The Friendly City: The Logical Choice

With proposed city bonds adding an additional $50,000, the city of Columbus would once again be first in educational history. This time with the founding of the first state-supported college for women in the United States.

In 1821, Franklin Academy was established as the first free public school in Mississippi. The beginnings of The W followed with college being chartered in 1884 and the first session happening in October of 1885.

“I refer to Columbus as what I believe is the cradle of education in Mississippi. One being because the first public school, Franklin Academy, was opened in Columbus. Second, the fact that Mississippi University for Women, the first public institution of higher education for women in America, opened in Columbus. I think that is very significant. I think that is a bragging point that all elected officials should talk about,” said Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin.

“Mississippi doesn’t have that many bragging points like that, and the fact that MSMS, the first STEM school of the state, opened here in Columbus on the campus of The W, I don’t think that is insignificant.”

The W has long been a symbol of history and education in the Friendly City, influencing everything from culture to economic growth.

Poindexter Hall, the historic home of the university’s music department, hosts approximately 25 concerts per year, with some featuring artist from around the world. The Department of Theatre and Department of English partner each September with the Tennessee Williams Tribute to present 10:4:TENN, a free-to-thepublic showcase of the top three winning scripts. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations and day of service, Veterans Day programs and the near 20 different Gallery Talks hosted by The MUW Gallery are reasons why Mayor Gaskin considers The W to be a cultural hub for the city.

Mayor Gaskin remembers the founding of one the university’s premiere culture events, The Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, that is held each October in her honor. Then working at The W as a public affairs specialist, he recalls taking pictures of Eudora Welty touring Welty Hall and returning to the university for the first-ever The Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium.

“I can tell you firsthand that she did love The W, and she was very much supportive of its future, and the significant role it plays in higher education in Mississippi,” said Gaskin.

Gaskin wants everyone to see and feel the beauty of The W, just as stunning as Eudora Welty’s renowned eyes were to the future mayor back then. Citizens should take note of how the university is situated close to downtown, making the location convenient for student shopping, recognize the boom in traffic and crowded restaurants on a graduation weekend and recognize The W on billboards and posters when the university partners with the Columbus- Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, Main Street and all the local organizations that promote tourism.

Released in spring of 2023, The W announced that the university’s economic impact to the state of Mississippi was more than $215 million for the previous fiscal year. Specific to the Golden Triangle Region with the additions of Monroe and Noxubee County, the study found a $97.9 million impact equating to more than 1,500 jobs supported.

The Bill & Jo-Ann Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences is directly impacting the local healthcare setting for Columbus. A new initiative, through the Mississippi Earn Program, will allow students to become nurse residents at Baptist Memorial Hospital- Golden Triangle. Under the guidance of a clinical coach, students will complete more than 970 hours of hospital clinical practice. After graduation, they will join BMH-GT as a full-time employee for the remaining 1,000 hours. The program is beginning with just two students with plans to expand. The W is addressing the growing demand for skilled nurses in the region while simultaneously improving the retention of nurses at BMH-GT.

President of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Trip Hairston understands the importance and impact of a regional university, particularly a university that produces graduates with strong reputation for their complex medical knowledge and skills, especially in local healthcare settings.

“These are high-paying, sought-after jobs,” Hairston said, adding that with the looming shortage of healthcare professionals, the university’s role in training nurses is more crucial than ever. “By 2034, we’ll have more people at retirement age than we do in the workforce, which will put immense pressure on the healthcare system.”

More than 98% of students who completed The W’s registered nursing programs in spring 2024 obtained licenses in Mississippi, and 83% of the graduates accepted a position within the state.

Looking beyond healthcare, Mississippi also faces an educator shortage. The School of Education is working to fill that need for the state. Over the last four years, 70% of W teachers are serving in rural schools, 86% in Mississippi schools and 65% at schools in our region.

As a child, Hairston would visit his grandmother on Seventh Street and ride his bike through campus. His aunt taught at the Demonstration school, now Turner Hall, and his mother graduated from The W.

He advocates strongly for continuing support for smaller, local universities like The W, which he believes offer something unique—affordable, high-quality education in a close-knit environment. “Not everybody thrives in a large university setting,” he said. “Some people need a smaller, more intimate environment to succeed, and that’s what places like The W offers.”

