I graduated from a small high school in Gallman called Copiah Academy. My graduating class yielded 46 graduates, which, at the time, was one of the largest classes in the school’s 43-year history.
Today, two Mr. Ole Miss candidates will square off in a run-off election: Houston Brock and Rob Pyron. In what some would call a truly amazing coincidence, both guys graduated in my class at Copiah Academy.
Because of my great amount of pride for my high school, I would argue that it’s not a coincidence at all. Instead, it’s a testament to the leadership values and education we received there in Gallman (shameless Copiah plug is over now, I promise).
To me, the fact that the two finalists for The University of Mississippi’s most important male personality position are from the same small high school in rural Mississippi is a strong indicator that in-state students at Ole Miss are still relevant on our campus.
For the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years, the majority of the incoming freshman class at Ole Miss were out-of-state students. While this school year’s numbers have not been released publicly by the university, many have speculated that this year’s numbers will be similar to last year’s.
The trend is certainly something that confirms that the Ole Miss brand has protruded through the confines of the Magnolia State’s borders, which is wonderful in its own right. But if the trend continues, the overall number of out-of-state students will surpass the number of in-state students in about ten years or less. Many have continued to express concern that Ole Miss will lose the essence of Mississippi if that happens.
Today, students from Mississippi still have the greatest influence on this campus. Ole Miss is still the flagship higher educational institution of the state of Mississippi, and our students are showing it.
I don’t write this column to complain about the UM Office of Admissions. Everyone in that office should be applauded for their recognition of the importance of a good balance of in-state students and out-of-state students, and their tireless, diligent work is admirable. I also don’t write this column to degrade out-of-state students in any way or make them feel unwelcome in Oxford. Many of my good friends and great leaders at this university are from other states and countries.
This column is for the skeptics of the Office of Admissions and the vision of the administration. I trust the administration has their eyes on the future, which is proven by continuing work on the UM 2020 plan that was launched in the summer of 2010.
Two small-town Copiah Academy boys are running the table in a campus-wide personality election. Products of other high schools across the state of Mississippi are still making a huge difference for Ole Miss, too. The Associated Student Body President is from Mississippi. Mr. Ole Miss will be from Mississippi. Miss Ole Miss is from Mississippi. The Homecoming Queen will be from Mississippi. And the list goes on.
If I was a student at Ole Miss a few years down the road, I might not be able to write this very column. But I strongly believe our administration has our future under control. For now, I see no need whatsoever to be worried about the future of Ole Miss.
We Mississippians are still here. We Mississippians are still kicking. We Mississippians still attend The University of Mississippi.
Adam Ganucheau is a senior journalism major from Hazlehurst.
