Hello everyone! I have quite a few questions about Ole Miss, I just would like everyone to respectful to one another.
I was recently accepted to the University of Mississippi as a transfer student and I couldn’t be more excited especially with all of the scholarships I qualify for!
My mom, however, is a bit worried for a few reasons. First we have never been to “the south”. We have been to Florida but that isn’t really southern. We are from the midwest and she is afraid that no one is going to accept me because I am not from the south. To go further into her concern, she is worried that I could face discrimination for being a Lebanese American, especially for being stereotyped as a Muslim, when we are Christians. (We have NO hate toward Muslims in any way)
Honestly, I would post a picture of myself if this wasn’t a confidential website but my features are very light and a lot of people tend to think I am Greek and/or Italian. Is this really going to be an issue?
Would I have any chance of getting into a sorority? (I know it will already be hard not being a freshman but I would still like to try)
I really want to finish my degree at the University of Mississippi. I have fallen in love with the campus and my program. I just want to get other opinions before I go.
The way I look at things is that racism will unfortunately be apart of our world no matter where we go and it is something that will never fully go away, no matter how many improvements are made. I have heard stories of racism at so many schools all over the country. I don’t want to let a few bad seeds stop me from pursuing something I really want to do.
If any students, or recent alum, or anyone who knows anything can give me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for taking the time to help me out.
Check out the thread below, there is racism on any campus today. You will be fine, you will notice a much more friendly, open student body where people will actually say Hi to you when passing on the way to class or the square versus some of the other places you may have visited. My son is a freshman and loves the school. We are from Columbus OH.
@olemissbound The Mississippi Delta has a fairly sizable Lebanese/Syrian population which has prospered. Many are doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and other professional people. So I think most Mississippians tend to associate Lebanese heritage as being Christian, not Muslim.
Would it be better if you were from the South? Maybe. Just remember that a majority of each freshman class is from out of state.
You will have more problems in sorority rush because you are a transfer student from the Mid-west than you will because of your Lebanese heritage. Right now the Sorority system is swamped, with the chapters being forced to take 150 pledges rather than the more desired 80 or 90. So most are not giving bids to non-freshmen girls. There are two recolonizations going on with chapters giving out sophomore and junior bids. A few others may be willing to do so. But I don’t want to lie to you and tell you that pledging a sorority might not be a problem.
I also don’t want you to get the impression that racism and ethnocentrism don’t exist. But I don’t think you will have any more problems at Ole Miss than elsewhere. And for what it’s worth, the Ole Miss’ previous chancellor, Robert Khayat, was half Lebanese through his father. His father was one of the most popular elected officials the Gulf Coast has ever had, and Chancellor Khayat was perhaps the most popular chancellor Ole Miss has ever had. Now-retired Provost Carolyn Staton is Lebanese. Popular journalism professor Samir Husni is a Lebanese immigrant. From what you have said in your original post, I just don’t think this will be a problem for you. I hope you have a grand time!
Hello @EarlVanDorn
Thank you for your response! I didn’t know any of that information. I knew rush was going to be tough regardless due to my age and being a sophomore/junior (depending on how credits transfer).
I really appreciate both you and @upperarlington give your inputs! I’m really excited to see this campus and all it has to offer
We are from California. My son is half Asian and has not had any problems. I can’t see why it would be worse than any other place.