He encourages everyone to visit the campus, see the state-of-the-art culinary building, attend events like the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium and support the university’s sports teams. “Get involved,” he urged. “Ride around the soccer field when they have a game, or go to a softball game. Be a part of what’s happening here. Wear an Owls hat.”

Hairston reminds everyone that when you go to a restaurant and you don’t see anyone you know, that is a good thing. When visitors eat in Columbus, stay in Columbus and buy gas in Columbus, that is a good thing.

“When [visitors] support local restaurants, it generates sales tax, which improves the soccer complex. It improves Propst Park. It improves any of the recreational activities that we have here. Those things are very, very important to our community. It also supports the LINK in what they do with industrial development. And I think it’s a very important thing, its economic activity,” said Hairston.

The economic impact isn’t just limited to visitors, but extends to the home team-the faculty and staff of the University. With an approximately $30 million payroll, the university reinvests into the community.

Hairston explained, “You know, people are paying property taxes. They’re driving the streets; they’re using the services that are here. They’re paying for them via the tax specs. So, I know there’s no downside to it all. It’s all upside.”

As he reflects on the future, both for his family and his community, one thing is clear: the lessons of his upbringing, steeped in education and community pride, have shaped his path. “I think people need to understand what we have here in Columbus,” he said. “There’s so much potential in our schools and our community. We just need to stay connected and keep supporting each other.”

Tucked away in the heart of downtown Columbus, just a short walk from the campus, Friendly City Books is far more than a typical bookstore. Since its inception in November 2020, the independent store has quickly become a community hub, fostering connections between people through the power of stories and shared experiences.

While Friendly City Books sells both new and used books, its mission goes far beyond retail. “We believe that books can foster stronger communities,” owner Emily Liner explained. “We don’t just sell books. We create spaces and events that bring people together who might not have met otherwise.” From author events to book giveaways, the bookstore has become a place for conversations, ideas and friendships to form. By partnering with The W’s Gordy Honors College, Friendly City Books has brought prominent authors to campus, which otherwise would not be possible. Recently, they hosted author Tracie McMillan, drawing over 100 attendees to The W’s Nissan Auditorium.

“There’s a core group of students and community members who attend these events, and it’s wonderful to see them engage with the authors,” said Liner. “The students ask such thoughtful questions, and the authors always leave impressed.”

In July 2023, Friendly City Books took its mission a step further by launching a nonprofit arm, “Friendly City Books Community Connection,” with funding from a charitable foundation. Since its founding, the nonprofit has distributed over 6,000 free books across the state.

The relationship between Friendly City Books and The W has grown steadily, cementing the bookstore’s role as a cultural partner for the university. Through initiatives like the Community Read, Friendly City Books has donated hundreds of copies of books for The W’s students, including titles like “How the Word Is Passed” and “First Gen.” These programs help connect the campus with the broader Columbus community, a key goal for both the bookstore and the university.

“The gates of campus shouldn’t be a barrier,” Liner said. “We want to bring the city onto campus and bring students out into the city, creating a true sense of community.”

That sense of community was on full display at the first-ever Possumtown Book Fest, which Friendly City Books hosted in August, during Blues Week. The event featured over 50 authors, panels on topics ranging from poetry to culinary arts and children’s programs. The panels also included faculty from The W, including Kendall Dunkelberg, chair of the university’s creative writing MFA program, who discussed his poetry collection about Mississippi artist Walter Anderson.

One of the most important figures in the bookstore’s success has been President Nora Miller. “President Miller’s leadership is unique,” Liner said. “She attends our events regularly, and she reads every book for the Welty Symposium. She’s visible, engaged and cares deeply about connecting the university to the larger Columbus community.”

In a town where the university plays a pivotal role, Friendly City Books serves as an extension of the university’s mission, offering cultural experiences to people beyond the walls of academia.

In downtown Columbus, The W serves as a cornerstone for education, culture and community. It’s a first for not only Columbus, but the nation. The historical significance of the university is deeply intertwined with the city’s identity. The University is the care being offered at hospital beds, the reading of a book in a classroom and the celebration at a local restaurant after a win. The friendship of Mississippi University for Women and the city of Columbus is the heartbeat of the Friendly City.