SMU is filled with students separated by the walls of academic buildings, Greek houses or sports stadiums. Program Council, an SMU organization, aims to break down those walls with signature events that have become staples on campus.
“At the beginning of the school year, we set several goals for ourselves to reach by the end of the school year, and one of them was to impact as much of the campus as possible,” said Geenah Krisht, president of Program Council.
Originally from Little Rock, Ark., Krisht is a junior at SMU and double majors in journalism and film and media arts. She joined Program Council in the fall of her freshman year and has watched the organization become what she said is a dominant presence on campus.
The organization’s goal, according to its page on the SMU website, is to “unify and celebrate the community found in the SMU student body through fun, innovative and educational programming that enhances the awareness of self, of others and of the entire university community.”
The council plans events intended to reach a wide variety of students and bring them together.
Krisht said she believes that Program Council events have become popular because of changes the program has made within the last two years such as branding and advertising.
Program Council advertises its events using traditional posters, but also via social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This spreads information about events to students who are not on campus as much as those who live in the dorms. This year Program Council plans to incorporate social media into Sing Song, its next big event.
Sing Song will be held in McFarlin Auditorium on April 11 and is a competition among campus groups and organizations in which they make 12-minute theatrical pieces that include singing and dancing. Charlie Weber, an SMU accounting major and Sing Song chairman, said photos of each group will be posted on Facebook and their number of “likes” will be factored into their scores for the competition.
“This year’s theme is ‘Pop Icons,’ and it is going to be a Sing Song like no one has seen before,” Weber said.
The council has also tried other ways to raise event awareness through advertisements. In the fall, members used bright, flying airplanes along with the traditional posters and stake signs around campus to advertise the organization’s concert featuring musical artist B.o.B.
“It’s a win-win; we gain more reach for our brand and events and students now know more about what is going on campus,” said Kelsey Cordutsky, an SMU double major in creative advertising and marketing as well as Program Council’s Advertising and Marketing Chairman.
The members of the organization have created a brand out of Program Council as well with its own logo. The council has also branded its events, such as Block Party on the Boulevard, a party and concert celebrating back to school; After-Thanksgiving Dinner, a catered event to celebrate Thanksgiving with SMU students; and Park ‘N Party, a party with food and games held in Binkley Parking Garage.
Krisht said Program Council partners with other organizations to broaden its audience for events and to cater to the SMU student population in the most effective way. Last semester, it teamed up with the Student Filmmakers Association for a Halloween movie on Late Lawn to appeal to film students.
This semester, Program Council put on Moody Madness. This one-time event was geared toward basketball fans and increasing school spirit in the general SMU student body. Ruthie’s Food Truck was stationed outside Moody Coliseum, where students could eat and play various games.
In the future, the council would like to strengthen its relationship with different campus organizations to create events that impact a wider range of students at SMU. “I know Program Council’s presence is only becoming stronger, and I have no doubt that it will keep growing,” Krisht said.
