Flag trouble stirs again. (state, people, recommendation)

[HappyBlackMale]

Originally Posted by Desert kid

Well, I've always thought about what it would be like to be the Obsolete Man.

No. Your civil war obsession is not a parallel with the obsolete man.
A library has never killed anyone.

[Linda_d]

Originally Posted by Desert kid

I'll put it this way. I've had a deep interest in the Civil War since I was about 13. When I decided to jump into the idea of Grad School I figured I would do it in a subject I am deeply passionate about. I had Ole Miss recommended to me because of the history of the place, and I later found out their Grad Department offered programs specifically suited to the Civil War. I guess you could call it "tickling my fancy". The Colonel Reb stuff (a flag) I bought there as an impulse buy at some store.

Speaking from personal experience, if you wish to get a job as an historian, especially on a college faculty, you need to attend the best school you can get into. Where you get your graduate degree, and for history, it has to be a PhD, and who your mentor(s) is (are) matters in having any realistic chance at getting a job.

Mississippi isn't on the latest US News ranking of top modern US history programs nor on any of the graduateprograms.com student based rankings. It is listed #50 out of 150 history graduate programs on the general list of phds.org list, so it's definitely a middle of the pack school. IMO, if you are forking over your own $$$ to attend, you would do better doing something else. If they're giving you a fellowship that covers tuition, books, and a stipend, it will be a good experience for not all that much money.

The history program has to have real breadth, too, not just strength on the Civil War, because as colleges teach less history, faculty members have to be able to teach the broad range of American history from the Early National Period to the Reagan Revolution. When you've got a job, have published enough articles, and gotten tenure at a major college/university, then you can indulge in your love of the Civil War by teaching a class on it. Maybe if you put out some really good articles/monographs, you can teach a graduate seminar, but don't plan on that happening. Most hiring in higher ed these days is adjuncts who get paid paltry sums.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by Southern man

If your future employment turns out to be History of The Civil War, you may be out of a job after awhile. History is being rewritten and if it is unpleasant to some individuals, it is deleted.

Dang!, I wish that weren't true.

But it is....

[Desert kid]

God this is a pain.

[Rock Climber]

Originally Posted by Jardine8

You would move to Oxford just because there are people that sympathize with the current State flag and with the old Confederate memorials?

If you've ever been to the town or interacted with people on the campus of the college there, you wouldn't find this surprising. He's not alone. "Ole Miss" attracts a lot of people with Civil War fascination syndrome.

[sammyreynolds1977]

Ole Miss votes Tuesday on Confederate symbol | WJTV.com

[HappyBlackMale]

Originally Posted by sammyreynolds1977

Ole Miss votes Tuesday on Confederate symbol | WJTV.com

Excellent.
Oxford should set the pace for others.

[Desert kid]

Originally Posted by sammyreynolds1977

Ole Miss votes Tuesday on Confederate symbol | WJTV.com

There will be quite a bit of opposition I think.

[Desert kid]

Also, Ken Burns will be stopping by.

Renowned filmmaker Ken Burns to speak at Ole Miss

[Desert kid]

The ASB will be in session about now.