It’s like you’re my mirror.

Safe Ride really gets me 🚌

You don’t have to walk or drive home after a night out! The Safe Ride shuttle will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m.-midnight this semester. The shuttle picks up downtown in front of the Federal Building (911 Jackson Avenue East) and loops around to Residential College, Northgate, Minor Hall, Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi and Chi Omega. Ole Miss students ride free with Ole Miss ID. See the route here.

Let me just become a scientist real quick

We know you have a lot going on without having to research COVID vaccines — I mean, it’s not like there’s a vaccine class you’re getting credit for, so let’s break down some of the myths and facts about the vaccines that the Vaccine Task Force put together in its Mythbusters document.

MYTH: mRNA vaccines will change my DNA.

FACT: Nope. No part of the vaccine touches the part of your cells where your DNA is, so there’s no way for them to talk to each other and decide to change your eye color or something.

MYTH: You can get COVID-19 from the mRNA vaccine.

FACT: Also nah. The vaccines don’t have the real virus in them. When you get the vaccine, the mRNA in it shows your cells how to build a piece of the coronavirus “spike” protein. This teaches your body how to protect itself from the virus without actually getting it. Nice.

Bonus: what is mRNA? So glad you asked, because no idea. But this guy knows.

Black History Month at UM

The UM Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement has a whole month of events planned to celebrate Black History Month, including events covering protests in pro football, poetry, visual art and the Black Power movement at UM. Registration is required for most events, so visit the full schedule to learn more and register.

Black History Month Keynote Address featuring Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.

Southern Journey: The Migrations of the American South, 1790-2020

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 12 p.m.

Protests in Pro Football, 1965-2020 with Chuck Ross

Thursday, Feb. 11, 3 p.m.

PURPLE: America We Need To Talk

Monday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m.

Masked Man, Black: Pandemic and Protest Poems with Frank X Walker

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 12 p.m.

Are You Ready? Dialogue Series

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m.

SarahTalks: Delta Chimera: Mary Cordelia Montgomery Booze

Thursday, Feb. 18, 4 p.m.

Film Showing: Lil Buck Real Swan

Friday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.

The Emmett Till Generation: Youth Activism, Radical Protest, and Social Change in Jim Crow Mississippi with Daphne Chamberlain

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 12 p.m.

Art Talks: Margaret Vendryes – African Diva Project

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m.

Allies Training

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5-7:30 p.m.

Black Power at Ole Miss Task Force Presentation

Thursday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m.

Dialogues on Diversity “NATIONWIDE NOW: Protests in Higher Education”

Thursday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m.

The Living Wax Museum

Thursday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.

Black Power at Ole Miss Lasting Impact Mixer

Thursday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Black History Month Concert

Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.

Black Student Union’s Eighth Annual Black History Month Gala

Friday, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m.

Two words: personal guacamole

Who will win the Super Bowl? Idk. More importantly, what are we going to eat? If you’re going out to watch the game, make sure to order your own food instead of sharing someone’s fries. But if you’re staying in to watch, this is your chance to make a cereal bowl-sized serving of guacamole that no one else gets to eat even if they’re sitting right in front of you. Here’s how to make that dream come true:

Bowl of tortilla chips with guac in the middle

Ingredients

(You can double the recipe if you’re really excited about this.)

1 ripe avocado

1 slightly under-ripe Roma tomato

¼ cup finely chopped white onion

juice of half a lime

dash of salt

Directions

Coarsely chop the tomato and drain.
Halve the avocado, remove the pit and scoop out the avocado into a small bowl.
Mash it up to your desired chunkiness.
Stir in tomato, onion, lime juice and salt.
Put the avocado pit into your guac if you want to put it in the fridge! Keeps it fresh.

And don’t forget about the Puppy Bowl. 🐶 What you eat while you watch the Puppy Bowl is your business.

It's safest to watch the Super Bowl without many people around you, but outdoor gatherings can be made safer if you use a projector instead of a TV, make sure people have enough room to spread out and ask everyone to wear masks, especially if they plan on yelling a lot. Here are more CDC tips for Super Bowl gatherings.

I just spent 30 minutes scrolling when I should be studying

It happens. Put these on your calendar: the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience is hosting Student Success Workshops on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. this semester to help students with common issues like strategies for time management, test prep and note-taking. You can also reach out to them at cssfye@olemiss.edu if you just need help with classes period. The earlier you get in touch, the better!

