This web site is defunct. An updated version will be coming soon. Sorry for the inconvenience.
EBook: Living in Oxford
Housing [this section
needs help]: There are three basic options available:
university dorm housing, university village housing, and renting in town.
Here's a brief run down on each. University Dorm Housing:
Obviously we need someone with the experience to write us something. Personally, I lived in Kincannon for a while when I got here, but my experience is probably atypical and was some time ago. --editor
University Village Housing (for married
students, students with children, and single graduate students): The
bottom line on the University's Village Housing is that for
most
people, it's a tolerable housing alternative if you're having problems
finding a place to stay in Oxford, or you are coming to Ole Miss from a
distance, which precludes you from making an informed decision. I came
to the university from California without visiting Oxford, so I was
unable
to research the ins and outs of housing options such as relative cost,
landlord/lady performance and honesty, location, etc., before arriving.
I lived in an efficiency (studio) apartment in the Village for one semester,
before moving elsewhere; here's my honest take on the Village, with some
positive and negative aspects of this living option.
The Ole Miss Department of Student Housing
accepts applications for the efficiency (studio), one-, and two-bedroom
apartments on an ongoing basis, and assigns them first to married students
and students with children. Any remaining efficiency apartments may be
assigned to single graduate students, and a handful usually seem to be
available. Efficiencies and one-beds are available furnished with a full
bed, as well as dinette table and four chairs, occasional chair, table,
lamp,
and sofa. The furniture was rather old though fully functional in my unit,
although you could feel the springs while sitting on the sofa. The bed
wasn't too bad. Unfurnished one-beds are also available, while all the
two-beds are unfurnished. Efficiencies and one-beds contain four-burner
electric ranges and full-size fridges, while two-beds only contain a gas
range (i.e. bring your own fridge). As for heating/cooling, the units have
old heaters (I could never get mine to work), and no a.c., which is definitely
a bother. You must supply your own window unit, or
else
crouch in front of the open fridge door. As of Fall 1998, the following
fee schedule applies for one semester's stay (generally, one day before
classes begin through the last day of finals): $1252.70 for efficiencies
and unfurnished one-beds, $1291.40 for one-bed furnished, and $1387 for
the two-beds. These fees include utilities (except phone) and expanded
cable and are assessed at the beginning of the semester. Tenants may not
keep pets in any units, though one observes a few aberrations in this respect.
Village housing offers several benefits.
Located in the southwest corner of campus, it is within a ten or fifteen
minute walk of everything on campus. The English Department and the library
are among the closest buildings, about five to ten minutes by foot. Another
main benefit is the relative ease with which a potential graduate student
can obtain a Village apartment. Most married students and students with
children should have no problem, as long as you turn in an application
a.s.a.p. The same goes for single graduate students. As mentioned above,
the Village is a good choice for someone who has not had a chance to thoroughly
look into off-campus housing in Oxford: the Dept. of Housing only requires
a small deposit to hold your place, and provides the assurance that you
will have a place to live when you arrive, unlike mailing money to landowners
for sight-unseen places, which you might find unsuitable or even occupied
when
you and all your stuff show up.
Also, the University only requires a one-semester lease, giving you the
flexibility to search for another place to live during the next term, if
so desired. Financially, the Village is also a good choice, as you're hard-pressed
to find off-campus housing that includes utilities and cable at its prices.
Each building also houses a small laundry room, which is cheaper than those
in town, and usually not very crowded. As for the Village population, it's
mostly composed of international students, many of whom keep to themselves,
but the atmosphere is friendly and you should find the opportunity to make
friends outside of the English Department.
