This coming Tuesday, Feb. 23, students at Ole Miss will vote whether to choose a new mascot for the sidelines of athletic events.  Never mind that in 2003 almost 94 percent of students voted to keep Colonel Reb as the mascot, or that 88 percent of the Alumni Association also wanted to keep Colonel Reb.

Apparently, the Chancellor wants to have a new vote - with only his candidates running.

This election will be to choose a new mascot or remain having no on-the-field mascot, as has been the case since 2002.  Despite 25 percent of all merchandise sales at Ole Miss having Colonel Reb, the new Chancellor still insists he is either "old" or "out of date." 

Really?  Says who? 

I guess the Chancellor, a former doctor, really does want to be in charge of a "death panel" - but only for our beloved Colonel Reb.

But what matters to the students are matters of trust, honesty, and being forthright - and the Chancellor's Office has a horrible history with the students.

The University tried to force an election on students, alumni and fans in 2003 with two "student-led" choices to replace Colonel Reb - but one was found to be copyrighted by the University two years earlier and the other was submitted by a marketing firm hired by the Chancellor.  No trust there.

The Chancellor says that this will be a "student-led" process as well – but already rumors are that the Chancellor has hired a PR firm out of Hattiesburg to design a new mascot.  No honesty there.

Now the Chancellor promises that this is not an attack on the traditions of Ole Miss.  But already he has eliminated "From Dixie with Love," banned the Colonel Reb Foundation from bringing mascot Colonel Too to athletic events, and wants to charge alumni and students money to be in the Grove on football weekends.  No forthrightness there.

As a student at Ole Miss I invite my fellow students, alumni and fans to log on to www.SaveOleMiss.com  and follow what we are doing to preserve the Ole Miss that they fell in love with growing up in the 21st Century.  Mississippi is moving forward and Ole Miss is leading the way. 

We ask that those of older generations understand that young people today do not see the same things that you of years gone by do.  We see friends, family and a future with all of us being Rebels.

In the words of James Meredith, "If I am not a Rebel, who is?"

Hannah Loy

Senior, Natchez

Student Leader, Colonel Reb Foundation

www.saveolemiss.com