University of Mississippi

Courting a Racist Donor Led to a Dean's Downfall in Mississippi

Leaked emails revealed a dean's willingness to ignore a potential donor's bigotry, and have led to recrimination instead of debate about the journalism school's direction. 

Faculty, We Have Met the Enemy, and it is Us

by Henry Reichman

The outgoing chair of the AAUP's Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure argues that events at the University of Mississippi are a warning that shared governance won't protect faculty unless they exercise it diligently. 

Emails Show U of Mississippi Officials Concerned that Fired Historian Criticized Private Prison Ties, Upset Donors

"Felber drew a line between the university’s history of slavery, its hand in the creation of the slave plantation-like Parchman Prison and one celebrated instructor’s financial ties to a private-prison corporation."

This Professor Protested a School’s Racism. Then He Lost His Job

"The sudden termination of Felber sends a very strong and disturbing message. Felber was doing antiracist work and initiated programs that benefited the marginalized and disenfranchised."

Ole Miss Doubles Down on Professor's Termination

The University of Mississippi remained insistent that it was correct and justified in terminating the employment of history professor Garrett Felber. 

University of Mississippi Professors Research Legacy of Slavery at State’s Flagship University

A multidisciplinary task force of scholars at the University of Mississippi is working to tell the stories of people enslaved at the university and examine the role of slavery in building the institution. 

AHA Issues Letter Expressing Concern Regarding Termination of History Professor (December 2020)

The AHA sent a letter to the chancellor and provost of the University of Mississippi expressing concern about the university’s decision not to renew the contract of Garrett Felber, assistant professor of history, and the possibility that Professor Felber’s activism relating to racism and incarceration might have affected a decision on his employment status.

His University Celebrated His Success. Then It Fired Him

Historian Walter Johnson says the Garrett Felber controvery at the University of Mississippi reflects the fact that “there are a lot of energetic, critical activists, students and faculty on that campus, who are trying to hold the university to a different standard than that which it’s been held to before.” 

Outspoken Out of a Job?

Scholars pledge not to speak at University of Mississippi until it reinstates a colleague who publicly questioned why his chair rejected a grant, allegedly for political reasons.

‘Our Last Refuge’: UM Faculty ‘Terrified’ As Officials Target Ombuds In Bid To Unmask Whistleblowers

After administrative decisions at the University of Mississippi were reported to be influenced by the preferences of donors, the administration has sought confidential records from the University Ombuds. Faculty fear retaliation. 

At Ole Miss, the name Ole Miss is now a problem

To most University of Mississippi students and alumni, calling the institution "Ole Miss" is just natural. But not everyone likes the name.

1,000 Bodies Found On University Of Mississippi Land Thought To Be From Old 'Lunatic Asylum'

The unnamed, century-old graves present a problem for the university, whose expansion plans could be halted over the cost of relocating the bodies.

Letters from Civil War donated to Ole Miss

Richard Bridges seemed like a typical college kid in his letters home: He tells his family he may need more money and definitely more clothes, talks about hanging out with old friends from home and sounds a little homesick at times.Through his letters, this one-time University of Mississippi student has returned to the Oxford campus 150 years later.Mike Martin of Madison, his sister Pat Owen of Rankin County and two of their cousins in Memphis — Bridges’ great-great nephews and nieces — recently donated to the university the 27 letters that Bridges wrote when he served in the University Greys, the unit organized by students to fight in the Civil War....