The topic of the Ole Miss Rebels mascot change has gained significant attention and sparked controversy in recent years. The University of Mississippi, often referred to as Ole Miss, decided to retire the old mascot, Johnny Reb, in 2003. Johnny Reb, a symbol of the Confederate soldier, had been used as the official mascot since the late 1930s. The decision to retire Johnny Reb came in response to criticism that the mascot was offensive and perpetuated racial stereotypes. Supporters of the old mascot argued that it represented Southern heritage and history, but critics pointed out its associations with the Confederate Army and slavery. After retiring Johnny Reb, the university launched a process to find a new mascot that would better reflect the values and diversity of the student body.
Students Vote to Lead Effort to Develop New Ole Miss Mascot
OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi students who voted in today’s campus elections indicated they are in favor of a student-led effort to propose a new on-field mascot to represent the Ole Miss Rebels.
When votes were tallied, 2,510 students voted to approve the initiative, and 856 voted “no.”
“My goal was primarily to give voice to the students,” said Artair Rogers, president of UM’s Associated Student Body government. “I am pleased with the results.”
The next step is for ASB leaders to decide how to select a Student Mascot Committee, which will develop and propose a new mascot. Rogers said he hopes to present a plan to the ASB Senate and to the chancellor next week.
“We have thought a lot about this, and we will propose that the Student Leadership Advisory Committee, along with two student-athletes from the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, develop criteria for selecting 12 to 15 students through an open application process to serve on the Student Mascot Committee,” Rogers said.
“A mascot’s role is to unite fans, and school spirit is a student issue,” said Sparky Reardon, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. “I am proud of our student leaders for initiating this effort and allowing all students a chance to have a vote in this process,” Reardon said. “The process is as important as the result.”
In today’s referendum, students voted on whether to endorse a student-led effort to propose a new on-field mascot for the Ole Miss Rebels. The old mascot, Colonel Rebel, was retired from the field in 2003. The university has not had a mascot since.
University officials stated earlier that they would support a student-led effort to develop and propose a new mascot, but that UM’s athletics teams would remain the “Ole Miss Rebels,” and the school’s colors would not change.
“Our students think of themselves as ‘Ole Miss Rebels’. They are today’s Ole Miss Rebels, and they want a new on-field mascot that represents their spirit and energy,” Chancellor Dan Jones said. “They will lead the effort to create a mascot that they think will improve school spirit and the game-day experience for themselves and others.”
As students begin the process, they will invite input from other UM constituents, such as alumni, fans and friends.
Black Leadership Analysis
After retiring Johnny Reb, the university launched a process to find a new mascot that would better reflect the values and diversity of the student body. The university enlisted the help of students, alumni, and the broader community to gather suggestions and opinions on potential mascots. A committee was formed to review and evaluate the suggestions, narrowing down the options based on various criteria.
Ole Miss Shows How To Remove Confederate Symbolism
The University of Mississippi colloquially referred to as “Ole Miss” has a complicated history around race relations. The school nickname is the “Rebels, ” and the old school mascot was a slender southern gentleman that resemble a plantation owner. Ole Miss made national news in the 1960’s when a riot broke out after James Meredith was accepted. Most recently a noose and Confederate flag were placed around the neck of his statue.
At the same time, Ole Miss has stopped the flying of Confederate flags, playing of “Dixie,” and replaced the southern gentleman mascot with a black bear. Ole Miss is showing how to make forward racial progress in a very sensitive racial environment. The process is slow, and many in Mississippi are fighting for their Confederate symbols, but the university presses on. Their method is moving the ball forward without causing a violent backlash.
History of Ole Miss Rebel Mascot and Race
The University of Mississippi was founded in 1848. In the school’s charter, the purpose of the school was to educate the white race. The school’s nickname is Ole Miss, which is also what slaves called the master’s wife. The Civil War broke out in 1861, and the student body did not want the citizens of Mississippi to fight without them. The entire class of 150 men formed Company A of the 11th Mississippi regiment. This troop fought with the army of Northern Virginia and was in some of the most famous battles in the eastern theater. The most famous battle was their last. Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg resulted in the annihilation of the troop. This advance was the furthest the Confederacy got into Union territory. The troop was forever known as the University Greys .
