A thorn to East Mississippi Community College for its decision to bring former Florida State quarterback De’ Andre Johnson into the Lions’ football program. Community college football programs are often the destination for players who are in need of a “second chance,” but there is a vast difference between bringing in a player who may have had discipline issues, trouble with drugs/alcohol or a non-violent misdemeanor and the act that lead to Johnson’s departure from FSU.
On June 24 in a Tallahassee, Florida, bar, Johnson punched a 21-year-old female in the face, a blow that staggered her and required medical attention.
He was released from the FSU program and now faces a battery charge that could result in a year in prison.
The assault was captured by the bar’s video system and is easily available on the Internet. A word of caution: It is a disturbing thing to watch. The decision to bring Johnson into the proud EMCC program is a serious lapse in judgment on EMCC’s part.
Violence against women is a serious issue on college campuses throughout the nation and welcoming Johnson into the EMCC family is inconsistent with the school’s values.
A rose to the Mississippi University for Women students, who moved into campus Saturday for the fall semester, which begins next week. The arrival of the students always seems to invigorate our town, especially the downtown shops, restaurants and businesses for whom the students are patrons. It also is a welcoming sign that another long, hot summer is winding down. Welcome back and have a great year.
A rose to organizers and the hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts who turned out for this weekend’s Sturgis Bike Rally. This weekend marked the second year for the rally after a three-year hiatus, and it’s clear by the response the event is a hit for riders and a boost to the local economy. Anyone who attended quickly realizes that this rally defies all the old stereotypes about those who ride motorcycles. Riders of all ages, genders, shapes and sizes make the event a true celebration.
A rose to BankFirst, which donated $20,000 to the Golden Triangle Early College High School during Monday’s convocation on the school’s campus at East Mississippi Community College in Mayhew. The new high school allows students to pursue a dual track program that will allow them to graduate with both a high school diploma and an EMCC associate’s degree. The first of its kind in Mississippi, GTECHS will give students, many from low-income households, a huge, cost-free head-start on their college career or training for the workforce. We applaud BankFirst for its support of this new and exciting approach to education and encourage others in the community to lend their support as well.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I liked Columbus before ‘Rivers’ came out and I don’t like it any less since.” — author Michael Farris Smith, on what he says when people ask if he plans to leave Columbus now that his break-out first novel, “Rivers,” has thrust him in the national literary spotlight.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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