A relatively new addition to NCAA sports has been making waves since first going into effect July 1, 2021, and this week the ripples made their way into a Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) meeting.

In a 2-1 vote, BOMA approved a $1,000 sponsorship for Ken Clark on behalf of Friends of KC-1400 Inc. dba KC-1400 Collective for NIL Jackson State Football Fundraiser pursuant to Section 17-3-1 and Section 17-3-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.

While Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and Ward 1 Alderman Thomas “T.J.” Mayfield voted in favor of approving two $500 tickets for the fundraiser, Ward 2 Alderman Alex Monsour voiced his reservations about spending taxpayer money on anything related to NIL.

Standing for “Name, Image, Likeness,” the NIL refers to the rights of collegiate student-athletes to profit monetarily from anything bearing their names, images or likenesses, opening the door for everything from corporate sponsorships to retail revenue and royalties. Since its inception, NIL has been heavily criticized as a way for colleges and universities to purchase players rather than obtaining commitments through traditional recruiting channels.

Prior to voting against the agenda item’s approval, Monsour said his concern over taxpayer support for NIL extends to uncertainty over how the City of Vicksburg can support one in-state institution and not others, in essence creating a slippery slope for municipal spending.

“I would like to explain why I’m voting no, and it has nothing to do with Jackson State University,” Monsour said. “In my opinion, I think that NIL has put universities like Jackson State, Alcorn State, Southern Miss, and so many other universities, in a bad situation to where they are having to raise money in order to pay for players. Another reason is I don’t think it’s incumbent on the City of Vicksburg to pick one university when we have five in the state and to put that money towards NIL and purchasing players. I don’t think the taxpayers’ money should be used for that purpose itself.”

Monsour said, even in the event that spending taxpayer money on NIL was supported, he wouldn’t agree with funding one school over another.

“You can’t ask the taxpayers to pick and choose one university when you have all these other universities,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s right for us to do that.”

Flaggs said it was his understanding that the “sponsorship” was for two tickets to a fundraising event for Jackson State and not specifically geared toward NIL-related matters.

“Well, it’s a fundraiser for NIL for Jackson State University,” Monsour said. “I’m trying to bring it to light that we are using taxpayer money to support a program. I’m just saying, I think it’s a bad idea.”

Although not specifically cited in Monday’s meeting, Flaggs is an alumnus of Jackson State University; Mayfield often recuses himself from matters concerning Alcorn State University, of which he is a graduate. Monsour is a graduate of LSU.