SMU Hilltop Ambassadors

By Cam Smith
camsmith@smu.edu

Earlier this week, I was pleasantly surprised when I walked by Dallas Hall and saw white lights being put on the trees. These lights were being strung in anticipation of the "Celebration of Lights." This is an SMU Tradition in which the entire school gathers the weekend before finals. The entire Dallas Hall quad is lit with white lights. Students and alumni alike join in singing Christmas Carols and sharing holiday cheer. As a freshmen last year it was one of my fondest memories. In a time of intense stress revolving around finals, it is a great way to relax, put things in perspective, and share some school unity. It truly is an event that is a huge part of the SMU experience. Though I will be clearly stressing out over my lack of sleep and/or tests awaiting, the holiday cheer on campus is hard to resist. Next week I'm going home for Thanksgiving, and I am very excited to head back to Colorado for the weekend. I have not been home since August, and a chance to see my brothers and parents will be a nice change. This semester has flown by, I really don't know where all the time has gone. Thus far college has moved at break neck speed. Sometimes I wish it would just slow down for a bit because I love all the fun things I get to do here. Soon I will be a second semester sophomore and before I know it....an SMU graduate. Let's hope that just doesn't come too quick.

Until Next Time...

By Kaitlyn Hall
kahall@smu.edu

The SMU football team won their game on Saturday against UTEP. Do you know what that means? SMU is bowl eligible and could go to a bowl for the first time in like 25 years! How awesome is that! June Jones is in the middle of his second season here at SMU, and he sure has turned the football program around. SMU has not done the best in past years (I am putting this very lightly), and Jones has really done something for this team. I am so proud to be an SMU Mustang right now. The student body is stoked about this football season, and I have never seen students so spirited! If we are chosen to go to a bowl game, the team may get to go to Hawaii. And if the Mustangs win the next two games against Marshall and Tulane, we get to play for the Conference USA championship which could be back at SMU! That would be so much fun to watch! I always wondered what it would be like to go to a university with a huge football program because I am a huge football fan. But now, I don't wonder about it anymore because I am so proud of my Mustangs! Pony Up, and wish our Ponies luck!

By Lauren Cook
lwcook@smu.edu

It's so cute to see all the families together on campus! All the parents look so proud to be with their students yet also curious at the same time. A girl's dad sat in on my psychology class today and I bet college is a lot different today than it was for him back then! I think it's such a great idea on SMU's part to host this weekend. It gives parents a chance to see how their kids are doing as well as see how exactly they are investing all of their money. The game should be good tomorrow. I think the stands should be more full :) My parents actually are not coming up this weekend! :( They didn't last year either. The reason is because since my sister and her husband now live here in Dallas, we made it a tradition to have Thanksgiving here, so now my parents will just wait one more weekend and fly up in 2 weeks! I can't wait to see them. It's been so long, yet I feel like I just left home. I bet that we will still all act the same...actually, wait--I KNOW we will!

By Natalie Sharp
nsharp@smu.edu

This weekend is Family Weekend at SMU! SMU's Student Foundation puts on Family Weekend each fall and they plan a lot of great events for students and their visiting families. This is a great way for students from out of state, and in state as well, to have their parents visit campus and spend time with them. I remember during my freshman year, my mom attended one of my classes with me which was really cool. To see a list of events and details about them, please click on this link. One of the most exciting things happening on campus this weekend is happening tomorrow afternoon...our home football game against UTEP! This game is huge because if SMU wins just one more game this season, we will have made it to a bowl game! (This means possibly spending Christmas in Hawaii! How awesome would that be?!) So, lets all cross our finger for an SMU win tomorrow! Go Ponies!

By Liz Dominguez
adominguez@smu.edu

Today marks the beginning of Family Weekend here at SMU! There are so many parents running around and it's amazing! My mom is coming for the game and she should be here for all of the events. It's great seeing so many enthusiastic parents running around. Last year, alot of my friends took their parents to classes. I had Chemistry 1303 with half of a classroom full of parents - it was hilarious. Events are planned for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and it's a great way to show your parents what you're doing with their "investments". Regardless, it's bound to be a fun weekend. I have to find time somewhere in there to write a history paper, do a RA project and study for an Organic Chemistry exam, but I'm sure it will all work out!

By Courtney Steele
csteele@smu.edu

Strands upon strands of lights. Ladders propped up against trees. 70 degree weather and sunshine all day. Yes! We're coming up on holiday season at SMU! The lights are going up on the lawn and trees in front of Dallas Hall, Highland Park houses are already bright with twinkling lights and the holiday bug is getting to all of us! The holidays are fast approaching which means huge meals, time with family (and time off from school!) and Celebration of Lights!

