Quick Read: SMU and Southern Dallas County

[stc9]

I have long wondered why SMU takes such an isolationist view when it comes towards the city of Dallas. Forget southern Dallas county for a moment and think of the entire county. How does SMU help business grow in Dallas? How do they help local government run better? How do they help schools in poorer areas teach their students better? The entire city has the right to ask what is the value of SMU to Dallas.

I wrote an e-mail to Rick Hart several weeks ago about this very subject. I asked him why he doesn't ask football coaches in the Metroplex what SMU could do to make them more successful. For example, we have a psychology department that can help them communicate better with their players. We have a law school that can give coaches an idea of potential legal exposure they might have. Having a professor speak with these guys would be cheap and build goodwill. This would also help build a bridge to the next HC. He didn't bother to respond.

[SMU1523]

I have long wondered why SMU takes such an isolationist view when it comes towards the city of Dallas. Forget southern Dallas county for a moment and think of the entire county. How does SMU help business grow in Dallas? How do they help local government run better? How do they help schools in poorer areas teach their students better? The entire city has the right to ask what is the value of SMU to Dallas.

I wrote an e-mail to Rick Hart several weeks ago about this very subject. I asked him why he doesn't ask football coaches in the Metroplex what SMU could do to make them more successful. For example, we have a psychology department that can help them communicate better with their players. We have a law school that can give coaches an idea of potential legal exposure they might have. Having a professor speak with these guys would be cheap and build goodwill. This would also help build a bridge to the next HC. He didn't bother to respond.

I get your point, but SMU does have a significant impact on Dallas...

$7 Billion Dollar Economic Impact

https://sites.smu.edu/meadows/temerlin//pdfs/SMUAtAGlance.pdf

[Stallion]

The College of Education does have some outreach programs that are what we are talking about-I'll find some links

[Stallion]

Here are some:

http://blog.smu.edu/research/2014/07/24 ... -students/

http://www.smu.edu/Simmons/CommunityEnr ... ool%20Zone

[SMU1523]

I believe it is the stereotype of SMU and HP. We do reach out to the community. It just takes a long, long time to shed a stereotype.

[stc9]

I believe it is the stereotype of SMU and HP. We do reach out to the community. It just takes a long, long time to shed a stereotype.

A university is an intellectual capital center for a city/region/state/nation. My greater point is I think SMU could do a significantly better job applying the intellectual capital to be an asset for the city and county.

In terms of football (and all SMU athletics), all positive contacts can turn into ticket sales.

[Harry0569]

I know the author of the letter; he graduated in my class. He is spot on.

[Rebel10]

So what lesson do we draw from that? Is it their history of winning alone? Should we use them as a model? I'm not being sarcastic are cute, seriously how do we become more like USC?

No, that's a very good question. When I first got to LA it was right before the Pete Carroll era started and USC gear was still seen all over the city. Very similar to the way you see TCU all over FW now. Just from an outsider's perspective, USC seemed to be involved with many inner city events and schools. As someone in this thread posted about the TCU/DeSoto HS partnership, USC seemed to do the same type thing.

Until SMU truly embraces the city, and by that I don't mean inviting a few kids to a football game and giving them a shirt, things won't change. We could have mentors that show up at DISD schools. Go to the advanced classes and talk to them about SMU, scholarships, financial aid and give them a contact if they have questions. Every inner city school has bright kids and they need to realize that there's a great school in their own city that's an option. You don't have to be rich or an athlete to go to school here - bright kids from all backgrounds are welcome. Maybe we have started doing that but I'm not aware of it.

Pete Carroll had a very good reputation for helping the inner city youth. And it helped him.

[Planter's Punch]

SMU has been increasing it's educational partnerships with the DFW area, this will only grow with the rise of the Simmons School of Education. There have also been programs through Lyle. SMU takes more out of state students because it needs a wide net to get enough students with high SAT scores that can also pay their own way, you have to balance the books some how. TCU does a good job of marketing itself to DFW students, but from my personal experience with students that applied, SMU is much more aggressive with the scholarships it offers to students it wants. In DFW, sports do seem to skew perspective and to overlook typical college problems. TCU is a "rich white kid school" as much as SMU. TCU's student body and football team were running a drug ring a few years ago, but everyone seems to sweep it under the rug.

Many people do have the view SMU is inaccessible and doesn't want local student's, but for those that have the grades/scores SMU knows how to throw down cash. It will be interesting to see how the SMU BB team helps changes the communities perspective.

