OXFORD, Miss. — When most University of Mississippi
faculty and staff are heading home each workday to spend
the evening with family, another group of employees arrives
for a night shift of cleaning, straightening, repairing and
preparing the campus for another day.
As a way for other UM employees to thank these service
workers, the 10th annual “Books and Bears” event is under
way.
“Our custodians, groundskeepers and other Physical Plant
staff members take pride in the university, and that is
reflected through their dedicated work,” said Jan Murray,
associate dean of liberal arts and an organizer of the
event.
Other UM staff and faculty are asked to donate new teddy
bears, children’s books and toys for the employees’
children. Donated items for this year’s drive are to be
distributed after a 10 a.m. reception for the honored
workers Friday, Dec. 14, in the Student Union Ballroom.
Donations to the drive can be dropped off by Thursday, Dec.
13, at several campus locations: Graduate School in the old
Public Relations Building, provost’s office in the Lyceum,
first floor in Ventress Hall, mathematics department in
Hume Hall, UM Box Office in the Student Union, room 350 of
Martindale Hall and the second floor of Vardaman Hall.
“Our service workers provide the fuel which powers the UM
engine,” said Donald Cole, associate provost and assistant
to the chancellor for multicultural affairs. “Because of
their dedicated service to the university, we are able to
maintain our margin of excellence. As members of the UM
family, they reflect the core values of diligent work,
optimism and family dedication inherent in our
institution.”
For more information, contact Jan Murray at 662-915-1815
or jmurray@olemiss.edu or Don Cole at 662-915-1712 or
dcole@olemiss.edu.