The Lyceum, built in 1848, is the oldest building on campus. It housed most of the
classrooms and faculy offices of the University. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War for both Union and Confederate soldiers. It was also the site of
rioting during the desegregation crisis. Today, the building is used to
house the administration of the school.Classes were interrupted with the outbreak of the Civil War, when every student and most faculty from Ole Miss enlisted in the
Confederate Army. They were nicknamed the
University Greys, and by war's end they had suffered a 100% casualty rate.The school was integrated in 1962 when 29-year-old James Meredith matriculated there. President John F. Kennedy called
in 20,000 National Guardsman to protect
Meredith. Two died and 300 were wounded in the resulting rioting. Today, approximately 13% of the student population is
African-American.