Despite these benefits, many people ultimately
end up looking elsewhere for housing. Frankly, the Village is probably
the most neglected housing on campus. During my stay, there were mattresses,
crates of old shoes, a broken air conditioner, and malfunctional fridge
in my second floor hallway. Rusted bicycles and trash were strewn across
the rarely-mowed grass, and the premises generally bore the remnants of
previous tenants. The University just seems to let things go in this corner
of campus, as it generally houses students who lack the leverage with administration
to make changes. The heating and cooling situation is pretty bad, as it
is preposterous that the University refuses to air-condition the domiciles
of its highest-degree-seeking students and their children. A look at the
new housing built for University athletes immediately indicates the administration's
priorities. Although there has been talk of renovations in the Village,
this has not yet begun, and is sure to be on a very extended time line.
Another big problem with this housing arises from its proximity to several
fraternity houses. Consequentially, it can get pretty loud at times, especially
during weekend parties when bands may play up until two a.m. The parking
lots closest to the frat houses are frequently littered with trash, and
the site of occasional hit-and-run accidents. Worst of all, broken bottles
dot the lawns where Village children play.
In spite of any apparent ire in the preceding
paragraph, the Village is a convenient housing option for some people,
depending on individual expectations and desires, though most individuals
tend to regard it as temporary housing. If possible, take a look at this
living option if you visit Ole Miss, and ask a resident or the housing
dept. to let you inside a unit. For more info., call (601) 915-7373 and
request a brochure. If you can't visit, call the English Dept. and ask
for the phone number of someone who has lived in the Village, before committing
yourself.
Off-campus Housing:
Utilities: Here's
a quick guide to getting your home connected to the utility services here
in Oxford.
Electric, Water, Sewer, Trash:
The City of Oxford Electric Department is your one stop for these services.
Located at the back of the lobby in City Hall, they promise same day connection
if they receive your order and deposit before 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday. They require a deposit of $135.00 from renters. Call them at 915-2363.
Gas: Entex, located on Highway
6 east just west of the Oxford West exit (at West Jackson Avenue), requires
a deposit of $75.00 and charges a one-time turn-on fee of $10 that will
appear on your first month's bill. Normally service will be connected on
the next day after an order is placed, but they can become back ordered
during busy service times (the times when most of you will be moving to
town); expect a wait of "a couple of days." While the service person is
at your house, you should ask him or her to check your lines and light
your pilots to make sure that your service is safe. Note: unless your hot
water is heated with gas, you can wait until October or November to turn
the gas service on. You will save a good bit on monthly service charges.
Phone: 234-6411.
Telephone: BellSouth will charge
you a connection fee of $46.00 for any new or transferred account. Multiple
lines are an additional $13, only if you order the additional lines at
the same time as the first. They will perform a credit check, and if a
deposit is required you will need to bring $75.00 and a picture I.D. to
a BellSouth payment center. Some service options include unlimited area
calling with Complete Choice service (every special service like Call Waiting
and Caller ID for no additional charge) for $70.00 a month. The local calling
plan (all calls outside of Oxford billed as long distance) with the Complete
Choice service runs $35.00 a month. Basic Unlimited is $16.20 a month.
Individual services can be added onto Basic Unlimited: Call Waiting for
$3.75, Caller ID for $7.50, etc. Call 557-6500 and hit 3 for new service;
from outside MS dial 1-800-945-6500. Telephone bills can be paid by mail
or in person at Chaney's Pharmacy on University Avenue.
Cable T.V.: Galaxy Cablevision
is currently charging a connection fee of $19.05 for residences that have
previously had cable service and $35.00 plus first month's service for
new locations. Service will be connected in 3-5 days after the order is
placed. Their Basic Expanded Service runs $29.81 for approximately 40 stations.
Ask for the price for premium services (they also have a very basic service
with just the networks and a very few "cable" stations) when you call to
connect. Dial 1-800-365-6988 and ask for Pam.
Internet Service: please see the section on the University, Getting Connected to an Internet Service for information on how to get an on-line connection at your home.
