Ole South Tradition

Wil Thompson

Journalism 102

Professor Russell

4/24/11

Ole South Tradition

After seven long years of passionate debates, the University of Mississippi has officially changed the school mascot from the infamous Colonel Reb to the misunderstood Black Bear.

The University announced that the Black Bear won a school wide election that students participated in. The change of the mascot was prompted because the University felt that “Colonel Reb," the confederate-identified caricature of Southern glory (Dixie) that had cheered on the school's sports teams since 1979, portrayed a negative picture of past southern history. Colonel Reb was removed from the University of Mississippi in 2003 due to the amount of controversy that he brought to old south nostalgia. With the school in need of a new dynamic mascot the Rebel Black Bear brings hope and promise to the administration, although not all people are ready for the 2011 fall sport season mascot release.

With sixty-two percent of University support the Rebel Black Bear will prevail and all Ole Miss athletic programs will still bare the nickname Rebels. The Black Bear was a chosen candidate because of Oxford native William Faulkner’s work entitled “The Bear.” Unfortunately, many students at the University of Mississippi were unclear of the mascot’s connection to the school during the election and did not participate in the voting. Other candidates in the running were The Land Shark and Hotty Toddy.

Southern tradition is strong at Ole Miss and students’ feelings and thoughts on the change of the beloved Colonel Reb can vary strongly. Many students believe that Colonel Reb should have stayed; these students have the belief that Colonel Reb has been a tradition and does not represent the old south. Others remain with the University’s choice and decision to prohibit the figurehead all together and prefer that Colonel Reb be put to rest with all that his character represented. So much so that the production of anything Colonel Reb has stopped and the University of Mississippi will construct no clothing or memorabilia again.

After a interviewing numerous University of Mississippi students, I perceived a constant trend in answers with white males on campus. Charles Voegeli, a white male student, when asked what was his opinion on the change of the inactive Colonel Reb to the replacement Black Bear replied, “Well I think it is kind of ridiculous, I know that certain groups of people see that it represents a frowned image of a person from olden times upon but I think it should be kept because it is tradition and the mascot of Ole Miss for such a long time .” All of those who responded to my questions where in agreement that they did not want Ole Misses’ Colonel Reb to be looked at as a link to racism.

In a question and answer session with African American student J.P. Marshall he told me “ It depends on how Colonel Reb is being used and what he is representing, for instance if the mascot is being used to cheer for the schools athletic program then that is legitimate, but if he is being used as a instrument to instill persecution and racism then I feel its wrong, if we could some how reconstruct his history so that he stands for the school and not a offensive past time I believe everyone would be happy.”

With the new mascot finally selected the buzz and fuss around Oxford has halted to a degree. Sure enough the true Reb followers have organized and created websites, foundations and support groups such as save “The Colonel Reb Foundation”. With division in beliefs, history, and tradition I don’t see the conflict coming to an end anytime soon. Resistance to change is one of the most popular human defensive mechanisms. People bind themselves to one another based on tradition, especially here at Ole Miss. Many feel it is wrong to turn their back on what they have been taught, experienced since a young age, and grew up sharing for generations.

With the School year coming to the final leg, the community of Oxford, the University of Mississippi and all Ole Miss fans are eager to see how the mascot drama will unfold this fall. Will the Black Bear be accepted to its new habitat? Or will the southern tradition of the great state of Mississippi pressure for the Black Bear’s extinction? The future holds the answers to many questions of loyal Rebels. I however believe with such a rich historic southern past, the legend of Colonel Reb will always remain, even if only in the hearts of Rebel fans.