A student holds the hand of the James Meredith statue last week. Photo: Thomas Graning, The Daily Mississippian.
No update on students involved
As of Thursday evening, the FBI had not filed charges against three Ole Miss students believed to have been involved in the Feb. 16 desecration of the James Meredith statue.
Ole Miss Communications Director Danny Blanton said the three students, all of whom are freshman members of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, are still the subjects of a judicial review to determine possible university suspensions or expulsions.
“We have to remain completely deliberate with this process,” Blanton said.
“Until the process is complete, I cannot speculate on the timetable for completion or even the outcome.”
An anonymous source gave The DM the names of the three suspects believed to be involved, but The DM has not been able to confirm the names.
This week, Blanton, Sig Ep President Jeremy Smith, University Police Chief Calvin Sellers and ASB Judicial Chair Harrison Crabtree said they could neither confirm nor deny the names.
Recommendations expected next week from outside consultant
Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones requested that a consultant come to campus to assess symbols such as monuments, names of buildings and roads and traditions. University of Richmond President Edward Ayers was brought to campus last weekend to handle those responsibilities.
“The University of Richmond went through a very similar thing we are going through now,” Blanton said.
“I know (Jones) is expecting a letter of recommendations from (Ayers).”
The University of Richmond is in the capital city of Virginia, which was the capital of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
Plans to bring in consultants were made prior to last week’s incident.
— Adam Ganucheau
dmeditor@gmail.com
