Does Ole Miss want a mascot?
By JB Clark
News Editor
Although it’s been six years since Colonel Rebel was removed as the University of Mississippi’s official mascot, One Mississippi is hoping to facilitate a discussion between students and the university administration that will resolve the issue concerning whether Ole Miss students want a new on-field mascot.
The organization is currently passing a petition around many on-campus organizations to have the question, “Do you want an official on-field mascot?” added to the Associated Student Body (ASB) general election ballot later this week.
They will also be asking if the mascot naming process should be a student-led initiative.
Kori Porter of One Mississippi said she would like to get 1,500 students (approximately 10 percent of the student population) to sign the petition before bringing it before the ASB Senate.
University administrators have said that in order to name an official mascot, the students will have to show an interest and push the issue through the ASB.
An ASB senator has the power to propose making the mascot issue a senate resolution, but an issue generally has to have significant student support before the senate will consider it.
Once student support is established, the senate has the option of forming a mascot-naming committee that will further handle the process of naming an official mascot to bring before the university administration.
Porter said One Mississippi should have well over 1,500 signatures on their petition by Tuesday.
Nick Luckett, a member of ONE Mississippi, said the organization wants this to be a student-led discussion so that it is a fair process that all students have a chance to participate in.
“When they took Colonel Reb away people were upset because no one asked the students,” Luckett said. “We had a mascot one year and then we didn’t the next.”
One Mississippi is also planning to host a forum for students to discuss the possibility of a mascot and voice their opinions and concerns.
The general election for ASB will be Tuesday and run-off elections, if necessary, will be Thursday.
[...] to see if this is an issue that students are willing to take up as a cause. Good Luck to all. Link to blog article Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)New Duties for a MascotMeeting the President, [...]
This falls in the stupid catagory. The Rebel IS our mascot. And we should be able to have him on the side lines. A costume of an old man dressed in a suit should not offend anyone. I personally am offended by the bulldog on the sidelines at UGA. I was once bitten by a bulldog and I am offended that they would let one on the sidelines.(now isn’t that stupid!)
Please students… do not cave.. The Rebel IS our mascot!!!!!!!!!!!
Col. Reb is gone and, frankly, I’m happy for it. It’s an unpopular view, but we have been handicapping ourselves with those images.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not imputing any dark motive or meaning behind the presence of the ex-mascot. Most people did not assign a negative implication to the mascot’s presence, but it was undeniable that there was a connection that could be quite reasonably made between that mascot and one of the darkest times in our state and our school’s history.
Khayat took a lot of heat, but I agree wholeheartedly with his move. There is such a thing as preserving your tradition and heritage, but those two concepts have also been used to champion racism and discrimination in the past. Col Reb, as a mascot, is a relatively young symbol. His absence has done nothing to handicap our program, but has, in fact, helped showcase the strides made on our campus and in our state. Those nostalgic for their past have fought bitterly to have him replaced - and, perhaps, their goals have been shared by a few misguided souls for different reasons - but, most people I know are apathetic to pleased that he has been removed.
That being said, I’m sick of using “Ole Miss” in script as our “mascot” - I hope they can pull this off and get something else on the sidelines…
What were the other options a few years back? The Rebel Bruiser and Rowdy Rebel?
http://www.fanblogs.com/sec/004502.php
Those things were hideous.
I think we need Col. Reb on the sidelines he is and always will be our mascot. I dare anyone to say that having Col. Reb is offensive, I mean it is an old man in a suit. I would like to ask anyone that says it is offensive, do you eat at KFC? I mean the founder of that chain restaurant is Col. Sanders. How can one Col be offensive and the other not be? The question “Does Ole Miss want a mascot?” was asked REALLY I mean what a dumb question of course we want one and that mascot is Col Reb. If there is anything you don’t like about this Great Public University, then leave. This University was founded on traditions and heritage and while some of these do need to be changed because of the past and the fact that some people used these symbols to do very bad things that were wrong then and now, we should still love the ones that are harmless. So in closing I am ready for that Southern Gentleman to be back on the sidelines. Are you ready to?
