On the fence about the fence

Anyone who has driven or walked around the University of Southern Mississippi has surely noticed the stark gray posts surrounding campus. The funding was provided via grant by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Thanks, MDOT, for the grant, but your fence makes our campus look like absolute dung. The penitentiary style fence makes the open feel to campus far less inviting and cold—scary, even.

Sophomore Hannah Harvell thinks the idea of a fence is great, but she is unsure if it will be effective.

“I don’t understand why they built a fence around the fence at Century Park,” Harvell said.

Harvell is also confused as to why the Hillcrest residence hall across from U.S. 49 is not being protected by a fence like the rest of campus.

“I don’t understand why they started building a fence around Century, yet Hillcrest is open domain to all neighborhoods surrounding the dormitory,” Harvell said.

People have expressed mixed feelings about the fence, ranging from laid-back to rage.

One woman’s Facebook status gained notoriety from several people around Hattiesburg who disagree with the administration’s approval of the new fence.

This status was posted before she was informed of the funding by MDOT.

“Can someone please explain to me why USM is erecting a gigantic penitentiary-style fence around the entire campus? And also riddle me the f*** how that fits into the budget, which the University doesn’t have to begin with. All of the piss-poor decision-making that has gone on recently is ruining what was once a great institution and it really infuriates me.”

Her status speaks for many people who think the fence is distasteful and unbecoming, but others, such as senior Zac Ducote, think the fence is going to be attractive.

“I think it is going to look nice, but it is going to ruin a lot of shortcuts,” Ducote said.

With the new fence impending, all we can do is wait to see what it is going to look like.