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I'm new to the board, and I realize my timing is off since we're almost halfway through the season (a bad season at that), but I wanted to air a concern about the student body at SMU. I am a law student at SMU, and a graduate of Ole Miss for undergrad - you know, the home of "The Grove," where SMU got the idea for the "Boulevard."

I have been dismayed at the lack of interest shown by grad students (I speak for my experience in the law quad) in SMU athletics, not just football, and even the SMU community as a whole. I know that at Ole Miss, the grad students are in the Grove with everyone else, and cheering on the team in the stadium too.

What I have been even more amazed by is the missed opporunity this is for the administration. SMU is about 40% GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS!!! That is a large number of students, about 4,000 of the total 10,000 student population, and from what I have seen there is virtually NO EFFORT at all to involve these students in SMU events. Not only is this a missed opportunity in boosting student attendance at games, but it poses a problem for the future in terms of alumni who feel no connection w/ SMU and will no doubt choose to give money to their undergrad institution instead.

Most of my friends at school dont even know that we get free football tickets. They have no idea who SMU is playing (let alone what conference we are in), and I would guess 90% dont even know the mascot's name or have ever seen Peruna anyway. The law school tailgate is mostly an alumni activity, and fails to draw many students. I only know about SMU traditions b/c my mother is an alum, and I grew up going to SMU games. Isn't there something the school can do to get the graduate students involved and excited about being at SMU and supporting SMU athletics? Sure, some of us are pretty busy studying, but hey, we all need to take a break on the weekends...

Puzzled and confused in the law quad...

If you can figure this one out, let us know and maybe it could work on the undergrads as well. I appreciate your interest and concern, by the way.

LawSchoolPony wrote:I'm new to the board, and I realize my timing is off since we're almost halfway through the season (a bad season at that), but I wanted to air a concern about the student body at SMU. I am a law student at SMU, and a graduate of Ole Miss for undergrad - you know, the home of "The Grove," where SMU got the idea for the "Boulevard."

I have been dismayed at the lack of interest shown by grad students (I speak for my experience in the law quad) in SMU athletics, not just football, and even the SMU community as a whole. I know that at Ole Miss, the grad students are in the Grove with everyone else, and cheering on the team in the stadium too.

What I have been even more amazed by is the missed opporunity this is for the administration. SMU is about 40% GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS!!! That is a large number of students, about 4,000 of the total 10,000 student population, and from what I have seen there is virtually NO EFFORT at all to involve these students in SMU events. Not only is this a missed opportunity in boosting student attendance at games, but it poses a problem for the future in terms of alumni who feel no connection w/ SMU and will no doubt choose to give money to their undergrad institution instead.

Most of my friends at school dont even know that we get free football tickets. They have no idea who SMU is playing (let alone what conference we are in), and I would guess 90% dont even know the mascot's name or have ever seen Peruna anyway. The law school tailgate is mostly an alumni activity, and fails to draw many students. I only know about SMU traditions b/c my mother is an alum, and I grew up going to SMU games. Isn't there something the school can do to get the graduate students involved and excited about being at SMU and supporting SMU athletics? Sure, some of us are pretty busy studying, but hey, we all need to take a break on the weekends...

Puzzled and confused in the law quad...

Maybe voice your concern with Caswell or someone like that. That is disturbing that is not addressed when students enroll for Grad programs.

Well, I hope the heck you're at least hitting the SBA happy hour every Friday night. Lots of hot law chicks at those thing back in the day.

Sounds like you need to get off your ars.

When I went to law school at a different College in a very small town, the home football game was about all there was to do on a Saturday except hide out in the law library studying. When we figured out that they didn't even check to see if you had a flask, we definitely showed up in force. How do the grad students miss the tents on campus, the band playing, the large numbers of people wearing colors like orange or purple meanderaing around the campus? Get your law school activities chairman to coordinate with the Athletic department so that you guys go to the games. The MBA students might be a tougher sell since a healthy percentage would rather watch soccer and cricket than football.

yes there is little or no effort made to grad students to come football game other than opening game good to hear cricket on this board