| Traditions | |
- Brown Bag: Every semester, the dance department showcases student-choreographed pieces in the Bob Hope lobby. Students come for an hour, bring their own “brown bag” lunch, sit on the floor directly in front of the dancers, and watch the show.
- Celebration of Lights: One night during the first week of December, students gather in the Main Quad to participate in the Celebration of Lights, which is a candlelight ceremony of holiday songs and readings. The trees surrounding Dallas Hall, and the building itself, are all illuminated with Christmas lights. Administrators and other guests make abbreviated speeches on the steps of Dallas Hall. There is a small choir and band on the steps, too.
- Family Weekend and Mother’s/Father’s Weekend: Family Weekend is designated for the fall, whereas Mother’s or Father’s Weekend (it switches every spring) takes place in the spring. To start Family Weekend, on Friday night there is a “Talent Show” in McFarlin Auditorium where student organizations perform. Tailgating and a football game occur the next day, as well as several other events for parents and students to participate in. For Mother’s/Father’s Weekend, there is an annual show called “Sing Song” where student organizations compete against each other by presenting their skits to an audience and judges. The following day is filled with things to do, just like Family Weekend.
- First Weekend/Mustang Stampede: This is the first weekend after the initial week of classes. There is a giant barbeque for the entire University, and a comedian that performs later on that night. In the past, SMU has hosted Jamie Kennedy and Jim Breuer. There is a party on Saturday until the wee hours of the morning, and on Sunday, the first University worship celebration is held in the South Quad.
- Football Games: SMU students do not tailgate---they boulevard. Before every home football game, Bishop Boulevard is transformed into a haven for SMU fans. A game is a dressy event. Sorority girls wear sundresses, and frat guys wear pastel shorts and bright ties. Walk the boulevard and enjoy free food and beverages provided by both on-campus organizations and departments within SMU.
- Homecoming: This is an entire weekend devoted to school spirit. First, there is a kickoff party at Hughes-Trigg to mark the beginning of Homecoming. This is also where the candidates for homecoming are introduced. A couple days later, there is a Homecoming Parade, where student organizations present floats they have created. Tailgating follows the parade, and then on to the homecoming football game—where the king and queen are announced.
- Mane Event: In the spring, the Student Foundation puts on a gigantic festival in front of Dallas Hall, called Mane Event, where students can relax and take a break from studying. SMU does not have a carnival, but this would be the equivalent to it. There is a live band, tons of food, games, and other things to do, such as a moonwalk.
- Mustang Corral: The weekend before school begins, over fifty percent of the incoming freshmen class gather for a weekend retreat in the Texas Hill Country. The entire weekend is guided by faculty, alumni, and student leaders. There are information sessions, games, dances, and much more. It is an introduction to school spirit and camaraderie. This is a great way for the students to bond with their peers before settling in on campus.
- Pony Ears: Formed by putting two fingers up in the air and slightly bending them down like ears (no not horns), “pony ears” is SMU’s well-known sign. At football games, students can be seen with their pony ears high in the air to show some school spirit.
- Rotunda Passage: Every freshman has the chance to participate in the Rotunda Passage, which leads to Convocation. It marks a student’s official start and end of their SMU college experience. Every year, as a new freshman class, the students gather and walk through the front doors of Dallas Hall. When they graduate, as a senior class, they walk through the Dallas Hall Rotunda again. Along the sidewalks on the way to the Dallas Hall, students hold flags that represent every country and state with a student in that class.
- Week of Welcome: The week that classes begin, freshmen enjoy a week of fun events. The first day is usually a Sunday when the students are returning from Mustang and moving into their residence halls. That same night, there is an outdoor movie. Monday features a Mustang Mixer and the first-year pictures. A road trip to Six Flags consumes most of Tuesday until the Hypnotist performs in the evening. Finally, the last day before class, there is an Activities Fair and the Rotunda Passage.
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