Ole Miss Freshmen Celebrate University’s 167th Birthday

Video: Dr. Ed. Meek

Eighteen Ole Miss students from Freshman Year Experience (EDHE 105), met in front of the Lyceum today to celebrate the 167th birthday of the University of Mississippi.

On November 6, 1848, the first freshman class stood on the steps of the Lyceum to be welcomed by the president and professors. The class was made up of 80 male students. Seventy-nine students were from Mississippi and one student was from Memphis, Tennessee. Today, the class of 2019 stood on the same steps of the Lyceum to sing “Happy Birthday” to the university and to sing the alma mater.

Students were honored to stand on the exact same steps that the first class of Ole Miss stood on this day 167 years ago today to commemorate the university’s opening in 1848.

Photo: Emily Newton

“It means a lot. I’m proud to be here and I love this school,” Hayden Hitchens, a freshman business major said. “I came here because of family, and I fell in love with the culture and family atmosphere.”

“It’s the most loved university in America,” Patrick Riedy, another freshman business major said. “It’s historically one of the most wrote about universities.”

Of course, a celebration at Ole Miss would not be complete without cheering the “Hotty Toddy” chant at the end.

Hotty Toddy and happy birthday, Ole Miss!

 Emily Newton is a staff reporter for Hottytoddy.com and editor for Experience Oxford Magazine. She is a recent graduate of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. Emily can be reached at emily.newton@hottytoddy.com.