Ole Miss - The University of Mississippi

Once upon a time, far back in the chill of February 1844, the Mississippi Legislature gave life to a brand-new academic institution, curiously naming it the University of Mississippi or Ole Miss, as it would be fondly known later. The enchanting yet remote site of Oxford was chosen, brimming with greenery it was to be a 'sylvan exile' that nurtured knowledge and wisdom. With a generous land donation by the people of Lafayette County in 1845, the foundations of the first buildings, including the Lyceum, residence for teachers, and two student dormitories, took root under the watchful eyes of architect William Nichols.

The doors of the University first swung open on November 6, 1848, inviting 80 students to embark on their academic journey. The enriching classical curriculum catered to the privileged white youth, mostly descendants of elite slaveholders, all hailing from Mississippi but one. For over two decades, the University stood alone as the firm bastion of public higher learning in Mississippi, for 110 years even being its only comprehensive university.

Marking its strides, by 1854, the University established the School of Law, putting it on the map as the fourth state-supported law school in the United States. It was during this time that the position of their Early president Frederick A. P. Barnard was renamed to "chancellor", much to his dismay as his attempt to elevate the prestige of the University clashed with the conservative board of trustees.

Soon, the shadow of the Civil War loomed over the University, forcing it to shut down and transform into a Confederate hospital within a handful of months. Post the grueling war, it sprung back to life in October 1865, with the University extending open arms to veterans by waiving off tuition and offering off-campus living.

Remarkably, the racial bias echoed within the University's walls during the 1870s, with its management threat to step down instead of accepting African American students. Women were allowed entry in 1882, albeit with restrictions on staying on campus or pursuing law, a bias finally lifted off in 1885. The University made a progressive shift by appointing Sarah McGehee Isom, the first female faculty member in a southeastern US college, honouring her nearly a century later with the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies.

The University earned its charming nickname "Ole Miss" in 1897 from a unique contest aimed at deriving a title for a yearbook. With trials to merge or close met with strong opposition the University marked its first century with a continued sense of purpose. The weight of racial segregation finally lifted when the Supreme court verdict in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 declared it unconstitutional.

The first African-American to knock and enter through the gates of Ole Miss was James Meredith, an Air Force Veteran. His application resisted several times, leading to involvement from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Department of Justice for his enrollment. Meredith finally enrolled, marking a new chapter in the University's book, and the numbers steadily grew into a diverse student body we see today.

Adding a cultural feather to its hat in 1972, Ole Miss brought the home of literature Nobel laureate, William Faulkner, under their care. The house preserved as it was during Faulkner's last days, and the University hosting the first Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference in 1974. A tribute to the integration and Meredith's courage was paid in 2006 by installing his statue on campus, making the quartet of events marking the 50th anniversary of integration in 2012.

Retiring its Colonel Reb mascot in 2003 due to its Confederate imagery, it adopted the Rebel Black Bear as a reference to Faulkner's The Bear selected in 2010. It wasn't until 2015 when the University took a firm stance against racial bias by removing the Mississippi State Flag, which showcased the Confederate battle emblem. As the story of Ole Miss continues to unfold, its rich history leaves you with a thought, reaching for knowledge sorts both the seeker and the place offering it, marking an everlasting impression on the sands of time.