One art student's preparation for Under the Oaks Art Festival

Anna Beth Hirshfeld
Reporter

On Saturday, Oct. 31, Mississippi University for Women will host the 4th annual Under the Oaks Art Festival in collaboration with the Columbus Arts Council. 

Since 2022, the Columbus Arts Council has invited local artists to showcase and sell their work at the festival, including students from The W’s Art Department. Each year, the event grows bigger with more vendors and patrons attending.

One artist that attendees can look forward to seeing is The W’s own Delia Lochala, an Art student at The W and a multitalented artist. Lochala has been a vendor since the first year of Under the Oaks, and she will be bringing several types of artwork to sell this year.

Delia Lochala working on a painting
Photo courtesy of Delia Lochala

“Primarily I do like large-scale oil paintings,” Lochala said. “However, for festivals and stuff, I’ll sell a couple of small paintings.”

Along with her paintings, she will be selling small drawings, prints, stickers, pins, keychains and more pieces done in different types of printing at her booth. This year she is excited to start selling relief-printed shirts as well.

 While talking about the logistics of being a vendor for Under the Oaks, Delia shared that students from The W who vend don’t pay a booth fee to attend. She said that all the proceeds she makes go to her.

“Yeah, I keep all that money to get more supplies and stuff to make more stuff,” Lochala said. 

For Lochala, the application process was quick and painless, just an online form that she completed in the summer. She noted the growth that Under the Oaks has seen since the first event in 2022, explaining that she was quick to get her application turned in because of the increasing competition for vendor spots. 

“Which is a good sign that it’s expanding, more people are becoming a part of it,” Lochala said. 

Over the years, she’s had success as a vendor at this event, making a comfortable profit on top of her material costs. Last year, she said her profits were double that of previous years. 

She added that weather is a large factor in attendance and hopes that the weather this year is as good as last year and that people will be encouraged to come check it out. With this event coinciding with Halloween, she has high hopes that the holiday will increase patronage this year. 

“It’s great, people need to come, it’s fun,” Lochala said. “This year, it’s gonna be, since it’s on Halloween, I think it’ll be more of an event, like a Halloween thing, too. Which I’m excited about, because I love Halloween.”

Aptly named for its position under the live oaks on The W campus, attendees can walk rows of stalls and listen to live music as they peruse the hand-made art pieces or stop by the food trucks. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free admission.

Vendors filling the oak-lined street during the 2025 festival
Photo courtesy of Chris Jenkins

New student organizations filling activity gaps on campus

Katelyn Klark
Reporter

Two new student organizations are making their mark on campus this fall: the Red Cross Club and the Wellness Society. 

As a chapter of a national organization, the Red Cross Club is driven by its century-long mission, while the Wellness Society, different in approach, intends to provide a laid-back, safe environment for those who want to participate in exercise. 

The Red Cross Club has launched its first full semester of projects after founder and president Haley Herring spent the spring 2026 semester working with Student Life, but, while registering with The W was straightforward, the American Red Cross itself required more legwork.

“Everybody who joins has to register as a Red Cross volunteer, so that will require a background check,” Herring said. 

This organization’s mission spans five branches: disaster response, support for military members and veterans, training and certifications, blood donations and international services. 

In September, the Red Cross Club hosted a blood drive. Members are planning on hosting a Veterans Day brunch on Nov. 14 and partnering with a local church.

Red Cross member, Emma Thompson at the recent blood drive
Photo by Haley Herring

For a student to join, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA, attend meetings on the first Tuesday of every month and participate in at least half of the chapter’s events. 

For Herring, the events hosted by the Red Cross Club all lead to one goal. 

“The biggest way to help other people is for them to be educated in how to help others as well,” Herring said. “Me knowing how to help somebody isn’t enough, but teaching everybody else how to is a lot more relevant.” 

Meanwhile, the Wellness Society works diligently to support its own goals on campus. 

Established in the spring 2026 semester by president and founder Alexandria Williams, the organization is the MUW chapter of an international group. Secretary Jordyn Ealy explained what the organization strives to achieve. 

“We’re all about taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically, without going super hard,” Ealy said.

One of those ways is through their weekly Trot Tuesday, an event that promotes activeness through campus-wide walks. The society’s latest ventures have included a mixer with the local tea and boutique shop Modern Magnolia, and a yoga session with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on campus. 

Outdoor yoga event
Photo by Alexandria Williams

For Ealy, the organization fills an important, previously missing role on campus.

“The Wellness Society definitely speaks to people who want to be active but don’t know where to start,” Ealy said. “We want to be that first stepping stone into a more active lifestyle.”