Money, please. 💵

Looking for a job? Start by visiting Ole Miss Handshake. The Job Location and Development service in the UM Career Center posts local, part-time jobs on its Instagram and holds drop-in Zoom hours the first and third Wednesday of each month to help students with the job search process. Find more info on Handshake or email the Career Center at office@career.olemiss.edu.

Impact mental health support at Ole Miss!

Mental health is a big deal. UM has partnered with a mental health support program called JED Campus which will send a Healthy Minds Survey about mental health support to about half the student body. The study is randomized, so no one knows who will get it or complete it, but if you get an email invitation from healthyminds-OleMiss@umich.edu it’s legit and important! It’ll take about 20-30 minutes to complete, but it is totally worth it. See this page for more information.

Pathways to Equity

UM launched the Pathways to Equity strategic plan at the Diversity Summit on Friday, Jan. 22. The plan was led by the Chancellor's Office and the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement.

What is UM's Pathways to Equity plan?

A university-wide proactive commitment to keep building a campus environment that’s increasingly diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Why was it created?

To inspire positive and sustainable change toward a more diverse campus where all members are welcomed and supported.

What will it do?

Increase UM’s capacity for equity, create a more diverse community and help campus be more inclusive for everyone.

How will it work?

By engaging students, faculty, staff and administrators in work and conversations about diversity. Each UM academic and administrative unit will establish “Equity-in-Action” items that will track progress.

What can I do?

See more about Pathways to Equity and watch the recording of the Diversity Summit. Also, if you see something that you think needs to be done, contact the diversity liaison from your school or college and get it started.

I repeat: In-person Commencement

2021 Commencement will be April 29–May 2, 2021. Morning convocation is Saturday, May 1 at 8 a.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
2020 Commencement will be May 6–May 8, 2021. Morning convocation will be Saturday, May 8 at 8 a.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. 2020 grads will need to RSVP for the ceremonies when RSVPs open.
Each graduate will be allowed a certain number of tickets – more info on that is coming. See these Commencement FAQs and you’ll be emailed more info soon!

The one test you don’t have to study for

Arrive for your test any time on any day of the week (during open hours) when you book your test. The more people who can do asymptomatic testing, the more info the university will have to decide if it can hold more events.

Get involved at college, get more knowledge

The University Counseling Center offers group therapy to all students, including groups like Recovery Support Group, Loved Ones and Children of Alcoholics and Addicts, Graduate Student Group, Bridging Across Cultures, UNITAS, Feeding Your Feelings, General Therapy, Healing from Unhealthy Relationships, Sexual Assault Survivor Support Group, and Women’s Support Group. Call UCC at 662-915-3784 for more information.

Grad students can apply for graduate assistantships with Student Housing, which include furnished apartments, supervision experience, professional development and more. Email housingrl@olemiss.edu for more info.

Ole Miss Men of Excellence is accepting Spring applications until Friday, Feb. 13. MOX is dedicated to supporting men of color at UM during their time in undergrad. Apply here.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors: You can apply to live on campus for the 2021-22 year by logging into your Student Housing portal. Email housingma@olemiss.edu or call 662-915-1091 for more information.

Announcements

University Health Services has COVID-19 testing for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Quick flu and strep tests are also available if needed.

Stay up-to-date with university vaccination news at the vaccination webpage.

Student orgs can request event space on campus by following the guidelines on this webpage.

You can change your Spring meal plan until Feb. 9 here.

The Career Center is holding virtual career fairs this semester. Educator Recruitment Day is Feb. 12, the Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology Fair is Feb. 18 and the All Majors Expo is Mar. 4. More info and registration details here.

Students can access free groceries from the Grove Grocery Food Pantry. You can place an order here and then pick up groceries in person or in grab-and-go bags outside the pantry, available 24/7 at 213 Kinard Hall. Follow @grovegrocery for updates.

Swish, swish, slam

Home games this week:

Women’s basketball

Thursday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m. vs. Kentucky

Women’s volleyball

Friday, Feb. 5, 12 p.m. vs. Alabama

Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m. vs. Alabama

Men’s basketball

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. vs. Missouri

Baseball schedule this a-way

Events

(Grilled) Cheesin' for the Children

Thursday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.

Phi Mu House

Hip Hop Rebs Workshop

Thursday, Feb. 4, 7-8:15 p.m.

Student Commons in Residence Hall 2

“Being Black in Corporate America”

Monday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m.

Feminist Majority Foundation meeting

Monday, Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m.

RSVP online

Student Success Workshop: Time Management

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m.

Online

ASB 365

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Student Union Plaza

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