Sociology & Anthropology — View From Ventress

Florida Family Recognizes Four UM Degrees by Giving Back with Scholarship Endowment

May 15, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

The Emily and Larry Furlong Family

University of Mississippi alumni Larry and Emily (Caldwell) Furlong spent much of their adult lives helping students in Florida’s Seminole County pursue college education through academic scholarships. Now, with the establishment of the Furlong Family Scholarship Endowment at Ole Miss, the Furlongs of Maitland, Fla., have widened their reach, providing an opportunity for undergraduate students from four states to attend their alma mater.

“My wife and I met at Ole Miss,” said Larry Furlong, vice president of sales with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. “Both of our daughters graduated from Ole Miss. We’re an Ole Miss family, even though none of us are from Mississippi.”

The Furlong Family Scholarship Endowment provides financial assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in UM’s College of Liberal Arts. First preference will be given to students from Illinois, Florida, California and Nashville, Tenn.

“We are grateful to Emily and Larry Furlong for their deeply held commitment to providing educational opportunities to young people” said Glenn Hopkins, dean of liberal arts. “We are fortunate to have this family of graduates giving back to strengthen the College of Liberal Arts. It’s a reflection of their belief in the power of education and of their concern for others.”

A native of Chicago, Furlong had never set foot in Mississippi until he arrived at UM in 1968. “I thought I had landed on another planet,” he recalled. “It was so different from where I grew up. It took me a good semester to adjust. But once I got used to the pace and the culture, I just fell in love with it.”

Furlong, a political science major and Phi Kappa Theta fraternity member, soon fell in love with a classmate, too, after meeting Emily Caldwell, a Nashville native majoring in sociology and art. “We took a class together called Social Programs, so if that won’t seal a great marriage, nothing will,” she said.

Larry Furlong graduated in 1971, and she finished a year later. They married in 1973. Larry entered the title insurance business in 1978 with the help of one of his fraternity brothers. After the couple moved to Florida in 1980, he also enjoyed a 12-year stint in public service, including four years as a Seminole County Commissioner and eight years as a member of the Seminole County School Board.

“We’ve had a tradition of helping students with scholarships,” Emily Furlong said. “When Larry ran for office, he promised to give a portion of his salary back to the county for scholarships. We did that for 12 years and were able to help 72 students with more than $40,000 in one-time scholarships for college or vocational/technical school. It was very rewarding to help young people get an education.”

Philanthropy has also played a key role in Emily Furlong’s career. She serves as senior program manager for the Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center, which provides education and management assistance to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.

“Since we’ve always had a commitment to education, once we weren’t funding the local scholarships anymore, we decided to do something for our alma mater,” she said.

Both of the Furlongs’ daughters attended UM on scholarships, with older daughter Katie Ward earning degrees in theatre arts and broadcast journalism, while Mary graduated in history and anthropology. Ward is now an actress living in California with her husband and daughter, and Mary Furlong is earning a doctorate in anthropology at the University of Maryland.

“Their scholarships were a real boon to us financially, so this endowment was our way of giving back to the university for its generosity to our children,” Larry said. “We chose the College of Liberal Arts because all four of us were liberal arts majors. We decided to award the scholarships to applicants from the states where we were originally from or where we had lived the longest.”

The Furlongs also helped found the Central Florida Ole Miss Alumni Club in the early 1980s and have served as club officers throughout the years. Additionally, Larry is working to restart a PKT chapter at Ole Miss. The couple returns to Oxford for football games and other events whenever possible. “It’s hard to have a bad time there,” Emily Furlong said.

The Furlongs encourage others to consider supporting UM.

“It’s an opportunity to invest in the future of Mississippi and our country by investing in the lives of some incredible young people,” Emily Furlong said. “We’re always impressed with how many Ole Miss alumni are spread throughout the country. Anywhere you go, you’ll hear someone saying, ‘Hotty Toddy!’ By helping these students, you’re not just investing in Lafayette County; you’re investing in the world because there are Ole Miss Rebels everywhere.”

