The state Institutions of Higher Learning has approved the University of Mississippi’s request to remove Ed Meek’s name from the School of Journalism and New Media.
The education board voted unanimously and without discussion to approve the name change at its Board of Trustees meeting Thursday morning. Ole Miss Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter submitted the proposed name change to the board for “expedited consideration” earlier this month.
Click here for a timeline looking at the process for removing Meek’s name.
Leadership of the School of Journalism and New Media thanked the board and Vitter for their support of changing the school’s name in a statement released Thursday morning.
“Today, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees accepted the request of the faculty of the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media, and the request of Dr. Ed Meek, to remove his name from our school. We thank the Board, Chancellor Vitter and the university committees that supported this request. We also thank Dr. Meek for helping us in moving forward and in focusing on the education of our students, which is our first priority. We invite Dr. Meek to be part of our conversation about restoration, reconciliation and the reaffirmation of our values,” the school leadership’s statement reads.
The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning addresses the University of Mississippi’s request to remove Ed Meek’s name from the journalism school at its Board of Trustees meeting Thursday morning. The request was approved unanimously. Photo by Hadley Hitson
ASB President Elam Miller attended the IHL Board meeting Thursday morning and said the board’s decision reflects the needs of the Ole Miss student body.
“I’m very proud of the Board of Trustees for listening to the needs of the students of the University of Mississippi and following through with the recommendation from our university leadership,” ASB President Elam Miller said.
The Daily Mississippian will continue to report on this developing story. Follow @thedm_news on Twitter for live updates.
