School spirit and sociable surroundings filled the third floorof the Hughes-Trigg Student Center as interviews took place Tuesdayto establish the newest class of Mustang Eleven members.

The group of 11 first-years, selected by faculty and students,is chosen to promote spirit and traditions among their class.

Program Council advisor Traci Ray, who is in charge of theMustang Eleven Class of 2008, said the abundance of outgoing talentamong this year’s class made it difficult to narrow theapplicants down to the final eleven.

“We had close to 35 applicants and it was very difficultto select the group,” she said. “The folks not selectedwill make a great addition to various other groups oncampus.”

The difficult choice led to three alternates being selected inaddition to the Mustang Eleven. Alternates will remain “oncall” throughout the year should one of the selected membersnot be able to continue.

Ray also commented on the similarities and differences among thenewest members.

“Everyone had similar qualifications, but we also wanted adiversity of personalities,” she said. “I feel that weobtained a good balance of backgrounds, hometowns andmajors.”

The selected Mustang Eleven members and alternates span thecountry, from Connecticut to California, and will study a vastvariety of fields, including business, dance and philosophy.

As the promotion of school spirit is one of the cornerstones ofMustang Eleven, the various athletic programs at SMU will serve asa background upon which the members can display their hard wok anddedication.

And with the first football game right around the corner,Mustang Eleven will get right to work.

“Their first task is to design ‘Class of 2008’T-shirts that will be on sale Sept. 1 before the Texas Tech game atthe Mustang Eleven tent on Bishop Boulevard,” Ray said.

Through the rest of the year, members will be involved invarious aspects of campus life, including programs, inter-classcompetitions and dances.

“From the interviews, we decided the platform for the newmembers will be school spirit at SMU,” Ray said.

The students will be work on programming initially, Ray said,then move on to pep-rallies, contests among the different classes,the ‘Red & Blue Rally’ and helping to plan thefirst-year formal.

Ray hopes the spirit of the group to catch fire and spreadacross campus.

“Ideally,” Ray said, “we will have arepresentative on SMAC, and be present at everything from the chessclub to Meadows events to the competitive Quiz Bowlprogram.”

Ray looks to add her own flair to the program in her first yearwith Mustang Eleven.

“I love Program Council,” she said, “but thisis something very different.”

While Ray leads the Mustang Eleven Class of 2008, otherhigh-ranking Student Activities Center faculty members willcontinue to lead their respective groups, including studentactivities director Arlene Manthey (Class of 2005), coordinator ofstudent activities and Greek (Pan-Hellenic and Multi-cultural)affairs (Class of 2006) and assistant director of studentactivities Thomas Hailey (Class of 2007).

Traci Ray is certainly looking forward to the experience workingwith eleven active and animated students over the next fouryears.

“I can’t wait to help out with the spirited side ofcampus!”

MUSTANG ELEVEN 2008

• Katie Beth Adkins

• Jason Arnold

• Chad Berg

• Brandon Darden

• Whitney Ehlin

• Ashleigh Falk

• Jace Hinderland

• Ann Wyatt Little

• Eric Sellers

• Sarah Smith

• Wesley Tibbetts