The Ole Miss sports teams had no official name and had been known by many names including the Oxfords, the Mighty Mississippians, and the Southerners. A poll of Mississippi sports writers picked the name “Rebels” in 1936. The mascot “Colonel Reb’ was made after that. Colonel Reb is also an award given to the most distinguished man of campus every year. The female equivalent is “Miss Ole Miss. These traditions started in 1940.
Some say the inspiration for the Ole Miss mascot was a blind peanut vendor named James Ivy. Ivy, known around Ole Miss as “Blind Jim.” He was a fixture at football games for sixty years. An on-the-job accident blinded Jim as a teenager. He found work at Ole Miss selling peanuts after the incident. He was known to scream the loudest at the games and is quoted as saying “He never saw Ole Miss lose a game.” The university honored him with a tombstone and the marching band spelling Jim during a halftime in 1964. [7] The university has never officially connected Blind Jim to the old Mascot. Also, the mascot is white and Jim Ivy was black.
The band first started playing the song “Dixie” in 1948 for the centennial anniversary of the school. [1] The same year the Dixiecrat political party was established. The party was created in response to the executive order to end segregation in the military. The Dixiecrats were officially Democrats, but did not support integration. They were mainly from the South and fought to stop civil rights leaders. They also encouraged the use of Confederate symbols and flew the Confederate battle flag at their national conventions.
In 1962, James Meredith applied and was accepted to the University of Mississippi. However, when the registrar found out about his race, his acceptance was revoked. Meredith was able to sue citing the recent Brown vs. Board case, and a federal order reinstated his admission. When he got to the registrar to sign up for classes the Governor blocked his entrance. A second court order found the Governor in contempt. US Marshals escorted Meredith in the building to register for class.
Once word got out that Meredith had completed registration a violent mob formed on campus. A riot broke out that took 30,000 Federal troops to squelch. The riot left two people dead and three hundred injured. Today there are bullet holes in the student union building from this riot. One of the events that led to the riot were fiery speeches about southern heritage and pride.
The 1970’s were a fascinating time at Ole Miss. In 1975 the first “Colonel Reb” award was given to a black man, Ben Williams. Williams would go on to the NFL after being Ole Miss’s first black football player. The first depiction of Colonel Reb on field or court was in 1979. The mascot would not only perform at Ole Miss games but NBA games as well.
The Colonel Reb mascot has always hurt recruiting at the University of Mississippi. The first attempt to remove the icon happened in 1997. A group of students formed to support Colonel Rebel. The effort led to Ole Miss keeping the mascot. Ole Miss has not won a SEC Championship in football since 1963. Ole Miss has also never won a men’s basketball regular season title.
In 2003, the Associated Student Body Judicial Council decided to retire the Colonel Reb logo. There was a contest to pick a new mascot and a poll for students and faculty to choose a new mascot. The contest and poll got little participation. The school received 2,400 responses from 40,000 eligible to vote. [15] The school was without an official mascot for seven years.
The same year the “Colonel Reb Foundation” (CRF) was formed. In the About Us section of the website, they claim the removal of the mascot was a unilateral decision by the chancellor and athletic director. The student body and faculty did not get a say in the change. Now many Colonel Reb supporters wear a “Colonel Reb is my mascot” sticker on game-days. CRF also propagated the story of Blind Jim to explain the mascot is not racist. However, having to change Blind Jim’s skin color to white and the school not confirming the story is in itself racist.
In 2010, the students, alumni, fans, and faculty chose the Black Bear as the official mascot. It alludes to Ole Miss’s greatest Alumni William Faulkner. Faulkner comprised a short story named “The Bear.” Also, Mississippi has an endangered Black Bear population. The new mascot will raise awareness on the issues of rebuilding the endangered population. Children that go to the game love the bear according to most reports.
After the reelection of Barack Obama in 2012, a group of 400 students assembled in front of the student union in protest. The crowd lit signs on fire, yelled racial slurs, and two people were arrested. Many have referred to this incident as the “Ole Miss Riot,” however the school has denied it was a riot.
