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Nearly 650 first-year students leave today for Mustang Corral, SMU’s weekend orientation camp. This year’s attendance is at an all-time high. The weekend excursion offers first-years an opportunity to meet other new students before classes start as well as to learn about the university.

Mustang Corral began in 1990. Students go to one of three camps in Glen Rose, Texas – Glen Lake, Brazos and Riverbend. At each camp, the students are divided into joint home base groups and participate in academic and diversity sessions, team building activities such as skits, an Olympics competition and social events including a square dance and the Club Corral dance party. Approximately 75 student leaders and 75 faculty and staff leaders will coordinate the events.

Senior leaders will continue the 14-year tradition, candlelight. During the ceremony, senior leaders share meaningful moments and advice from their years at SMU.

“It’s their time to pass on what they’ve learned to the first-years,” said Casey Wetz, senior Mustang Corral director.

The combination of camaraderie, academics and traditions is what makes Mustang Corral important for the university, said Bethany Naser, coordinator of New Student Programs and advisor to Mustang Corral.

“It is probably the one program on this campus that captures the essence of what SMU is,” she said. “It’s the program that allows first-year students to become proud of their institution and see what’s unique about SMU. It also allows faculty, staff and alumni to give back to the institution by becoming leaders.”

Mr. Mustang 1965 says: If you want to capture "the essense of what SMU is" keep 'em on campus!!!! And instill some school spirit in 'em!!!! Geez...what nutty professor came up with this idea? I'd give 'em a big "F"!

If brainwashing really works here, make sure they're taught that they must attend ALL Mustang athletics events.

Higher, great idea!

Just showing up isn't enough. We need to have the entire student be there the WHOLE game, and be loud.

And it should be some sort of punishable offense to NOT wear SMU gear all the time.

(Speaking of which, go with blue when Tech's in town)

I remember two things about Corral (1997).

One, it was extremely hot.

Actually, that's all I really remember.

In a letter that I wrote to Dr. Turner a few years ago, I suggested that SMU teach new students....
SMU Fight Song
The history of SMU athletics
I even went so far as to suggest a written exam for the fight song words to get extra points on each classes first test.

BUS wrote:In a letter that I wrote to Dr. Turner a few years ago, I suggested that SMU teach new students....

The history of SMU athletics

Wow, what a concept--NCAA Enforcement 101. Who would be the instructor in that class? Visiting Prof. Bob Hitch?

BTW I'd like to audit the section on the Doak Walker years.

I don't think it's a bonehead idea. The type of intensive, team building, getting acclimated to college, and "I Love SMU" rah rah actually seems to work with people off campus free from the distractions of Dallas. They do teach the words to Pony Battle Cry, Varsity, and various chants. FYI: I was invited as an alumni to speak at the candlelight ceremony this past Saturday. I would say that the candlelight singing of Varsity at the end of the ceremony was one of the neatest I've seen and heard as a Mustang. These 650 kids are probably going to be the most involved out of the freshman class because of the positive experience they had this past weekend. They will do a lot of the same stuff, but less intensively, with the regular orientation coming up this week.

The lesson plan lists the section on "The Death Penalty" as "The Dark Ages".

I vote for Stallion to be the professor of the class. He's already got The Model ready for review.

Diamond M: Please review the bolder parts of my original post. I think the concept of Mustang Corral is great...but how in the world does traveling to a site over 100 miles away instill a love for the institution? And how much $$$ is this costing the school...when the same outcome could be achieved on campus?

Bethany Naser says: “It is probably the one program on this campus that captures the essence of what SMU is,” she said. “It’s the program that allows first-year students to become proud of their institution and see what’s unique about SMU." Uh...how do you find out about the essence of what SMU is and the school's uniqueness from 100+ miles away???

I look forward to seeing how 'involved' the students who attended this program will be in SMU spirit this year and in years to come.

I agree with MrMustang1965. Let's take those funds each year & apply them to build some intramural fields or something for the students...

To suggest all school loyalty and quality memories, etc. should occur on campus is inaccurate. Some of my best memories and experiences at SMU occurred on road trips and with fellow students away from campus. These freshmen will have four years on campus to create memories. Getting to bond with other freshmen prior to school starting away from Dallas will only enhance their experience. I really don't understand the problem.

93Mustang wrote:To suggest all school loyalty and quality memories, etc. should occur on campus is inaccurate. Some of my best memories and experiences at SMU occurred on road trips and with fellow students away from campus. These freshmen will have four years on campus to create memories. Getting to bond with other freshmen prior to school starting away from Dallas will only enhance their experience. I really don't understand the problem.

Hmmmm....go tell that to the Aggies or the Teasips or the Irish of ND or.... I don't think any of those schools ship their freshmen off to the boonies to get a dose of their school spirit but I could be wrong...?

Instead of Going to Mustang Corral - I went to the Yale Ice House and Accross the Street Bar in my first week at SMU. This was my "Orientation" to SMU as it was with many others (I know that may of you were there - except for perhaps 1965). Perhaps taking the students 100 miles outside of Dallas was not such a bad idea after all. Probably would have been better for me.

I know that during my time at SMU many if not most of the kids that did go to corral were no more spirited than the rest of the student body, and likewise most of them still didn't know the words to the fight songs or the alma mater. In fact my roommate my freshman year went and commented about how those that were trying to teach the songs sounded as though they had never sung them before. Maybe that has changed, maybe it hasn't, I dunno. I do wish we had some sort of SMU history course to teach freshmany their first year not only about our sports history, but the history of the University, and the things that make it unique. I guess that is a change I will have to institute when I become President. we have a ways to wait.