Mississippi has a long-standing tradition of being the epitome of Southern charm. While our official nickname is the “Magnolia State,” many know us as the “Hospitality State.” It is nearly impossible to pinpoint the birth of the beloved nickname, but this unofficial title is a term of endearment earned by the land of quick smiles and warm handshakes.
It has taken centuries for Mississippi to build this reputation, and, for a long time, Mississippi State University has been a shining example of the state’s welcoming atmosphere. Respectful fans and a safe, family-friendly environment were staples of the game day experience. Visitors to campus could expect approachable faces, and out-of-state students needed to prepare for the culture shock of kindness.
As of late, it seems that Mississippi State’s students are moving farther away from those things that once made us unique. It seems I cannot go one day without hearing someone get exasperated with the product of this new, inconsiderate attitude that is seeping into every corner of our campus.
One of the most complained-about offenses on our campus is the wayward scooter rider. Every day, I hear of some new atrocity committed by a scooterist, like bulldozing pedestrians or blasting through stop signs without a care in the world.
Alex Kovatch, a freshman studying electrical engineering, had no shortage of experiences witnessing scooter-related sins to share with me. One he mentioned involved someone on a scooter cutting directly through a group of people on a sidewalk — somewhere scooters are not permitted to be.
“Instead of dismounting the scooter, they stayed right in the middle of everyone and continued to ride, bumping into people and hitting their heels,” Kovatch said.
In every story I hear, there is a common theme: whoever was riding the scooter was in such a rush that they forgot to be aware of the other people around them. It is bad enough when they put themselves in danger, but with their reckless driving, they put everyone in their path at risk, too.
So why do they not seem to care? Is not a large part of what makes Mississippi special the care we supposedly have for others?
Not if you root for the other team. Gone are the days of that unique sportsmanship that made our student body stand out. If this season is any indication of the future, fans should get ready to see the same aggression that gets complained about at nearly every other Southeastern Conference college game.
Tensions were certainly high at the Tennessee game. It was our first SEC game of the year, and we were coming off a four-game winning streak. Inevitably, school spirit was through the roof. What I did not anticipate as I joined the crowd of fans congregating at the student gate was the students yelling at every passerby clad in Tennessee orange. At first, it seemed funny. I mean, what is the harm in a little good-natured heckling on game day?
The issue arose when a couple of fans, encouraged by the cheers of fellow students, proceeded to get in the faces of opposing families just trying to enjoy a day at Davis Wade Stadium. Shouting obscenities at children and the elderly is not a good look — nor is borderline chasing someone so you can bark at their feet.
I am not asking for students to stop cheering or showing their love for the maroon and white. However, it does not exactly scream hospitality when you scream in the faces of your opponents. We must be aware of our own actions and the harm they can cause others. I personally would laugh if a student got on all fours to bark at me, but a girl walking by herself in an unfamiliar place might not share those sentiments.
The animosity does not always limit itself to those who wear another team’s colors. Many of us have gone to a game and had alcohol thrown on us, someone sit in our seat when we stand to cheer or an inebriated fan get way too up close and personal.
All of this seems to be a symptom of a deeper issue. It feels as if many people simply do not know what acceptable behavior is and what would be inconsiderate.
Addisyn King, a freshman meteorology major, believes that the reason for the decline in old-fashioned courtesy is due to unconscious ignorance.
“I feel like some MSU students do follow the Southern hospitality values,” King said. “I think that just since COVID, we’ve kind of lost the idea of how to socialize with other people.”
This begs the question: are we moving in a direction that will eventually revoke our hospitable reputation? Is there any hope? Well, the answer to that does not seem as easy as we might like it to be.
For every story of a rude or obscene interaction, there are five more of finding someone to be kinder than you expected. This is still a place where doors are held, friendships can be found in the seat next to you and dining staff calls you “baby.” One day, a friend is telling me how a man pushed her out of the way at a football game, and another day, I am getting high-fives from “Green Man.”
Our culture of courtesy is a beautiful thing, but it is just as fragile as the encouragement written in chalk on your path to class. If we do not maintain and replace it continuously, it will wash away in the rain or be trampled beneath our feet. Our responsibility as the next generation of Bulldogs is to remind people how we got our nickname in the first place. Not by official declaration, but by the quiet kindness that marked our every move.
