From SMU to DISD

While some students were sleeping in their beds, others loadedbuses at 8 a.m. on Wednesday for this year’s Week of Welcomeservice project, Ponies Reach Into Dallas Elementaries.

“[PRIDE] is the first opportunity for first-years to docommunity service. We try to give them something so they can getinvolved,” said junior WOW Student Director Emily Jordan.

Students went to one of nine Dallas Independent School Districtelementary schools for two hours to tutor basic subjects and mentorchildren about a future in higher education.

“It encourages younger students to ask us questions aboutcollege to read and do well in school [with hopes of] getting intocollege,” said WOW leader Shazia Shafy.

Another goal of this project is to encourage students tocontinue volunteering with the school district, said DISD CommunityService Specialist Rosemary Morice.

A number of students attended PRIDE because they likedinteracting with children and helping the community. Approximately,150 to 200 SMU students already mentor at various DISD elementaryschools.

“I think it is important to [give back to] the communitythe time so many people have invested in me,” Jack Brittonsaid.

Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts, the umbrella organization ofall service-related groups on campus, sponsored the event.

MOVE leaders have been planning this project with WOW and theDISD since last spring, said MOVE adviser Liz Eichenlaub.

In the past MOVE had two projects for the first week of school,one for WOW and one for First Weekend.

Since PRIDE was a previously successful project, they chose tohave it again, Jordan said.

Although PRIDE was targeted at first-years and transferstudents, upperclassmen were also invited to join.

Anand Sitaram looked forward to participating in PRIDE. A memberof the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, Sitaram saidthat touching people’s lives is so rewarding that he feelssorry for others who do not participate.

“[I ask myself] What have they done today? What have Idone today?” Sitaram said.