STUDENT VS SQUIRREL

A War Of Two Worlds

A family pet is the glue that holds many households together. Much like a child, it is carefully taken care of and greatly loved by its owners. Whether it is the fluffy companionship of a dog or cat, or a more distant relationship with a fish or snake, pet owners dedicate a large chunk of their spare time and money to their beloved creatures. On the other hand, some family pets aren’t too fond of their providers.

The squirrels of the Ole Miss community can be classified as family pets, more specifically, unappreciative ones. According to the University’s Physical Plant, recent landscape changes have been altered by the furry pests. “They’ve tossed piles of pine straw around the trunks of trees. I’m guessing they’re looking for buried food from the winter,” states Robert Walsh as he trims tree branches in the Grove. Landscapers take hours of effort to make the campus attractive. The squirrels take advantage of what a beautiful habit they have to call home. Students don’t find them very friendly either.

“I’ve found myself almost stepping on one before. They’re so bold that it’s annoying,” says freshman biology major Kiara Washington. On an average day, you can pass up to 4 squirrels on your way to class. They daringly jump across your path and walk along side you. They pop from behind bushes and startle many, while squeaking in evil laughter. Washington believes that she speaks for the rest of the student body when she says, “They should realize that we’re the humans and we’re the ones providing them with a place to live. We could cut down all the trees on campus and leave them with nowhere to sleep!”

Tree-huggers call squirrels “gardeners of the earth.” The Rebels call them “gangstas”, as stated by a Facebook group created in 2006. The group, known as P.A.G.S.A.O.M. (People Against Gangsta Squirrels At Ole Miss), is a comical mockery of the meddlers that roam the lower inches of campus.

Though people like to make light of the human versus squirrel battle, it’s serious business on The University of Mississippi.

But where do these sneaky squeakers come from? The University established the Grove and the Circle before they chose to call it home, right? These are age old question that will constantly be asked by aggravated students. However, there’s no way to determine who has the right to command the land their own.

One of many squirrels that boldly roam campus stops to scold students.