Banking: Oxford
has six institutions, each of which offers a wide variety of services to
help you manage your money. What follows is a brief summary of the service
that most of us require first: basic checking. Bank of Mississippi: has two branches,
one at 517 South Lamar and another at 1629 West Jackson Avenue. Their ATMs
are located at the two branches (drive-through service) and at the Student
Union on campus. Bank of Mississippi offers an "Absolutely Free Checking"
account for students at Ole Miss with no minimum balance, no per check
charge, automatic bank drafts, unlimited check writing, no monthly maintainance
charge, first 200 Image Checks printed free, and MPACT ATM card with worldwide
ATM access. They asked us to remind you that even "Absolutely Free" accounts
have to have money in them to work; the standard Non Sufficient Funds (overdaft)
charge of $22.00 applies to these accounts as well. Bank of Mississippi
also offers a variety of other accounts including Regular Checking (free
for those with balance above $800), premium Crown Services accounts, special
options for people over 65, and INFOLINE call in banking. There is a fee
of $1.00 for using your MPACT card at an ATM that belongs to another bank
or financial institution.
First National Bank of Oxford:
The folks at First National say that most of their student customers open
First Checking Accounts. They require $100 minimum balance to open the
account, and charge a maintenance fee of $3.00 for every statement cycle.
They also charge a transaction fee of $.20 for every debit transaction
(withdrawal, check paid, automatic transfer, or payment out of the account,
including ATM withdrawals). Deposits at ATMs (without account numbers)
cost $5.00. They charge $1.50 for cash withdrawl from nonproprietary ATMs.
Their ATMs are located inside the main branch on the square, in the student
union on campus, and--soon--at the University branch near the mall on Jackson
Avenue.
Mechanics Bank: is located on University
Avenue across from the Sonic, with a branch and ATM located inside Larson's
Big Star food store (also on University Ave.). They offer a regular checking
account with a minimum initial deposit of $100 and a graduated fee schedule.
With monthly balance above $500 there is no charge; $400-$499.99 costs
$3.00 per month, $300-$399.99 costs $4.00, and a balance less than $300
per month brings a fee of $5.00. There are no additional charges for the
number of checks you write or deposits you make.
Merchants & Farmer's Bank: is
located on Jackson Avenue on the Oxford Square, with branches in the Tradewinds
shopping center on University Avenue and on West Jackson Avenue. ATMs are
located at each of those locations and also at The Brittany Store, 1903
West Jackson (a gas and sip). Merchant's & Farmer's offers a Personal
Valuechek account with a minimum opening deposit of $25.00 and a monthly
maintenance fee of $2.95. The first order of checks and the "Max" ATM card
are free. Your first 25 debits are free with debits over the limit costing
$.20 each. All credit items (deposits) are, you guessed it, free. There
is an early closing fee of $10.00 that will be assessed if the account
is closed within 90 days of opening. There is an monthly ATM usage fee
of $.50, a debit card fee of $.50 per month following the first (free)
year. There is a $1.00 charge for withdrawal from a non-proprietary ATM.
The Personal Checking option requires a minimum opening balance of $100
and requires a monthly balance of $500 to avoid a service charge.
SouthBank: is located on the North
Side of the Oxford Square, with a drive-through branch just down the block
on West Jackson. They offer a budget checking account that rquires a $100.00
minimum opening balance. They limit debit transactions to twenty per month,
with additional transactions (withdrawal, check paid, automatic transfer,
or payment out of the account) charged $.15 each. Cancelled checks are
not returned with the statement. SouthBank offers Permacheck ATM and Debit
cards with a separate schedule of fees, including $5.00 for a new card's
PIN number set up and $1.00 per month charge (regardless of whether the
card is used or not). SouthBank does not own an ATM in the Oxford area,
but will refund up to five foreign ATM charges occuring on your monthly
statement. SouthBank also offers a variety of services for those wishing
to receive interest on their checking balance.
Union Planters Bank: is also located
on the square, with a branch on University Avenue across from the Kroger.