Larry Furlong agreed, adding, “If you give someone clothes or a meal, that’s great, and it helps in the near term. But if you can help give someone an education, that will benefit them for a lifetime.”

The Furlong Family Scholarship Endowment is open to receive gifts from individuals and organizations by sending a check with the fund noted to the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677; by visiting www.umfoundation.com/makeagift; or by contacting Denson Hollis at 662-915-5092 or dhollis@olemiss.edu.

Rick Hynum

Filed Under: Alumni News, Art, Featured Content, History, Political Science, Sociology & Anthropology, Theatre Arts

Exhibit of Southern Folk Art at UM Museum Through July 13

May 7, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Mattie Codling, a junior at the University of Mississippi, curated the latest exhibit of Southern folk art as part of her internship at the UM Museum.

“How We Worked, Played and Prayed: An Exhibition of Southern Folk Art” is on display from through July 13, highlighting the works of 43 well-known and not-so-well-known folk artists from across the Southeast.Codling, an art history and anthropology major from Starkville, said she is proud of the work she did for her first professional internship.

“‘How We Worked, Played and Prayed’ features several wonderful works that represent the very core of the artists’ lives, from religious scenes to everyday images of the people and places,” she said. “These works are visually appealing, but also act as a documentation of Southern culture from the late 19th and 20th centuries.”

Codling thoroughly researched each artist for the exhibition.

“I wanted to pick works that showed their raw interpretation of life, love, fun, work and even religion,” she explained. “It was truly wonderful to have a hand in redoing the folk art exhibition – to give these pieces a unified tone to be appreciated by visitors.”

Emily Dean, program coordinator, praised Codling’s work.

“The museum could not function without the hard work and dedication of our many interns from a variety of departments at the University of Mississippi,” Dean said.

“This exhibition is an exemplary showcase of Mattie’s hard work as an intern, provides fresh insight into interpreting the museum’s collection of Southern folk art and is a visual testament to the wonderful partnerships we enjoy as part of the University of Mississippi. We look forward to sharing this wonderful exhibition and accomplishment with the Oxford community.”

UM Museum is at the intersection of University Avenue and Fifth Street. For more information, visit http://museum.olemiss.edu or call Emily Dean at 662-915-7073. For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7084.

Filed Under: Art, Latest News, Sociology & Anthropology

Anthropology Professor Receives Prestigious Book Award

April 28, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Robbie Ethridge. UM photo by Kevin Bain.

OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi professor of anthropology has received the prestigious Mooney Award from the Southern Anthropological Society.

The society honored Robbie Ethridge for her book “From Chicaza to Chickasaw: The European Invasion and the Transformation of the Mississippian World, 1540-1715” (University of North Carolina Press, 2010). Using a new interpretive framework that Ethridge calls the “Mississippian shatter zone” to explicate these tumultuous times, “From Chicaza to Chickasaw” examines the European invasion and the collapse of the precontact Mississippian world and the restructuring of discrete chiefdoms into coalescent native societies in a colonial world.“I was absolutely thrilled to hear that I won,” Ethridge said. “Over the years, Mooney Award-winning books have profoundly shaped my intellectual life and scholarship, so to be included among this list of books was quite an honor.”

The purpose of the James Mooney Award is to recognize and thereby encourage distinguished anthropological scholarship on the South and Southerners. Presented annually, the award includes a $500 cash prize and certificate of recognition.

“Dr. Ethridge’s scholarship on Southeastern Indian groups is nationally and internationally recognized,” said Kirsten Dellinger, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “The Mooney award for her most recent book further confirms her continuing contributions to this field. We are so fortunate to have her as a member of the faculty at the University of Mississippi and we congratulate her on this well-deserved and distinguished honor.”

Ethridge’s areas of expertise are historical anthropology and environmental anthropology, with an area focus on the Indians of the Southern United States.

“I have been interested in American Indians for most of my life, but I did not discover anthropology until my freshman undergraduate year,” Ethridge said. “From that moment, I have been devoted to the study of American Indians and other indigenous people, and especially to the study of their colonial experiences.”

Ethridge was pleased that her work has been recognized.

