Sophomore Eloise Tyner makes a sign for Chancellor Dan Jones at the Student Union, Sunday, March, 22, 2015. (DM Photo | Cady Herring)
University of Mississippi student leaders have organized a rally to take place at noon Wednesday between the Lyceum and the J.D. Williams Library in response to the Institutions of Higher Learning’s decision to not renew Chancellor Dan Jones’ contract. As of Friday evening, almost 1,600 people have signed up to participate.
Alex Borst, sophomore international studies major and co-organizer of the “I Stand with Chancellor Jones” rally, said students were in disbelief at the announcement of the board’s decision and immediately started uniting from a wide variety of student organizations.
“What we want is a positive message behind this,” Borst explained. “We are pushing for reinstatement. That’s ultimately what we want.”
Students knew something was wrong about the decision, according to Borst, and were unhappy because Jones’ term as chancellor has brought great things to the university, including record enrollment and racial reconciliation.
“He has a great capacity to deal with these big political issues by taking a moderate stance,” Borst said. “But also creating very visible change and making a statement about what our university is and what it is going to continue to be.”
Borst believes Jones does not have a negative reputation at the university, and said this is evident from the almost 5,000 signatures on the online petition as of Sunday night.
Borst encourages all students, faculty members and alumni to show their support for Jones by participating in the rally.
“Show the same kind of zeal for Ole Miss that your chancellor has shown for the past six years,” he said.
Eloise Tyner, sophomore public policy major, said Jones has been nothing but a helpful influence to the university.
“Only to have that rug yanked out from under us has been extremely unnerving,” Tyner said. “Personally, I felt so betrayed and frustrated. He’s done nothing but be a strong leader and been somebody who is so willing to compromise and see both sides of the story and pick the best path available.”
Even though there has been overwhelming support for Jones, there are still some, like Colonel Reb Foundation co-founder Howie Morgan, who feel Jones’ leadership is being misrepresented.
“Chancellor Jones had a lot to live up to when he replaced Chancellor Khayat,” Morgan said in a statement to NewsWatch. “Khayat was the ultimate politician and always wanted to bring opponents into the conversation and try to change opinion. Jones, however, felt that whatever he thought was right and didn’t want to listen to dissenting opinions. A doctor by trade, Chancellor Jones had a bedside manner that rubbed many the wrong way. His inability to realize that he many constituencies that he had to work with – students, faculty, alumni, fans and taxpayers – may have led leaders at IHL wanting more congenial leadership at Ole Miss.”
Dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Douglas Sullivan-Gonzalez said members of a public university are called to be both citizens and scholars, creating a debate of competing ideas supported with strong arguments and evidence, especially about the IHL’s decision.
“We are not naive to understand that power plays a role in this competition,” Sullivan-Gonzalez said.
It is important “for a public university to work well with transparent, open debate where all parties examine the evidence when decisions are made,” and since 1993, there has never been a political awakening among our students like today, according to Sullivan-Gonzalez.
“What students are doing is developing the essential skills to protect the freedom that we all have and nourish,” Sullivan-Gonzalez said. “Now, we are having an intense political question about decisions made affecting the future leadership of this university.”
The question the community needs to ask, according to Sullivan-Gonzalez, is what the relationship will be between the governing body, IHL and the chancellor in a public university.
“Dan wants to be the chancellor, not an operations manager,” Sullivan-Gonzalez said. “In the nation, we have seen an evolving relationship between the chancellor and the governing board of trustees in times of conflict.”
According to Sullivan-Gonzalez, the honors college grew by 42 percent since Jones became chancellor, and the quantity was increased equally to the quality.
“We reward success in this country,” Sullivan-Gonzalez said. “There appears to be a disconnect between that success and what’s happened in Jackson.”
Jim Borsig, commissioner of higher education, said it is clear Jones has done a number of great things for the university, but the board’s concern is is about The University of Mississippi’s Medical Center.
When asked if these issues were significant enough to outweigh the good Jones has a accomplished, Borsig told UM Student Media, “I think the action of the board speaks for itself about that.”
Borsig also said the decision on Jones’ contract is final.
“The Board of Trustees has made the decision,” Borsig said. “It has announced that there is going to be a search for the next chancellor at The University of Mississippi.”
Borst and his fellow “I Stand with Chancellor Jones” organizers will have an informational table in front of the Student Union starting today.