Their ATMs are located at the two branches (drive through on University
Ave), at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi, and at WalMart. Union
Planters offers a UP Budget Checking Account with one low monthly fee ($5.00
at the time of writing), 10 checks per month, and a charge of $.25 for
each check over 10. This account also receives a free ATM card. UPPersonal
Cheking allows you to avoid a service charge as long as you maintain a
monthly service charge--which their literature fails to specify. The account
allows for unlimited check writing, an Annie Cash Card with free, unlimited
use or an Annie Check Card that works like a reusable check. They also
have several interest-earning checking account available.
Residency and Voting:
Civic duty aside, it is a good idea to
establish residency in Lafayette County (once you learn how to pronounce
it) for monetary reasons. The M.A. program offers three years of funding,
the Ph.D. five, and if you happen to remain at the university longer than
that, you will want to pay in-state tuition rather than out-of-state. Procedures
for establishing residency are quite simple: go to the second floor of
the Courthouse and fill out two forms. You are then awarded official residence
in Lafayette County and given a voting card which indicates where your
voting station is located. After that, you'll need to get a Lafayette County
license plate for your car. Do that on the first floor of the Courthouse.
Car taxes and tags are relatively inexpensive in Mississippi, so it may
be in your best financial interest to make this change as soon as you can.
For the fiscal year 1998, for example, taxes on a 1995 Honda Accord amounted
to approximately $87.00, although the primary charge to register your vehicle
may be more than that.
Health Care: Each graduate student receives information
about the university-sponsored
insurance
plan each year. While it is an individual decision whether or not to sign
up for this plan, most English graduate students opt not to. The plan is
primarily major medical and horror stories circulate about what procedures
are not covered. Even without the university insurance plan,
any
student who pays tuition can visit the Student Health Center for standard
medical treatments. The doctor visits cost nothing, although any lab work
is charged to the student. (Many graduate students get their flu shots
at the Center.) The Center has a good, relatively cheap pharmacy, and any
costs incurred at the Center can be charged to the student's Bursar account.
Due to a measles outbreak in the 80s,
Ole Miss demands that each incoming student have a vaccination record indicating
two MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) immunizations. If you cannot locate your
vaccination record or only have had one MMR shot, you can get this immunization
at the Student Health Center for a reasonable price.
Some graduate students prefer to find
a way to acquire private medical insurance and to visit doctors and pharmacies
in town. Most of them are very good, although many doctors' offices only
file state insurance or Blue Cross/Blue Shield claims for the patient.
This erstwhile graduate student recommends the following doctors: Anita
Adams (GP), Mona Castle (GP), William Henderson (OBGYN), Harvey Leslie
(DDS), and William Mayo (eye). Most doctors' offices are located near Baptist
Memorial Hospital on South Lamar.
Child Care: We did a quick survey of folks in the
department with children in day care, and came up with three facilities
that our colleagues use and endorse.
Willie Price University Nursery School
is located on campus, in Meek Hall. They offer both full and half-day child
care. The cost for a half day is $139.00 per month, while $225.00 will
ensure full-day care for your child. There are additional costs, however,
including an annual enrollment fee of $75.00 as well as an annual art supply
fee of $25.00. The nursery accepts children from age 3, with potty training
required. There is also a waiting list which varies in length from one
semester to two, depending on the number of families applying.
Offering child care from a very young
age (6 weeks pre-K) Mother Goose is the service most frequently
used by our faculty members with children. Mother Goose provides
all-day care at the following rates: for babies to 2 years of age, $300.00
per month; for children of 3 or older, $270.00 per month.
The First Baptist Church also provides
full day care for ages 1-4. The prices are as follows: one year olds, $275.00;
two year olds, $270.00; three and four year olds, $250.00.
There are a host of other options that
can be found in the BellSouth yellow pages. Caring for children while you
are in graduate school can be a terrific challenge. We wish you and your
family the best of luck in finding a caregiving situation that fits your
needs and means.