Students can apply for membership online and pay the $40 membership fee either in full or using a payment plan.

In November, the Wellness Society plans to hold an event centered around skincare. 

For more information about these organizations you can find them on Instagram, @redcrossmuw and @muwwellnesssociety.

Students learning about importance of safety and using their voices on campus

Jaelyn Grant
Reporter

Merry MacLellan
Editor

With the days growing shorter and darkness arriving earlier, students at Mississippi University for Women often face a dark walk back to their dorms or the cafeteria. There are some places on campus where lights bulbs are out, and the dark corners can make students nervous about walking alone.

But the danger isn’t always hiding in the darkness.

One student at The W faced this in the spring semester after what she termed a stalking incident with a male student. Aalaya, “Laya,” Campbell is a biology major and a peer mentor through the Student Success Center here at The W. During the spring semester, a male student who was in a few classes with her began sending her unprompted messages, forcing uncomfortable conversations and showing up during her library hours as a peer mentor.

“He would make me feel like I was obligated to help him,” Campbell said. “He literally told me in one of my emails that I was obligated to help him because of a shared past experience because we were both in the Air Force. So, he said because I was an airman, a veteran, I’m obligated to help him. He told me he loved me through email.” 

That’s when Campbell decided to file a report about what was happening. She shared it first with her professor, then the department chair, and then the Dean of Students. However, when she tried to file a Title IX report, she said her situation and the other student’s behavior were deemed ineligible for a Title IX complaint.

As a federally instituted program, Title IX is designed to prohibit any sexual discrimination or harassment at a school that receives federal funding. At The W, there is a Title IX coordinator and 10 Title IX deputies on campus who can investigate reports when they are filed. On the Title IX’s university page, it states, “Any student, faculty or staff member who has knowledge of or concerns about sex or gender-based discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or gender-based stalking, is encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Deputies.”

At The W, Title IX is advertised across campus with information about how to file a report. There are magnets in bathrooms, stickers in the windows of offices and flyers on bulletins boards  — all to educate students. Dr. Matthew Miles, the dean of Student Affairs, emphasized the importance of Title IX’s accessibility. However, as Campbell found, reports don’t always go through. 

“We want to protect the rights of all parties involved, whether it’s staff, faculty or students in that way,” Miles said. “And then from there, if there is information to be found, then we will issue supportive measures or sanctions based on what the student handbook and Title IX is allowed to do.” 

The standard for a ruling is taken case by case. Each outcome and sanction will look different according to the mandates of Title IX, even possibly including the dismissal of students. Miles stressed that during the process, it’s important that comments from both parties are taken into account. 

One of the Title XI flyers posted on campus
Photo by Merry MacLellan

In Campbell’s case, no action was taken, even though she said this student was known to have caused prior issues for several other women on campus.

“He has had previous documented instances of stalking other women on campus, but he had never taken it to the level he had taken it with me, and that was their thing,” Campell said. 

Campbell said she felt as if those in charge put blame on her for not doing enough to make it clear to him that she was uninterested. She said that she had attempted to establish strict boundaries with the student, and her husband actually became involved in some of the exchanges. 

“Like it just, I was flabbergasted,” Campbell said. “I felt so alone. I felt unprotected.” 

She began to fear for her safety on campus, with worry that the stalking could escalate into something physically dangerous. Even though Title IX sometimes can provide accommodations so that the victim does not have to be around the reported person, she was not provided with that option. Instead, he was moved to the back of the classroom. 

While her stalker did end up unenrolling from the university, Campbell said the distress and damage could not be undone.

“He took so much from me,” Campbell said. “He took my piece of mind, and that is just harrowing to think about. Even still, I walk around campus, I drive around campus, and still I look around for him. I go and sit down in my classes, we’re in October, it’s past fall break, no one new’s coming into class, but I am still vigilant. I am still aware of my surroundings in a way that I did not have to be before, and that’s not fair.” 

With stalking taking many different forms including online or in-person, Campbell acknowledged that it can be a gray area and said she wished that the university would take a tougher stance against it. 

“So, university leadership just needs to realize like this is how it starts off,” Campbell said. “Those other women is truly how it started off, and I knew that if I did not make enough noise, he would stay, and he would truly assault someone physically. And I told anyone who listened to me, like this is his next step.” 

Campbell’s outspokenness about the incident is how The Spectator learned about what happened. At the time it was ongoing, she said she did not want to involve any outside parties in the hopes that the case would be dealt with through Title IX. It was when the other student left the university that she agreed to speak with the student newspaper. 

