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

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7. A student chugs his Grove drink before entering the stadium. 2. A student opens her bag for security. 3. After waiting in line, security checks a students purse l 4. Logan Clements, a fre: business economics major, is frisked by gate security before being allowed into the game. Alcohol 21

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By: Taylor Davenport Photos: LeAnna Young A mass of sundresses and blazers finish their Grove drinks, throwing aside their Solo cups once the final contents are tossed back. A sea of empty red cups litter the sidewalks leading to the stadium. To the untrained eye, it seems no alcohol has entered the gates of Vaught- Hemingway Stadium. But it ' s known by all game-goers that not everyone leaves their alcohol behind. The University Athletics policy says that alcohol is prohibited in the Vaught in an effort to encourage an enjoyable experience for all fans. The stadium ' s alcohol policy clearly states the following: The possession or consumption of alcohol in the general seating areas of [the stadium] is expressly prohibited by university policy. Nevertheless, students constantly put this policy to the test. Though gate security checks coats, pockets, undergarments, and boots for liquor, not all is confiscated. Much alcohol makes it through the gates unnoticed. Once in the stands, it is evident alcohol has been snuck in. Flasks are passed from friend to friend. Drinks are quickly mixed from airplane bottles of liquor pulled from purses, while rum and Coke rain down every time the Rebels score a touchdown. Sophomore Patrick Salter has witnessed the ineffectiveness of the stadium alcohol policy first hand. I ' ve seen tons of people mixing game to help me forget how ' we are. soda and alcohol in the bathrooms of the stadium during the game, Salter said. He recommended a possible solution to the problem: only sell bottles (not cups of soda) at the concession stands. Yes people would still bring in alcohol to put in their drinks, but nobody wants to shake up their Coke bottle, said Salter. Some underage students are discouraged from sneaking alcohol into the football game because they fear punishment from gate security or police. At the game versus Georgia, freshman Donny Passarella had a better idea than to try to take the alcohol into the stadium himself. I gave my alcohol to a family friend of mine before the game hoping to meet up with him later, said Passarella. Contrary to some students ' beliefs, if alcohol is found on a person at the gate, no major punishment is enforced. The container is simply confiscated and thrown into a large red or blue trash can. Then the student is free to proceed into the stadium. Students are only in danger of being kicked out of the game if they question authority in any way. Some students see the alcohol policy as a necessity to maintain order, while others argue just the opposite: that alcohol is a must to make it through the game. Judging by our football season this year, said junior Tyler Penny, I need drinking during the game to help me forget how terrible we are. 20 ■ Student Life

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Photos and Story: Drew Carter Pictures are worth 1 ,000 words. Pictures on the wall, however, are worth far more. Art thrives in Oxford. From the music scene to the beautiful architecture, popular places like the Oxford Square host galleries, structures, and forums of art. However, the modern canvases of today ' s most controversial artists are popping up below and around the city. The underground art scene in Oxford is growing larger each year. Deep below Oxford lies concrete drainage ditches that stretch clear across the city. These dark tunnels are becoming brighter each semes- ter with new pictures, quotes, or displays of art. Spray paint is the dominant medium used in the tunnels. While there are lots of meaningless drawings on the walls of the tunnels, there are a few genuine pieces. The Square is a popular place for differ- ent urban art as well, found predominately in the back alleys. The most dominant form of street art on the Square is sticker tagging. Stick- ers of skulls, teddy bears, and different sayings are found on dumpsters, stop signs, and elec- trical equipment around the Square. Stickers are deemed more appropriate on the Square because of their easy removal and temporary character. The streets really are canvases, sopho- more Tyler Chandler said. I believe st reet art adds to the beauty and individuality of Oxford, making it more iconic. The character derived from the art adds major character to the city. Around the world, graffiti art has a differ- ent connotation. There is a clear line between subtle and moderate images or words displayed in public places. Graffiti flirts with vandalism. In metropolitan areas with more buildings and public structures, graffiti is expensive to find and clean by sustainability crews, so it is likely to stay on the walls of the city for a longer period of time. Because of the increasing popularity of street art, city police forces are taking mea- sures to increase the fines for convicted vandals. Vandalism is a misdemeanor in the state of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss. Police Chief Mi- chael Martin said. According to the law, we can only make an arrest if we see the act occur or have eye witnesses willing to testify in court. It makes it especially tough to catch vandals. Graffiti comes from the Italian word graf- fito meaning scratched or scribbled. Graffiti is defined as the illicit writing or drawing con- ducted in public places, fixtures, and buildings. The scope of graffiti differs from country to country and city to city. All major cities have different stylistic graffiti techniques. Graffiti has become a popular forum for youth to express different social or political messages or images. Philadelphia and New York City are the unof- ficial graffiti capitals of the world. There are different kinds of graffiti art. Tag- ging is the process by which names of promi- nent or upcoming artists are sprayed on public pieces. Tags also include the use of stickers on different public structures. A graffiti bomb is the deliberate painting or marking an ink on non-traditional pieces such as toilets, road signs, and telephone booths. The most interesting type of graffiti is known as a production in which various artists collaborate to produce a massive image or series of pictures that cover a broad space, such as multiple sides of a wall or building, united in a single piece. I love looking at different photos of graf- fiti around the world, Chandler said. I would not necessarily condemn urban art in Oxford. I would encourage graffiti artists to stay away from campus and the facade of the Square. I think the coolest forms of urban art are in the areas commonly overlooked. 22 ■ Student Life