Huddled in groups on the north boulevard, students sing carols in front of SMU’s beautifully illuminated Dallas Hall.
Celebration of Lights is one of SMU’s oldest traditions, sponsored every year by Student Foundation.
Student Foundation is a leadership group on campus that consists wholly of SMU students. These students plan, organize and put on SMU’s most traditional events such as Mane Event, Homecoming, Family Weekend, Celebration of Lights and the Tate Lecture Series. Each big event has different committees requiring year-round planning to make each year better, different and hopefully more fun than the last.
“Student Foundation was started in 1973 by Mike Miller,” said Stephanie Markman, Student Foundation president. “It began with a fundraising event called Telefund and later expanded to include Celebration of Lights and the Manata Festival, which is now what we call Mane Event. Over the years, other events were added, such as Family Weekend and Homecoming. Student Foundation focuses on long-established events that SMU puts on every year.”
Dawn Norris is proud to hold the title of advisor to the Student Foundation.
“I wanted to be the advisor of Student Foundation because it is filled with an amazing group of students who freely volunteer their time and talents to make SMU events really special,” Norris said. “I love seeing the leadership that they show and put forth to make sure that SMU can have these unique and special events every year.”
Mane Event is an end-of-the-year party on the boulevard. Student Foundation brings in DJ’s, bounce houses, caricature artists, organized games, free food and prize giveaways.
“I really like organizing and planning Mane Event,” said Katy Bedford, a sophomore political science and international studies major who has been on Student Foundation for two years. “It’s so fun decorating, finding fun games and contests for the students … and everyone likes free food,” she added jokingly.
Homecoming is Student Foundation’s biggest event. It takes the entire year to plan, however, the students happily do it all.
“Other schools have professionals come in to do [events like this],” Norris said. “Since ours is student-run, that helps keep everything student-focused. Student Foundation picks the theme, organizes the Homecoming King and Queen presentation, and arranges the pep rallies, tailgate and halftime show for the big football game.”
Family Weekend always draws high numbers of out-of-town parents who are eager to see how their child has adjusted to SMU. Student Foundation picks a theme and itinerary for Family Weekend, usually including a talent show, tours of the Greek sorority and fraternity houses, and the “Taste of Dallas” dinner, where restaurants in the Highland Park area cater their best for hungry families from all over the U.S.
Not many students know that Student Foundation is responsible for the Tate Lecture Series.
“We work with the Tate Lecture Series to provide ushers for all the lectures, and our Tate chair sits on the Tate Lecture Board as the student voice to the committee,” said Markman.
Student Foundation is committed to making sure that students have a voice in the Tate Series. Student Foundation’s 100-plus members can give input and suggestions to the Tate chair on who would be a compelling speaker, ideas to draw in more students to the lectures or just suggest ideas to improve the Tate Series in general.
Many students confuse Student Foundation with SMU’s Program Council. Norris explains the difference: “Student Foundation puts on traditional campus events – usually always the same events at the same time each year. Our events are fewer in number – but bigger. Program Council, on the other hand, keeps up with the current events … their events and programs are more varied and planned based more on student input and current trends and events. They would do stuff such as comedians, speakers, movies, concerts, etc..”
Student Foundation does not usually pair up with other campus groups, but Bedford hopes that will soon change.
“I would love to see more support from other organizations,” she said. “I really think it would be great if we teamed up with Program Council or the Multicultural Greek Council for events.”