Animal Care: You cannot go wrong in terms of animal
care in Oxford. There are three clinics available for veterinary service:
Animal Care Center, Animal Clinic of Oxford, and Lafayette Animal Clinic.
Each has an excellent reputation, qualified doctors and staff, and emergency
services. A regular checkup with vaccinations usually runs around $40.00.
Basic pet supplies are available at Wal-Mart and you can buy pet food at
any grocery store. If you require special pet food, it is available at
any of the three veterinary clinics.
If
you are interested in acquiring a pet in Oxford, there is only one animal
shelter -- the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society on Highway 7. It is a small
facility and, given the stray animal population in the area, must euthanize
a goodly number of animals per year. However, the staff is
dedicated
and every effort is made to adopt as many pets out as possible. The shelter
employs standard adoption procedures -- applicants must fill out an adoption
form and agree to have the pet spayed or neutered within a given period
of time. The staff tends not to visit the applicant's home, but they do
reserve the right to do so. They will check to make sure that pets are
allowed in the applicant's home, if s/he is renting, so don't try to pull
a fast one. The adoption charge is usually around $45.00, the pet is given
a vaccination on the spot, and the first veterinary visit is free.
The shelter staff usually recommend the
Animal Clinic of Oxford, but the applicant can choose any of the three
available clinics. Two staff members, Deniese Thweatt and Vicki Ferguson,
will pet-sit, independent of the shelter -- just call the shelter to set
up the schedule and payment with them.
Food: For a town of its size, Oxford has a surprisingly
large number of restaurants. You will find all the fast food places your
heart might desire out on West Jackson and on University by Kroger, but
if you are in the mood for something more than a Happy Meal, you might
try some of the following places. As you explore Oxford, you will no doubt
discover places where you like to eat, but in the mean time, here are a
few suggestions for places that will fit most graduate students' budgets.
Like any respectable Southern town, Oxford
has its share of barbecue places. Handy Andy's carries on the tradition
of a barbecue place looking like a converted grocery store, right down
to the torn screen door (unless they fixed it since I was last there).
The booths are a bit torn and very comfortable, and in addition to barbecue
at lunch and dinner, you can get a fried pie or a pork biscuit for breakfast.
Not everyone knows that you can get barbecue at the drive through
Rebel
Barn. It's pretty good (I like the spicy sauce) and some people will
kill for one of their barbecue sundaes (worth looking into: it's probably
not what you are thinking). In the wintertime, this is the only place in
town to get a cold beer--they store the beer outside and it reaches a nice
drinking temperature. Pretty tricky, huh? Dixie Creek Barbecue is
a little more chi-chi (in the sense that they bring you your order after
you place it at the counter) and they have really good french fries. Dixieland
Barbecue is also worth a try--find it in the corner beside Big Star.
Pizza places are ubiquitous in Oxford.
No one seems to know why, but they pop up everywhere. You will probably
just have to shop around to find your favorite, but here are a few places
to try. Proud Larry's serves pizza by the slice during lunch and
dinner. They put some herbs and stuff into their crust which I think makes
it really good, but other people find it kind of distracting. Larry's
also serves good salads, sandwiches, and pastas. Old Venice Pizza Co.
Serves about a billion different kinds of pizza, with toppings that range
from the exotic (pine nuts: yum!) to the everyday (pepperoni). Chances
are you can find something you like there. You might also want to try Dino's
and Pizza Den. In addition, there are two Pizza Huts (why,
please, do we need two?), a Domino's, and a Papa John's.
Unlike pizza, ethnic food is not so easily
found in Oxford. Of the Chinese places in town, Ruby Chinese seems
to be most everyone's favorite. As the only Mexican restaurant in town,
El
Charro would probably get lots of business even if it wasn't really
cheap and fast. Nobody pretends that it is authentic (with its canned salsa
and processed cheese), but the waiters are friendly and darn if there aren't
some nights (or days?) when those margueritas don't just hit the spot.
