Ole Miss is facing a grim and unsettled moment after the university confirmed the deaths of two male students following a busy campus weekend, with law enforcement now running two separate investigations.
Emergency personnel were first called to Stewart Hall after reports of a possible overdose. According to the county coroner, one student, 18, was found on campus, while a 20-year-old was found off campus. Authorities say the cases are being handled independently, and the number of deaths has not been linked to anything beyond those two incidents.
At both scenes, investigators recovered packaged kratom from a retail store. Even so, Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said it has not determined whether the substance played any role in either death. The agency said, “We do not have confirmation indicating that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death.”
The university also moved quickly to tamp down the wave of misinformation spreading online. Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead urged the campus community not to fuel speculation, writing, “We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information.”
Autopsy and toxicology results are still pending.
In the meantime, social media has been flooded with unverified claims suggesting additional Ole Miss students overdosed. Those posts have triggered panic and confusion in Oxford, but officials have not confirmed those rumors.
One post claimed, “🚨 Breaking: 5 kids have died from cychlorphine overdoses this weekend at Ole Miss in Laced Xanax bars. Stay safe.”
Another said, “🚨BREAKING- PARENTS, READ THIS! 🚨.
Allegedly, Ole Miss is searching for more kids who didn’t show up to class today. Reports are that there are student Overdose deaths at Clemson, LSU, Alabama, USouthCarolina and Ole Miss.”
That same post also included a statement it said was sent out from UGA: “🚨🚨🚨🚨As I am sure you guys are starting to hear, this weekend in Oxford there were 7 deaths from overdoses at least 5 of which were fraternity men. These deaths came from cyclorphine an opioid that is stronger then fentanyl that was disguised as a Xanax and potentially also cocaine.
I reached out to all of your chapter presidents but as we know to combat this we need leaders of all ages to be on the same page, strongly encourage your chapters against drug use. It is evident this new mixer has hit the SEC.
With a big weekend ahead, it is critical you all are proactive with your chapters regarding this issue, so getting in front of guys you know may partake in these risks is encouraged.”
For now, local, state and federal authorities are treating the deaths as separate investigations.
In Other News...
Missouri Faces Its First Real SEC Test In Starkville
Mississippi States fast start has turned its SEC home opener into an early measuring stick, with the Bulldogs coming in at 3-0 after a comeback win at South Carolina and a fresh spot in the AP Top 25. For Missouri, the trip to Starkville offers the first real league test of the season, one that arrives with both teams unbeaten and both coaches still trying to sort out exactly what they have as conference play begins.
Jeff Lebby and Eliah Drinkwitz both had plenty to say about their teams performances and the challenge ahead, which is exactly what a game like this tends to invite. The Tigers have handled the first part of the schedule, but this one carries a different feel because it is Missouri stepping into a ranked SEC road game against a team that has already shown it can finish under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Faces A Road Test SEC Teams Rarely Forget
Saturday night in Starkville already had the feel of one of those SEC road tests that sticks with a team, and Missouri is walking into it with both sides ranked and kickoff set for 6:45 p.m. Mississippi States home field is expected to be anything but ordinary, with the Bulldogs and their fans preparing for a noise level that should make communication a challenge from the opening snap.
Missouri has been getting ready the hard way, too, by working through practice sessions with cowbells around the ears of players and staff to better simulate what they will face. It is the kind of detail that tells you the Tigers understand the assignment: survive the atmosphere, settle in quickly, and avoid letting an unfamiliar soundtrack turn a big league game into a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Womens Golf Just Delivered A Home Statement Tigers Fans Will Love
Mizzous womens golf team gave its home crowd plenty to enjoy at the Johnie Imes Invitational, turning in a dominant showing that looked every bit like a program that knows this tournament well. The Tigers won by 32 strokes and finished 22-under par overall, with senior Addie Dobson leading the way by capturing the individual championship at 15-under par in a performance that tied the tournament record.
What made the week even more impressive was how deep the effort ran, with four Mizzou players finishing in the top five individually as the Tigers piled up their 11th title at the event since 2007. For a team that has made this tournament feel almost like a home fixture, the only real question now is how far this kind of form can carry once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]