Petition calling for Dan Jones' resignation

Petition calling for the resignation of Dan Jones

Obviously I'm against this petition, but I don't mind if I help it garner a couple extra signatures and this is why:

First, the petition lists an a-grievance that is indisputably factually inaccurate. Col. Reb was removed as mascot in 2002 during Robert Khayat's administration. There is no debate on the issue, It is as solid a historical fact as they come. Assigning blame to Dan Jones would be like blaming Hugh Freeze for losing the 2011 Egg bowl. Hugh Freeze may have been the coach during the 2013 loss, but he certainly isn't responsible for a game his predecessor coached.

The petition also claims that the plan Jones put forth discourages using the name "Ole Miss" in an academic setting. This is true. However, it is no departure from current policy. It's equivalent an IHOP patron expressing moral indignation at IHOP serving waffles. "What!?!?! Ya'll serve waffles? I thought this was IHOP"


There's also the matter of who gets to judge the job that Dan Jones is doing. This petition asserts that the people who attend, graduated, are fans, and otherwise supported the University get to make that decision. In reality, the IHL board makes those decisions, and a bunch of irrational bitching isn't going to be of any concern to them. Dan Jones will be judged on the basis of enrollment (sets a new record every year), Private financial contributions ( Again, record-breaking) and improved Academic and Cultural status.



The final straw for the petition is the assertion that the majority of the Ole Miss community supports its stances. My first issue with that is that it requires you to accept the fallacy that the majority is in the right and that the position is righteous because the majority believes it (circular logic). 50% +1 of those in ISIS may believe that beheading those who don't convert to your religion is justice. But does an unbiased opinion deem that justice? Does the victim? Does God?

The other problem the petition imposed upon itself by asserting that the majority of the Ole Miss community believes in its aims and virtues is that it has required itself to gather more support than it likely ever could. If you are making a very conservative estimate, you'd imagine that the Ole Miss community consists of 100k+ people. How many signatures does it require to prove that it isn't just the rabbling of a very large, loud, and passionate contingent but actually the voice of the majority? 5k? 20k? 35k? 50,001?