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Letter from Chancellor: Implementation of Plaque on Confederate Monument
Dr. Jeffrey Vitter with his wife, Sharon
Greetings,
I am writing to provide you with information on the university’s continued implementation of strategies to recognize our history in a balanced and contextual manner.
To that end, the university has begun work at the Confederate statue in the Lyceum Circle to contextualize the history surrounding the memorial. A concrete pad has been laid at the site in preparation for placement of a plaque, which is expected to be in place by month’s end.
The Confederate Monument is prepared for the new plaque.
Language on the plaque will read as follows:
As Confederate veterans were passing from the scene in increasing numbers, memorial associations built monuments in their memory all across the South. This statue was dedicated by citizens of Oxford and Lafayette County in 1906. On the evening of September 30, 1962, the statue was a rallying point where a rebellious mob gathered to prevent the admission of the University’s first African American student. It was also at this statue that a local minister implored the mob to disperse and allow James Meredith to exercise his rights as an American citizen. On the morning after that long night, Meredith was admitted to the University and graduated in August 1963.
This historic structure is a reminder of the University’s past and of its current and ongoing commitment to open its hallowed halls to all who seek truth and knowledge and wisdom.
The placement of this plaque puts the statue into proper context and affirms, as in our UM Creed, our respect for the dignity of each person.
I would like to thank the committee members, Drs. Donald Cole, Andy Mullins, Charles Ross, and David Sansing, who were appointed by Dr. Morris Stocks to draft the language of this plaque. They have done an outstanding job of balancing history and perspective, and we owe them our thanks for their thoughtful work.
Further details appear in a press release that will be issued soon from the university.
As always, I appreciate your support of the university and look forward to our continued conversations.
Have a good spring break week,
Jeffrey S. Vitter,
Chancellor
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Barry
March 11, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Nothing is written here to discredit the men of the 11th and no “political correctness”. The Plaque is simply an attempt to explain its connection to the university in honest language. All the ridiculous calls to contact the chancellor and harass university officials are for naught.
Barry
March 11, 2016 at 3:04 pm
This plaque merely attempts to explain the monument’s connection to the University in clear terms that can be understood by those unfamiliar with the university.
It’s just that simple!
Relax
Rita Dailey
March 11, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Thanks for the information, what a great way to put the statue in the proper prospective. I am proud to be an” Ole Miss Rebel” our new Chancellor Rocks!!
Barry
March 11, 2016 at 3:34 pm
All those ridiculous comments posted on the previous article, “Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque” dated March 10, were instigated by the Our State Flag Foundation on Facebook and other social media. Naturally, heritage groups and individuals from outside the state took to commenting on a subject they know nothing about and with information based on nothing more than an overly emotional appeal to “political correctness” and “attacks on out heritage”.
I sincerely hope people actually take time to read the words to be placed on the plaque and attempt to gather facts before sending harassing emails to university officials.
Mississippi mudws
March 11, 2016 at 4:05 pm
The text of the plaque is accurate and balanced. I only regret that there’s no explanation of the Greek text incised on the north side of the column. It’s an epitaph by the poet Simonides commemorating the 300 Spartans who died at Thermopylae, and thus, by extension, the University Greys:
“Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.”
This is a telling feature, revealing the Lost Cause ideology of those who created the monument.
Rebel mama
March 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Balanced wording, with a recognition of past sacrifices by all and an indication of continued forward movement and growth. Well done.
Reb Fan
March 11, 2016 at 4:45 pm
What does the War Between the States have to do with James Meredith. They have pulled down the state’s flag, changed the name of Confederate Drive! Don’t tell me it’s not Political Correctness!
Anonymous
March 11, 2016 at 5:09 pm
I was hoping Vitter would be an improvement over our recent P C dynamic duo, Jones and Stocks.
Sadly, he is just another hand wringing apologist.
Ric
March 11, 2016 at 5:21 pm
It could be better. The plaque says that the monument was to their memory. It could have included “their cause”.
It also uses the negative term “mob” twice. If the word “protestors” had been used it would not sound so judgmental.
I am not opposed to a contextual plaque per se, it’s just that is poorly composed.
Annie
March 11, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Yeah, Ric, the *real* shame here is that it uses a “negative term” to describe the actions of a bunch of racists who wound up killing two people to protect white supremacy. It’s a terrible thing to judge those people or the things they fought for.
Ric
March 11, 2016 at 5:52 pm
As a university committed to diversity, describing those with alternative views as a “mob” does not seem consistent with that value. I don’t think name calling resolves anything.
Clearly you feel the best way to present your views is through name calling. How sad for you, how sad for us all.
Annie
March 11, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Racists are those who, by definition, believe in some kind of racial superiority. The mob that rioted in the fall of 1962 was, in fact, racist. It sought to prevent black access to a historically white institution because of a commitment to white supremacy. This is not a “view,” this is fact.
Ric
March 11, 2016 at 7:08 pm
The wording of the plaque does not include “racists”. Per the plaque, the group was rebellious. So, by definition, is a group of rebellious people a “mob”. It seems the university, and you, believes that is the case.
So our original Founding Fathers were clearly a rebellious mob.
Annie
March 11, 2016 at 9:16 pm
If you would, Ric, answer just this one question as clearly as you can: what was the “cause” that the “protesters” were defending in 1962?
Mary
March 11, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Many cities are trying to erase Southern history. This wording acknowledges sacrifices and injustices and the ability to move on and admire a beautiful work of art.
Barry
March 12, 2016 at 8:55 am
The ASB and faculty senate voted to no longer fly it on campus and the university police lowered it early one morning in a dignified and respectful manner as to avoid creating a spectacle, so please stop with the political correctness nonsense.
The wording on the plaque is balanced and explains why it is there and its connection to the university. The first part explains why it was put up in 1906, and the second part weaves the monument into the fabric of the university beyond the Civil War by siting the enrollment James Meredith.
By the way, the cemetery is still there complete with a historical marker just as the monument on the circle is still there. Perhaps you prefer a bulldozer?
Stop whining.
Ex Rebel
March 12, 2016 at 9:36 pm
I also had hoped that Vitter would be different from Jones; however, he is just another liberal apologist! Sad that our traditions have been destroyed and insulted by these PC administrators! We deserve better, the honor of the Confederate soldier deserved better!
Reb
March 14, 2016 at 9:53 am
Mississippi Law prohibits the removal or alteration of any memorial or statues dedicated to veterans of War. The same law also prohibits the renaming of streets dedicated to Civil War Veterans. The renaming of Confederate Drive violates this law.
Barry
March 14, 2016 at 12:44 pm
If you are an “Ex Rebel” as you say, please be one and go away! Those of us who love this university are moving forward.
Ex Rebel
March 14, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Moving forward with what, PC and Radicalism, betraying the State that the Confederate Soldiers defended with his very life!
Annie
March 15, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Those Confederate soldiers were defending a Mississippi that no longer exists–one whose very existence was inextricably intertwined with slavery. Join us in the 21st century and leave the Confederacy where it belongs: with all the other garbage projects of the past.
Sans Souci
June 12, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Instead of “contextualizing” the past, let’s contextualize the present.
The admin. sent this notice out right during Spring Break because they know how unpopular it is. They railroaded everyone, just like with the flag which was NOT student led.
These are several elites making decisions because they are afraid to not make those decisions. They “contextualize” out of fear of not contextualizing.
If you want courageous people, stay away from the Ole Miss admin. They’re led by a hand wringing goofball. Vitter is totally incompetent.