Kalo's
Tavern is a "Greek" restaurant that serves things like hummus and wraps.
The food has been a bit inconsistent, but it has changed owners recently
and so is certainly worth a try. Don Pancho's is a small and comfortable
Caribbean restaurant that is run by a mother and son. The menu changes
every day, but everything is fresh and well spiced. Try the catfish with
garlic sauce--it is yummy. Be sure to bring wine with you if you want it;
they do not have a liquor license. Make a reservation if you really want
to eat here. A few restaurants around town will occasionally offer some
ethnic dishes on their menu, particularly the Henry Cafe. The Henry
doesn't serve meat--just fish--and this year, Thursday has been sushi night,
and they offer an Indian plate on Saturday nights. Both of these have always
been good bets, worth going out of your way for. By the time you read this,
the Henry will have opened a tapas bar next door (The
Jubilee Lounge). If the rest of the food is any indication, the new
bar will be a welcome addition to Oxford.
Ajax Diner has good Southern food--I
really like the twice-baked potatoes, and I smuggle the hush puppies home
in my pockets. The Yocona River Inn is one of my favorite places
to eat, not only because the food is really good (get a house salad--yum
yum!), but the 10 mile drive makes me feel like I really have a life. Yocona
is another brown bag place, and it is one of the only restaurants open
on Sunday nights.
Of the two bakeries in town, Bottletree
and
Trigo
Plant, I like the Trigo better, but since there is no place
to sit down and eat there, it is really more of a place to pass through
than a destination. The Bottletree has good coffee and substantial
(if a little pricey) sandwiches at lunch. For heartier breakfasts and cheap
plate lunches and dinners, check out Smitty's and The Beacon.
Smitty's,
incidentally, is the only place in town to serve breakfast all day long
(excepting, of course, The Huddle House, which is much like Huddle
Houses elsewhere). The Henry sometimes serves a fine Sunday brunch.
If it is only a cup of coffee you are looking for, and maybe a light snack
too, consider the cafe upstairs at Square Books. It's good, strong,
New Orleans coffee, and if the weather is nice, there is no nicer view
of the Square than from the balcony. And if you sip inside, you get to
enjoy the smell of new books.
City Grocery and Downtown Grill
are the two fine dining restaurants in Oxford. Both are too expensive for
the typical graduate student's budget--unless you are dating a doctor in
town--but perhaps you can think of them when a parent visits or a bond
matures. The Downtown Grill offers typical country club fare--steaks,
chicken, and pasta. Its dark wood and green carpet and waiters that don't
quite know what they are doing reinforce this theme. City Grocery
offers what is probably the most interesting food in Oxford. Its menu,
which changes seasonally, often makes creative use of local ingredients
and international influences. The wood floors and brick walls reveal its
former life as a livery stable, but they also make for an interesting atmosphere.
Beware--on busy nights and football weekends, those lovely walls often
turn the restaurant into an echo chamber. Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the above essay are the opinions
of our food guru and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor
of this book, the Department of English, the EGSB, or anyone else worth
suing.
Entertainment: Things
to do in Oxford (when you're not dead) . . . Okay, so you've had a nice meal and you're
itching to do something, but you're just not sure what that something
is. Below is a list of some ideas that may eat up some of that spare time
you know you should be spending academically. Hey, there are those
days when reading another book of criticism just might make you scream.
The following are ranked by the author and imply nothing other than one
person's opinion--albeit an expert opinion.
Bars: #1--The City Grocery: No, it's
nothing like the name implies, although at one time it was a real mom and
pop grocery store. The bar entertains a fairly laid back crowd--an equal
mix of Oxonians and Ole Miss students (mostly graduate level). Talk over
spirits is the status quo. Happy hour runs from 4-6 (1/2 price beer and
well drinks). They've got a couple of televisions, so you can watch the
latest SEC game. Features a local blues or jazz band weekly. They've a
cd juke box and a shuffleboard table for those more adventurous types.
