The University of Mississippi Staff Council

Minutes of the Meeting September 07, 2005 Union 404 A&B

Present: James Akey, Dotty Baker, Debbie Binkley, Debbie Bishop, David Blackmarr, Rachel Bost, Brenda Brannan, Joey Brent, Nina Cheshier, Kim Chrestman, Corrie Free, Mary Harrington, Carra Hewitt, Ron Kitchens, Ann Mason, Ardessa Minor, Traci Mitchell, Patti Mooney, Susan Neal, Paula Park, Deidra Phillips, Randall Pinion, Bettie Puckett, Laura Richlovsky, Amy Saxton, Karen Tuttle, Timothy Woodard

Excused: Pam Barefield, Cathy Grace, and Jennifer Pardoe

Unexcused: Robert Bishop and Jeff Howell

Call to Order: President Joey Brent called the meeting to order at 2:40 pm. President Brent announced that the Staff Council would be purchasing a brick in the Walk of Champions to honor Chancellor Khayat for his ten years of service and to thank him for his support of Staff Council. The brick was purchased with contributions from current and past Staff Council members.

President Brent then introduced Dr. Gloria Kellum, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, as the guest speaker.

Dr. Kellum began by thanking the Staff Council for its leadership and for being citizens who care. She stated that the contributions that made the renovations of the Depot possible are a good example of citizens who care.

Dr. Kellum, referring to the recent Katrina issues, acknowledged that the times are both upsetting and uplifting. She praised the Ole Miss family’s response over the past few weeks.

Dr. Kellum began discussing the history of the Depot as it relates to the University. Back in 1836 Dr. Thomas Isom was a citizen of Oxford who gave care to many people on the many trails of Mississippi. The area was important because of the Natchez Trace. His home was a meeting place for the founders of the new community that decided to name the community Oxford in the hopes of attracting a university. In 1844 the state legislature had one hundred twenty five thousand dollars, enough money to start a university. By one vote the legislatures decided to found the University in Oxford leading to a brawl on the floor of the legislature. The following year the newly appointed board of directors overseeing the University met in Oxford to draw up plans. The Martin and Stockard families gave the majority of the land to be used for the University. Those families originally bought the land from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians. The board hired William Nichols, a prominent architect of the time to design the University. The first building was the Lyceum, which was an exact copy of a building in Alabama. People gathered in what is now the circle for the dedication. But in 1861 the University closed down because there were no students due to the Civil War. Although Chancellor Barnard was a northerner and knew that he would attract some very negative attention he cleverly asked the faculty along with staff and their families to stay in what is now known as Barnard Observatory. He told them to open the University as a hospital during the Civil War to save it from being burned down.

In about 1856 trains began arriving in Oxford from Holly Springs, connecting Oxford to towns along the line from the Ohio to New Orleans. The great importance of the Depot as a center of transportation and communication led to its being burned during the Civil War.

After the Civil War the University began a period of unprecedented growth, in part due to the resurgence of traffic along the rail line. In 1866 the Depot was rebuilt as a wooden structure. The University began using the trains for a variety of purposes, including recruitment and for transporting the athletic teams to away games. Students arriving at school used the trains. Dr. Kellum mentioned a letter from A. B. Lewis from 1917 relating his experiences arriving as a freshman. He mentioned the passengers had to take their luggage up the hill to the Lyceum from the Depot. In 1872 the Depot was rebuilt as a brick structure. The new depot brought the town of Oxford and the University together as never before. The train station began to diminish in the mid 40’s due to students bringing their personal vehicles to campus.

After World War II America did not depend on trains for travel. The tracks were still functional for travel to special events but then it just quit and the Depot began to fall into disrepair. In 1983 the University purchased the Depot and by 1992 the University had the Depot declared a historical landmark in order to preserve the building. In 2000 the University began to find money to renovate and in 2001 the citizen’s tax dollars paid for the renovation of the Depot. In the renovation the construction company and the architect tried to keep as much of the original building as possible.

The Depot is now being used as a meeting place for the community. Continuing Studies books the building for special events. The Depot is a symbol of strength for Oxford, Lafayette and the University.

Dr. Kellum opened the floor for questions.

The Staff Council thanked Dr. Kellum for her time, the Ole Miss lapel pins, and the book “Comings and Goings”.

Approval of Minutes: The August 2005 minutes were approved with no corrections.

Treasurers Report: Nina Cheshier reported that expenditures were made in Contractual Services for signs for “Meet and Greet” and in commodities for batteries and tapes for the secretary. Significant expenditures were also made in the textbook scholarship account for purchases. There was also a $5.00 refund. The treasurer’s report was approved with no corrections.

Committee Reports: President Brent thanked Ron Kitchens for coordinating Meet and Greet days. Ron gave an update that this year the signs were a big help in letting the students know that some one was there to help.

Rachel Bost advised that $12000 was issued for the fall out of the textbook scholarship fund for staff. She noted that some faculty applied for the scholarship this fall, and she will change the wording on the web site to eliminate confusion about who is eligible for the textbook scholarships.

Old Business: President Brent advised that pictures from the Staff Council Awards Ceremony are available on the Staff Council website.

New Business: Nina issued a concern regarding the Willie Price daycare schedule. She advised the facility is only open nine months and there is a need for it to be available twelve months to service the staff. There is also a need for childcare at night. She stated that a committee will be formed to work on the issue of daycare.

President Brent advised that the new faculty and staff health service facility is available to current employees only and not to retirees.

President Brent advised that the Chancellor will ask his executive management team to encourage their employees to participate in Staff Council. This request was in response to an issue raised by some employees whose managers will not allow them to serve on the Staff Council.

President Brent suggested the Council might consider having a fundraiser which would provide funds for worthy causes such as the Katrina Hurricane Fund or other projects. The Chancellor suggested selling t-shirts on game day and possibly making Kinard parking lot a paid lot on game days.

President Brent reported that he asked the Chancellor if there was anything the Council could do for the Katrina relief effort, and the Chancellor said there are so many different undertakings already that the Council should just be available to volunteer wherever needed. Corrie Free talked with Donna Long, a United Way representative, and Donna told her that United Way needs help with start up items such as kitchen and bathroom items. Corrie will coordinate this project to get baskets with kitchen, bath, and school items.

President Brent advised that although Debbie Binkley was nominated for Staff Council member of the month for May, she was never given a gift. Her gift was two meal tickets from Aramark. Susan Neal is the Staff Council member of the month for September and will also receive two meal tickets, compliments of Aramark. Congratulations to both.

The next meeting will be October 5, 2005 at the Union, room 404 and the guest speaker will be Ms. Krhut, the Director of Housing. The November 2, 2005 meeting guest speaker will be Dr.Charlotte Oakley, the Director of NFSMI.

Deidra Phillips announced that Lafayette County Schools will send a bus to drop off children starting this month at the University. There is a $200.00 a month charge divided by all the children that ride the bus not per child. Contact Sherry Steen in Accounting (5494 or sherry@olemiss.edu) if you are interested in your child riding the bus.

Amy Saxton thanked the Staff Council for the help they provided during the move-in days in August.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:45.

/s/ Joey Brent, President

/s/ Ron Kitchens, President-Elect

/s/ Paula Park, Secretary

Staff Council e-mail address: staffcouncil@olemiss.edu

Staff Council Homepage: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/staff_council

Staff Council Webmaster: dptjb@olemiss.edu