Debate

People are starting to ask us about the rationale for having the debate at Ole Miss. Here's what I say. These words and thoughts are only mine, not the University's.

Why are we having this debate?

It’s about students if we do it right.
Provide exceptional opportunities.
To see first-hand, to experience.
To speak, to debate, to engage, to think, to act.
This is "our" world being handed off to them. Challenge all look at it, examine, explore, question, challenge and change it.


We do this by access. By classes. By informal discussions. By formal discussions. By thoughts. By different thoughts. By panels. By experts. By symposia. By a free flow of ideas. We do this by challenging our students to take part in this Republic, to engage in the democratic process. This is a chance to show our students this is a world they will ultimately inherit and they should do so only by developing new and better expectations.


Expose students to ideas. People. Philosophies. Crude political power. Money. Influence. Negotiation. Compromise. Uncomfortable situations.


This is the purpose of college. Why shouldn’t our students become leaders by seeing up close and first-hand the rotten, but necessary process of making the sausage aka the choosing of a presidential leader.


The purpose of a University is to pass along and create new knowledge. A great University does not pass up the opportunity to expose its students, staff and faculty to our political process. Universities and schools because of their dedication to truth and ideas is exactly where a debate should be held. It’s where Socrates would have it. A public forum with columns no less.


While other Universities did pass up the opportunity because of the many hassles, ours did not. We jumped on this opportunity. We worked for this opportunity. We planned for this opportunity. There was nothing accidental about this. Our University has grown having gone through this sometimes painful process. Because we have done this, we now know and expect we will do even more.


We are asking the world to look at our venue. Our university, our state, our region and our people; warts and all. We are to be respected for accepting the challenge.


Yes it costs money.

Yes we spent thousands of hours pursuing, planning and executing.

In doing so, U of Mississippi moves up in hierarchy of the college ranks.

When people ask me about Mississippi and its young people, I often tell them I’ll put my students toe to toe with theirs, anywhere, anytime and with anyone. It’s about building a new confidence. It’s about having the faith we will pull this off.


Is this also a self-serving event. Damn right it is. And it’s a gamble and we should be proud. We are the little town and the growing university that could. We are taking our place. We are becoming known. We are continually creating and recreating our image. Our new image is one of confidence, assuredness and the willingness to take a chance, to dare ourselves to do better. Who wins? We do. Our students do. Our university does. Our city does. Our state does. Our region does. The honest examination of race does.


Do we want to be known around the world? Yes we do. Don’t you dare deny that. We have world class success stories. We have incredible history we have learned from and been formed from.


It’s for our students.

It’s the duty of a university to step forward as the forum for such an important discussion.

It’s good for our institution and the students who will come here years from now.

It’s good for our alumni base who will bask in pride seeing their alma mater shine.


Of course it’s about presidential politics, debate, and the flawed process that is our democracy, but in the context of this big event, our students will be serve superbly and this University will benefit greatly. All naysayers are welcome to keep their asses at the house.


I call it courage.


I call it smart.


A day off school. If ever there was a reason to drop a day of school it’s to enlighten, embolden, empower and challenge our young people who are inheriting what we left them.


Let’s hope they do better. That’s what we are preparing them for.


Ralph Braseth