I chose the University of Mississippi for my education in spite of my parents’ concern for me studying in a place famously known for its shameful role in the Civil Rights Movement. They recalled the terror of the 1962 riot and were not convinced it would be a safe place for me. However, as Christians, they believed God would protect me and trusted me to make my own decision.
I arrived in Oxford believing in its “New South” evolution. As a distinguished alumna with a master’s degree in Southern Studies and a career spent at the heart of Oxford’s cultural life—at Square Books and Thacker Mountain Radio—I was proud to be part of a community that seemed to be choosing courage over its history of silencing dissent. When I left Oxford, I enthusiastically shared my experience of a place that had clearly begun to reconcile its past through the rich and diverse culture it shares via food, literature, film, music and the arts.
Today, as Lauren Stokes proceeds with her trial against University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce, that pride has been replaced by a deep, hollow shame.
Lauren is a long-standing community member whose kindness and generosity are unmatched. Yet, the university, under the leadership of Chancellor Boyce, rewarded her professional dedication by firing her for a private social media share. Let us be clear: Lauren was terminated for exercising her First Amendment rights on her private account. By retaliating against an employee for resharing—without commentary—content regarding the public record of Charlie Kirk, the university has signaled that “civility” is merely a weapon used to enforce viewpoint conformity.
In his official statement on Sept. 11, 2025, Chancellor Boyce claimed that Lauren’s post ran “completely counter to our institutional values of civility, fairness, and respecting the dignity of each person.” As a scholar of the South, I recognize this rhetoric. “Civility” has historically been used in Mississippi as a euphemism to silence those who challenge the status quo or point out uncomfortable truths. When a public university defines “civility” as the absence of private political dissent, it ceases to be a marketplace of ideas and becomes a mechanism for state sanctioned compliance.
The university’s current legal defense—claiming that Lauren’s post was “disruptive”—is a dangerous reversal of cause and effect. The disruption to the university’s reputation was not caused by a private citizen’s Instagram share; it was catalyzed by an administration that chose to publicly target its own employee rather than uphold the constitutional principles it is mandated to defend. By aligning itself with a divisive ideology and punishing a woman of Lauren’s character, this administration has proven it has not learned the lessons of the past; it has simply updated the methods of retaliation.
I am writing from abroad because I know many in Oxford are currently too afraid to speak Lauren’s name for fear of being the next target. If a seasoned professional and beloved community member can be discarded for a “share” button, no one is safe. Oxford was the only
place that ever felt like “home” to me, but the landscape is changing with leadership that is prioritizing political allegiance over the law.
I urge Oxonians and Mississippians to stand up and be counted on the just and constitutional side of history. We must demand an administration that understands that true progress is measured by the protection of the unpopular voice. May Oxford be a place where freedom—not fear—reigns.
This MFP Voices opinion essay reflects the personal opinion of its author(s). The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.