Organizers of a Thursday [April 3] forum allowing Blue Waves to discuss their opinions about a possible school move to Mississippi State University said the event allowed participants to openly approach the topic as “a conversation, not a confrontation.”
Taking place in Poindexter Hall, the forum was led by three members of the MSMS Student Government Association — President Carys Peden, Vice President Megan Colley, and Secretary Teagan Lotwala — and two members of the Mississippi Department of Education’s State Superintendent Advisory Council — Israel Cecil and Yash Malhotra.
Student organizers barred recordings, note-taking and photography of the forum to “promote free discussion” within the student body while preserving anonymity.
“It was beyond a success,” Cecil said. “The way everyone conducted themselves was adult-like, and no one was bickering. It was a conversation not a confrontation.”
A resolution calling for the forum was introduced by junior Isabel Beckman and approved April 1. SGA voted to invite faculty and staff on the grounds they not speak unless called upon.
Cecil was permitted to take anonymous notes of what was said during the forum to share with the state superintendent and MDE in the future.
![MSMS students on the State Superintendent’s Advisory Council will travel to Jackson tomorrow [April 8] to meet with the State Superintendent Lance Evans and other members of the Mississippi Department of Education to explain the values of MSMS along with emphasizing the school’s connection to Columbus.](https://thevisionmsms.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_8661-1200x1200.jpg)
![The Mississippi Board of Education voted to send Mississippi State’s proposal to house MSMS to state legislators Thursday [March 20] after grading the land-grant’s plan higher than the one submitted by the Mississippi University for Women.](https://thevisionmsms.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_1977-1200x900.jpg)