Do the students want a mascot on the sidelines? Of course! The problem lies in that what the students want will not be respected at all. A small minority opinion held by a small group of students will of course become the voice of our student body. If One Mississippi is truly interested in uniting us, then I suggest placing Col Reb on the ballot in a true fair election. Something tells me however, if the democratic process is allowed to transpire, the administration will simply ignore an outcome positive for our Southern Gentlemen. I call upon all students to not allow anyone to ruin this season by dividing our fan base. If the Col is not on the ballot we must again boycott this election.
I agree 110% with you Cody. Let us choose our mascot and make it a fair election by putting all the options on the table and lets see who wins.
Another view might also be economic. We are in a recession as it is and while even if a new mascot took the field (god forbid what the reaction from the fans in VH would be) merchandise sales would fall drastically. There is a reason why Pete Boone has kept Col Reb as our “unofficial mascot”…it makes money!! The Col’s image is always a hot item among our small fan base. So before you quickly dismiss those whom support Col Reb as uneducated or uninformed I remind you to drop by the OM store outside the stadium. There you will find an array of Col Reb items in proud public display. This is a dead horse that the radical left continues to beat. Pete…its time to own up to your mistake and return Col Reb.
The Col. Reb mascot was lame and not much of a tradition as an on-the-field mascot anyway. I think it only surfaced in the 1980s. Ole Miss can retain the nickname Rebels and have any kind of mascot on the field. The Miami Hurricanes are represented by a pelican. The Alabama Crimson Tide by an elephant. Ole Miss could have a similar mascot named Rebel. Doesn’t matter what it is–could be a bear, could be a fox, could be a shark– but an old guy with a cane is truly terrible.
Hello! I am an Ole Miss Alumni from 94-98 with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s from this university. I want to say that Ole Miss has a mascot and it is Col. Reb rather on the field or off. Go back and listen to James Merideth who fought to get into this University. We are not a racial unversity nor does Col. Reb or our Flag that used to be used by the university mean anything of the such. I understand why some may be upset, however we can’t erase the history of our country nor can we erase the history of this university. It has been stated that either of these symbols effects our recruiting rather academically or sports related however take a look at the #’s and players.
Colonel Reb IS OUR MASCOT. ’nuff said, bring him back!!!!
How is Col Reb not a tradition? Col Reb has been here long before 80s. Prior to the cartoon character it was a student dressed on the sidelines. The image of Col Reb and the mascot itself is surely a tradition as the name Rebels. The tide are represented by an elephant because there is a traditional story behind it. The UNC Tarheels, War Eagle at Auburn, and the Tigers of LSU all have confederate history behind their university mascots. I am proud of Col Reb. It makes our university special and unique. This isnt even a debate in all honestly. Put it to a simple vote and you will see. Its time for the outspoken minority to either accept our mascot or transfer to State. If you are so concerned with everyone’s feelings no matter how few of them there are…State is for you. It is after all…the People’s College.
So some say Col. Reb is not a tradition. I disagree we have been using the Colonel Reb image since 1938 when he made his first appearance in the yearbook, two years after we became the Rebels. It was around that time that the University dressed a student in a confederate uniform and paraded him up and down the sidelines. It true that it was not until 1979 that we got a foam headed mascot, this mascot was made in the form of that same image that appeared in the 1938 yearbook. Does anybody know what tradition means? Tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs, or customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another. Colonel Reb was handed down to us by the students of the past and it is our responsibility to not let the tradition die, and for all of you that say the Colonel is a racist image well do your homework. If you have then you will know who Mr. Blind Jim Ivy was and you will know that he was one of the biggest Ole Miss fans. This is who we believe the Colonel was based on.
I think our mascot should be a big stuffed Obama. That’s represenative of what the tiny minority who got rid of the colonel would like,m so let’s give it to them. We should rename the stadium too; I’m thinking James Merideth Field. In fact, I think I think everything at this university should be named after some civil rights leader because that is the only part of the South’s history that is legitimately memorable. In fact, screw changing the state flag, can the state itself be renamed Obama Acres?
Six of the fourteen comments are by two people. Another person asks to return the “Flag” - it took me a moment to realize what they were referring to - along with Col. Reb.
The problem here, for all the finger-pointing at a vocal minority, is that the truly vocal minority are those protesting for the reinstatement of Col. Reb. The majority of students are apathetic or in favor of the change, but those are less likely to post on boards, make stickers to hand out or parade around the stands in a Col Reb uniform. I suppose I’m the exception, as I’m bored - but I digress. Those are the vocal minority, if we’re being frank. And I agree, no, they shouldn’t be allowed to drive this process.
