed in handcuffs, because he had been arrested the previous year on the same charge and given probation. The difference, however, is that he had now violated his probation. John realized that day that his life was about to be changed forever.

 

 

John waited in jail until the following morning when his bail was paid and he was released around 9 a.m. He said during the night he was unable to sleep because he was too
nervous about what was to come. “I sat there all night thinking about what was about to happen to me, I knew that I broke my probation and that was NOT good. It was one of the hardest nights of my life.” John and his lawyer met with a judge later that week.

 

 

John said “The judge said I could spend up to 3 years in jail because of this. I had 6 months until I had to report to court again to find out where I would go, so that day I went home and I cried like a baby. I didn’t want to get out of my bed. I was hopeless.”

 

 

John seemed to have hit rock bottom until a conversation with his mother turned everything around. “I told him his life was not over. He had 6 months of freedom and he could spend it sulking in bed or he could get up and do something valuable with the time he had left. So that day he decided he was going to start really living.”

 

 

Living his life was exactly what John decided to do. He spent the next 6 months doing things he had never done. He traveled all over America, visiting Disney Land in California and attending a football game in Miami, Florida. John said he visited with family he hadn’t seen in years and spent extra time with those closest to him including his motherand brother.

John also spent time doing the things he truly loved like golfing and attending concerts with his friends. “Waiting to go to jail really has taught me to not let the days go by. Every single day I have tried to really appreciate my life. You know the whole you never know what you’ve got til its gone thing? I didn’t want to wait until it was gone to realize it.”

Ben, a close friend of Johns feels that John’s situation has made him turn his life around completely. “John has always been a good guy he just got caught up in some bad stuff and it really has changed him. He knows he did it and he’s accepting it and looking on the brighter side of things. It’s really had an effect on all of us, we’ve all realized how life is and trying to do better.”

Susan, another friend of Johns also feels John has reevaluated his life. “He realized what he did and I don’t think he should have to go away for so long. He was young and made a mistake and he definitely learned from it. The way he’s dealing with it is inspiring to all of us.”

 

 

John met with a judge on Monday, October 10 to hear his final sentence. He was to his surprise,
not sentenced to 3 years in prison, but to serve 9 months in a work program at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. This facility is located in Rankin County, Mississippi, near Pearl. The 71-acre prison holds female prisoners in addition to minimum and medium security prisoners. John has two additional weeks until he must report to the prison to begin his sentence.

In response to his new sentence John, grinningly quoted Bob Marley saying, “In this great future we can’t forget our past. Everything is gonna be alright, every little thing is gonna be alright.”

Names have been changed to protect identities.

Hill Ray Feature Story

"Before, it was like Hell always looking over my shoulder, but now it is like Heaven with no worries." Matt Summers is an awesome person with an interesting story. He was born in Greenville, Mississippi and lived down town with his little sister and his mother. His parents divorced when he was young and he raised his little sister from the day she was born. Due to parent issues, Matt had to take care of his sister and work hard in school to get a scholarship to pay for his college. He went to Greenville High School, which is full of gangs and violence. He also was a real good football player for his school, but did not get the recognition he deserved because his team was not very good. Matt knew that was not the life he wanted to continue to have so he decided to make a change.

Matt became real interested in going to the private school, Washington Academy, because he knew the school was well known for its academics all over the state. On top of that they had a real good football team that had just won state the year before. There was only one problem; Matt 's parents did not have the money to pay for a private school.  Disappointed, yet determined, Matt was willing to do whatever it took to get the opportunity to go to Washington Academy for his senior year. He talked to his father and they came to an agreement. Matt was to work on his dad's farm for the summer and if he worked long and hard enough, then he will earn his way into Washington Academy. He knew it was going to be a tough summer, but he also thought of his future and how he could benefit from this opportunity. Summers knew this would help him, but he really did not know what to expect.

Summer began and Matt's journey to a new life began also. A rough summer it was for Summers, as he would work as early as five in the morning until dark. There was no time for fun. Only time to shower, eat, and sleep. He worked hard all summer baling hay, plowing rows, and other hard labor all day long. It was a hot and miserable summer for Matt, but it would all be worth it in the end. Matt's father kept his end of the bargain, and on August 8th, 2009, Matt Summers was on his way to Washington Academy for his first day of school. His life would never be the same.

School began and so did football practice, with a big game coming up to open the season. It was a change for Summers, coming from an all black public school to an all white private school; but right off the bat, he became friends with everyone. He met a lot of guys on his football team, that later became some of his very close friends. The toughness of the classes and the discipline from the teachers was something that Summers was not used to, but he quickly learned the ropes. He began doing very well in class and also in football. Washington's football team was 9-3 and was getting ready to defend there title at the state championship once again. Many of his new friends began to learn about Matt's family issues and many families began to have him over for meals and even to stay the night. Everyone loved him and presented themselves with open arms.

