Photography by Gaetano Catelli Studios
It’s official. The building that since 1995 has been named after Ole Miss alumnus, donor, and developer, Larry Martindale, is now the Martindale-Cole Student Services Center, in honor of Dr. Donald Cole’s career-long service to the University of Mississippi as student, scholar, teacher, and administrator.
In the words of Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce, “Dr. Cole’s legacy can be seen, heard and felt all across this institution each and every day, so it’s very fitting that his name adorn the very building that so many students go to for support on our campus … He embodies and embraces the care that many of our university family strive for in order to truly help each student reach their full potential during their time at Ole Miss.”
This past Friday, the occasion was celebrated outside the renamed student services center. It was a joyous event with hundreds in attendance, including Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat, civil rights activist James Meredith, and award-winning journalist and bestselling author Curtis Wilkie.
James Meredith, before football game at Ole Miss, pointing to contextualization-plaque, Oct 6, 2018.
Dr. Cole began his own remarks by joking that in addition to many of his friends in attendance, there were even some of his enemies! His further remarks made references to his Christian faith and his undying commitment to social justice, in particular, “diversity, inclusion, and equity.” He spoke of witnessing new students and their parents, especially those from minority communities, looking like they felt lost on their first visit to the student services center. His goal has been to make them feel at home.
Chancellor Glenn Boyce
Larry Martindale
Ribbon-cutting with Chancellor Boyce, Larry Martindale, and Dr. Donald Cole
Dr. Donald Cole
Dr. Donald Cole
Dr. Donald Cole
A fraction of attendees. Curtis Wilkie in foreground.
Right to left: Chancellor Emeritus Robert Khayat; Margaret Khayat Bratt, JD; Dr. Judy Alsobrooks Meredith; James Meredith, JD.