Campbell said that she tries to be more aware of her surroundings and vigilant on campus, and she is probably not the only student who feels that way. Having a formal process for reporting problems doesn’t stop students from facing nervous moments while walking on campus, especially after dark. 

The W once offered the Night Owls program in which students could call the campus police department and receive an escort at night. However, this program was disbanded at some point in 2025 — the Spectator was unable to confirm a date — but most people on campus were not aware that the program had ended. 

At a town hall event hosted by Student Government Association in Spring 2026, students still believed that the program was active only to learn that was not the case. This semester, now a year since the program ended, there were still faculty members who believed the resource existed. This, along with outdated safety information on the police department’s website, were causes of concern to people on campus.

Randy Vibrock, the campus police chief, said that while the Night Owl program is no longer active, students are still able to call the police department and receive an escort. 

“Now, the process is still the same as the Night Owl service,” Vibrock said. “The student would call our department, request that transport and then the student would provide their student ID. And then, as long as the golf cart is available, they would provide a shuttle on the golf cart. 

“So, if the security officer is not available, then they can still call our department and then one of our patrol officers will provide a walking escort. So, the service is available at any time.” 

Vibrock acknowledged that the lack of advertisement about the new way to get a campus escort has been an oversight on the department’s part, and he apologized. He expressed interest in having that changed to reflect current information so that students and faculty would be aware of the current campus safety resources.

For any students who might have experienced similar harassment to Campbell, felt unsafe on campus or dismissed by faculty, it is important to know that even when departments fail, it is your right as a student to speak up and out about any injustice you may have faced. 

“It just takes one person to say: I’m going to stand here against this storm to protect all the others who I know have come before me and give them the courage to come forward and speak,” Campbell said. “Because I promise you, like I’m not the only one, and he was not the only one.” 

October Events Calendar

Contrary to popular belief, the W campus always has something going on. If you scan below you will find several events which will be taking place during the month of October:

• Oktoberfest – Oct. 2, at 5 p.m.

• This will be an opportunity to celebrate Halloween early and on campus, play game to win prizes and get to know some of the student organizations

• Nest Night – Oct. 14 and Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

• This is a chance to go into the Nest and enjoy the company of other students as we all participate in a themed event

• Welty Gala – Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. 

• This is an incredible event to raise money for the University and to hear Elizabeth Smart, an inspirational figure, tell her story

• Omicron Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - Winter Clothing Drive – Oct. 1- Nov. 2

• This will be an opportunity to give back to the community and to help people get ready for the winter

In addition to all of these events, there are probably several more that will be going on that have not yet been advertised. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so be on the lookout for events to spread awareness around campus. Also be on the lookout for some Halloween-themed events that could be going on around campus. Here’s to an incredible October. Remember, stay safe and Go Owls!

More than just a book club: the Women's College's feminist book club

Katelyn Klark

Reporter

The Women’s College at Mississippi University for Women has established a thriving feminist book club thanks to one student.

In collaboration with The W’s Women’s College and Friendly City Books, non-traditional student Elessa Harvey worked to create an inclusive space for both W students and the Columbus community to explore feminism.

Dr. Jill Drouillard, director of the Women’s College, emphasized the importance of student leadership in establishing Harvey’s book club.

“We really wanted to make sure that it was a student-led initiative,” Drouillard said. “We wanted other students to know that they could come to the Women’s College with ideas.”

While Harvey leads the club’s discussions, students have a say in what the club reads.

During the summer of 2025, Harvey participated in the Nancy Yates Community Engagement Program, assisting Friendly City Books. Harvey’s experience with the independent bookstore inspired her to create 1884 Fellow Lessa Harvey’s Feminist Book Club.

“I joined the Women’s College because I view women, gender, and sexuality studies as activism as a degree,” said Harvey. “I remember thinking that Friendly City Books has these wonderful book clubs that they host for the community, and it would be so awesome if we could have a feminist one.”

Harvey hopes that the club will provide a less formal setting for discussions about feminist literature and personal experiences.

“I wanted a medium where we got to have a bit more fun and less formal discussion where you can talk about your own experiences and how it relates to this novel,” Harvey said.

Harvey’s book club will host a discussion at Friendly City Books about Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” on Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. The club will meet again on Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. to discuss Audre Lorde’s “Sister Outsider.”

“I Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqualine Harpman has been tentatively selected for the Nov. 18 meeting, but may be subject to change. 

The covers of the three books selected for the Fall 2026 book club meetings.

Covers courtesy of Amazon, Crossing Press, and Transit Press.