The sound of the buzzer went off, as The Washington Generals had one their second state championship in a row. Summers was overwhelmed with excitement, as the team piled up at mid-field. "It was my high school dream come true. It was hard to react because I never thought anything like that would ever happen to me," Summers said about the game. Later he was selected as an all star and signed with Hinds Community College to play defensive line. He made so many friends throughout his senior year and graduated at the top of his class. Summers also enjoyed playing other sports for Washington, like basketball, track, and soccer. He left Washington Academy with many of friends and a new family. He is a great guy with a big heart and not only did he change his life, but everyone else around him too. 

Mana

There is more to  Oxford, Mississippi  than the univesity  being ranked the third top - ranked   party school by the Princeton Review. There are passoniate  and well- rounded students who spend their Thursday afternoons at St. Peters Episcopal Church working together to make a meal  a for the recipients of Manna since 2003. The recipients of Manna are residents who are referred from the Interfaith Compassion Ministry who live in the Oxford Housing Authoriy.  

The kitchen is full of college  students who work together to make Manna work. The group of students   cook the food, package the meals into disposable  plates,clean the dishes , and  deliver the food. Jennifer Varner, a junior,sorority member,  comes every Thursday and helps prepare the meal, said  that she really enjoys it and is glad she can use her talents for something good. Also in the kitchen is Logan Rush who was just recently elected Colonel Reb. Logan said that,  "I started  doing it  my freshman year and to be honest  my  initial motivation was that there was another Sigma Chi that was the director at the time and I wanted a good  philantropy. I think at the time I didn't really see it as a way to help people I because another way to get involved with a philantropy , and it really didn't have that much importance. I really didn't know what it was. I started working and cooking and it still didn't mean that much.  It  wasn't until I actually started to deliever the meals  seeing that side of Oxford like the projects and lower income apartments . Seeing these people  when they come home from school who probably aren't going to get a meal because the only meals that they receive are at school.   I saw the work we were doing.I saw the point of it.  I saw the people we were helping and that is when it hit me that it wasn't  so much just that would look good on my resume or medical school.That we are actually making a difference where I am at and  helping people just to help them since I have the opportunity to help them and the means and the blessings too. When I start to get busy and think of Manna like a chore. It is nice to think back on the people and that provides the motivation for it. "

When I went to the apartments and  help deliever the food. It was kind of diverse community with one student, African Americans, and a caucasian lady. Laurie Williams, a causian, disabled lady said, " I enjoy the interaction with the young people. It gives me something to look forward to and it does help a lot and I appreciate it. " I did see children running  to the door with a big smile and the adults were glad to get the food also.

To become involved with Manna please contact,campus director, Logan Rush, at jlrush@olemiss.edu .

Why We love our Teacher of the Year

If you ask any of the students on Ole Miss' campus if they know Dr. Ethel Young- Minor, most would say yes. She is just one of those professors that you cannot forget; after all, she is currently Teacher of the Year at Ole Miss.

Earlier this year, the Memphis, TN native and professor of African-American Literature and English made everyone proud when she won the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher award at the University of Mississippi.

" I was very excited. This award has been given out for 45 years and only the best of the best get it. It's the kind of thing that you never think you'll get. I was very surprised, and being that I am the first African- American to win was even more thrilling", Minor replied when asked how she felt about winning.

But what makes Dr. Minor so unforgettable and worthy of this prestigious award? Positivity and enthusiasm are the answers.

"Dr. Minor is the kind of professor that makes you feel important. She comes in with a smile at eight o clock in the morning and rejuvenates everyone. She lets you know that she cares about you learning and she's optimistic," says one of the professor's students of African American Literature.

"I try to deliver positive info to my students", says the wife and mother of two, "and I make every student matter. I challenge them and I treat them all with dignity while teaching and having fun at the same time! I want them all to be successful" Minor says.

"When I heard that she won teacher of the year, I wasn't a bit surprised. I'm not one of her students, but just from being around her lively presence in the LRC [Minor is also Faculty fellow of the LRC] , I can only imagine what her classroom feels like" says sophomore LRC resident Ally Brown.

Geology TA Quickly Becomes a Student Favorite

For the over 200 students enrolled in Amanda Patterson's section 4 Geology class, the course has certainly failed to live up to its rumored "easiest class on campus" reputation. With the class average being a high C and the lab averages even lower, some may go as far to say it's one of the harder classes they take. However, one teaching assistant has become a lifeline to those struggling with the workload.

Shuang Cao, 23, is a graduate student majoring in geologic engineering. She moved from China to the United States this year to fulfill her graduate teaching assistance work. " I always wanted to visit America. It just seemed perfect that I could finish my teaching asssistance work here so I took it" said a smiling Shuang Cao. "I love it here. Ole Miss is so nice. I'm still struggling with English so I apologize if I mispronounce something. I thought the students may have the same trouble with my name so I've encouraged them to just call me 'Cindy'. My Chinese name is hard to pronounce."

Her lab, which meets Wednesdays at 4, is always filled with students bombarding her with questions on their lab work to which she always assists with a smile. "She's a lifesaver," says Matt Mueller, a student of hers, "I seriously couldn't get any of this without her walking me through it."

When asked what advice she would give to other teachers to help them educate their students, she laughs and humbly replies, "I've only been teaching this material 6 weeks. I'm only a teaching assistant. I think I need some good advice from them!" Her students would politely disagree.

