Read on Twitter
NEW: University of Mississippi Police are pursuing a criminal investigation into Ole Miss Information, the anonymous whistleblowers who tipped @MSFreePress off about racist emails between UM officials and prospective wealthy donors. #UMEmails https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
The emails revealed how, even as University of Mississippi officials condemned racism publicly, they privately catered to and coddled donors like the one who referred to Black students as "African hookers" or using ape emojis to describe Black women. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
Now, the UM Emails whistleblowers, who obtained the emails following an official and legal public records request, are facing a criminal investigation as officials and some faculty members accuse them of "creating a hostile work environment." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
The "hostile work environment" allegations came after the #UMEmails whistleblowers alleged administrators were engaging in improper pay and promotion schemes—including by continuing to pay exorbitant amount to an ex-dean implicated in the racist emails. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
University of Mississippi Ombudsman Paul J. Caffera is still fighting in court against efforts by officials to compel him to help in their efforts to unmask the identities of the whistleblowers. He was placed on administrative leave after filing suit. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
The university has tried to compel Caffera to cooperate even though the 2015 UM Ombuds Charter states, “The Ombudsperson shall not testify or provide records to be used in any other dispute resolution process, grievance process, or investigation." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
Campus Police declined to answer questions or confirm the investigation exists, saying they had to direct me to UM's public relations office.
I called UMPR, whose automated voice message told me to email them my questions. I emailed asking them to call me. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
I called UMPR, whose automated voice message told me to email them my questions. I emailed asking them to call me. https://www.mississippifreepress.org/9134/um-pursuing-criminal-investigation-into-whistleblowers-who-exposed-racist-emails/
You can now view some of the shocking (or not, depending on your perspective) emails that informed our #UMEmails reporting and see how events unfolded here.
"From Racist Emails to Witch Hunts: A UM Emails Timeline." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/8357/um-emails-timeline/
"From Racist Emails to Witch Hunts: A UM Emails Timeline." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/8357/um-emails-timeline/
Our first #UMEmails report dropped in August:
‘The Fabric Is Torn In Oxford’: UM Officials Decried Racism Publicly, Coddled It Privately https://www.mississippifreepress.org/4876/the-fabric-is-torn-in-oxford-um-officials-decried-racism-publicly-coddled-it-privately/
‘The Fabric Is Torn In Oxford’: UM Officials Decried Racism Publicly, Coddled It Privately https://www.mississippifreepress.org/4876/the-fabric-is-torn-in-oxford-um-officials-decried-racism-publicly-coddled-it-privately/
UM Emails, Part II: ‘The Ole Miss We Know’: Wealthy Alums Fight To Keep UM’s Past Alive https://www.mississippifreepress.org/4950/the-ole-miss-we-know-wealthy-alums-fight-to-keep-ums-past-alive/
UM Emails, Part III: UM’s ‘Culture Of Secrecy’: Dean Quit As Emails Disparaging To Gay Alum, Black Students Emerged https://www.mississippifreepress.org/5004/ums-culture-of-secrecy-dean-quit-as-emails-disparaging-to-gay-alum-black-students-emerged/
After the UM Emails series dropped, @middleton380 broke the story on UM's firing of @garrett_felber, a historian who claimed in October that the school rejected a grant to study mass incarceration bc "this antiracist program threatens racist donor money." https://www.mississippifreepress.org/7518/um-fires-history-professor-who-criticizes-powerful-racist-donors-and-carceral-state/
If you support our work to hold public institutions accountable and encourage all levels of Mississippi government more transparent, please support non-profit, paywall free journalism by following @MSFreePress and consider a one-time or recurring donation: http://mfp.ms/donate
