2,500 rally to support Ole Miss chancellor

OXFORD – On a campus where the public perception is that everyone is of the same sundress- or bow tie-wearing type, what happened Wednesday at Ole Miss was completely different.

Around 2,500 people — estimated by some to be the largest non-athletics gathering on campus in decades — gathered in front of the university's Lyceum. They were old and young, representing both town and gown. There were professors and staff members. Frat bros and hipsters. Black and white. All gathered in one place to support their chancellor, Dr. Dan Jones.

"As a person of color, as a woman of color, Dan Jones and all his work on this campus and his leadership has made me feel so safe," student Sierra Mannie told the crowd towards the end. "... When the reputation of this place makes you think no one who isn't a certain type can experience amazing things, Dan Jones has been able to do that for me and help me."

Representatives from the school's student government, faculty senate and staff council all spoke during the hour-long event, presenting their own resolutions urging the state college board to reconsider and renew Jones' contract.

They spoke of the numerous academic and financial accomplishments achieved during Jones' six years as the head of the school, and also of his compassion and kindness. The staff council, in particular, noted Jones' willingness to meet with them and to make sure they were paid a living wage and had educational benefits made available to them.

The rally, staged just 50 yards from Jones' office, was deliberately peaceful. It grew out of social media movements in the immediacy of the college board's announcement Friday. By Saturday a group of concerned individuals was meeting to organize the event, and $3,000 was raised via crowdfunding for supplies and equipment.

"When we come together in one place to really make that change happen, that's really what we're looking for," said Phillip Waller, a senior journalism and public policy major from Madison and the group's director of communications.

Said co-organizer Ryan Felder to the crowd: "I beg the IHL board of trustees to help me understand their decision not to renew the contract of Chancellor Dan Jones. You say you acted without political agenda or ulterior motives, and I believe you. I take your word for that. So help me understand why financial issues and disagreement over personnel is enough to tarnish the legacy of this courageous and humble leader?"

Waller said the group is not done after Wednesday's event, and has plans to regroup and assess where to go next with their efforts.

"Obviously this was a major event for this university and going forward we're going to continue to put pressure on people who have a stake in this decision and encourage them to engage with us," Waller said. "Have a conversation, continue this dialogue that we started here and hopefully that leads to Chancellor Jones being reinstated."

Contact Hugh Kellenberger at (601) 961-7291 or hkellenber@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @HKellenbergerCL on Twitter.