Ole Miss alumnus Ed Meek, namesake of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, posted a pair of photos and commentary to Facebook today that drew widespread criticism. Meek served as the university’s assistant vice chancellor for public relations and marketing for 37 years beginning in 1964.

Ed Meek, namesake for the Meek School of Journalism and New Media and former UM assistant vice chancellor for public relations and marketing, posted these images to Facebook along with a call for Oxford and Ole Miss leaders to “protect the values we hold dear.” Screenshot via Facebook, edited to protect the identities of those pictured.
Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter responded to Meek’s post, condemning its “racial overtone” and suggesting Meek delete the post.
In his original post, Meek wrote, “Enough, Oxford and Ole Miss leaders, get on top of this before it is too late.” He attached images of two black women he claimed were visiting the Square on Saturday night.
Within four hours of its posting, Meek’s words had garnered more than 500 comments and 600 shares. One of those comments came from Vitter’s Facebook account.

Ole Miss Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter responded to Ed Meek’s controversial Facebook post, condemning its “racial overtone.”
“The photos in his (Meek’s) post suggest an unjustified racial overtone that is highly offensive,” Vitter wrote.
When The Daily Mississippian called Meek’s cellphone for a response, Meek hung up the phone.
The Daily Mississippian will continue to report on this developing story. Follow @thedm_news on Twitter for updates.
Updated at 7:31 p.m.
The Meek School of Journalism and New Media released a statement in response to Ed Meek’s Facebook post, calling the post “highly offensive.” The statement was signed by Meek School leadership and reads as follows:
“Earlier today, the donor whose name is on our school, Ed Meek, made a post on his personal Facebook account that we find highly offensive. This post is in no way associated with or represents our school, our students or our faculty. We are embarrassed by his actions. We agree with our Chancellor Jeff Vitter when he said “We all want to ensure a safe, family-friendly environment at the university and in Oxford, and we condemn the tone and content of this social media post. The photos in his post suggest an unjustified racial overtone that is highly offensive and we urge him to withdraw his comment and apologize to anyone offended.”
Dean Will Norton and Assistant Deans Patricia Thompson, Debora Wenger, Scott Fiene and Jennifer Simmons signed the statement. Thompson is assistant dean for student media and faculty adviser for The Daily Mississippian. The Student Media Center is an independent department within the Meek School of Journalism and New Media.
Meek deleted the post from his Facebook page. The Daily Mississippian has been unable to reach him for comment.
Updated at 8:51 p.m.
Ed Meek shared an apology for his controversial post on Facebook just before 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night, but he deleted the apology shortly afterward.
“I apologize to those offended by my post,” Meek wrote in the now-deleted apology. “My intent was to point out we have a problem in The Grove and on the Oxford Square.”
A petition titled “Remove Ed Meek’s Name From the Ole Miss School of Journalism,” created by senior public policy and political science major Raven Francomano, had garnered 233 signatures as of 8:35 p.m. Wednesday night.