From the lowest of the low to the highest of the high, the citizens of the state of Mississippi own and should control all of our public institutions. We do this by electing our public officials and by voting on issues that appear on the ballot. The majority opinion of registered voters that voted must prevail as long as it does not violate the protections of our Mississippi Constitution. In the real world, that is how the system should function.

Being a student, faculty member or staff member does not give you the authority to override the majority opinion of the registered voters who voted. If you are a student who is also a Mississippi citizen, your relief can be found at the ballot box. If you are a non-resident student and not a citizen of the state of Mississippi, remember you are a guest of the citizens of Mississippi. You have no authority over any issue within the state of Mississippi. Remember, your being here is at the expense of a Mississippi student that was not served by the University of Mississippi. If you are receiving any type of scholarship or aid, you are receiving financial aid that did not go to a Mississippi student. If you are a faculty or staff member you get a check to assume responsibility, not authority. Your responsibility is to teach your students the subject matter covered by your expertise and/or perform your job to the benefit of your employer.

No matter how much money you have donated to the University, you cannot buy increased authority in a public institution. If you have left the state of Mississippi to be a citizen of another state, then you have no authority at all.

If you want to do something beneficial and relevant, then focus your attention on the slavery that exists in our state currently. You can do nothing about yesterday.

Opinions change, but the tenets of our Democratic Republic must be protected at all costs.

R. Edward Bartlett 

Taylor