In 2014, Graeme Harris defaced the statue of James Meredith. He placed a noose and the old Georgia state flag that depicted the Confederate flag on the statue. The incident got national attention, and Eric Holder denounced the action. In 2015 Graeme Harris was charged later that year by federal authorities. Harris was a former Ole Miss student.
Plaques were placed on building built by slaves in 2017. The school recognizes its racist history and is making concrete steps to acknowledge it. They also removed the name of a white supremacist governor from a building on campus.
On September 18, 2018, the student body president announced there will be an upcoming vote for a new mascot of a Landshark. The Chancellor of the school Dr. Vitter says the Landshark does not threaten the “Rebels” nickname. The Landsharks originates from defensive football players putting the hand on the forehead after a big play. The Landshark gesture was turned into a mascot that lost to the Bear in the 2003 vote. The Chancellor says the Ole Miss teams will always be referred to as the “Rebels”. The new mascot was announced on October 6, 2017 and will first appear in 2018. The design of the mascot is currently underdevelopment.
How is Ole Miss an example
Ole Miss is working to make concrete steps for racial reconciliation in spite of a complicated history on race. There is racial backlash on campus. However, they never stop working toward making a more inclusive campus. Many other schools and municipalities will go through a similar struggle.
One of the best aspects of this reconciliation is the Col Reb Foundation (CRF). The CRF is providing a constructive, non-violent outlet for people to voice their opinion on the changing of the mascot. Some people will have a deep emotional connection to the old mascot. Transitioning for these people will be difficult and having a support group will prevent these people from acting out.
Ole Miss will never be able to stop individual students from doing despicable things. However, they do support the investigations and convictions are made. There is work on campus to move people past the events. Also, forward racial progress is not stopped by isolated racial incidents.
- ”For Ole Miss Sports “Dixie” is dead by A. Ganucheau http://www.mississippitoday.org
- ”Controversy Over Mascots at Ole Miss” by R. Brown http://www.nytimes.com
- Did University of MS students really riot over election results by. J. Kim http://www.newsfeed.time.com
- Former Ole Miss Student Charged with Placing Noose on. J Meredith Statue by M. Muskal http://www.latimes.com
- Meet Blind Jim Ivy by E. Smith http://www.newsolemiss.edu
- Ole Miss Post Signs to Acknowledge Building Built by Slave Labor by Z. Blay http://www.huffingtonpost.com
- Oxford Olden Days: Blind Jim Ivy, Honorary Dean of Freshman by J. Mayfield http://www.hottytoddy.com
- The University Greys http://www.hottytoddy.com
- Integrating Ole Miss: A transformative Deadly Riot by D. Elliot http://www.npr.org
- Riots of the Desegregation of Ole Miss http://www.history.com
- Ole Miss will be recognizing the campus was built by slaves http://www.college.usatoday.com
- Ole Miss should acknowledge its use of slave labor by A. Coon http://www.thedmonline.com
- Our Shared Racist Tradition by T. Abram http://www.thedmoonline.com
- Rebel Black Bear Selected as the New On-Field Mascot for Ole Miss Rebels http://www.mascot.olemiss.edu
- Ole Miss without a mascot http://www.msnewsnow.com
- “About Us” http://www.colonelreb.org
- Ole Miss to vote on Landshark as new Mascot http://www.usatoday.com
- The Ole Miss Rebels are changing their mascot again, this time from the Black Bear to a Landshark by J. Kirk http://www.sbnation.com
- Ole Miss names new mascot: Landsharks by D. Royer http://www.wreg.com
Mascot Evolution Continues at Ole Miss: Students Voting on Landshark vs. Black Bear
Many Ole Miss students and alum have moved on from the old days of Colonel Reb as their disturbing mascot. And the Rebel Black Bear may soon be history, too.
The University of Mississippi’s student-body president, Dion Kevin III, today announced that students will vote on whether to change its Rebel Black Bear mascot to the popular Landshark, The Daily Mississippian, the university’s school newspaper, reported this morning.
Students will vote on the mascot change next Tuesday alongside “personality” elections for Mr. and Miss Ole Miss, Homecoming Queen, maids and campus favorites. The university chose the Black Bear in 2010 in homage to famed Oxford writer William Faulkner, who wrote the famous short story, “The Bear.”
