Blanton building opens its doors

“She had a very staggering love for this school,”Jack Blanton said of his late wife in an interview before the newLaura Lee Blanton Building was dedicated Friday. “It was hermain outside love.”

Named for Mr. Blanton’s wife, a one-time SMU student andformer member of the SMU Board of Trustees, the building isdesigned to be a “one-stop shop” for studentservices.

The building cost $13 million, $5 million of which came in adonation from the Blanton family.

It houses the Division of Enrollment Services, SMU’sOffice of Information Technology Services, SMU’sInternational Center and the SMU-in-Taos office.

School officials believe that having all these departments inthe same building is more convenient for students andapplicants.

“This building will have a profound effect on the dailylives of students [in terms of convenience],” said VicePresident for Student Affairs James Caswell in his speech at thededication.

University President R. Gerald Turner spoke of the”welcoming message this building will provide,”especially to prospective students visiting the school for thefirst time.

SMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ross Murfinsaid the building will improve the campus both in terms ofappearance and student services.

“It’s a new ‘front door’ to SMU,”Murfin said in his speech at the dedication.

“It will change both the way we serve and the physicallook of the campus.”

Student Body President Thomas Kincaid, in his remarks, reflectedon his telling incoming students to apply themselves to theirpassions during their time at SMU.

“We’re lucky that Laura Lee Blanton’s passionis the SMU students,” he concluded.

Mrs. Blanton served as a member of the SMU Board of Trusteesfrom 1972 to 1984 and again from 1988 until her death in 1999.

She was the secretary of the board from 1992 to 1996.

She was also chairwoman of the board’s Standing Committeeon Buildings and Grounds.

Gerald J. Ford, chairman of SMU’s Board of Trustees, inhis speech, recalled Mrs. Blanton’s dedication to the schooland Mr. Blanton’s support of her.

“Laura Lee Blanton was the paradigm of a trustee,”Mr. Ford said, “and Jack Blanton always stood firmly behindher.”

At the dedication ceremonies, Mr. Blanton recalled how vitalMrs. Blanton felt the care of students is.

“It was very important to her, the treatment and handlingof students,” Mr. Blanton said.

“This building is a way to honor someone extremelyspecial,” he said. “I’m sure she’s smilingdown on us now.”