Hot Listing: SMU
Plot twist: I’m currently in the back of a 7-Eleven in Dallas double fisting lime cucumber Gatorade.
Nor have I paid for it yet. The bemused owner is saying something that I can’t quite make out - blame Jade’s Midnight Cowboy blaring on my AirPods. My huge Lotuff tote has capsized on the floor, spilling Clinique lip balm and a copy of Joan Didion’s Salvador onto the tile.
I dare to think that he’s seen this before.
Don’t worry, I eventually pay for my items, and slip a fin into his tip jar.
But I’m willing to countenance this minor indignity, and the 100 degree heat that necessitated it. Across the street, my latest obsession - Southern Methodist University - stands shrouded in lushness and enigmatic lore.
For in the Northeast, SMU still raises some eyebrows, and an initial attraction usually yields to skepticism. A fellow guest at a chic Brooklyn wedding - upon hearing about my forthcoming visit - simply noted: “it’s brave of you to go by yourself.” Fair; but in our divided America, a Texas address will elicit that reaction regardless of what actually lies there.
And what lies here is an eclectic powerhouse with seemingly endless opportunity.
A la AP English, here are three pieces of evidentiary support for that declaration (prepare to swoon):
1.) The City of Dallas. Sorry, but this is not Texas. At least not by its most rueful definition. Dallas is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan, open, friendly and deeply diverse city. I saw more Zimmermann kaftans than MAGA hats. It’s also a corporate, medical, and cultural mecca - which significantly bolsters the strength of the SMU experience. My fabulous tour guide - Symone - noted that students generally complete an average of two to three internships over their four years, which many times facilitate a seamless transition to adulthood (read: employment!) upon graduation. But importantly: SMU’s position in Dallas does not come at the expense of a tightly-knit community or campus-centric vibe.
2.) SMU has resources for days. It has an endowment worth more than $2 billion. This translates to ample support for the fabulous undergraduate academic experience, the state of the art physical plant, and the attraction and retention of top faculty - not to mention the maintenance of a baller merit scholarship program. It also means it can weather pretty much any storm. And today: there are lots of storms.
3.) The Meadows School of the Arts. In my opinion, Meadows is an exceedingly distinctive, supremely quality asset - a VVS stone in an already glittering crown. Meadows houses some of the best visual and performing arts programs in the country. There is both serious talent and serious support for that talent. Dance is a particular strength. Colin, the kind and accomplished sophomore who graciously shuttled me around their mammoth facility for an hour, was awarded an SMU grant to choreograph and stage his own exhibition in Dallas this summer. Roughly 10% of SMU’s overall undergraduate population is enrolled in Meadows. And let’s just be honest: creatives always bring texture - and a certain joie de vivre - to the party.
Detractors are quick to label SMU a “country club,” whatever that means in the vastly changed social ecosystem of today (perhaps snotty or exclusive or monocultural?). But I’m sorry: I just don’t see it.
The campus is definitively stunning, and the landscaping perfectly coiffed.
There is - for sure - a subset of people here who are well put together, stylish (God forbid), and dare I say: a bit “flashy.” There are definitely a few Birkins and G-wagens around. And if you can’t handle that, then well: this may not be the place for you.
But in the end, the truth is that this place is far more dynamic and far more multi-dimensional than people realize.
Seventy percent of SMU undergraduates are receiving some sort of financial aid (either merit and/or need-based). A third are students of color, and 60% hail from outside Texas. There are sizable LGBT+ and Jewish contingents on campus, and they appear to enjoy widespread acceptance - both culturally and structurally.
And I just get the sense that community wide: the people are genuinely kind and open-minded and approachable.
It also feels - to this independent observer, anyway - that this place is at a transformational moment, with a strong tailwind at its back. SMU was recently admitted into the choice Atlantic Coast Conference, and people are going bananas for the Mustangs. They are also a newly minted “R1” research university (the most coveted Carnegie classification) - which means the scholarship happening here is notably innovative and incredibly strong.
And importantly, SMU - which has long stood against discrimination - is currently in a protracted legal battle over their 2019 decision to disassociate from the regional Methodist conference over that church’s deeply discriminatory policies. The church keeps coming back for more - take a hint, girl: I think it’s over. But SMU appears in it to win it, and good on them and their board for standing up for what is right.
In my three days here, SMU has reminded me that colleges - just like people - can be both high style and high substance.
And in my opinion, SMU is just criminally undersold. Frankly, it’s just a few smart card plays away from being the new Tulane.
So pony up, peeps. And for the love of God: stay hydrated.
