A new documentary exploring the life and influence of Donald Ray Cole, a former student and longtime leader at the University of Mississippi, will premiere this week at the Oxford Film Festival. The film traces Cole’s journey from his expulsion in 1970 as part of the Ole Miss 8—a group of students removed after a peaceful protest—to his decades-long role as an advocate for students and underrepresented groups at the university.
Antonio Tarrell, co-director of the documentary, emphasized the importance of debuting the film in Oxford. “Having this film screened in Oxford – where so many of these events unfolded – feels deeply significant,” Tarrell said. “This is not just another stop on the festival circuit. This is the ground where history happened.” He added, “To bring the story back to the community that lived it, witnessed it and in many ways continues to wrestle with it carries real weight.”
The documentary will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 26) at Malco Oxford Commons as part of the festival’s 23rd annual event. Tickets are available through the festival’s website. A second screening will take place March 3 at Fulton Chapel—the site of Cole’s original protest—hosted by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture’s SouthTalks series. This event will include a panel discussion with Cole, Tarrell, and Castel Sweet, director of the Center for Community Engagement and co-director of the film.
Filming took place across several states including Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and various locations in Mississippi. Tarrell noted that while Cole’s story extends beyond Oxford, its return to this community highlights both his impact and Oxford’s willingness to engage with its own history: “But to have the film return here – and to be selected as the opening film – speaks volumes about Dr. Cole’s impact on this community and the university. He is deeply respected and loved.” He continued, “The fact that the festival chose to center this story says something about where Oxford is today and its willingness to engage its own history.”
Cole is recognized not only for his work as a mathematics professor but also for championing underrepresented students throughout his career. Castel Sweet stated: “Dr. Cole’s impact on this university cannot be overstated,” adding that he represents both painful historical truths and hope for transformation at Ole Miss. “His return to the very institution that expelled him, and his decades of leadership on behalf of students who followed, fundamentally reshaped what belonging and advocacy could look like at Ole Miss.” Sweet concluded: “This film invites us not only to honor his legacy, but to reflect on our collective responsibility to continue that work.”
Despite being central to these changes, Cole remains modest about his role: “I do think that there will be individuals inspired by it (the documentary), but I won’t be the only inspiration there,” he said. “I came back to the university – and was the only who came back – but I wasn’t the only one who was torn apart by what happened.” He continued: “This is vindication for them, that is just as important to me as anything else. I was here, and I was a villain for a while, then I was a hero. Now, they get to be the hero, too.” He added: “I never wanted to be a hero, but I think they are.”
After leaving Ole Miss following his expulsion in 1970, Cole completed degrees elsewhere before returning in 1985 for his doctorate. In 1993 he became assistant dean in Ole Miss’s Graduate School and associate professor of mathematics after working in industry and academia elsewhere.
Cole led programs supporting minority participation in STEM fields such as Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation program as well as summer Bridge STEM programs and McNair program initiatives. He also served as assistant to Chancellor Robert Khayat for multicultural affairs until 2017.
Tarrell hopes current students learn from Cole’s example: “My hope is that ‘Cole: Bridge to Justice’ teaches current University of Mississippi students that resilience is not abstract – it is lived,” he said. “No matter the obstacles placed in front of you, you keep moving forward. You pursue your dreams. You stand firm in your convictions.” Tarrell added: “And if that conviction requires protest, then you protest – with a clear understanding that there may be consequences. But history shows that the long-term rewards of principled action often outweigh the immediate cost.” He concluded: “Dr. Donald Cole embodies that lesson.”
In discussing what motivated him to make this documentary alongside Steven T. Case (who first approached him), Tarrell reflected on how little-known yet impactful these events were within local memory despite their significance.