Every year at Celebration of Lights (CoL), students, faculty and community members alike gather on the lawn in front of Dallas Hall as we have a beautiful holiday celebration. Under-privileged children from the DFW area come and spend the evening with a college buddy while everyone gets hot chocolate and a candle to light as we ring in the most wonderful time of the year! This special moment concludes with a countdown leading up to the flipping on of all the many strands of lights! This is probably one of my favorite traditions at SMU, even though I love them all, and we certainly have plenty! CoL is still weeks away, but I'm already excited!

Fingers crossed for a big win this weekend for our football boys - let's make the Mustangs bowl eligible! Pony Up y'all!

By Nicholas Cains
Ncains@smu.edu

Hey Guys and Gals! Are you ready for some updates? Of course you are ;-).

Family Weekend Talent Show:
I'm performing in the 2009 Family Weekend Talent Show on Friday the 13th! WOOP WOOP! I'm really excited about my act; we'll be performing a song I've always liked called "Handlebars" by Flobots. It's gonna be oodles of fun! What's even better? my act is full of Meadows School of the Arts majors. I'm a theater major on vocals, Vito Gutilla is a violin major, Ben Croucher is a percussion major playing drum set, Jayson Peirce was a guitar major, and Carolyn Robbins is a dance major on piano. We're running through our act every night this week and I'm feeling better and better about it altogether. There are some very strong acts in the show and I'm just ready to do my best and have fun! If anyone's in town, you're totally invited.

Mr. University Pageant:
I'm so stoked about this. I'm basically competing in a male pageant put on by Pi Beta Phi in support of two different charities. I was nominated by Gamma Phi Beta to represent them as "Mr. Gamma Phi" and I cannot wait to just go crazy. We have four sections to the show including Sports Wear, Talent Performance, Formal Wear, and Group Dance! It's shaping up to be so much fun. By the way... I'm very excited about my talent. It's a SIX SONG MASH-UP! Here's the run down:

"Trashin" the Camp from Tarzan"Stand Up" by Ludacris

"L.O.V.E." by Nat King Cole

"So Fresh, So Clean" by Outkast

"Party in the U.S.A." Miley Cyrus

"Move" MIMS

The last song is basically just a dance break. I'm also trying to rustle up a posse to be backup dancers for me. Ben Croucher is doing all the beats on the drums for me- I'm extra super excited about it too!

In Conclusion:

I have so much to be thankful for.

#1. My acting scene felt so good Monday. I can't wait to get back into the studio and keep finding things.

#2. I had a major breakthrough with my audition monologue last night-- thank you so much Micah Figueroa for working with me on it.

#3. I have an extension on my paper for African American History- I'm gonna try as hard as I can to finish it before Monday. =D

Have a wonderful week =D.

By Lauren Cook
lwcook@smu.edu

For those of you who attend college strictly to go to class and sleep, a word of warning.....things will come up that you do not plan for and will test you! Especially regarding personal topics such as family or friend conflicts, personal happiness and well being, all of these things may happen upon you when you least expect it! Don't fret, however. This is life :) You just take it as the day comes. Also, I have found that your friends are always there for you or vice versa. It really helps me to know that I have a close group of 6 girls that I could go to for advice. Not to mention my boyfriend, my boss, or my sister who lives here! Also, SMU has plenty of counselors, psychologists, chaplains, and mentors here on campus that you can talk to if you have questions or just need to talk to someone. That is a comfort to me!

By Cameron Smith
camsmith@smu.edu

Heading into this season, Coach June Jones was quoted as saying that the SMU Mustangs would go to a bowl game either this year or the next. Well, it looks like they will be going this year. SMU has not gone to a bowl game since 1984, one of the longest droughts in division one football. June Jones came in as the coach of SMU football and last year was a disappointment as we only won game last year. This year things are off to a much better start at 5 and 4 (4 and 1 within conference and tied for first place in the division). In order to be considered for bowl contention you must have at least six wins. Seven wins would make SMU a lock. There has been a considerable "buzz" around campus recently about how much better the team is doing this year. Since Bo Levi has gone down with injury, true freshmen Kyle Pedron has stepped in and lead the Mustangs to consecutive victories. This year???s team is generating a lot of excitement and bright outlooks for the future. The Junes Jones era has begun and the players and SMU itself has truly bought into the system. If all goes well, the Mustangs will be playing in a bowl game come early January!!

Until Next time!!! Pony up!

By Courtney Steele
csteele@smu.edu

It's finally here! Homecoming 2009 - "Let the Games Begin!" Homecoming Week at SMU means everything is painted - wooden Perunas on the lawn in front of Clements Hall, windows along Hillcrest and the faces of students! The week was kicked off by our community service day on Saturday. Over 700 students participated and served the greater DFW area. So far, float building has begun, the homecoming king and queen candidates have been introduced and field day is over! As a side note, my team (Eta Sig and Mens Tennis) took first place at field day, yay! 24-hour float building starts Thursday and the parade is Saturday morning. Everyone is ready for the Boulevard to be packed and for us to play a great game against Rice! Pony Up!