We, the leaders of the University of Mississippi Associated Student Body, the Black Student Union, the Student Activities Association, The Ole Miss Big Event, RebelTHON, and the Leadership and Engagement Ambassadors all work to foster a campus culture that is inclusive, fair, and respectful by representing the interests of each student.

However, this community can never be fully realized if symbols of hate are a part of our campus identity. The Confederate Statue at the front of our campus glorifies a rebellion defending the institution of slavery and inflicts the pain of white supremacy, bigotry, and oppression upon an overwhelming number of members of our UM family, especially our Black students, faculty, staff, alumni and prospective students. The statue endorses racist values and puts them on a pedestal at the front door of our campus, as if it is insight to the collective creed of our community. We assure you, it is not.

We want to empower those who wish to make their voices heard during this divisive time for our nation. Along with this petition, we are launching a weeklong initiative with the purposes of educating our community about the history and contextualization of the Confederate Statue and providing individual members of our community with an avenue to show their support for its relocation. Thousands have already expressed their desire for the statue’s relocation, including Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce.

This moment is a cultural turning point in our country. To the members of our community, join us in expressing our support for the statue’s relocation, and to the IHL Board of Trustees, we only ask that you listen to the voices of those you represent and act on their behalf.