[Rebel10]

SMU has been increasing it's educational partnerships with the DFW area, this will only grow with the rise of the Simmons School of Education. There have also been programs through Lyle. SMU takes more out of state students because it needs a wide net to get enough students with high SAT scores that can also pay their own way, you have to balance the books some how. TCU does a good job of marketing itself to DFW students, but from my personal experience with students that applied, SMU is much more aggressive with the scholarships it offers to students it wants. In DFW, sports do seem to skew perspective and to overlook typical college problems. TCU is a "rich white kid school" as much as SMU. TCU's student body and football team were running a drug ring a few years ago, but everyone seems to sweep it under the rug.

Many people do have the view SMU is inaccessible and doesn't want local student's, but for those that have the grades/scores SMU knows how to throw down cash. It will be interesting to see how the SMU BB team helps changes the communities perspective.

Yep, no drugs on SMU's campus. Right?

[PonySnob]

No, that's a very good question. When I first got to LA it was right before the Pete Carroll era started and USC gear was still seen all over the city. Very similar to the way you see TCU all over FW now. Just from an outsider's perspective, USC seemed to be involved with many inner city events and schools. As someone in this thread posted about the TCU/DeSoto HS partnership, USC seemed to do the same type thing.

Until SMU truly embraces the city, and by that I don't mean inviting a few kids to a football game and giving them a shirt, things won't change. We could have mentors that show up at DISD schools. Go to the advanced classes and talk to them about SMU, scholarships, financial aid and give them a contact if they have questions. Every inner city school has bright kids and they need to realize that there's a great school in their own city that's an option. You don't have to be rich or an athlete to go to school here - bright kids from all backgrounds are welcome. Maybe we have started doing that but I'm not aware of it.

Wonder if USC's location in LA helps with it's outreach to the inner city?

[Rebel10]

No, that's a very good question. When I first got to LA it was right before the Pete Carroll era started and USC gear was still seen all over the city. Very similar to the way you see TCU all over FW now. Just from an outsider's perspective, USC seemed to be involved with many inner city events and schools. As someone in this thread posted about the TCU/DeSoto HS partnership, USC seemed to do the same type thing.

Until SMU truly embraces the city, and by that I don't mean inviting a few kids to a football game and giving them a shirt, things won't change. We could have mentors that show up at DISD schools. Go to the advanced classes and talk to them about SMU, scholarships, financial aid and give them a contact if they have questions. Every inner city school has bright kids and they need to realize that there's a great school in their own city that's an option. You don't have to be rich or an athlete to go to school here - bright kids from all backgrounds are welcome. Maybe we have started doing that but I'm not aware of it.

Wonder if USC's location in LA helps with it's outreach to the inner city?

Well they were not doing it to well before Pete Carroll got there. So it would seem to be more about actions rather than location.

[LA_Mustang]

Wonder if USC's location in LA helps with it's outreach to the inner city?

It doesn't hurt but USC truly is in a bubble. Security on and around campus does a great job of keeping students safe and insulated, but no doubt once you get a couple of blocks from campus it is a different world. That said, I think it is about the outreach efforts USC does throughout LA more than their location in the hood.

[JoeKidd]

SMU has always had a number of community outreach programs and we were required (I don't know if this was school or athletics mandated) to participate in one of these, I did a program called ICE (If my memory serves me correctly) that was focused on reading in the inner city. I also think JJ (for all his other detractions) did a lot of community outreach as well.

Anyway I believe the real stigma is with the Park Cities, I think SMU distancing itself from these self-righteous communities will help as we are seen to be as stuck-up as they are. I always thought it was great how the U (Miami) got the community engaged in its football program. This has fallen off now with them moving out of the old Orange Bowl, but making our campus/stadiums more inclusive to the surrounding community will help the perception of our University and eventually athletic attendance as well.

[SMU 86]

SMU has always had a number of community outreach programs and we were required (I don't know if this was school or athletics mandated) to participate in one of these, I did a program called ICE (If my memory serves me correctly) that was focused on reading in the inner city. I also think JJ (for all his other detractions) did a lot of community outreach as well.

Anyway I believe the real stigma is with the Park Cities, I think SMU distancing itself from these self-righteous communities will help as we are seen to be as stuck-up as they are. I always thought it was great how the U (Miami) got the community engaged in its football program. This has fallen off now with them moving out of the old Orange Bowl, but making our campus/stadiums more inclusive to the surrounding community will help the perception of our University and eventually athletic attendance as well.

Do we have any scholarship programs like TCU has regarding schools like Desoto? That is a major difference. I would have to agree with RGV in the the author was spot on.