For those warmer days, there'sa balcony overlooking the square.
The bar features odd artwork--the not-so-subliminal hidden word, and what's
up with the upside down Christmas tree? The bartenders pride themselves
in making the best drinks in town. Martinis and the Scotty Colada are specialties.
A great place to bring or find a date.
#2--Murff's: It advertises itself
as "The Center of Life" and although that's a bit debatable, a great sudsing
place that serves great short order food. The mix tends to swing a bit
toward locals, but not in an uncomfortable fashion. They have a fine deck
for those nice spring-early summer days. Music tends to get loud as the
night progresses. They've got a pool table, a dart board, a shuffleboard
table, and the owners pride themselves in following sporting events on
a pair of televisions. Murff's has a second downstairs bar that's open
periodically. There are drink specials and bands by announcement. Their
specialty is stiff well drinks.
#3--Proud Larry's: A great place
to eat and drink if you don't mind the wait. Service is notoriously slow.
Features the best bands in town, hands down. They have featured alternative,
jazz, blues, and rock bands including Warren Zevon, Mose Allison, and the
like. They've drink specials by announcement, often in conjunction with
local sporting events. Clientele is mostly undergraduates.
Other Bars: The Jubilee Lounge--Recently opened to
rave reviews. Large pints of tasty imported brew are a bit pricy, but for
quiet conversation and the company of friends, perhaps the best place in
town.
The Gin--An undergraduate hangout. Serves
food. Has a wonderful and huge outside bar during the warmer seasons.
The Sports Bar--An undergraduate hangout
with great pool tables. Expensive pool rates.
Lyric Hall--Features bands in a concert-like
setting.
To take a chance on: Holiday Inn, Duffy's,
Forrester's, Opal's, Full Moon.
Movies: Well,
there's only one place . . .
Cine 4: Located in the Oxford Mall,
it's your standard small town theater. It has four screens as the name
implies and shows mostly the big hits. A fairly good atmosphere, but if
you really want to see that movie go to Memphis. For art films,
small films, or films with three-syllable words, again you're bound for
Memphis.
Movie Rentals: As Seen on TV: Located on the Square,
this place has an odd assortment of blockbusters, hard to find hits, art
films, and weird films. A bit pricey, but they also sell beer. A truly
odd and wonderful place.
Blockbuster: Just like the other
thousands around the country. Has specials, the biggest numbers of the
biggest hits.
Take Two: The place has two locations
in town and you're liable to find a better selection of those harder to
find favorites. Prices are good.
Video Midtown: A good selection
of hard to find favorites--which in this case means that they have a lot
of good movies and films, but they are physically hard to find on the shelves.
They have a very odd way of arranging things. Figure on spending time actually
finding what you're looking for, or make it easy on yourself and just ask.
Good prices--and tanning in the back.
Readings and Lectures: Square Books/Off Square Books: Owner
Richard Howorth does an excellent job pulling in some of the biggest name
writers of our time to read from and sign their books. Recent writers have
included a cross-section of the finest popular, literary, and children's
writers from across the United States. If you haven't read at Square Books,
you're not a name. Watch for periodic announcements--usually a major reading
every 2 weeks or so.
Sigma Tau Delta: Has an average
of 4-6 readings per year. Features local and student writers and open microphone
performances. Watch for announcements of place and time.
Brown Bag Lunches: Features readings
and critical discussions over various topics of interest several times
during each semester. Yes, you can bring your lunch. Watch for postings.
The English Department, as one might expect,
does a great job in featuring literary and critical readers. Watch
for announcements in the Daily Mississippian and around Bishop Hall.
Other readings not to be missed:
John and Renee Grisham Visiting Writers Series, Oxford Conference on the
Book, Faulkner Conference, Southern Writers/Southern Writing Conference,
Savage Lecture, Longest Lecture (yes, that's the real name), etc.
