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Mississippi is the second most obese state in the country. University of Mississippi's Medical Center is combating the problem with a National Institutes of Health grant.
School's back and people are hoping Colonel Reb might be too.
The Colonel Reb Foundation is trying to re-enstate the mascot and state flag on campus. Due to confederate symbolism the mascot was removed after the 2003 Ole Miss football season. Watch the video to learn more. In light of recent violence in the U.S., University of Mississippi’s chancellor asked the Ole Miss community to come together in unity and reflect. “We all hurt, we all mourn,” chancellor Jeffrey Vitter said. “We all worry about the safety of our own families, communities, our nation and the world.” Members of the community gathered in the Paris-Yates Chapel on Thursday, July 22nd at 6 p.m. Everyone was handed a fan and a print out of the university’s creed. Vitter believes that we can find a solution to our problems through education. He added that community members should reach out to the university’s resources like the Center for Engagement and Cultural Inclusion. “We must work together, stand together to fight the challenges that we all face together,” Vitter said. After Vitter’s speech, the community was asked to read the Ole Miss creed aloud and in unison. The creed establishes respect, fairness and civility. The Ole Miss Gospel Choir was asked to sing in front of the community. Their powerful song was followed by assistant provost, Dr. Donald Cole, addressing the crowd. He spoke of the injustice our country has witnessed and the actions we should take to move forward.
With the City of Oxford adding Uber as a resource to get home after a night on The Square, safety concerns have come up. Especially for taxi driver and owner of Austin’s Taxi Company, Austin Blake. "I've been doing this a long time, and I know that you've got to take care of your taxi,” Blake said. “It's your responsibility, not only to get paid, but its’ your job to take care of your customers and make sure they get home safe. Uber is just for an income. That's all. You need to be more aware when you're taking care of these parents’ children.” Blake is beloved by his customers and has formed many bonds and friendships over the years. He calls them his “baybees.” Recently, Blake posted a story on his Facebook page about encountering a girl walking home at 4 a.m. surrounded by a suspicious car. When he asked if the girl wanted a ride, she responded that she had no money and was locked out of her boyfriend’s house; so, she had to walk home. Blake took her home free of charge. He asked her about the car, and she told him that random boys were trying to force her in the car after saying she told them she didn’t want to get in. “I picture my daughters… my granddaughters,” Blake said. “I love them all and want them all to be protected.” Blake included his phone number in the post, promising that if anyone was ever in a similar situation he would pick them up free of charge. Local taxi drivers, like Blake, make connections with their customers. Uber, he argues, just isn’t the same. “Anybody can take you from point A to point B,” Blake said. “You need to be experienced to do what we have to do at Ole Miss, and I’ve got ten years of that.” Every taxi driver in Oxford is required to go through an extensive background check, carry a class D license and have a camera installed in their van. Blake even adds extra safety measures to ensure his drivers are prepared for any situation. Before his employees take the wheel, they must drive with Blake or other experienced drivers for a period of time before they get to start driving on their own. “They get a chance to see the different things we go through, and they'll learn how to handle situations,” Blake said. Blake doesn’t think Uber is a bad thing, but just isn’t right for Oxford. He believes it’s a great thing for big cities, but in small towns, customers are safer with local, well-known drivers. "The main thing is making sure that the people in your taxi are safe,” Blake said. “You are more than just a taxi driver; you are responsible for the people in your taxi.” Austin’s Taxi Company can be reached at (662)-832-9705. With the City of Oxford adding Uber as a resource to get home after a night on The Square, safety concerns have come up. Especially for taxi driver and owner of Austin’s Taxi Company, Austin Blake. "I've been doing this a long time, and I know that you've got to take care of your taxi,” Blake said. “It's your responsibility, not only to get paid, but its’ your job to take care of your customers and make sure they get home safe. Uber is just for an income. That's all. You need to be more aware when you're taking care of these parents’ children.” Blake is beloved by his customers and has formed many bonds and friendships over the years. He calls them his “baybees.” Recently, Blake posted a story on his Facebook page about encountering a girl walking home at 4 a.m. surrounded by a suspicious car. When he asked if the girl wanted a ride, she responded that she had no money and was locked out of her boyfriend’s house; so, she had to walk home. Blake took her home free of charge. He asked her about the car, and she told him that random boys were trying to force her in the car after saying she told them she didn’t want to get in. “I picture my daughters… my granddaughters,” Blake said. “I love them all and want them all to be protected.” Blake included his phone number in the post, promising that if anyone was ever in a similar situation he would pick them up free of charge. Local taxi drivers, like Blake, make connections with their customers. Uber, he argues, just isn’t the same. “Anybody can take you from point A to point B,” Blake said. “You need to be experienced to do what we have to do at Ole Miss, and I’ve got ten years of that.” Every taxi driver in Oxford is required to go through an extensive background check, carry a class D license and have a camera installed in their van. Blake even adds extra safety measures to ensure his drivers are prepared for any situation. Before his employees take the wheel, they must drive with Blake or other experienced drivers for a period of time before they get to start driving on their own. “They get a chance to see the different things we go through, and they'll learn how to handle situations,” Blake said. Blake doesn’t think Uber is a bad thing, but just isn’t right for Oxford. He believes it’s a great thing for big cities, but in small towns, customers are safer with local, well-known drivers. "The main thing is making sure that the people in your taxi are safe,” Blake said. “You are more than just a taxi driver; you are responsible for the people in your taxi.” Austin’s Taxi Company can be reached at (662)-832-9705. Uber has been operating state wide since July 1. The digital ride sharing service was in Oxford in 2014, but the company did not comply with the City of Oxford's taxi ordinance and left. House Bill 1381 was voted in to override the ordinance and does not require licenses for transportation network companies, like Uber. Oxford's taxi ordinance requires drivers to go through an extensive background check and have a camera in their cab. Austin Blake, owner of Austin's Taxi Company, said the ordinance is a good safety measure for customers. "It's good to get in a taxi where you know the person," Blake said. "Anyone can pull up that might not even be an Uber driver trying to get girls in there. I've got two granddaughters, and I wouldn't want anything like that for them." However, Uber's cheap rates and flexible hours make the transportation network popular among student customers and drivers. Ole Miss students have reacted positively to Uber's return on Twitter. Ole Miss grad and former football player, Walker Sturgeon, is using Uber to make extra money for grad school in the fall. He likes how flexible his driving schedule is. "I think its a great thing, if these kids need to pick up some extra cash," said Sturgeon. "There's so many kids that need a ride to and from the square." Uber can be downloaded on an iPhone or Android. The first ride is free up to $22 when using the promo code "FEELING22" before August 31st. |
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