Ellington

OXFORD—Anyone curious about the feel of the University of Mississippi campus just hours before the debate should take a stroll on The Walk of Champions, the path normally traversed by the football team when they march through The Grove to hopeful victory at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Without a doubt, it feels like a football weekend; the crowds gathering in tents throughout the tree-dotted landscape, musicians performing on the Grove stage, the din of excitement in the air. You can feel it.

Just don't forget to trade the normally ubiquitous booze-filled Solo cups with a flyer promoting your stance on any number of topics, whether it be the genocide in Darfur, the electability of your favorite political candidate, or your desire for your fellow Americans to Eat Mor Chicken, as the poor guy in the ridiculous cow suit pimping Chick-Fil-A sandwiches will tell you. As if his hard enough in the heat, his presence in 10-acre lot draws enemies; just feet away, two men dressed in pig costumes tout a sign that reads "Tax Meat." Naturally, their PETA's people.

Ward and I have termed the area in front of the Student Union "Issue Alley," with the great variety of special interests flaunting their importance with slogans, chants and colorful artwork. And of course, no outspoken special interest group is complete unless all the supporters are wearing the exact same eye-catching T-shirt.

Maybe it's my Southern upbringing, but when I see people in uniform T-shirts, the first I think of two things: over-competitive adult softball teams and Christian missionary groups. When you think of the zeal shown by some of these groups, I don't think my initial reaction is too far from the truth.