With all the recent articles regarding EPIC, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know what EPIC truly is and how you too can put the funds to good use.

As part of the President’s Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention, a decision was made by a group of students, faculty and staff that there needed to be more late-night programming options on and off campus. As a result Evening Programs Initiatives Contributions (EPIC) was born.

EPIC funds have been allocated by the Commission to support student-initiated late night programs that promote safe and responsible social interaction and behavior on and around the SMU campus.

Primary consideration is given to proposals that are designed to best support the mission of the Student Affairs Drug and Alcohol Task Force Recommendations.

To ensure that EPIC funds were indeed being used as the Student Affairs Drug and Alcohol Task Force recommended, an EPIC committee made up of students, staff and faculty was created.

Any student(s) with an event or program idea can apply for EPIC funds by simply visiting http://smu.edu/saprograms/epic/default.asp.

Past EPIC events include Stage Rush, Relay for Life, Step Show, R2B2, Haunted House trip, Salsa Night, ASA Extravaganza, Super Bowl party and Open Mic Night (held in the M Lounge every other Thursday), to name just a few.

I am happy to answer any question about EPIC and even help you plan your next EPIC idea.

Richard Ownes is the Director of the Hughes Trigg Student Center and the Chair of the EPIC committee in Student Affairs at SMU. He can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected] or at 214-768-4499.