Meadows Dean Jose Antonio Bowen led a town hall meeting with Meadows students Thursday in the Greer Garson Theatre to brainstorm about changes to the school.
Bowen said at the meeting that it was “very informal, very casual.”
“We’re going to have a meet the dean party afterwards,” he added.
Students had the opportunity to voice their opinions and sign up for the student advisory board.
“I want a group of students who will tell me ‘ya’ or ‘no, we don’t care'” about changes, he said.
One of the first issues Bowen raised was about security. He told students that the school would be installing security cameras at all the exits of Owen Fine Arts Center.
“Those music stands you’re taking home? Not a good idea,” he said.
Students also requested longer hours of operation for the Owen Art Center.
Bowen said that 24-hour access wasn’t an option right away because of money and security concerns, but that it was something he could work on.
Bowen also said that he’d like to make laptops mandatory for incoming freshmen next year.
“[We could say] here’s the right computer for art students and here’s the right computer for music students and you pick it up in a package the first day of school at the bookstore,” he said.
The advisory board is tentatively scheduled to meet Thursdays at 5 p.m.
First-year dance and art history student Caroline French said she was looking forward to getting involved in the program.
“I just really wanted to get involved in Meadows and be part of something that deals with those issues,” she said.
“There’s no purpose [for the board] other than to make this a better place to live and work,” said Bowen.
But Bowen emphasized that the board wouldn’t be his only resource for ideas about change.
“Anybody can e-mail me,” he said. “I want you to know that you can contact me and I’m listening.”
After the meeting students gathered in front of the Owen Arts Center for hot dogs, chips, cookies and soda.
Bowen also helped set instruments for a jam session for the students after the meeting.
First-year Will Dudding said he approved of the meeting and the new dean.
“I’ve been impressed by a lot of people here at SMU but he’s impressed me just as much or more than anyone,” he said.
