The John Goodwin Tower Center hosted its annual National Security Conference Wednesday evening.

The topic presented by Dr. Thomas Fingar was “China, Intelligence and U.S. Grand Strategy.”

“I’m here because as a Tower Scholar this is going to be a really large part of my life,” said A.J. Jeffries, a sophomore history and economics double major.

The room was filled with Dallas professionals, policy experts, SMU professors and students.

The dinner and discussion was held in the Mack Ballroom located in the Umphrey Lee Center.

Fingar is the inaugural Oksenberg-Rohlen Distinguished Fellow in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.

But, not everyone was as alert; one student fell asleep at the table.

FIngar’s discussion was long and detailed.

He covered topics like the intelligence community, government policy, the U.S.’s relationships with other countries, and the nation’s grand strategy.