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6, 2010 | V
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D A I L Y
MISSISSIPPIAN The Student Newspaper
of
The University
of
M i ss i ss i p p i | S e r v i n g O l e M i ss
and
Oxford
since
1911 |
www.thedmonline.com
Which mascot will you choose? BY RACHEL CLARK The Daily Mississippian
Yesterday afternoon, the mascot selection committee posted images and biographies of the three remaining choices for on-field mascot. The remaining options are the Rebel Black Bear, the Rebel Land Shark and Hotty Toddy. The final poll will take place over the next week, beginning this morning at 8 a.m. and ending Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Rebel Mascot Selection Committee has recommended, and has been assured, that the University will not use the new mascot in a way that would undermine the Ole Miss Rebel brand. The new mascot will not lead to Ole Miss becoming the Ole Miss Bears, the Ole Miss Land Sharks, or the Ole Miss Hotty Toddys. “WE ARE, AND WILL REMAIN, THE OLE MISS REBELS,” according to the Mascot Selection Committee. The selection process, according to teh committee’s website, must do the following: Unify the Ole Miss Community Have a Mississippi Connection Be Unique Adapt from Grove to Game Fit Ole Miss Culture Project a Proud Image Be Timeless, Not Trendy Have the Ability to Be Active Appeal to Children The Rebel Land Shark is based on a tradition started by the late Rebel football player Tony Fein, whose “Fins Up” hand motion has already caught fire with Rebel fans. The
Rebel Land Shark would be a living embodiment of this tradition, complete with a shark head and fin. The Land Shark is a result of an organic movement on campus and would be unique to the Ole Miss Rebels. Many in the Rebel family have already embraced the Land Shark, making it a growing part of the football gameday experience, and the Land Shark has begun to spread to other sports, too. Considerations that have emerged during the development process: The Committee liked that The Rebel Land Shark is an organic idea that originated from a student athlete, and that while fierce on the field, The Rebel Land Shark is playful with children, and thus a strong youth mark, attracting new Rebel fans. In Mississippi, many stories that have been shared for generations center around our native black bear. In William Faulkner’s “The Bear”, Old Ben, a formidable black bear, is a symbol of pride, strength and toughness. Additionally, the legend of the “Teddy Bear” originated in Mississippi when President Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a defenseless bear on a Mississippi hunt in 1902. The Rebel Black Bear, an imposing figure, would intimidate any opponent and be a real source of school spirit. Off the field, The Rebel Black Bear would be an Ole Miss ambassador, full of pride and welcoming any opportunity to
thedmonline.com GALLERY
FOOTBALL PHOTOS
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RES. COLLEGE DEDICATION
GALLERY
OXFORD BEEKEEPING
SLIDESHOW
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
inside OPINION
PROS FOR THE REBEL BLACK BEAR
NEWS
A VETERAN RETURNS
See MASCOT, PAGE 5
IMAGES COURTESY mascot.olemiss.edu
NATIONAL WEDDING RATES DROP; OXFORD REMAINS STABLE BY MOLLY HUTTER The Daily Mississippian
There are many different factors that make the “big day” special: the flowers, the music, the food, the venue, the dress, and of course, that certain someone. However, the price tags on each add up quickly, usually making the happiest day of one’s life the most expensive one as well. According to data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 had a record low number of weddings for people 18 and older, with numbers lower than they’ve been in over a century. The statistics were
drawn from a study measuring the far-spread effects of the economic recession. In Oxford, however, the effect has been more subtle, according to business owners in the local wedding industry. While the number of weddings has not noticeably declined, the budgets for many weddings have tightened and excess is generally avoided, they said. David Naron, owner of Oxford Floral, said he is not surprised to see a decline in weddings during this economic slump. “It’s expensive,” Naron said. “It really makes people think
about their budgets.” On average, couples in the U.S. spend $19,581 on their wedding, according to data from CostofWedding.com. Excluding costs of a honeymoon or engagement ring, the majority of wedding budgets range from about $15,000 to $25,000. The average cost of a wedding in Oxford is the same as the national average. In 2009, just 52 percent of adults 18 and older were married, a drop from the 57 percent in 2000. Following the national trend, Mississippi has also seen a significant drop in marriage rates
since 2000. According to data gathered by the annual Mississippi Vital Statistics report, in 2000 there were 19,879 new marriages throughout the state. In 2006, just before the economic recession that officially began in December 2007, there were 16,550. And in 2009, there were just 14,100, a difference of almost 2,500 in just three years. Nonetheless, Oxford seems to break this trend. Claire Kiamie, owner of wedding and event planning company One Fine Day, said that See WEDDINGS, PAGE 5
SPORTS
BOBBY COX RETIRES