The Ole Miss Student Union: A Hub of Campus Life, History, and Services

The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union stands as the heart of student activity at the University of Mississippi. Its mission is to bolster the university's educational goals by enriching the collegiate experience. It aims to provide a welcoming environment complete with high-quality programs, facilities, and services.

Historical Overview

The original Student Union on the Ole Miss campus, known as the Weir Memorial Building, first opened its doors in 1939. It was designed in the Greek Revival style and funded by a significant bequest from Rush C. Weir. The Weir Memorial Building housed the Student Union and the University Post Office. In 1954, a new wing was added, followed by the construction of the Grill in 1965.

By 1953, Chancellor J.D. Williams recognized that the Student Union in Weir Memorial Building had become inadequate due to enrollment growth, which had risen from 1,482 students in the fall of 1939 to 2,544 students in the fall of 1953. Consequently, he appointed George Street as chairman of a committee to assess the union's shortcomings.

In 1976, a new Ole Miss Student Union was completed, featuring conference rooms, offices for student government and other student organizations, a food court, ATM machines, the Mississippi Federal Credit Union, lounge areas, and a multipurpose room. The administrative offices for the Student Union, UMatter, Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Ole Miss Bookstore, and UM Box Office are also located within the building. Following a 2002 renovation, the Weir Memorial Building now houses the Department of Computer and Information Science and student computer labs.

A significant expansion and renovation project began in the summer of 2015. This 173,000-square-foot project doubled the size of the existing facility, providing larger lobbies and dining spaces, as well as enhanced and increased conference meeting spaces. The completed project has solidified the building's role as the hub for student organizations and leadership development. The expansion project also included an 8,000-square-foot ballroom and a transit hub.

Services and Facilities

The Student Union offers a variety of spaces suitable for studying, socializing, or hosting events. It serves as a central location for campus life and community engagement.

The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union supports various campus partners located within the building, including:

Associated Student Body
Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement
Fraternity & Sorority Life
Ole Miss Dining Services
Ole Miss Bookstore
UMatter
University Police Department
Various student organizations

Student Leadership and Engagement

The Student Leadership and Engagement Ambassador Program at the University of Mississippi comprises 10-12 elite student leaders who bridge the gap between student organizations, student organization leaders, and staff. L&E Ambassadors aim to enhance the student engagement and leadership experience by providing innovative workshops and assistance for student organization event planning and by serving as a channel to better voice the concerns of student leaders.

Key Functions of L&E Ambassadors:

Event Planners: Ambassadors assist student organization leaders in planning their events and submitting necessary forms.
Peer Involvement Educators: Ambassadors help fellow students identify opportunities to get involved on campus and in the LOU Community through involvement consultations.
Support for Special Events: Ambassadors assist the office with special events and projects, including leadership initiatives, Clifton StrengthsFinder workshops, speaking opportunities, and involvement fairs.
Leadership Training: Ambassadors participate in monthly leadership training and development meetings within the Student Union Team.

The Student Union Team

The staff at the Ole Miss Student Union are dedicated to enhancing campus life by providing support, organizing events, and fostering a vibrant community for all students.

Bradley Baker serves as the Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students.
Carole Webb is the Assistant Director of Event Management and Services.

Student Employment Opportunities

The Ole Miss Student Union offers opportunities for students to gain valuable life skills and leadership and career development while working in a fast-paced environment. As members of the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union (GCFOMSU) team, graduate assistants in Ole Miss Student Union Facilities, Student Government, Student Engagement & Programming, Leadership Programming, and Dance Marathon & Service Programs provide direction for student learning and academic success while assisting with the coordination of the advisory, supervisory, programmatic, operational, and administrative facets of the GCFOMSU.

Read also: Guide to UC Davis Student Housing

Shift hours may vary depending on the time of year (approximately 10-20 hours per week). Shifts are usually 3-4 hours in length. The same weekly schedule is used for the entire academic semester, resetting for a new semester and/or holiday breaks.

Employment Requirements

Must be enrolled as an active student at Ole Miss during the period of employment.
Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Experience in an office setting, in a service industry, or with manual labor is beneficial.
Excellent customer service and communication skills are required.
Must be reliable, friendly, responsible, and willing to work well in a team setting.
Compensation depends on experience, with increases scheduled annually based on budget and employee job performance.

