Yesterday students at Ole Miss voted to have a new mascot for the on the field athletic programs.  But that is not the shocking part. 

The shocking part is how the Associated Student Body Government and the Student Media Center joined together to lie, distort, manipulate and cajole students into believing that the vote was not about a new mascot - but rather if the process for a new mascot would be student-led or not.

 Do we believe that ANY process would be student led or not?  No.  We know they have already hired a marketing firm out of Hattiesburg to lead this process.  This is strikingly similar as to what happened in 2003.

But the ASB repeatedly told every student on campus in both public and private that the Chancellor was going to change the mascot no matter what, and that all that mattered is if you wanted students to be a part of the process or not.

 Only one problem.  He did not say that.  He NEVER said that.  And he repeatedly told everyone that ever listened that he said it was either a new mascot or the status quo.  He repeated that again to all of the national media yesterday.

 But go check out the campus newspaper and see if that is what they reported to the students.  Their blatant lies printed by the DM on Monday showed the opposite thing.  And what really should shock everyone is that the Student Media Center had on video the Chancellor saying it was either a new mascot or status quo.

But the DM did not care about telling the truth.  All they cared about was their agenda to get a new mascot at Ole Miss.

We will continue to update you on the process as it goes forward.  We have always said the students’ voice matters, and we still believe that. But they have yet to choose a new mascot that everyone can rally around.

Remember the "young" Colonel Reb they had in the late 90's?  Booed off the field.

Remember their two choices in 2003?  Never made it to the field after public outcry.

And even this year the students booed Hotty Toddy Man off of the field.

We shall see what the administration comes up with this year.  And we will continue to demand that whatever mascot they come up with will still have to beat Colonel Reb in the vote of the public's hearts and minds before he can ever make it onto the field.

Sincerely

Hannah Loy

Colonel Reb Foundation Student Leader

Colonel Reb Foundation, CRF, P.O. Box 2561, Oxford, MS 38655

www.saveolemiss.com