“We often feel that we labor in obscurity or that only a select few professionals read our work, and it is good to know that what we do circulates to a wider audience,” she said.

Ethridge received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in anthropology from the University of Georgia and has taught at UM since 1997. She has co-edited three collections of essays and two monographs and is co-editor-in-chief of Native South, a journal launched in 2008 by the University of Nebraska Press.

For more information on the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, go to http://socanth.olemiss.edu/.

Filed Under: Featured Content, Sociology & Anthropology

Student Becomes University’s Second Udall Scholar

April 4, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

When Taylor Cook walked into the chancellor’s office at the University of Mississippi, she was not expecting to see a roomful of smiling faces.

But that is what she got at a surprise reception to congratulate her on winning the 2012 Morris K. Udall Scholarship, which provides $5,000 for one year of study. She is the second UM student to achieve this honor.

Cook is among 80 national winners of the scholarships, given annually to college sophomores and juniors who are committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American health care.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the honors college and, of course, the honors college is part of the bigger university that has provided me all of these opportunities for leadership,” Cook said.

Born in Memphis, Tenn., Cook moved to Southaven when she was 14 and attended Horn Lake High School. She is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barkdale Honors College and the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, majoring in public policy and Spanish, with minors in environmental studies and sociology.

“I love to see effective passion, and you have taken a lot of good advice and you have channeled it in healthy and constructive ways,” Chancellor Dan Jones said. “Part of what our education is about is having people channel their passions. We are proud of you, and it is a proud moment for the university as well.”

Cook serves as an intern in the Office of Campus Sustainability and is the leadership behind the establishment of a Green Fund at UM. She was instrumental in hosting the Mississippi Alumni & Students for Sustainability Spring 2012 Environmental Leadership Summit, an event that brought together more than 50 Mississippi students from universities and colleges around the state. Cook has also served as the Mississippi Fellow for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, which allowed her to participate in PowerShift 2011, a national meeting of sustainability leaders in Washington, D.C.

“Taylor is not only very intelligent, which is evident in her academic accomplishments and recognition as a Udall Scholar, but she has exceptional leadership skills and a remarkable ability to inspire others with her passion,” said Jim Morrison, director of strategic planning and campus sustainability. “I am confident that Taylor is one of those special leaders who will make our world a better place in the future. We are fortunate to have her as an intern in our office of sustainability and as a student leader at our university.”

It was Cook’s first visit to the chancellor’s office, and she was elated to be there.

“I am so happy; this is not what I expected and I am shocked,” she said. “One of the best parts of being a Udall scholar is being part of the Udall network. Plus, the scholarship money will pay for my fifth year of school here, giving me more time to work on my academic goals as well as sustainability projects on campus.”

Honors College Dean Douglass Sullivan-González said he was pleased, but not really surprised.

“Taylor is unique in that she not only has that contagious passion to advocate for environmental and sustainability issues but also the ability and drive to empower her peers to do the same,” Sullivan-González said. “And those peers are at the state, regional and national level.”

Cook credited the university with developing her leadership skills.

“There have been so many opportunities that I hope students take advantage of because that’s how things like this happen, just by putting yourself out there,” she said. “I feel lucky to have had all the opportunities this university provides. I never would have thought back in high school that it would have been such a wealth of opportunity here, but it really has been.”

Representing the university and the Udall program is a tremendous honor, Cook said.

“Part of my outreach is to wear my campaign on my sleeve,” she said. “I hope by telling others what I am doing, I can inspire sustainability leadership in them.”

Besides her work in the world of environmentalism, Cook fosters cats with Nine Lives Cat Rescue, serves as a Global Ambassador and is a member of the Student Vegetarian Organization, all while maintaining a 3.76 GPA.

In her Udall application, she wrote that she hoped “to be a vehicle of change for environmental and social justice both in the United States and abroad.” This scholarship is a sign of Cook’s dedication and potential, and will offer her unique opportunities as well.

One of Cook’s mentors is Eric Weber, assistant professor of public policy leadership, who first taught her in Honors 102.

