When President Bush is inaugurated for his second term next January, Mississippi should be proud to see the Alcorn State University Concert Choir performing at the ceremonies.

What an exciting honor for this group of students, who are directed by Dr. David Blackburn of Natchez.

The students were invited by U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, who heard them recently at a function for Chamberlain Hunt Academy. With Lott on the committee helping plan the inauguration activities, he extended the invitation.

While having friends in high places hasn’t hurt, the concert choir certainly would not have been asked if it were not such a talented group of students.

About 45 students will make the trip, making stops along the way for concerts in various cities.

This is a great opportunity for exposure for the choir, for Alcorn and for Southwest Mississippi.

The appearance on a national stage is one of many positive things happening for Alcorn State University.

Just last month, the university learned that the settlement of a desegregation lawsuit has been upheld, clearing the way for the school to receive millions of dollars that will help not only the Lorman campus but also the school’s branch here in Natchez.

We are proud to have Alcorn State University as part of our Miss-Lou community &045; and we believe it will become, as president Dr. Clinton Bristow hopes, the university for Southwest Mississippi.

And by the way, the Miss-Lou can get a preview of just how good the concert choir is during the ASU choir’s performance of Handel’s &uot;Messiah&uot; at 7 p.m. this Saturday at St. Mary Basilica.