Wick Allison, founder and publisher of D Magazine, Dallas’ premier citywide publication, spoke to SMU’s College Republicans about the meaning and significance of urban development and expansion in Dallas Wednesday evening.
Allison was invited on behalf of the College Republicans to give a relatively non-partisan perspective on the importance of issues such as infrastructure, commerce and taxes, specifically in Texas with emphasis on the Dallas area.
Because SMU has so many out-of-state students, College Republicans wanted them to learn about Texas’ history.
President of the College Republicans Chad Cohen said, “We want them to feel a greater sense of pride in our city, and also to understand that it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Issues are still issues, and they affect us all.”
Allison began his lecture with a history lesson over the workings of great ancient cities and democracies, such as Athens. He went on to tell how thousands of years later, the leaders of young Dallas looked back at such historical places and used the same ideas to build modern-day Dallas.
“Great people talk to each other through the ages by what they do and what they leave behind,” Allison said.
The introduction of the lecture was more of a vocabulary lesson than a history lesson. Allison explained the word “commonwealth” as “the combination of resources and the building of wealth together,” emphasizing the importance of unity in a city’s leadership and people when working toward a common goal.
Allison explained that the secret to Dallas’ success has always been in the people’s investments in the city itself. He cited examples such as the DFW airport, large road construction projects and the economic accessibility that has attracted corporations to Dallas over the past century.
Dallas is currently the ninth largest city in America and is still growing. It is one of a handful of cities that continued to build during the economic recession.
Dallas is home to a dozen Fortune 500 companies. When the number of private and public corporations’ headquarters are combined, Dallas is the corporate center of America.
Vice President of College Republicans, Daniel Summa, a sophomore economics major, said, “I care more about this city now that I have a better understanding of its historical significance.”
Cohen, who grew up in Dallas, agrees.
“As someone who’s grown up here, it’s exciting to see how Dallas fits into history. I always took its vibrancy for granted, but now I really appreciate the effort it took to get us here,” he said.
