Jesse Duncan
Columbus
“With all of the name change stuff that’s going on, all the discussion around all that, I’m hoping that this will at least provide some security for the campus. Hopefully, it will be able to stay open and remain The W this way. That’s really the best we can hope for. Nobody loves this idea, I don’t think. It could go a few different ways. It could go some bad ways too. You can just hope for the best on that. As far as what The W has been going through for the past couple of months, this is not the worst thing that’s come up.”
Tina Rogers
Columbus
“I personally feel like this is an opportunity for The W to grow. I feel like this gives students that feel like what may be looking for (is) from the larger university, because they’ll be connected in that way. I do have some concerns about the current employees because I am a former employee of Mississippi State in the college of business. And I don’t feel like it was clear enough in the proposal as to what they’re planning to do for the employees that are employed there right now. If they’re going to maintain their employment there, and the only thing that’s going to happen is we are going to build, I am 100% for it. I think that it will also give Columbus a lot more tourists and people coming into town and spending more money which will help our revenue. I think it’ll be a good thing for the community.”
Bo Jeffares
Tupelo
“Usually that stuff has to do with money, so I would guess if the dollars and cents are working their way out, Mississippi State’s got the big pocketbooks. They could absorb a lot of stuff in the future, and maybe The W could latch on to that and continue to serve a long time. That would be my guess if they wanted to secure (The W’s) future long-term, hooking their wagon up to Mississippi State might make sense. I always thought they were sort of connected anyway, because my grandfather went to Mississippi State in engineering and my grandmother went to The W.”
Janie Shields
Columbus
“As an alum of Mississippi State and The W, I feel like they’re two separate entities. The W is more of a private university with state costs. Mississippi State is just a different animal. I don’t see how either college should be put together. To me, it doesn’t make sense. I wonder what happens with current employees. I think about that because I am also a former employee of The W. I just feel like for one, the bill was kind of slid in and it was done underhanded. That’s unfortunate that our lawmakers would do that to two great universities.”
Willie Ousley
Columbus
“I think (The W) is a great place from what I know about it. I think they ought to leave it how it is.”
Linda Hollowell
Caledonia
“My opinion would be if it helps education and educating young people, I would be for it. It would be a connection. Starkville is so wonderful with their education system over there. I think that’s wonderful. So what could be wrong with joining together?”
Sophia Jones
Aberdeen
“I think MUW should remain separate from Mississippi State University. … I graduated from The W. I think they have their own unique character, distinct, that needs to remain separate from MSU.”
Kevin Edwards is news editor and reports on Starkville and Oktibbeha County government.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
