Media Guides Now Only Online for SMU

[MrMustang1965]

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/genrel/070909aab.html

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU Athletics Department announced today that it will produce only online media guides beginning with the 2009-10 academic year. This paperless production of media guides is more environmentally-friendly than the yearly bound publications and will help save more than three tons of paper each year.

Media guides have traditionally served a dual purpose: providing information to members of the media and serving as a recruiting tool for prospective student-athletes.

In making the announcement, Director of Athletics Steve Orsini cited several reasons for the decision.

"Over the past few years, it has become clear that printed materials are not necessarily the most efficient or effective way to deliver information to, or even engage, either of our targeted constituent groups," said Orsini. "Technology continues to evolve rapidly and moving to electronic media guides is a step forward. In addition, with the current economic climate, the decision to make this change was prudent. It's a win-win solution."

The Athletic Department estimates that it will save close to $100,000 by making this move.

"Media, alumni and fans want timely information," said Brad Sutton, Assistant A.D. for Public Relations & Broadcasting. "Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter play a big role in our communication plan and new platforms continue to develop. This is a paradigm shift and not a decision based solely on economics. The structure of media consumption has changed and we want to meet those needs."

This move is in line with similar decisions made by other schools and sports organizations across the nation. In February, Major League Baseball stopped printing the green and red guides to the National and American leagues, with PDF versions made available to media. Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Iowa State and Texas A&M are among the colleges that have already announced they would not be printing guides moving forward.

SMU will move the content into a web-based format on the school's athletics website, SMUMustangs.com, and will produce an online interactive guide for its athletic program.

"We want to continue to be on the forefront of new media," said Sutton. "This change provides an exciting opportunity to connect with our constituents in cutting-edge ways."

This move also fits with SMU's university-wide commitment to sustainability. This campus-wide commitment to environmentally conscious behavior is reflected in broad campus resource management programs, recycling, student initiatives and green building construction as well as degree programs, course offerings and research.

The University has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council since 2004 and joined the Green Building Initiative in 2008. Sustainability is also built into campus operations through aggressive recycling programs, energy and water management (including rainwater recovery), Park N' Pony services that encourage mass transit through DART passes and the Mustang Express shuttles, and Dining Services practices that discourage waste.

SMU offers degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies through Dedman College and degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering through the Lyle School of Engineering. The Lyle School also offers a certificate in Sustainability, as well as a certificate in Environmental Management and Compliance. From a facility standpoint, SMU seeks LEED certification for new construction on campus, with the Embrey Engineering Building meeting the gold standard for sustainable building construction established by the U.S Green Building Council's Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

[PonySnob]

"Top 25 in everything we do!"

[smupony94]

Be nice. This is good work for the #117 team of the decade.

[mr. pony]

What happens to the media meals?

[One Trick Pony]

Yea, well they can start by re-doing the benefits guide, sense i'm not getting my coffee table media guide I was promised. Let me hug a tree now! (((((((((Tree)))))))))))

[mr. pony]

In the spirit of the times, let's go with a green pony in the helmets.

I'M KIDDING!!

[jtstang]

We should take that $100k we saved and start a slush fund for future recruits.

[ponyte]

We should take that $100k we saved and start a slush fund for future recruits.

You are finally getting it.

[abezontar]

We should take that $100k we saved and start a slush fund for future recruits.

You are finally getting it.

Could we create a prepatory academy where everybody who makes it through the academy automatically gets into SMU and receives a scholarship that provides a monthly living expenses stipend in addition to whatever scholarship they may get for tuition and board? Obviously, it would be available to both athletes and non-athletes.

[jtstang]

We should take that $100k we saved and start a slush fund for future recruits.

You are finally getting it.

Could we create a prepatory academy where everybody who makes it through the academy automatically gets into SMU and receives a scholarship that provides a monthly living expenses stipend in addition to whatever scholarship they may get for tuition and board? Obviously, it would be available to both athletes and non-athletes.

The Sherwood Blount Academy?

[George S. Patton]

"Top 25 in everything we do!"

That phrase only applies to the athletic department and the things it does off the field. It certainly doesn't apply to what's being done on the field.

[abezontar]

We should take that $100k we saved and start a slush fund for future recruits.

You are finally getting it.

Could we create a prepatory academy where everybody who makes it through the academy automatically gets into SMU and receives a scholarship that provides a monthly living expenses stipend in addition to whatever scholarship they may get for tuition and board? Obviously, it would be available to both athletes and non-athletes.

The Sherwood Blount Academy?

Why not? You could set it up as a way to help economically disadvantaged kids meet the obligations of attending a private university. As long as acceptance of the scholarship wasn't conditioned on athletic ability, wouldn't it avoid NCAA violations?

[jtstang]

As long as acceptance of the scholarship wasn't conditioned on athletic ability, wouldn't it avoid NCAA violations?

If it's not conditioned on athletic ability, then what's the point? I am talking about getting athletes. That's what slush funds do.

[abezontar]

As long as acceptance of the scholarship wasn't conditioned on athletic ability, wouldn't it avoid NCAA violations?

If it's not conditioned on athletic ability, then what's the point? I am talking about getting athletes. That's what slush funds do.

What I envision is a program that takes in kids some of whom happen to be athletically gifted, who upon completion of the program earn a monthly stipend if they attend SMU. Whoever completes the program and goes to SMU gets the stipend, including athletes, but not everyone who gets the stipend is an athlete. The point would be to create a slush fund that wouldn't get us in trouble with the NCAA.

[jtstang]

F the NCAA. They wouldn't dare drop the bomb on us again. I say we appoint Bill Clements as the first dean of this academy. And don't open it to anyone who is not an athlete.