A construction crane hovers above the site where the second residential college is being built just to the north of the first such development on the Ole Miss campus.

University officials and students looking forward to a new way of doing college in Oxford will have their chance before long. Construction has begun on the second residential college on campus. The first residential college opened to some 450 residents in the fall of 2009.

Across campus construction is moving along on a new home for the School of Law.
The residential colleges are, according to a release from the Ole Miss Newsdesk, “modeled after those at British universities in Oxford and Cambridge, (and are) to include a microcosm of students.” Students and instructors at the college will come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including “blacks and whites, musicians and athletes, residents and nonresidents, as well as students pursuing various academic studies.” The idea is that all will reside, study and socialize in harmony at the college.

The four-story buildings are located behind the current School of Law, and will have living space for faculty, staff and students. All residents will share “kitchen and dining areas, laundry services, classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms, a fitness and game room, a library, computer labs and even a produce market,” according to the news release.

The new home for the School of Law, meanwhile, is being built across campus where the Village apartments used to be located. The new $50 million facility, aimed for completion in the fall of 2010, will be state-of-the-art, feature a vastly improved law library, and will allow for expansion in programs at the school, including boosting clinical programs. The school will feature a Greek-style exterior reminiscent of the Lyceum. A capital campaign is underway to help fund the construction, and to also provide for scholarships and faculty support, among other things.

Different picture off campus
The hectic pace of construction on campus stands in stark contrast to what is going on in the rest of Oxford – and the country, for that matter.

While not totally ground to a halt, most residential and commercial development in town has slowed to a crawl as the nation remains mired in one of the worst economic recessions of our time. Increasing rates of unemployment are weighing heavily on the retail sector nationwide, and already one major chain store in Oxford has closed as that company went out of business. Goody’s shut down nationwide in 2009. And while many fear more retailers could follow suit if the economy doesn’t improve soon, so far Oxford has remained somewhat shielded from worse news. But not totally shielded.

Whirlpool has vacated its Oxford manufacturing, resulting in the loss of many well-paying jobs in the area. However, at least one industry has reinforced it's commitment to the region. The Caterpillar facility, which was destroyed a couple of years back in a tornado and reopened in a very short time span, is running strong and will continue to be a vibrant part of the Oxford industrial landscape, according to Jim Dugan, who works in public affairs for Caterpillar, Inc.

The Economic Development Foundation and city and county leaders have been promoting the Whirlpool property as an option for potential Toyota suppliers to consider. However, no movement is expected there for some time as the U.S. auto market has been pummelled since 2009, and Toyota has suspended construction at the new plant near Tupelo until the economy improves.

Despite all that gloom, retail activity remains an economic bright spot for the city. The Oxford Galleria shopping center, located next to Home Depot off Jackson Ave. West, is almost at full capacity. Since Belk opened its new anchor store in the shopping center in 2008, most of the remaining retail space in the Galleria has been filled by a variety of retail stores and restaurants. The additional sales tax revenue and payroll taxes brought in by the stores in this center come at a good time as much revenue will be lost by the closing of Whirlpool.

Tie this retail expansion to the annexation which took effect in early 2007 that boosted the city’s population to around 20,000 and added five square miles to the city’s boundaries, and evidence is everywhere that Oxford has rapidly become one of the 20 largest cities in the state.

Commerce, Healthcare & Education
Bucking national trends, Oxford and Lafayette County enjoy a relatively healthy retail base. The presence of the state’s third-largest university has a lot to do with boosting the region’s fortunes, of course. But it’s also a fact that a region doesn’t maintain this kind of economic growth without the presence of a strong healthcare system and a good retail and service business base. Oxford has both.

Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi, a 204-bed acute care facility, has grown to become a regional health care provider, with more than 70 physicians on staff covering more than 30 specialties. Baptist provides Level One and Level Two care in its nurseries, houses a sleep disorders center and offers services in medical oncology, neurosurgery and pulmonology.

It almost goes without saying, too, that Oxford and Lafayette County residents enjoy an outstanding array of educational opportunities. The University of Mississippi has called the area home since its founding in 1848. Ole Miss offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in numerous courses. Those wanting to study on the community college level first can do so in town, too. Northwest Mississippi Community College offers courses in Oxford at its Belk Drive campus. Oxford and Lafayette County also have some of the best high and elementary schools in the state. For more information on the schools in and around Oxford, see the “Necessary Numbers” section on this Web site.

Bike paths have also been added around town, and city leaders also hope to complete a walking bridge along Old Taylor Road over Hwy. 6.

Attractions
What does an Oxford resident or an Ole Miss student do for fun or entertainment? That’s almost too big a question to be answered in this small space.

The Square has become one of Oxford’s primary destinations for students, residents and tourists alike. Great food, books, clothing and more can be found all around the city’s Courthouse Square. Recognizing the city center’s value, a combination of private donations and public funds will be used to relocate utility lines underground in and around the square, furthering its beauty and appeal.

The University is a never-ending wellspring of things to do, offering everything from prominent guest speakers to conferences and sporting events. One of those events is the annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference. The popular literary event includes six days of lectures and discussions by scholars and dramatic readings from the works of William Faulkner. The writer’s home, Rowan Oak, is also a popular spot as visitors get a glimpse of where one of the South’s most famous residents laid his hat.

And, though it’s not Oxford’s only celebration, the annual Oxford Double Decker Arts Festival has become one of the city’s premier events. The festival is a celebration of music, food and arts on Oxford’s historic square.
For nightlife and fine dining, all one has to do is head for the Square. Establishments such as Proud Larry’s, Old Venice Pizza Company, and City Grocery are among the most recognizable spots in the Downtown area for great food, live music and great times. Oxford also boasts a host of night clubs throughout the city.

All these things combine to make Oxford one of the most dynamic small towns in America.