“I’ve watched many students explore interests and struggle to find what they want to do,” Weber said. “Taylor’s studies clearly struck a chord and motivated her to become a leader on campus. For her, issues of sustainability and environmental consideration quickly rose to the top of her interests. She has made a difference not only in particular efforts in the community, but also in shaping the campus culture.”

Weber said he has no doubt that Cook will continue to make valuable contributions to the country’s policies on energy use and environmental sustainability.

Congress established the Udall Foundation as an independent executive branch agency in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall’s 30 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives Students interested in pursuing the Udall Scholarship can contact Andrus Ashoo (onsa@olemiss.edu), who serves as the university’s Udall representative.

The Office of National Scholarship Advisement conducts workshops each semester to introduce students to major national scholarships. Go to http://www.honors.olemiss.edu/national-scholarship/ for more information.

Filed Under: Environmental Studies, Latest News, Modern Languages, Public Policy Leadership, Sociology & Anthropology

Unity is Focus of Future ASB President

March 20, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Kimbrely Dandridge is preparing to take office as Associated Student Body president for 2012-13 at the University of Mississippi, and she is often reminded of her place in history as the university’s first female African-American ASB president.

But fulfilling her campaign promises and working to develop a stronger sense of campus unity are more important than history, said Dandridge, a junior journalism major and sociology minor from Como.

“Being first is cool, but those that will follow in my footsteps are more important,” she said. “I’m just really excited about being ASB president. It’s something I’ve worked really hard for and I just happen to be the first.”

Dandridge plans to work with campus administrators to help provide more resources for students, such as free printing, clicker rentals from the library and a 24-hour convenience store in Martin and Stockard halls. She also plans to implement free graduate and professional school test preparation for all undergraduate students.

“My platform promotes unity,” Dandridge said. “As ASB president, I promise to always promote a unified campus and unified student body. I think my sense of oneness and unity will help our university progress. Ole Miss is growing more and more each day, and I am so proud of the progress this university has made and the progress we continue to make.”

Before her election last month, Dandridge had already been involved in a variety of campus activities, including the University of Mississippi Band, Freshman Focus, One Mississippi, UM Black Journalists Association, Black Student Union and Phi Mu Fraternity. She was a weather anchor for NewsWatch and served as a resident assistant and as ASB director of communications.

“It has been a pleasure working under Kimbrely in the Black Student Union Cabinet,” said Quadray Kohlhiem, BSU treasurer. “She is always open for ideas and is just a good all-around leader.”

Dandridge credits a couple of campus mentors with helping her succeed. Jacqueline Certion, a senior academic adviser, and Valerie Ross, assistant dean of students for multi-cultural affairs and volunteer services, have counseled Dandridge throughout her time at UM.

“I really look up to them because they inspire me so much to go above and beyond,” Dandridge said. “Their spirits and their passion for students really inspire me. They mentor me and challenge me to make this campus and the world a better place.”

“I have truly enjoyed working with Kim,” Ross said. “Kimbrely lights up a room. Her positive, enthusiastic approach makes her an absolute joy to work with. I am humbled that she sees me as a mentor. She is committed to doing good deeds with her life, and I admire her life philosophy and applaud her commitment to helping and serving others.”

“I have found Kimbrely to be a dedicated and enthusiastic student leader,” said Sparky Reardon, dean of students and assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. “I expect that she will serve the Ole Miss student body with concern for all students. I am excited about working with her.”

Many of Dandridge’s friends refer to her as “Mini Michelle Obama” because of her many campus and community involvements and her will to do anything for the greater good.

“Kim is one of the most generous and compassionate friends I have,” said Lauren Wright, a junior public policy leadership major from Tupelo. “She’s constantly looking for the good in people, and is always there if I ever need anything.”

Dandridge is the daughter of Earnest and Deborah Dandridge. She has one brother, Brian, and one sister, Alana. In her spare time, Dandridge enjoys writing, playing her trombone and shoe shopping. After graduation, she hopes to attend Harvard Law and one day work for FedEx as a corporate attorney.

“As the new ASB president, I want to become the voice for our entire student body,” she said. “I want students to feel comfortable coming to me to voice their opinions. I want the student body to know that I am here for them.”

