UM Big Event

Maggie Coakley

Students at the University of Mississippi will make history as they join together on March 26 to show the Oxford community their appreciation through the UM Big Event.

The Big Event is an extensive, one-day community service project that will reach the Oxford/Lafayette County community and gives students the opportunity to say thanks to their college town. The idea was originally started at Texas A&M and has since spread to many colleges and universities including Virginia Tech, Oklahoma University, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Chelsea Caveny, co-director of marketing for the Big Event, first got involved last year when former student body president, Artair Rogers, introduced the event and decided it was something that should be brought to the Ole Miss campus.

“[Artair] realized that the message of the Big Event was something that Chancellor Jones would really support and a great way for students to give back to the city of Oxford” said Caveny. The final decision was made to bring the event to the Ole Miss campus; ASB president, Virginia Burke and Director of Community Service, Sarah Rogers started planning early as to introduce and initiate the event.

This event will be the largest community service project in the history of Ole Miss. “Our goal for student participation on March 26^th is 1,000 students. We are over half way there and I’m excited to see our final count…” said Caveny. The UM Big Event posters tell students to sign up and help make history on the Ole Miss campus as well as in the Oxford community.

Volunteers will spend the day of March 26 working in various areas of the community and will complete tasks and services that include painting, yard work, washing windows, cleaning, assisting the elderly and much more.

Clancy Piazza, a graduating senior from Jackson, Miss, plans to sign up as a volunteer for the big day. “I have loved Oxford since before I even started going to school at Ole Miss. As I am about to graduate I can’t think of a better way to show my appreciation to the community” said Piazza.

Many students are excited about the event and hope that this year is successful enough that the UM Big Event will become an annual Ole Miss event.

“The Big Event is the type of thing that people can really easily connect and relate to, and that, in combination with the support of administration and faculty, will keep the Big Event coming back” said Caveny.

Registration for the event will begin at 7:30 am on March 26^th at Union Plaza and by 2:00pm all projects around the community hope to be completed. Students can sign up as a volunteer or group leader on the Ole Miss website as well as the UM Big Event table in the Student Union.