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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY SINCE 1915
October 25, 2013
Friday High 70, Low 52 Saturday High 73, Low 61
VOLUME 99 ISSUE 28 FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS
Welcome back to the Boulevard Alumni return for Homecoming weekend as organizations compete for king and queen Emily Sims News Writer esims@smu.edu
herself celebrated as a student. “It was very similar,” remembers Melson, who was a member of Student Foundation as well as Kappa Alpha Theta. “Each organization would show support for its one member and there would be a campus vote and one winner and the queen would be crowned at the half time of the game. The students looked then very much like they do now, the girls would dress up. There would be after parties on campus or nearby on Greenville.” As 2013 marks SMU’s Year of the Library, celebrating the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the 100th anniversary of SMU’s first library, it’s only fitting that Homecoming’s theme revolves around classic books and stories as SMU continues to write its own story. From “Where’s Waldo” to “The Great Gatsby,” all campus organizations have been competing since Homecoming week kicked off Sunday. The games began at field day with Alpha Chi Omega and Lambda Chi Alpha taking first place. Following field day was the CANstruction competition, which was won by Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Alpha Order. “The sisters of Tri Delta and the brothers of KA built a crocodile to tie in our theme
Homecoming is a time for the entire SMU community to get the chance to celebrate and remember the memories and opportunities provided by the university. For college students, life is constantly filled with stress and obligation. Always rushing from class to class while trying to fit in time for homework and extracurricular activities. And let’s not forget about balancing a social life on top of it all. It’s easy to complain about the difficulty of having so much to do and hard to remember to appreciate and reflect on the opportunities students are given. “Homecoming gives alumni and current students a chance to rally behind their past and current organizations, and it is a time where we can all appreciate how lucky we are to go to a school like SMU,” said Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s homecoming candidate Tony LaRose (’14). Even though time marches on, many of SMU’s homecoming traditions remain untouched. As 2013’s Homecoming weekend is upon us, Leslie Long Melson (’77), Alumni Board Chair, anticipates some of the same festivities she
KATY RODEN / The Daily Campus
Greek organizations gather to cheer on their candidates at Rock the Vote Monday on Westcott Field. The spirit event was one of many held this week.
of Peter Pan,” said Tri Delt’s homecoming candidate, Addison Fontein (’14). “Every organization made such elaborate designs, and it was wonderful seeing everyone’s creativity.” CANstruction was a new event added to Homecoming this year, which combined friendly competition as well as
community service. “CANstruction was a great way to bring everyone together for an amazing cause,” Fontein said. “After volunteering at North Texas Food Bank many times, I know how much our efforts will help the Dallas community.” While all Homecoming events are competitive, float building is the
HOMECOMING CANDIDATES &
Theta Tau
Multicultural Student Organization
Marcial Sanchez
Jennifer Smith
Crystal Truong
Andrew Udofa
Sanchez is a mechanical engineering major and has won the Engineering Fellows Scholar Award. He is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., serves on the Scholars Den Council, is an SMU Distinguished Scholar, and an SMU Mustang Scholar.
Smith is an active member and serves as the liaison of the SMU Sustainability Committee, has co-directed SMU’s production of “The Vagina Monologues,” has held many leadership positions in Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity and is currently serving as Regent.
Truong is a member of the premed society Alpha Epsilon Delta, a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, a member of Asian Council and affiliate organizations, has served as president of Vietnamese Student Association and is a member of Multicultural Greek Council.
Udofa is both a President’s Scholar and a Carol & Jim Young TEDxSMU Scholar, a student member on SMU’s Athletic Council, a researcher in SMU’s Locomotor Performance Laboratory, and is President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a position he has served since his junior year.
&
Phi Gamma Delta
HOMECOMING page 5
Distinguished Alumni honored Katy Roden Editor-in-Chief kroden@smu.edu
Pi Beta Phi
who have achieved greatness since graduating from SMU. The Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner, held in a big tent on the Quad, honored Joseph M. “Jody” Grant (’60), Jeanne Roach Johnson (’54), and Peggy Higgins Sewell ’(72).
Awards
Editor’s note: The 24 Homecoming King and Queen candidates will be featured in groups of eight in Monday’s, Wednesday’s and today’s editions. Online voting at smu.edu/elections began Monday at 8 a.m. and runs 24 hours a day until Friday at noon. Winners will be announced at halftime of Saturday’s football game.
Multicultural Greek Council
only one that keeps organizations working round the clock all week in order to finish by 2 a.m. Friday. The SMU community and alumni marvel at each organization’s hard work as they walk with their float in the Homecoming parade. As students spend Thursday night pomping, the alumni celebrate those among them
The Union
Jilian Rossow
August Scherer
Brie Strickland
Michael Graves
Rossow is a senior in the Cox School of Business, a member of the Cox Energy Club, a Cox School Ambassador, member of Student Foundation, and is serving as president of Pi Beta Phi.
Scherer is a member of the SMU Polo Club serving as vice president, a member of the SMU energy club, participates in the alternative assets program and the Cox analyst program, and is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Strickland is a senior and also a Nancy and Ray Hunt Leadership Scholar, an SMU Tour Guide, a member and mentor of the University Honors Program, acts on the PRSSA Executive Board, a Mustang Corral leader,and the social chair for her Panhellenic sorority.
Graves is both a President’s and Meadows Scholar, is an Engaged Learning Grant Recipient, listed on the Honor Roll with Distinction, and has been a Union member all four years at SMU serving as first-year president. All photos courtesy of Sidney Hollingsworth
Four graduates were recognized last night at the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Awards held in a large clear tent constructed for the event on the Dallas Hall Lawn. Business leader Joseph M. “Jody” Grant (’60), investor Jeanne Roach Johnson (’54), and community leader Peggy Higgins Sewell (’72) were honored, as well as the 2013 Emerging Leader Award winner Brittany Merrill Underwood (‘06). Following remarks from President R. Gerald Turner and Brad Cheves, the vice president for development and external affairs, guests enjoyed a three-course meal before hearing Underwood’s story. Underwood founded the Ugandan American Partnership Organization in 2006 after a life-changing trip to Uganda. She raised $1 million to build a threestory orphanage and moved there after earning her B.A. degree from SMU with a major in journalism and minor in political science. While working in Uganda Underwood also established the Akola Project, a nonprofit social business that has elevated more than 1,200 women out of poverty with vocational training, education programs, support groups and savings and loans associations. Along with the orphanage, Underwood’s organization has built more than 23 clean water wells, two
vocational training centers and a social business for women whose products are sold in more than 220 U.S. boutiques. Current SMU students continue to be involved in Underwood’s nonprofit. Grant, who will be inducted into the Texas Ballroom Hall of Fame next month, celebrated his alumni award last night along with the one-year anniversary of the opening of Klyde Warren Park. Grant chaired the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation Board and raised approximately $100 million for the park. Grant attended SMU on a swimming scholarship, winning four individual Southwest Conference championships before earning his BBA in 1960. He became CEO of Texas American Bank in 1986 and launched Texas Capital Bank in 1998. Grant is currently on the board of SMU’s John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and served on the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1988. Johnson also joined the Distinguished Alumni for her dedication to her alma mater and
ALUMNI page 5
Correction: In Monday’s
issue of The Daily Campus, in the story titled “FiR Krout seeks to foster campus engagement,” Robert Krout is incorrectly quoted as saying “The main opportunity is being a hands-on integral part of the Residential Commons and the legs of the students on a daily basis.” This should have read “The main opportunity is being a hands-on integral part of the Residential Commons and the lives of the students on a daily basis.” We regret the error.