A rose to Mississippi State University for its support of the inaugural “Unified Egg Bowl.’ The event, staged by Special Olympics Mississippi, featured a flag football game in which Special Olympians with intellectual disabilities played alongside students in an Ole Miss vs. MSU contest. MSU could have merely provided a venue for the game, but its contributions went far beyond that. Bulldog cheerleaders, members of the school’s pep band, the appearance of Miss MSU, Randi Kathryn Harmon, to sing the national anthem, provided a great atmosphere for the game. When the game shifts to the Ole Miss game next year, the Rebels will have a tough act to follow. The event raised more than $12,000 for Special Olympics Mississippi.
A thorn to the state college board, which voted unanimously last week to give Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum a 6-percent pay raise as part of his new four-year contract. While casting no aspersions on Keenum’s performance and noting he has not received a pay-raise since he became MSU president in 2009, it is the timing of the raise that is particularly troubling. The same week that the board was approving Keenum’s raise (which will pay him $454,700 annually), Mississippi State announced that it would raise tuition next year by a staggering 5 percent ($7,500 per student). Overall, college tuition in the state will increase by 3.2 percent. While Keenum’s raise is of little consequence where the rising cost of college is concerned, it sends a terrible message to MSU students and their parents. Keenum should refuse the raise as a show of support for those students. It would be a small sacrifice to make.
A rose to the Columbus City Council which voted 3-2 against a proposal that would have opened the door for cellphone companies to erect towers in residential neighborhoods. C Spire made the pitch, but in the absence of any evidence that erecting these towers was an essential need, the council acted wisely in voting against the proposal. Columbus does not have the sprawling residential areas found in the big suburbs of major cities. As is, towers can be erected in all areas not zoned residential. While it may be convenient for cellphone companies to locate their towers in neighborhoods, there has been no evidence provided that it is essential.
A rose to the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau for their collaboration in building a second dog park in the city, this one located at the Columbus Soccer Complex. As it was once noted, “When you see fat dog, it’s a sign that owner needs more exercise.” The $32,000 complex, then, gives dog owners an opportunity to make sure their pets get the exercise they need. The city also has a dog park at Propst Park. Providing these parks not only promotes good health for pets, but eliminates the need to walk dogs in areas of the city that are not meant for that activity. We welcome the addition of the new park, which will open before year’s end.
Send your suggestions for Roses and thorns to Slim Smith at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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