OXFORD, Miss – Honors students from the state’s Historically Black
Colleges and Universities and from the University of Mississippi come
together Thursday (Sept. 25) to discuss what’s important to the average
citizen when it comes to politics.
The free, public event, “What Matters to You?” is being hosted by UM’s
Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and HBCU’s honors programs. It
begins at 4 p.m. in the UM Student Union Lobby. Panelists include
students from UM, Alcorn State University, Jackson State University,
Mississippi Valley State University and Tougaloo College.
The panel is scheduled the day before the first 2008 presidential debate is hosted in UM’s Ford Center.
“The idea of making the moment (of the presidential debate) productive has been the guiding principle,” said Debra Young, associate dean of the Barksdale Honors College. “I think the panel is a neat contribution to the ongoing discussion, a sense of real people saying for themselves what’s important rather than responding to a poll which can package, however intentionally or unintentionally, what you learn.
“In some ways, the panel’s purpose is to have a different kind of voice heard on campus, but it’s also a means by which we can bring those HBCU honors students here, so they’re a part of this historic moment too. The debate was too rich a gift to keep for ourselves.”
Moderator for the discussion is Charles Ross, director of UM’s African-American Studies program and associate professor of history. Audience members will be invited to participate in the discussion and ask questions.
“This is a debate-related event because we were very concerned about how people across campus were feeling about this debate,” said UM honors student Melissa Cole, a junior biology major from Jackson who helped coordinate the panel. “Do they feel that it’s important to vote? What issues are they voting on and what are they basing it on? One thing that matters to me may not matter to somebody else, but if I take the time to explain how I’m feeling that can really open someone’s horizon.”
The “What Matters to You?” theme will continue the day of the debate, with the SMBHC/HBCU group setting up a booth during the Rock the Debate event that afternoon in the Grove, where people who walk by will be able to discuss their political views on camera. They hope to compile the video footage into a DVD presentation to send to the different presidential campaigns, said UM honors student Vince Chamblee, a junior economics and public policy major from Fulton.
“I think the opinions of our generation are extremely relevant in this election,” Chamblee said. “We wanted these issues to come out. We want to get down below the surface of those other issues, and we want to concentrate on those that are important to students.”
Chamblee said he hopes the panel discussion will help UM honors students establish relationships with students from state HBCU honors programs, so they can continue to work together. A reception for the visiting students will be held at the Barksdale Honors College following the panel discussion.
“I hope audience members understand that there’s collaboration here,” Chamblee said. “There’s a group of students that care about our state. This debate is not about Ole Miss; it’s about the state of Mississippi.”
The event idea and planning for the panel have been handled almost entirely by the students, Young said.
“I was both impressed with and surprised by their focus on the individual at the very local, very personal level,” she said. “I think that’s typical of honors students here – they are deeply rooted in their communities.”
For more information or to request assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7294. To learn more about the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, visit http://www.honors.olemiss.edu .