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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOle Miss Frat Suspended, Noose Suspects Kicked Out
Ole Miss Frat Suspended, Noose Suspects Kicked Out
ASSOCIATED PRESS February 22, 2014, 11:11 AM EST2549
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) A fraternity chapter at the University of Mississippi was indefinitely suspended Friday by its national organization and three of its freshman members were kicked out because of their suspected involvement in hanging a noose on a statue of James Meredith, the first black student to enroll in the then all-white college.
In a statement, Sigma Phi Epsilon said it suspended the Alpha Chapter at the university and the chapter voted to expel all three men and turn over their identities to investigators.
Police on Sunday found a noose tied around the neck of the statue, along with an old Georgia flag with a Confederate battle emblem in its design, which has since been updated to exclude the emblem.
When Meredith tried to enter Ole Miss in fall 1962, Mississippi's governor tried to stop him. That led to violence on the Oxford campus.
U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent 500 U.S. marshals to take control and days later, Meredith was allowed in the school. Though he faced harassment, he graduated with a degree in political science.
The FBI said Friday it planned to expand the vandalism investigation for potential violations of federal law.
more...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ole_miss_frat_suspended_noose_statue
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)become the next Michael Dunn.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)The fraternities and sororities at Ole Miss rule that school, and most of those people are a bunch of snotty over-privileged white southern families. A lot of them aren't even from Miss.; they come to Ole Miss because they aren't very smart and they can't get into the more prestigious schools. They have a reputation for being very conservative politically, although their personal lives are rather hedonistic. For a town its size, Oxford has a lot of bars, and they all are full on any given night. I wouldn't doubt if the boys who did this shit were drunk off their asses.
Ole Miss has done a lot over the past 20-30 years to try to change its reputation regarding racism; at least one liberal chancellor made a lot of changes. They really need to make an example of the boys that did this, and the students at that school need to learn some fucking manners. If traditions in this state aren't changed, it's always going to be a shithole and there's never going to be any opportunity for people who want to stay here and live after they grow up. It could be a nice place if people would just change their damn minds.
Cofitachequi
(112 posts)"they come to Ole Miss because they aren't very smart and they can't get into the more prestigious schools."
It is rare that I read as narrow minded, prejudiced and arrogant a comment on DU.
I have a graduate degree from Ole Miss and found my program to employ some of the top practicioners in my field. My Ole Miss education launched me into a 30 year career.
Ole Miss has a history of problems, for sure, they have had ups and downs, but many are working for change. The going is slow and there is resistence from some circles, but to disparage an entire University, student body and faculty over your own prejudice is ridiculous. It is also harful to the progressives who attend Ole Miss with an interest in education as well as social change in a very conservative and sometimes, resistant environment.
James Meredith graduated from Ole Miss and then took his talents to work as assistant to Right Wing NC Senator Jesse Helms. Notable graduates include Author John Grisham, Sen. Jeanne Sheheen (D-NH), and the community gave us William Faulkner whose family home is located in Oxford.
Your comment is harmful, unimformed and bigotted.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)I lived there, went to school there, worked there and supported myself and I knew the locals as well as the students. That is my experience and I'm sorry that you don't like it, but it's the truth as far as I'm concerned.
Cofitachequi
(112 posts)Sorry you couldn't get into a more prestigious school.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)Besides, I was only 17 when I graduated high school and my parents wouldn't let me go off to New England. You know nothing about me or my life, so you need to stop this shit right now, noob.
Cofitachequi
(112 posts)The fact that a student of your caliber would lower yourself to grace such a mongrel institution says quite a lot of your compassion. I'm certain that the rest of us benefit from your benevolence and the worth of our otherwise substandard degrees is much improved by your attendance.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)Go hang out in Yahoo discussion groups or something. I'm not going to engage in slinging personal insults with you. You can take that shit elsewhere. One more peep out of you, and you're going on my ignore list, which is empty right now. I don't have the time or the inclination to engage in that kind of talk.
Cofitachequi
(112 posts)Perhaps you can point out what I said that was insulting, and how such comments stack up against:
" most of those people are a bunch of snotty over-privileged white southern families. A lot of them aren't even from Miss.; they come to Ole Miss because they aren't very smart and they can't get into the more prestigious schools."
My inquiry is sincere.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)That comment was talking about the people in the fraternities and sororities, not the whole student body. That's just how most of them impressed me when I had any dealings with them. Sure, there were some individuals in those organizations who weren't too bad, but I found that they were unfortunately few and far between. I didn't make my comments in order to disparage the school, I was giving my honest impressions. That's what I do at DU. I try to be as tactful as I can be to the people I meet here, but I give my honest opinions and I don't usually mince words. I'm sure it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but that's just me.
Cofitachequi
(112 posts)...in 1990, 1991 (I graduated in Dec 1990), I stirred up a poop storm in the school paper with a series of anti-Greek letters to the editor. I share your disdain for the fraternity/sorrority system and am familiar with its negative effects on the social life of a campus. Ill effects that seemingly can perculate into the reputation of the institution.
My concern with your comments were made on behalf of the many progressives I know on conservative campuses (or should it be campii?). You know the environment in Oxford and at Ole Miss, so I would hate for the many liberals who are fighting the good fight to be painted with a broad brush. I think we should go out of our way to support those who take up the task of trying to make change in these environments.
Again, I apologize for anything that I said to offend you, and as I suspected, we are certainly on the same side and closer in purpose than our exchange might suggest.
A sincere comment from a brother in the struggle.
mythology
(9,527 posts)You insulted a lot of people including the other poster. And yet you have the arrogance to expect and apology. That's quite the lack of self-reflection.
And to make such a bowel liquifying threat that if you hear another peep, you'll put somebody on ignore.
Feel free to put me on ignore now, because if this is the way you act, you'll hear a peep from me again. You aren't nearly as superior as you seem to want others to believe you are.
LuvNewcastle
(16,864 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)a hostile environment for their students is not a harmless expression of free speech.
Unlike some other places.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Wheee
Some accountability.
Cha
(297,935 posts)mahalo babylonsister~
longship
(40,416 posts)Response to babylonsister (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Sarah Ibarruri
(21,043 posts)Bastions of racism, Jim Crow, Sundown towns, and all that oh-so-lovely stuff.