University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

Southern Tradition " Tell about the South. What ' s it like there? What do they do there? Why do they live there? Wh^y do they live at all? — William Faulkner Absolam! Absolam! It Is hard to separate what Ole Miss was yesterday and is today from the South. Both Ole Miss and the South have an intriguing flair that attracts both flattery and scorn. We have a fascinating attraction here that draws people from all over. We also have a rich southern tradition that becomes an eminant part of everyone at Ole Miss. Like the South, Ole Miss is undoubtably shadowed by a part of both triumph and controversy. From this overbearing presence of our past, surfaces the tradtions that give our university a distinct character. In order to understand where we are today, we must have respect for our turburlent past, while not dwelling on it. We cannot ignore it, but instead learn from it, and move ahead. It has been 28 years since the James Meredith con- troversy, and still racial issues are at the core of the uni- versities problems. Undoubtably we have moved ahead. Now, there is an ongoing understanding between all students, faculty, and administration with a growing empathy for each other ' s needs. We all know that there is more to Ole Miss than a social enviornment, and it goes beyond people who still choose to wave rebel flags and those who protest the flag. The beauty of Ole Miss reaches beyond its fascinating surround- ings, it is the people who value this beauty. There is a preve- lant sense of community at Ole Miss. We have proved that we can definitely come together in times of need and times of prosperity. Our community is one of our most valuable qual- ities, and is evident in everyday life. From the community we get our great sense of pride in the university and its tradition that has been constant through the years. Being an intricate part of the South is something in which all students at Ole Miss should be proud of. A Southern heritage helped create the Ole Miss we know today. For over 140 years the people that make up the university have faced and suffered the same trials as the South, and celebrated the same victories. Al- though some of our traditions are controversial, our legacy should always be honored. It is easy to look behind us and see how far we have come, however, if we plan to prevail we need not to lose sight of how far we need to go. By Allison Hooker. I 6 — Opening