The Rebel Black Bear has been the official mascot since 2010 when Ole Miss officially chose it to replace the old racist symbol of Colonel Reb, which still makes various unofficial appearances during campus events and, as the JFP staff noted with surprise once, dancing at weddings of Ole Miss graduates. Haley Barbour also had a Colonel Reb on his wedding cake back in the day; his campaign sent out the photo of the Ole Miss graduate and his wife, Marsha, cutting the cake during his successful campaign for governor of Mississippi.
Many Colonel Reb supporters, however, would still rather the old plantation owner to be the official mascot of Ole Miss, but that seems unlikely to ever happen with a newer generation of Ole Miss students rejecting the racist symbols of the old days.
The ship now seems to be sailing toward the landshark, at least if the student-body president gets his way. Kevin issued a statement in favor of the landshark, which The Daily Mississippian published in full. It reads in part:
“The Landshark as we know it today has its origins in football, but has since expanded to symbolize Ole Miss’s fight spirit and athletic prowess. It was started by Ole Miss defensive linebacker and military veteran Tony Fein in 2008 during our historic upset of the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators. With 41 seconds left in the game, Tim Tebow ran an option left, identical to a scoring play earlier in the quarter. As the play developed, Fein rose up, hand to helmet, and the Landshark was born. It would subsequently join the Rebels in wins such as the 2009 Cotton Bowl victory, the 2013 SEC Basketball Tournament, and the 2014 College World Series. After a decade of success under the Landsark, it’s time to make it a lasting part of our history. … I support the Landshark, and I am an Ole Miss Rebel.”
Put simply, the students of Ole Miss seem to be focused on the future and making their own mascot choices, not on symbols of the past from Confederate colonels to literary figures. Cheers to them.
UPDATE: After this post went live, someone pointed out to me this great piece by Adria Walker, formerly of the JFP, at Millsaps College about Confederate symbolism on that campus, including the Majors mascot. Definitely worth a read.
Ole Miss students vote to replace Colonel Reb
JACKSON, Miss. -- University of Mississippi students voted Tuesday for the school to pursue a new mascot to replace Colonel Reb, the goateed Southern gent banished from the sidelines nearly seven years ago as the school continued its move away from symbols of the Old South.
The university's Associated Student Body released the results of the online election after voting ended at 5 p.m. CST.
"This wasn't about Colonel Reb at all. This is a new body of students. This vote is about deciding that we need a new personification of what a Rebel is," said John Kaiser, the Associated Student Body's deputy attorney general of elections.
Students were asked to vote "yes" or "no" on whether they support "a student-led effort to develop and propose a new 'on-field' mascot to represent the Ole Miss Rebels." A "no" vote meant the school would have remained without a mascot.
The school has more than 18,000 students, but only 3,366 votes were cast. The referendum passed with nearly 75 percent of the vote.
It's been an issue fraught with significance for the students, alumni and fans of the university located in the Deep South, where many consider football the ruling sport.
Ole Miss will remain the Rebels, but Colonel Reb won't be back on the field.
The university has taken other steps in recent years to throw off what many perceive as lingering reminders of a Confederate past. Last year, the band stopped playing the fight song, "From Dixie With Love," to discourage fans from chanting, "the South will rise again." In 1997, the school ended the waving of Confederate flags at sporting events.
But not everyone is happy about the decision to move on from Colonel Reb.
"I'm extremely disappointed. I do think Colonel Reb is getting a bad rap," said Hannah Loy, a senior political science major and a member of the Colonel Reb Foundation.
Loy said her generation should be allowed to define issues of race and school spirit.
"I think the older generations need to stop pressing their feelings about race and what happened in the past on those of us who weren't even alive then," Loy said.
The Colonel Reb Foundation, a group formed in 2003 when the mascot was dropped, had bought advertisements in the student newspaper in hopes of winning a "no" vote on the proposal.
Koriann Porter, liberal arts major who started the petition initiative that led to the vote, said she's hoping students will be able to choose a new mascot by the end of next fall's football season.
Collins Tuohy, a recent graduate interviewed a few days before the vote, said her parents recognized the need for the change when they attended the school.