Filed Under: Latest News, Sociology & Anthropology

GIANT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAP OF ASIA COMING TO THE MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

March 13, 2012 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Mississippi students will be exploring Asia in a big way next month — with the world’s largest map of the continent! The map measures 26 feet by 35 feet and is designed as a giant game board to introduce students to the diverse geography of Asia. It will be on display at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science on February 14-17 (9 am – Noon); February 19 (1-5) and on February 21-23 (9am – Noon), in partnership with the Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the University of Mississippi, as part of National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps program, organized by National Geographic Live, the public programming division of the National Geographic Society. To book a giant map session for your school or group, please call the museum at 601-576-6000.

The map’s brightly colored, smooth vinyl surface accurately illustrates Asia’s oceans, seas, rivers, mountains, countries and capitals. Designed for grades K-8, the map comes with a trunk full of accessories, including interactive activities and props and photo cards that teach students about the physical characteristics of the continent as well as its rich history, wildlife, and varied cultures. In “Cardinal Capture,” teams of students use cardinal directions to move student “pawns” around the map, capturing opponents. In “To What Degree?” teams compete against each other to find the most locations using latitude and longitude coordinates. Foam balls and hoops are used in “Geo-gym” games that each students the diverse geography of the Asian continent.

“These maps teach geography in a way that nothing else does. It is a physical as well as mental experience,” said Dan Beaupré, director of education partnerships for National Geographic Live. “The hands- and feet-on experience makes a lasting impression on students and sparks further interest.”

“We are excited for this natural connection of geography and science! This will be a great partnership with the Mississippi Geographic Alliance to engage children in their natural environment and promote science literacy,” said Angel Rohnke, Museum Education Coordinator.

“The giant maps are designed to teach students about the world in a fun and compelling way, and we are delighted to partner with the Museum of Natural Science to bring this experience to Mississippi,” added Carley Lovorn, Assistant Director of the Mississippi Geographic Alliance. “We hope this is the first of several giant

maps we bring to the public in order to provide the building blocks for a deeper understanding about our world. Asia is a wonderful map to begin with since it is a critical continent for our future leaders to understand.”

National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps program was introduced in 2006 with a map of Africa, and has since expanded to include maps of Asia, North America, South America and the Pacific Ocean. Each map measures 26 feet by 35 feet and is loaned to schools and other hosts with an assortment of activities. In the 2011-2012 school year it is estimated more than 450,000 students will interact with one of these maps.

The maps also help showcase My Wonderful World, a multiyear National Geographic-led campaign to improve geographic literacy and to help students become more informed global citizens. The campaign (mywonderfulworld.org) is designed to improve the geographic literacy of young people ages 8-17 by motivating parents and educators to make geography more available and accessible in school, at home and in the community.

To learn more about the Giant Traveling Map project, for borrowing information or to download map activities, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/giantmaps.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About the Museum: The museum is located at 2148 Riverside Drive in Jackson. Call 601.576.6000 or visit http://www.msnaturalscience.org for directions, parking and details about this event and other programs offered by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, which is a part of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Museum Hours: M-F: 8am – 5pm; SAT: 9am – 5pm; SUN: 1pm -5pm. Admission: $6 adults; $4 children ages 3-18; $5 senior citizens (60+); free for children under 3; free for Museum Members; school teachers with classes: call for group information. Prices and schedule subject to change.

About the Mississippi Geographic Alliance: The Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the University of Mississippi works to strengthen geographic literacy in the state of Mississippi. A member of the nationwide network of state alliances sponsored by the National Geographic Society, MGA uses workshops, online resources, and other programs to help educators prepare students to embrace a diverse world, succeed in the global economy, and steward the planet’s resources. For more information visit www.mga.olemiss.edu, or contact Carley at mclovorn@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3776.

Filed Under: Sociology & Anthropology

Dissertation Connected with World AIDS Day Event, Thurs., Dec. 1 at 4pm

November 22, 2011 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Sunny Sinha, a Ph.D. candidate in Social Work from the University of South Carolina, will present a preview of her dissertation, “Women in non brothel-based sex work in India: Using ‘cultural biography’ to understand risk perceptions.” The event is co-sponsored by the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, the Office of International Programs, the Departments of Health, Exercise Science, & Leisure Management and Sociology & Anthropology.

