On the court, on the field and in the classroom, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi are notorious for their competitive spirit. However, the rivals are coming together for a cause: Haiti.
The United for Haiti campaign launched as a response to the January earthquake that rocked the people of the island country. Its goal is to unite the students and communities of Mississippi and raise money together for the earthquake-devastated country. The campaign is the brainchild of outgoing MSU Student Association President Blake Jeter and Ole Miss Associated Body President Artair Rogers.
Jeter said he and Rogers initially talked about having a competition to see which university could raise the most money. Then, he said, they decided not to make the cause a rivalry.
“We could do so much more if we got together and united,” Jeter said. “We decided the best thing to do was to partner, to put together a mutual goal.”
With a goal of $35,000, the university leaders are working to get every student on their campuses involved. Events and activities will be conducted individually and collaboratively. Organizations and groups in Starkville and Oxford are encouraged to get involved.
Margaret Claire Walker, senior communication major, serves on MSU’s SA Cabinet working with public relations. She said the campaign is not a competition.
“We want to come together and work on something,” she said. “I hope it shows people in our state that when something drastic happens that two rivals can come together.”
ASB director of communication Cortez Moss said he thinks it is a good thing for rivals to come together, especially Ole Miss and MSU.
“I think that it’s very significant that we work together,” he said. “At the end of the day, we fight for the same causes.”
Moss said Ole Miss is raising money with a text-a-thon and selling United for Haiti wristbands.
“For ‘The School Up North,’ as you all call us, and Mississippi State to get together and to work together is a great thing,” Moss said.
Students wishing to donate money can go to the msunitedforhaiti.com and use the text message donation option, mail the money or take it to the SA office on the third floor of the Colvard Student Union.
The Web site is also a place for students to keep track of how much has been raised, fundraising events to come and partners in fundraising. Organizations interested in partnering with United for Haiti to raise money with events can find information on the site.
Though the Old Main Festival is “the last big push” for fundraising at Mississippi State, Walker said there was not an end to the campaign.
“Look at Katrina, look at tsunamis, the initial outpouring comes in the first month or two, but three or four months, or a year later, the funding kind of stops,” Jeter said. “We want to keep this going through the end of the semester, and hopefully raise awareness after the compassion outpour period.”
Jeter said the festival in the spring is a good time to raise awareness for the cause since there will be a large gathering of State students.
“That’s what we’re about. That’s the Mississippi State spirit,” he said. “We want to give back and do things to help others.”