From Leland to Leeds; UM Student Studies Abroad

If you saw Molly Chisholm walking down the streets of downtown Leeds, chances are you wouldn’t look twice. Artsy style and a huge smile, she blends in with the rest of the crowd. But as soon as she opens her mouth to say “Hi”—which she always does—it is immediately obvious that she is different.

Born and raised in Leland, Miss., her Southern hospitality and slight drawl always stand out, whether on campus in Oxford or halfway around the world.

“It’s definitely an adjustment. You feel like you have a neon sign above you screaming ‘I DON’T BELONG HERE.’” she says of the experience, “But it has been the best adjustment of my life.”

Chisholm, 21, is a junior English major at Ole Miss, currently pursuing her degree at the University of Leeds. It was her love of travel as well as classic literature that led her across the pond.

“England is a beautiful place. And when you think of all of the literary greats who got their starts in England, it’s only logical to come here. Where else in the world can you sit in the pub where a best selling author penned their first masterpiece?”

It isn’t all work for this budding bard. Along with attending classes at the university, Chisholm spends much of her time sightseeing and soaking in the culture.

“I love taking off down the street with nothing but a map and a camera. There is so much to see, so much to do. So much to learn!”

When asked how Study Abroad has changed her, Chisholm’s eyes lit up, “Yes, I’m learning new things. Yes, I’m working toward getting my degree. But it is so much more than that! I am learning to be self-reliant. I am learning to adapt to new environments and situations. I am learning more about myself and what I want out of life.”

Study Abroad is proving to be an invaluable learning experience for Chisholm. But there is one thing she says she hasn’t quite mastered.

“Driving on the left side of the road.”

Health Fair Promotes Good Living

Health fairs can be informative and fun, but sometimes the medical screenings offered during these free events can even save lives. This past week on the Ole Miss campus, organizers promoted prevention and awareness methods of maintaining mental and physical health.

This was no ordinary health fair. Most health fairs mainly deal with physical issues of the body but this health fair had a booth for just about any concern a student could have: counseling, addict recovery, violence prevention, and organ donation were among some of the topics.

"The goal of this health fair is to let students know what resources are available to them on the Ole Miss campus and in the community and where they can find them, "said Erin Murphy Cromeans, Assistant Director for Health Promotion.

She and six graduate assistants helped organize this event to promote wellness and nutritional awareness for all students especially new students from out of town. She even wants to make the next health fair extraordinary, "we eventually want to get an OBGYN, vision screening and dental services, "said Murphy enthusiastically.

Health promotion is the art and science of helping people discover the connection between their core passions and their motivation to strive for good health to balance a more physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health, thereby improving their health by focusing on changing certain behavioral risks factors.

Many students took advantage of the screenings offered at this weeks' health fair and some even won door prizes. Many others took advantage of the free counseling and giveaways. "We don't necessarily have a goal that we would like to reach but so far, over 200 students have received screenings and we anticipate up to 500 students will stop by and take advantage of this opportunity, "said Jerome Pope of Mississippi Tobacco Free.

"We are excited to be here today, my grad assistants and I, we would like for more and more students to become educated on all the normal everyday health matters that many students don't necessarily think about, "said Murphy.

The lounge area of the Student Union was filled with organizers who each had their own sessions ranging from counseling, violence prevention, mental and physical health. Students were getting their blood pressure checked along with their BMI index and more, as well as, enjoying the samples of dried fruit and recipes on healthier meals.
"We have some bigger plans for the next health fair and we hope we have helped someone in need of any of these services, "said Murphy as she gazed at the crowd.

Colonel Rush

"For me being Colonel Reb was all about an opportunity to represent Ole Miss, as well as the different things and organizations I stand for." said Logan Rush after receiving 51% of the vote in Tuesdays student elections.

When asked what made him want to run for Colonel Reb, Rush said "You get to represent the school in a variety of functions, support a particular philanthropy (Manna), and be introduced at halftime of the Homecoming game. It is a wonderful opportunity and all of the positives cannot even be listed."

The candidates spent over a week a serious campaigning to spread the word of their campaigns, where a lot of hard work went in. "It took a ton of hard work. Planning began weeks in advance, and began with meeting with people who have run campaigns and could provide solid advice. You have to take into account all the stuff required: sign, flyer and sticker design, videos, dorm walking, meetings, networking to friends, a lot of money spent at dry cleaners, and a total of 9 straight hours campaigning on the day. The week of elections is equivalent to a full time job." said rush

Although Rush was very confident going into election day, he showed some signs of nerves. Saying, "I was very nervous today, but not so much before. When you put that much time and effort into something, you are going to get nervous at some point or another. I am relieved it is over without the extra days of campaigning, but I will miss it in a strange way. It was the most stressed filled fun you can have. I enjoyed speaking at the sororities and walking the dorms."

There are also apparently some not so serious advantages to being Colonel Reb. "I don't care about popularity contests, although I'm pleased with the increase in twitter followers and beautiful girls adding me on Facebook."