Letter to the Editor
Ole Miss students did a great thing last year by voting to update our university’s mascot. It took real courage to rebel against a longstanding, ill-conceived tradition. A tradition that was easily misunderstood and cast a dark shadow over our
beloved university.
This courage to stand up for what they believed, in the face of withering criticism, is what being a Rebel is all about. We should all aspire to that same spirit.
The committee formed to work the issue has done its best under the circumstances, but unfortunately most of the results are not acceptable. At fi rst glance, one may feel those overseeing the process deserve disesteem.
Of the 11 ideas the mascot committee presented, all but one would inspire derision if chosen. It is that one, however, that gives us our most inspired shot. Even though we have been handed something of an incomplete muddle, thankfully there is a diamond for Ole Miss to fi nd in the rough. The question is: will voters choose it? For the sake of Ole Miss, I hope so. I write this letter to campaign for this lone choice.
First, consider the 11 imprudent mascot ideas for a moment. The idea of using “Rebel Mojo,” a term derived from the folk belief of hoodoo, comes from semi-religious witchcraft. There are two sets of Muppets listed, “Hotty and Toddy” as well as the “Rebel Fanatic.” Characters like this do not inspire much tradition. Prometheus the Titan was chained to a rock and had his liver eaten out by an eagle. Though one can see the Auburn fans drooling to mock this one, it is even more distasteful considering the fact that “Titan” is a rank within the KKK.
How about the black bear? Faulkner had Old Ben killed by a hunter’s abused dog in order to symbolize nature’s impending doom at the hands of industrial society. A cardinal? It is not even the Mississippi state bird, as that honor goes to the mockingbird.
The garb of a riverboat pilot would easily just be Colonel Reb with a smaller hat and no cane, continuing to stoke the fires of division.
“Rebel-lion?” Lions have no attachment to Mississippi and are one of the most popular mascots in the country, therefore not unique like our Ole Miss deserves. How about the land shark? I know banana slugs, anteaters, and boll weevils are already taken, but we should avoid infringing on the copyright of a beer company and Saturday Night Live.
The capstone of this ill-conceived list is the idea of having a “Rebel Blues Musician” roaming the sidelines. Very simply, it is a terrible idea to base a mascot on a form of music that was born from the pain of racial oppression. It may be considered near a minstrel show to have, “a larger-than-life costumed personality,” dancing around and performing a historically African-American music style on the sidelines. For a place trying to make distance form the horrors of slavery, racism and segregation, this would be a step backwards.
In the end, these 11 options do not inspire much for us, have no solid connection to our Ole Miss, and would only be mocked or defame our school. These options need to go the way of Rebel Bruiser and Rowdy Rebel. Thankfully, however, there is hope hiding among the options available: the Ole Miss’ diamond in the rough.
The one idea standing as a strand of hope for all who care for Ole Miss is that of a stallion, furtively listed as “Rebel the Horse” on the voting page. A wild and rebellious creature by nature, a stallion is a traditional symbol of strength and free spirit. This option is the only one presented with any concrete attachment to our Ole Miss. As the committee writes, “When the University of Mississippi was formed in 1848… Mischievous Ole Miss students frustrated early faculty by riding horses through the Lyceum.” None of the 11 remaining options have such a traditional and rebellious link to our Ole Miss or would represent our university’s contemporary spirit like that of a stallion. A stallion would magnificently inspire tradition, strength and the free rebel spirit that is Ole Miss.
It is time to take up the reigns and ride a stallion through the Lyceum once again, this time to show the world we have the courage to stand up and rebel against the tyranny of assimilated thought and outside influence.
This does not conform; it inspires. This does not destroy tradition, but goes further in to our roots. Ole Miss, seize the opportunity now: vote for this mascot above all the others. This will be a great mascot; one we can all be proud of together, forever. This is our diamond, Ole Miss.
Hotty Toddy!
P. Elliott Porter, Jr.
Ole Miss, ‘00
