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Campus Life Spirit and Traditions Student Organizations Uncategorized

Homecoming’s Top Perks

Alex HibbardHomecoming is an exciting time at SMU, and this year was no exception. Southern Methodist University was founded in 1911 and opened for 1915. This Homecoming was the 100th birthday of SMU and the faculty and students filled the entire week with fun activities to celebrate 100 years.

Every Homecoming, organizations pair together and participate in different activities. The Homecoming theme this year was based on previous years themes and organizations stuck to their designated theme the entire week. From Field Day to Rock the Vote, members from the organizations participated in all Homecoming events to try and earn points for his/her organization. Throughout the week, individuals painted Mustangs (Peruna Painting), decorated banners, built masterpieces using cans of food, shared images on social media, and built a float.

The celebration expanded way beyond the events listed above. Because this was the 100th birthday celebration of SMU, the school threw many events for students, faculty, and alumni. One of the first big events was the concert in Moody Coliseum. SMU brought in the Eli Young Band and students were able to attend the concert with just the swipe of their ID card. The band was incredible and it was a great way to celebrate SMU’s 100th year. On September 24th, SMU’s actual birthday, students, faculty, alumni, and other notable individuals were all on the north side of campus, celebrating with food, music, and carnival games.

The 100th year celebration ended Saturday Night after the football game with an incredible fireworks show. Fans went down to the field and looked up into the sky as fireworks were shot from all around the stadium. It was one of the most incredible firework shows I had ever been to and it was a great way to end a memorable week.

-Alex Hibbard

 

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SMU Abroad Uncategorized

Time in England!

Coming into college, I knew that studying abroad was something I wanted to do during my undergraduate career. As a double major, however, I was worried that it was going to be impossible. Thankfully, SMU made it possible for me to go to London, England this past summer.

During the three months I was abroad, I took four classes, completed an internship, and conducted research on immigrants. I worked in the middle of Camden Town at a community center called Castlehaven where I did public relations and event planning. Each day for lunch I got to explore the infamous Camden Market—just a block away from Castlehaven. With over 700 shops and vendors, the market is one of London’s biggest and most eclectic. In light of missing Dallas’ Tex Mex, I often found myself at one of the Mexican food stands for a burrito. Austin Whittle

Beyond my internship, I had some amazing experiences in London such as going to Wimbledon, the London Pride Festival, and seeing Fleetwood Mac at the O2. From London, I also travelled to Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels and more. But now that I am back in America, I miss the things that became a significant part of my English lifestyle: the pubs, the high tea, and the front row seat of the double-decker Tube bus to work. Although I had some of the best times of my life abroad, it’s great to be back at the place that made such opportunities possible!

-Austin Whittle

 

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Uncategorized

Texas & What I’ve Learned

Half of SMU’s student body comes from outside the great state of Texas. Hailing from Colorado, I contribute to that 50% and in my two years here at SMU, I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be from Texas. So here are a few things this Coloradan has noticed about Texas:

1.) Every Texan knows the words to “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and if you’re coming from out of state, I highly recommend that you start by learning which parts require clapping.
2.) Texas is relatively flat compared to back home. Coming from Colorado, I always knew what direction I was heading because the mountains are always to my west. Here there is no such thing as a natural compass point, so I’ve learned to navigate using Dallas landmarks!
3.) It’s amazing how common it is to find a waffle in the shape of Texas!

Waffle

4.) Back home, 15” of snow may not even get you a delayed start at school, let alone a snow day, but in Texas, ½” of ice is enough to shut down an entire city. Don’t let the difference in accumulation fool you though, the ice is slick!
5.) Every high school football game is like a scene out of Friday Night Lights. Texans love their football.
6.) Fall colors don’t burst onto the scene until late November because the temperature is still warm!
7.) Breakfast tacos are a big deal.
8.) The State Fair of Texas really does have every kind of fried food item imaginable. It also has real live alligators… (and fried alligator, if that’s your thing)

State Fair

9.) Texans have truly struck gold with the word “y’all”. The more I use it, the more I’m convinced that it’s perfect for those situations when you need to say “you guys” or “everybody”.
10.) There is a difference between grilling and BBQ!

By Quincy Schurr

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Uncategorized

Enjoying the Music at Meadows

By Shannon Conboy

SMU is a fantastic place to be for a number of reasons, but my favorite aspect of the school is probably the accessibility given to all students for enjoying beautiful art, music, and shows, while at the same time offering students in these areas of study experience in sharing their talents.

As a Voice major in the Meadows school, I have the awesome opportunity to participate in ‘Opera-Free-for-Alls.’ These are performances in the middle of the Bob Hope Lobby during lunch, in which the SMU Opera Ensemble performs for anyone who wants to watch.

For our most recent show, each Opera Ensemble member sang one minute of a song or aria, so there was a little taste of everything. The show is open to all and is an exceptional opportunity for us as performers as well as for students who’ve never been exposed to such music to have the opportunity to enjoy it for free!

This week, you can expect to see an extremely large crowd packed into the Meadows Lobby as the dance department performs their ‘Brown Bag’ show! Or, stop by on Halloween to see the opera ensemble’s next Opera Free for All performance themed “All tricks, no treats,” in which all the scenes performed will involve some sort of trickery or scheming.