What's On Their CEO Minds?
The Cox School of Business set out to put a finger on the pulse of business leadership in Dallas with its first annual SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey. Faculty members Miguel Quinones and Robert Rasberry conducted the survey, which covered topics from the state of the economy to the quality of the DFW labor force, from leadership attributes to the top competitive challenges CEOs face. "This survey is more comprehensive than many smaller studies of its type," Quinones says. "By asking a wider range of questions, we get a very clear picture of what's going on. We can see that...
State Dinosaur Debunked
A recent discovery by SMU geology graduate Peter Rose ('04) may lead to a new state dinosaur for Texas. The pleurocoelus (inset), a 50-foot-long, plant-eating dinosaur unearthed 10 years ago near Glen Rose, was designated the official dinosaur of Texas by the State Legislature. Rose determined that the bones of the state dinosaur were not those of a pleurocoelus at all, but of a previously unknown species he named the paluxysaurus. Now the pleurocoelus may be stripped of its official designation and the honor reassigned to the paluxysaurus. Rose, who received his Master's degree in geological sciences from SMU, is...
Rallying The Masses
Some thought it was a parking sign. Or a call for donations. But for SMU Athletics, the arrow pointing up next to the familiar red Peruna has students and fans cheering "Pony Up!" Developed for football and basketball seasons, the logo has appeared on TV ads, T-shirts, hats, Dallas billboards and light post signs. "We have to produce results on the field and on the court. But we also wanted to create a fun experience for our fans. That's what led to Pony Up," Athletics Director Steve Orsini says. "We wanted a campaign to help rally the students and alumni."...
Songs With Style
When Neiman Marcus wanted original music composed for the 100th anniversary celebration of the flagship store in downtown Dallas, it turned to a local talent source: Meadows School of the Arts. The opportunity was given to junior Timothy Roy, a President's Scholar majoring in music composition. Roy wrote three pieces – one for the main floor and outside window area, one for the Wish Tree (incorporating nature sounds), and one for the elevators (jazz style, incorporating the sounds of people talking). "I was inspired by the company's beautiful and futuristic visual concept, which includes sparkling crystal prisms, glass chandeliers, countless...
Discoursing With The Students
Hilltopics, an alternative campus newsletter, celebrated its third year of publishing by sponsoring its first essay contest, offering $1,000 in prizes for student articles. Edited and produced by SMU students, Hilltopics contains articles ranging from student apathy and sexual relationships to the environment and politics, contributed by students and faculty. The University Honors Program and Residence Hall Association sponsor Hilltopics. Articles of 300-600 words on any topic are accepted from all members of the SMU community, including alumni. E-mail submissions to hilltopics@hotmail.com. (Publication is suspended for the summer and begins again with the fall semester.) “I really enjoyed the creative...
Their 30 Seconds of Frames
SMU advertising and cinema-television students won $20,000 for creating the best 30-second commercial in a national competition sponsored last fall by Chipotle Mexican Grills. Overall, 15 students from Meadows School of the Arts entered the contest. Two teams conceptualized, wrote, filmed and edited three spots each for the competition, “30 Seconds of Fame.” An eight-member SMU team produced the winning entry, “The Wall” (right), which ran with another SMU entry, “The Dryer,” on the JumboTron in New York City’s Times Square, making them the first student-created ads to do so. In the second round of competition, Chipotle uploaded all of...
Welcome Home, Alumni!
Alumni can make new memories of the Hilltop during SMU’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend November 8-10, 2007. The Homecoming parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 10, followed by a free picnic on the Boulevard and the football game against Rice in Ford Stadium.
Reel Connections
The first AFI Dallas International Film Festival held this spring included a substantial contingent of SMU students, faculty and alumni, as well as numerous screenings and master classes held on campus. Opening the master classes was screenwriter Jim Hart (’69), who spoke on his newest movie, “The Last Mimzy.”