Traditions? Heritage? Invoking those words as talismanic terms allows you to, momentarily, wear the same shoes as those who defended slavery, Jim Crow laws and segregation. There is merit in tradition and heritage, but blind faith in ‘the way things have been’ is never a way to live life.
The “Flag” has absolutely no place on campus and most certainly had no place being used officially by the university. Col Reb, while relatively more palatable, brought nothing to our University; rather, we insisted - and some continue to insist - that this seagull around our neck must not be removed; or worse, that we must replace that weight after having gone through the painful process of moving on.
I have to say, CrankyOldFlatulence, that was uncalled for.
Just because you are a living symbol of the 60’s doesn’t mean you need to tarnish the Col.’s image by making smartarse remarks like that.
On another note, I will not be voting in any ballot unless Col. Reb is on the list. Chancellor Jones needs to prove to this university that he has the cojones to do what is right and fair.
As far as I’m concerned, Pete Boone can go screw himself or indeed go back to Grenada and sell refrigerators. That man should have been fired years ago…
Both of the previous two mascot suggestions were a complete joke.
We might as well have adopted a broom as a mascot and called ourselves the CleanSweepers if either one of those two were to win.
Col. Reb is my mascot, period.
If the university wants to be thick-headed about it, that is their fault. It is a pity and indeed a shame that we are the only school without a mascot in the SEC though……
I don’t understand the problem here. Why can’t we just bring him back. If so many people don;t see the negative atmosphere that has been forced upon Col Reb, then where is the argument. Bring him back. His image is no different from the Washington Redskins, Crimson Tide, Boilermakers, War Eagle, etc. Its history. Its everywhere. Its time to bring him back.
Bring back colonel reb! Come on, he danced around the sidelines, and a guy I met in California barely knew of Ole Miss but wanted me to get him a T-shirt with a big Colonel Rebel on the front… anyone know where to get one of those?
I rescend my last comment. I was trying to be satirical and illustrate that a vocal minority try to pick and choose what parts of Mississippi’s history the university claims. In reterospect, my comment makes little sense.
Colonel Reb is gone. if you don’t like it, then leave.
I guess the STUDENTS should just take it into their own hands and bring Col Reb back to life
Getting student approval of a mascot for Ole Miss will be difficult. Anyway, a miniature horse, named Tackle, decked in an Ole Miss blanket, and a saddle supporting M flags would be cute. Of course, Tackle should be taught to bray after each td. Ole Miss is an equable opportunity school, so, naturally, a miniature mare named Rebelette would be necessary. Mate them . . . just think of all the publicity lovable Tackle and Rebelette would bring Ole Miss.
Colonel Reb was there the summer of 2003 when I graduated. A few weeks later he was gone. I was no longer on campus. I feel cheated. He is my mascot. That is where I got my degree. I am now an Optometrist, I could donate money to the school, I will, but not until Colonel Reb is put back on the field. I love Ole Miss and the memories just as I love the mascot.
Make a statement current students!
Don’t buy any merchandise that doesn’t have Colonel Reb on it. Always ask for more merchandise with Colonel Reb on it.
Also support firing Pete Boone. He obviously supports chaos, not unity at Ole Miss. He is no good for our school.
Ok, maybe Pete should not be fired if he listens to our voice and puts Colonel Reb back on the field. By the way, I just donated money to the Colonel Reb Foundation. That could have went to Liberal Arts instead.
[...] Two: Mascot: The easiest Factor Five decision yet: South Carolina, since Ole Miss has no formal mascot. Cocky the hoop-dressed chicken wins by default, though this would go to Ole Miss in a snap if they [...]
Seriously people why the hell do we go after traditions. People say Colonel Rebel is offensive, why, because of past notions of racism and the fact that certain symbols throughout times have been used by an uneducated people to show racism or hate. (ie rebel flag) Slavery existed under the US Flag for 200 years but no body wants to get rid of this symbol. Why is it so hard for Caucasians to have symbols of their heritage. I do not see bans on the knecklaces with Africa on them. What we need to remember is every one is entitled to their symbols of heritage, not certain races. Colonel Reb, Dixie and other symbols have been a part of Ole Miss for decades. People must remember where they come from to find out why and where they are going.
KEEP COLONEL REB
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