Religious Organizations at Ole Miss

The University of Mississippi is home to a diverse range of religious organizations that cater to the spiritual needs of students from various backgrounds. These organizations offer fellowship, worship opportunities, and support for students to grow in their faith. A brief overview of some of these organizations:

Baptist Student Union (BSU): Active since 1924, the BSU provides a space for Baptist students to connect, grow in their faith, and participate in missions and ministry. The BSU saw growth with the construction of a 10,000-square-foot building on Fifth Street and the hiring of a full-time associate director in 1989.
Campus Crusade: An interdenominational ministry focused on winning students to Christ, building them up in their faith, and sending them out to reach others. It aims to equip students to be effective in their local churches.
Campus Outreach: Existing at Ole Miss since 2021, Campus Outreach focuses on evangelism and discipleship, working alongside the local church to serve the college campus.
Catholic Students Organization: The organization of Catholic students at Ole Miss began with the need to come together to worship. Until St. John’s Catholic Church was built in Oxford in 1942, the closest Catholic church was 20 miles away in Water Valley. In 1940, Mass was being offered at the Y Building and in the upper rooms of the Student Union.
Chi Alpha: The international campus ministry of the Assemblies of God, Chi Alpha’s mission is to be a catalyst for campus evangelism and revival on college campuses.
Chinese Christian Fellowship: This fellowship is for Chinese students, scholars, and their families to fellowship, learn about God, and encourage spiritual growth.
Common Ground Association: Founded on the idea that Christians have Jesus and the Bible in common, this association is dedicated to highlighting areas of agreement among denominations and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Covenant Fellowship: A Christ-centered, student-led outreach of the Covenant Church of North Mississippi, providing Christian fellowship and support to students for over 15 years.
Episcopal Church at Ole Miss: A campus ministry program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, offering worship, dinner, service, and fellowship opportunities.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): FCA’s mission is to “present to athletes and coaches, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in fellowship with the church.”
Latter-Day Saint Student Association (LDSSA): For students who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDSSA provides opportunities for service, spiritual development, and social activities.
The Navigators: An international, nondenominational organization that helps fulfill Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
Orthodox Christian Fellowship: Provides opportunities for worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship for Orthodox Christian students at Ole Miss.
Peace Lutheran Church and Lutheran Student Fellowship: A Bible-based church and organization dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pentecostal Youth Fellowship: Sponsored by First Pentecostal Church of Oxford and associated with the United Pentecostal Church International, providing teaching, Bible study, fellowship, and support for Pentecostal young people.
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF): The official campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America, reaching students for Christ and equipping them to serve him in his Church and in their vocations in the Kingdom of God.
Student Mobilization: An interdenominational ministry raising up laborers for Jesus Christ through sharing his Gospel, establishing students in their faith, and equipping them to do the same with their peers.
University of Mississippi Jewish Community: Provides Jewish religious, cultural, and social experiences for the university and Oxford communities.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation: Fosters spiritual growth through free thought and respect for personal beliefs, seeking wisdom from many religious traditions and encouraging service to people and the planet.
University Christians: A campus ministry affiliated with the Church of Christ, active on the University campus for 40 years.
Wesley Campus Ministry: A ministry of the United Methodist Church for all students at Ole Miss, offering small-group discussions, retreats, mission trips, and leadership opportunities.
Westminster Fellowship: A ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, ministering to Ole Miss faculty, staff, and students.

The University of Mississippi: A Brief Overview

The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public research university established on February 24, 1844. It admitted its first 80 students in 1848. The university is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity."

Historical Highlights:

During the Civil War, the university served as a Confederate hospital.
In 1962, James Meredith's enrollment led to a race riot on campus.
In 1972, Ole Miss purchased Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home.

Campus and Architecture:

The University of Mississippi's Oxford campus is partially located in Oxford and partially in University, Mississippi. The main campus has expanded to around 1,200 acres. At the campus' center is "The Circle," which consists of eight academic buildings organized around an ovaloid common. The Lyceum, built in 1848, is the oldest building on campus.

Academics and Research:

The University of Mississippi is one of 33 institutions participating in the National Sea Grant Program and also participates in the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. Its research efforts include the National Center for Physics Acoustics, the National Center for Natural Products Research, and the Mississippi Center for Supercomputing Research. The university also operates the country's only federally contracted Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cannabis facility and interdisciplinary institutes such as the Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Read also: Investigating the Death at Purdue

Student Life:

A common greeting on campus is "Hotty Toddy!". On football game days, The Grove hosts an elaborate tailgating tradition. The Associated Student Body (ASB) is the university's student government organization.

Challenges and Progress

The University of Mississippi has faced challenges related to racial equity. In 1970, the Black Student Union presented 27 demands for racial equity to the chancellor. These demands included hiring Black professors, recruiting Black athletes, and disassociating the university with Confederate symbols.

Despite these challenges, the university has made progress in recent years. It has worked to distance itself from symbols of the Old South, banning the Confederate battle flag from sporting events. It's installing historical markers that more fully reflect what happened, and there are even campus slavery tours now that delve deeply into the history here.

However, Ole Miss still struggles to attract and retain Black professors and students in a way that reflects Mississippi. The state's population is nearly 40% African-American, the highest percentage in the country. Yet Black students make up only 11.4% of the University of Mississippi student body. And the percentage of Black faculty is even smaller - 6.5%.

tags: #Ole #Miss #Student #Union #history #and