{"id":148312,"date":"2025-04-08T14:27:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T19:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=148312"},"modified":"2025-04-08T14:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T19:28:27","slug":"ole-miss-opens-its-doors-for-a-day-of-discovery-and-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/ole-miss-opens-its-doors-for-a-day-of-discovery-and-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Ole Miss Opens Its Doors for a Day of Discovery and Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mississippi Day is an interactive open house showcasing learning, activities and community spirit<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Marisa C. Atkinson<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0University of Mississippi<\/strong>\u00a0campus will be all abuzz with activities April 12 as it hosts its annual\u00a0Mississippi Day<\/strong>. This ultimate outdoor open house will celebrate and showcase the opportunities the flagship offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event will be open 10 am\u20132 pm on the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union Plaza<\/strong>, the Circle<\/strong>, and Business Row<\/strong>. This free event is open to the public and will have shuttles running from parking at the Ford Center and Tad Smith Coliseum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Visitors can expect to engage in hands-on learning activities offered by UM’s academic departments and other units,” said Emily Ferris<\/strong>, associate director of outreach. “These activities will allow visitors of all ages to participate in learning and academic discovery.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The university created\u00a0Mississippi Day<\/a>\u00a0four years ago to exhibit the exciting opportunities and resources\u00a0Ole Miss<\/a>\u00a0offers, as well as demonstrate the university’s contributions to the state, nation, and world. This year, all 10 colleges and schools on the Oxford campus will participate with more than 70 individual booths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families can enjoy kid-friendly activities such as games, stuff-a-pup, a rock-climbing wall, and inflatables. Performances, demonstrations, and food vendors are also scheduled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mississippi Day allows members of the public, families, alumni, UM faculty, staff, students, and prospective students to engage with the Ole Miss community in a new and exciting way,” Ferris said. “It provides them with a unique experience of learning that is memorable and fun.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One unique experience comes from the\u00a0University Libraries<\/a>‘ IDEAlab<\/strong> maker space, which offers students, faculty, and staff space for video creation, research poster printing, 3D printing and checking out laptops, cameras, and tripods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staff has noted an increase in questions about 3D printing, said Elizabeth Batte<\/strong>, outreach and strategic initiatives librarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“So, this year we partnered with Sarah Katherine Glass<\/strong> (IDEAlab program coordinator) to create a 3D printing petting zoo,” Batte said. “We are highlighting different filaments, textures, and printing styles for visitors to come and ‘pet’ and learn about the different capabilities of a 3D printer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Department of Music<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>will also highlight the array of opportunities it offers throughout the year to the community. Besides educational materials and giveaways, the department’s booths also will offer interactive experiences, said\u00a0Nancy Maria Balach<\/strong><\/a>, department chair and professor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mississippi Day is exciting because it highlights the variety of our department,” she said. “We will have opera performances, yoga demonstrations, an instrument ‘petting zoo’ and a percussion performance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department will also host its inaugural songwriter showcase following Mississippi Day festivities, at 7:30 pm in Nutt Auditorium<\/strong>. It is also free and open to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the Mississippi Day festivities, Ole Miss will host its\u00a0Junior Preview Day<\/a>\u00a0from 8:30 am to 3 pm,\u00a0Meet the Rebels<\/a>\u00a0at 1 pm in the Manning Center, and\u00a0Baseball<\/a>\u00a0against the University of Tennessee<\/strong> at 4 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It is an opportunity to have fun with a wide range of people,” Balach said. “You’re going to learn about disciplines and departments in a way that is extraordinarily fun as well as informative.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n