Plays: Ole
Miss has several play series throughout the year backed by the Theater
Department and various conference tie-ins, in addition to sponsoring professional
troupe visits periodically. They are usually good and fairly cheap. Order
tickets ahead of time.
Outdoor Recreation--Camping, Fishing, Picnicking,
Hiking: #1--Sardis Lake: A rather large
and fairly well kept National Park. Hiking, camping, picnicking are great.
Fishing is rumored to be great although this writer has had little luck.
Best non-boat fishing is off the dam. Stop by the Oxford Tourism Council
for more specific information on Sardis and for information concerning
other lakes in the Oxford area. For fishing and hiking trails, ask the
eco-folk in the department and they'll point you in the right direction.
The park hosts a great wetlands trail--don't laugh, it's not what you think.
Remember in Mississippi fishing and hunting licenses expire in the middle
of summer. Don't ask why; it's a Mississippi thing.
#2--Rowan Oak: While picnicking
and such is not allowed at Rowan Oak, there is a well kept trail you can
walk in Faulkner's woods. Takes about an hour, depending on how industrious
you are.
#3--Avent Park: If you just want
to play frisbee, ball, or have a nice picnic, it's a well-kept little park
in town. It has a frisbee golf course and swing sets. Here's to the kid
in all of us!
Physical
Recreation: At Ole Miss
and in the Oxford area one finds a health-conscious and fitness-minded
community--one is tempted to describe it as a youth-culture. Sports, fitness,
and recreation are socially acceptable, almost de rigeur, so graduate students
should make the most of area opportunities to work off stress and avoid
that sagging, chain-smoking, stereotype of the modern European intellectual.
Walking, jogging, and cycling are perhaps
the prime activities for keeping in shape in Oxford, and these offer equal
access to the number one pastime in the region--socializing. Many of the
streets are equipped with sidewalks, and drivers around town are for the
most part accustomed to
sharing the
road with exercising students and locals. Oxford is a fairly safe environment
for nighttime walking and running. Hash House Harriers hold regular runs
on Fridays open to all, and different organizations sponsor run/walk events
throughout the year. Informal cycling groups for serious riders stage weekend
rides, and a number of trails and nearby lakes provide locations for mountain-biking.
The Turner Center Recreation complex on
campus is free to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students who
have paid their activity fees. The Center contains a pool, racquetball
courts, basketball courts, and a walking track. An informal group of faculty
and students gather for racquetball at noon on weekdays. Aerobics classes
are offered for a small additional fee. The weight room has recently been
renovated and contains the latest cardio-vascular equipment, strength machines,
and free weights. Expect the Center to be crowded at peak afternoon hours.
The university sponsors intramural sports that are open to graduate students
in tennis,
basketball, flag football
etc. Off-campus gyms are also available for those able to afford it.
Campus and city are equipped with a number
of tennis courts, including four courts at Avent Park, another eight at
the Leslie Complex, and eight courts behind the Education building.
In
the spring and summer months members of various departments including our
own gather for Sunday softball. Skill levels vary, as does participation
on a given day. See our chair, Dan, for further details.
Whatever you do, rest assured that your
work will benefit and that you'll feel better about yourself if you make
time for your body's need for exercise.
Other Things to Do (A
Top 10 List): #10--Go to Oxford's First Tuesday celebration
#9--Watch
power walkers from the City Grocery balcony
#8--Visit
the University Museum and student galleries
#7--Spit
into the kudzu from the University Street bridge
#6--Attend
an Associated Graduate Student Body meeting
#5--Attend
an English Graduate Student Body meeting
#4--Attend
a meeting of Cell Block 8 at Parchman Prison
#3--Join
Sigma Tau Delta
#2--Try to guess how
old that chicken on a stick really is
#1--Tour
Rowan Oak in your pajamas