"My dad was an athlete and my mom was a cheerleader. They saw firsthand that the flag and Colonel Reb were having an effect on people," she said of Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who are depicted in the Oscar-nominated film, "The Blind Side."
Tuohy said when she was involved with the Student Alumni Council, there was more of a move by older alums to push for a new mascot.
Associated Student Body President Artair Rogers said a student mascot committee will be selected to develop and propose a new mascot. He said he would present a plan to the Associated Student Body Senate and Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones next week.
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They considered factors such as appropriateness, uniqueness, and alignment with the university's values. The committee also sought to select a mascot that would be widely embraced by the Ole Miss community. In 2010, after extensive deliberation, the university introduced a new mascot named "Rebel Black Bear." The Rebel Black Bear was chosen to symbolize the resilience and strength of the Ole Miss community. It was intended to be inclusive and devoid of any negative racial connotations. While the introduction of the Rebel Black Bear was meant to be a step towards progress and inclusivity, the decision was met with mixed reactions. Some accepted the change as a necessary evolution, while others criticized it for not effectively addressing the underlying issues of racial inequality and discrimination. Despite the implementation of the Rebel Black Bear, the discussion surrounding the Ole Miss Rebels mascot remains a contentious topic. Some argue that the university should adopt a completely new mascot, detached from any historical or cultural association. Others believe that the Rebel Black Bear adequately represents the values and traditions of the university. The Ole Miss Rebels mascot change continues to serve as a reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding symbols, race, and identity. It highlights the challenges faced by institutions in balancing tradition and progress while striving for a more inclusive and diverse environment. The discussions and decisions surrounding mascots are a reflection of broader societal conversations and the ongoing quest for equality and social justice..
Reviews for "Understanding the Historical Context of the Ole Miss Rebels Mascot Change"
1. John Smith - 2 stars - I am extremely disappointed with the recent change in the Ole Miss Rebels mascot. The transition from the beloved Colonel Rebel to the Landshark just doesn't make sense to me. Colonel Rebel had been a symbol of pride and tradition for years, and now it feels like the university is simply trying to conform to modern trends. The new mascot lacks the charisma and historical significance that Colonel Rebel embodied. I hope the university reconsiders and brings back our beloved symbol.
2. Sarah Thompson - 1 star - As an alumnus of Ole Miss, I am deeply saddened by the decision to change the Rebels mascot. The Landshark just doesn't resonate with me and many other fans. It feels forced and inauthentic. The tradition and pride that came with Colonel Rebel cannot be replicated by a random creature like the Landshark. I think it's a disservice to the rich history and legacy of this university. I hope the administration realizes the mistake they've made and restores the original Rebels mascot.
3. Paul Johnson - 2 stars - The new Ole Miss Rebels mascot change is a terrible decision in my opinion. Colonel Rebel represented tradition, honor, and respect, while the Landshark feels like a cheap attempt to modernize the image of the university. It's disappointing to see the administration giving in to outside pressure rather than standing firm in our traditions and values. The Landshark lacks the depth and cultural significance that Colonel Rebel brought to the university. I'm truly disappointed with this change and hope that it can be reversed in the future.
4. Jennifer Davis - 2 stars - I have been a loyal fan of the Ole Miss Rebels for many years, but I cannot support the recent mascot change. Colonel Rebel was a symbol of pride and unity for the university. The Landshark seems like a random choice that doesn't hold the same meaning or legacy. It feels like the administration is trying too hard to appeal to a younger audience, instead of valuing the traditions and history that make Ole Miss unique. I hope that the decision can be reconsidered and the beloved Colonel Rebel can be reinstated as the official mascot.
5. Michael Thompson - 1 star - The Ole Miss Rebels mascot change is a complete disappointment. Colonel Rebel was a symbol of honor and tradition that resonated with all fans. The new Landshark mascot lacks character and feels like a watered-down version of our beloved symbol. It seems like the university is trying to appease a small vocal minority rather than listening to the majority of fans who embraced and cherished Colonel Rebel. This decision shows a lack of understanding and disregard for history and tradition. I sincerely hope that the university reverses this change and restores the iconic Colonel Rebel as the official mascot.