Sinha on her dissertation: “My dissertation research aims at understanding how women in non-brothel based sex work in Kolkata, India perceive their risk of HIV in the context of other risk experiences in their lives. This study departs from the prevalent KABP (Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, Practices) survey based approach used in most risk related studies among sex workers in India by using ‘cultural biography’, a method that combines the use of life history and ethnography to examine the complex interplay between numerous factors (individual, cultural, social, political, economic) widely assumed to influence women’s perceptions of risk. This approach stands in contrast to deterministic views of individuals by analyzing them through power and agency as they influence their cultural environments.”

Filed Under: Gender Studies, Sociology & Anthropology

Population Brief Released, Provides Information on Chinese Americans in the Delta

November 1, 2011 By tbarger Leave a Comment

Chinese shop in the Mississippi Delta in 1939. (Library of Congress)

The Center for Population Studies in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology recently released a “Population Brief” which provides demographic information about the experience of Chinese Americans in the Delta and the state of Mississippi.

The report is entitled “The Mississippi Chinese Population.” It was released in conjunction with a public lecture given by John Jung, former professor of psychology at California State, Long Beach, on the Mississippi Delta Chinese.

Jung’s talk, “On Being Chinese Where Everyone Else is Black or White,” discussed his personal experiences growing up in Georgia and why he started writing about the Mississippi Delta Chinese.

Additionally, Jung commented on similarities and differences in these two contexts and noted how Chinese and other Asian communities in the South differ from those on the West coast.

Timed to coincide with Dr. John Jung’s talk ”On Being Chinese Where Everyone Else is Black or White” (The University of Mississippi on September 15, 2011 at 5 pm), the Center for Population Studies released the first issue of its new Population Studies series. The paper is entitled “The Mississippi Chinese Population.” Authored by Lynn Woo, John Green, and Clifford Holley, the report explores the history and contemporary presence of people identifying themselves as Chinese in the state.

Read it online here! Woo, Green, and Holley – The MS Chinese Population

For more information about the brief, contact John Green, director of the Center for Population Studies, at jjgreen@olemiss.edu. The brief is accessible electronically at http://institutecbr.wordpress.com/presentations-and-publications/.

Filed Under: Center for Population Studies, Sociology & Anthropology

Letters from the “Queen of the Parkway”

July 20, 2011 By tbarger Leave a Comment

In the University of Mississippi J.D. Williams Library Archives are letters from Roane Fleming Byrnes(1890-1970). Roane was a children’s author and ran her father’s 1600 acre plantation in Beverley, MS with her husband Ferriday (1890-1956).

However, she is mainly known for her concern and interest in the preservation of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Since she was a key factor toward establishing the parkway, and president of the Natchez Trace Association for over twenty-five years, she earned the title “Queen of the Parkway.”

Along with her interest in the parkway, Roane was concerned about the state of race relations in Natchez. The archive collection contains a significant number of essays and speeches written by Roane on the topic of racial harmony. She also contributed to the rebuilding of several African–American churches burned by white extremists in Mississippi during the turbulence of the 1960s.

In the video, Dr. Jay Johnson, professor of anthropology at the University of Mississippi, explains the history and importance of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Information from the J.D. Williams Archives

Filed Under: Sociology & Anthropology, Ventress Video

Old Law School Building Gets Facelift

April 25, 2011 By tbarger Leave a Comment

For decades Lamar Hall has been the home of the Law School, but with the Robert C. Khayat Law Center now in use, the fate of what will become of older building has been a question.

Associate provost Noel Wilkin said there is value in having undergraduate classrooms in the center of campus, which was a driving factor in the decision to make a new law school.

“The building will undergo a renovation to convert many of the spaces to classrooms,” Wilkin said. “The need for classrooms has grown as our student enrollment has grown. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Center for Writing and Rhetoric, Dean of The College of Liberal Arts, Latest News, Sociology & Anthropology