Dear editor,
We the members of the Black Student Union, The University of Mississippi Gospel Choir, Improving Minority Access to Graduate Education and the National Pan-Hellenic Council are deeply disheartened by the vile action of defacement of the James Meredith statue by the three University of Mississippi students. Members of our community are concerned about the campus climate, which may produce a particular animus that causes an uneasy feeling on campus for African-American students. These actions will not be tolerated nor accepted by our community or the campus community at-large. Though we are discouraged, we will not allow this incident to hinder our progression as a community and university. We will continue working with various student organizations moving forward and have also formed a committee that will solely focus on finding ways to prevent discriminatory actions against African American students.
We echo the sentiments of civil rights activist Fanie Lou Hamer of being “sick and tired of being sick and tired” of defending the university we intimately call ours … just like every other student on this campus. We will not allow our visceral responses to this event to shape our approach to ameliorating this problem that is seemingly embedded in the very ground we walk on. However, we commend the efforts headed by Chancellor Jones and his administrative staff. This is a moment for transformational change for our institution. We want to build upon the momentum that has already been started.
In the revolutionary spirit of many trailblazers before us who continue to show support, we want to see the university continue to promote open dialogue and to implement progressive strategies and policies that will bring forth more than a modicum of change for our university. We as members of the Black Student Union, The University of Mississippi Gospel Choir, Improving Minority Access to Graduate Education, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council are willing to actively work with the administration, and other campus organizations, to see the vision come to its fruition.
Quadray Kohlhiem,
Black Student Union President
Tim Abram
Black Student Union, Vice President
Kendrick Hunt
NPHC, President
Addison Mickens
I.M.A.G.E., President
Latoya McJunkins
UMGC, President
