Southern Methodist University: the honorable home of Dedman, Cox, Lyle and… Meadows? Yes, contrary to popular belief, the building you sometimes see in the hazy distance while traipsing up and down the boulevard is actually a part of the university. Real SMU students exist and study within its walls. These strange people are Mustangs, just like you.
As a dance major, I spend much of my day-to-day life in the basement of Meadows School of the Arts. It is a magical place full of creativity, hard work and very loud people. I often feel as if I live within a bubble encompassing Umphrey Lee, Peyton Hall and Meadows. What else is there to do besides eat, sleep and dance?
Outside of this bubble, where I occasionally find myself, I have discovered an overall unawareness for the arts here at SMU. The most recurring (and frustrating) example of this is whenever I introduce myself as a dancer. The usual response is, “Oh, so you’re on the dance team?”
“Well no, I’m actually a dance major,” I sweetly reply.
“Wait…so, your classes are like…dance classes? Do you take tests and stuff?”
In fact, yes, I do. You may not believe this, but I am getting a degree in dance. A real degree!
SMU is defined by many things: our incredibly beautiful campus, reputable business school, Greek life, tuition, even our football history. But hardly ever is SMU defined by the prestigious arts programs it has to offer.
Meadows is highly revered among arts schools on a nation-wide scale. Students really do come from all over the country to study here, particularly for dance and theatre, making Meadows arguably the most diverse school on campus. If people outside of Dallas give Meadows the appreciation and respect it deserves, why don’t those within walking distance do the same?
This is not an attempt to reprimand the student body or elevate Meadows to some level of pretentiousness. I truly have no idea why there is such a chasm between the arts and the rest of the university.
Perhaps it’s the fault of the students within Meadows. Maybe we’re the ones separating ourselves from everyone else (it’s true, we typically don’t contribute much to the crowd at football games). Or perhaps it’s just some cultural disregard for the arts in general, deeply engrained here on our quaint campus.
Regardless of where this distance originated from, or who is at fault, the distance does exist. Awareness and support of the arts is rarely found anywhere outside of Meadows. What has the potential to be an incredible resource for cultural and artistic experiences is merely overlooked as some unapproachable and irrelevant otherworld. There are performances, concerts, and galleries available every single day that so many people have no idea about.
Step one to closing this gap: pause for at least a solid minute before deleting your “This Week at Meadows” emails. Even a quick glance-over is better than immediate disregard.
Step two: actually step inside of Meadows and acknowledge its existence. Maybe you’ll meet the love of your life sitting alone in the lobby. Who knows?
Step three: attend a performance. The dance department’s student choreographed Brown Bag is quickly approaching, I hope to see you all there. For details, refer to the Meadows emails sitting amongst all your other deleted items.
Katie is a freshman majoring in dance, international studies and human rights.
