SMU Burns 50 The SMU Campus News Media of the SMU Publishing Co. — The SMU Campus KSMU Radto No. 62 Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, Monday, August 2, 1965 SOlti Y< U. College Sets •msr" Four Schools. Academic Pace 30 Seniors And In 50th Year $35 A Term Many exciting and significant educational changes await SMU's When classes began on the incoming freshman class this Sep­ campus in September of 1915, tember. The new programs are I 1 J mm the closest public transportation the result of a year's intensive to the campus was the old High­ study, deliberation and planning land Park Street car, which came process that led to the formula­ to the end of its tracks at Euclid tion and adoption in 1963 of a in Old Highland Park. Standing Master Plan for the academic as the dominent feature of the vX'Wiiisi JiW.VvV.'.V'X^VA'X'. future of Southern Methodist ::x<- campus and, for that matter, the University. entire countryside for miles The planning process began in around, Dallas Hall, was named May of 1962 when Dr. Willis Tate, in honor of the citizens of Dallas. President of SMU, invited all The catalog of the University of relevant forces in the University 1915-1916 pointed out that the community to participate in an buildings on campus included exhaustive analysis of every seg­ Dallas Hall and four residential ment of the entire University. halls accommodating about 300 Administrators, faculty members, students. The buildings were trustees, students, nationally furnished, with steam heat and known educators and a Commit­ electric lights. There were two tee of Fifty, composed of national artesian wells on campus. The newly erected $8.5 million Owen Fire Arts Center typifies Hie dynamic interest in progress which leaders in many fields enthusi­ During the first year of classes astically accepted the invitation, SMU has shown during its 50 years as a great University. Included in the Fine Arts Center complex are on the Southern Methodist Uni­ fully aware of their responsibility the Forbes Music Building, Caruth Auditorium and Virginia Meadows Museum. Ground will soon be broken for two more units in the Center. versity campus, the first greek to SMU and of its obligation to social organization was founded, the University of quality and some 7,000 books were added, to substance which its history and the library and Harvard Bed and tradition have heralded. Yale Blue were officially adopted In the iirst stage, a mirror was as the school colors. held up to every aspect of the University's life and program. For commencement festivities Each segment of the University SMU Young In Second 50 Years at the end of the first year, the was asked not only to reevaluate Southern Methodist University all denominational higher educa­ ducers, prize-winning journalists, Arden Club (a campus theatrical group) performed "As You Like itself but to mesh its future aims has begun a year-long observance - tion in this country. magazine editors and executives, It" in Arden Forest, a patch of with those of the University as a of its 50th anniversary with a Of all major universities now scientists, generals, judges, and timber on campus which has whole. look to its rewarding relationship church-related, SMU has the best other public officials. since disappeared. f About mid-year the process with the Methodist Church. chance, in their opinion, to prove The Bridwell Library of Perk­ began to move from the initial In helping to launch the year­ the validity of its particular kind ins ranks as one of the best theo­ At that first commencement stage of completely candid self- long anniversary celebration at of church connection through logical libraries in the United exercise, 23 Bachelor of Arts de­ assessment to the positive attempt commencement exercises on May achievement of the Master Plan's States. Its resources include some grees and seven Master of Arts to meet and solve the many prob­ 30, 1965, SMU President Willis M. ambitious goals. 90,000 volumes and invaluable degrees were conferred on eager­ lems of a private university at­ Tate recalled that rich herietage. Throughout its 50-year history, collections of 15th century print­ ly awaiting candidates. tempting to reach its full poten­ "Our real strength comes from SMU has drawn of its life's blood ing and of the English Bible be­ Four schools comprised SMU in tial in an age of spiralling aca­ two- sources: the basic presup­ from the Church. fore the King James Version. 1915. There was a school of Arts, demic achievement. position upon which this Univer­ ' The University's first office A center for research and plan­ Business, Engineering and Law The final result of the "Her­ sity was built: and the quality of was opened 55 years ago in down­ ning is maintained at Perkins to of which 30 graduates were pro­ culean undertaking" — SMU's leadership among the men who town Dallas in the Methodist provide technical skills for local duced at the first commencement Master Plan — was presented to first wrote down on paper and Publishing House. A huge Meth­ congregations, districts, confer­ in 1916. Tuition for one term was the Board of Trustees on May 10, then lived out in teaching and odist rally on the State Fair 1963. Speaking to the Trustees ences, and other church bodies in an unbelievable $35 as contrasted administration what a first-class grounds a few months later raised such matters as church location, to over $500 that the school col­ after they had unanimously university must be." $110,000 to help finance the con­ adopted the 35 recommendations building needs, staff problems, lects from each student in 1965. Although the history of church- struction of Dallas HaK. Classes long-range planning, population of the Master Plan, Eugene Mc- began there in the fall of 1915. Elvaney, chairman of the Board, related colleges and universities movements, charge arrangements, From an institution with 706 callpd this action "the most sig­ in this country has been largely rural and urban planning, and students, 35 faculty members, and nificant and momentous" in one of a gradual drifting away other administrative problems. Dorms Launch from sponsorship, Dr. Tate and grown into the second largest SMU's history. SMU upholds the relevance of SMU's other leaders believe a $279,178 in endowment, SMU has Now, the decisions made, and examining the basic questions of significant strength for the future private university in the South man's being and ultimate con­ Guest Speakers the Master Plan in effect, crucial of the University lies in its rela­ and Southwest. changes have been taking place— cerns. The traditional emphasis of tionship to the Methodist Church. According to the U. S. Office exciting changes from which the the Methodist Church on moral Each Fortniqht The South Central Jurisdiction of Education, SMU's "head- incoming freshman class will be and social responsibility pervades Last year dormitories launched of the Methodist Church owns count" last fall of 7,856 students the first to benefit. the total educational program of a policy of contributing to student Southern Methodist. Leaders of is second only to the University the University. k For example, the curricula of education. The policy is coordi­ the University and the Methodist of Miami (with 13,100) in the Earlier this year, President nated by the Dean of Men Office, every school and department Church understand this relation­ region east of California and Tate received the eighth annual with the assistant of the Dorm have been reviewed and many ship to foe such that SMU has south of St. Louis. courses revised; honors programs Alexander Meiklejohn Award of and House Councils. been and continues to be denomi­ The University's faculty now for outstanding istudents are be­ the American Association of Uni­ A policy was initiated of hav­ national but not sectarian. numbers some 300 full-time mem­ ing developed; a superior aca­ versity Professors for ". sig­ ing guest speakers for each floor SMU's Master Plan for the bers and 140 part-time instruc­ demic counseling service has nificant action in support of aca­ on the average of once every two been organized; the libraries and academic future, adopted by the tors. Total endowment has reach­ demic freedom. ..." weeks. Board of Trustees in May, 1963, ed $16.2 million. The 70 buildings In addressing the 1965 graduat­ teaching staff are being strength­ The speaker dines with the ened, and language labs are on reaffirms with pride the cherish­ on its 150-acre campus are valued ing class, Dr. Tate declared: "This the horizon. A newly established ed relationship to the Methodist at $44.5 million. University was committed, before students in the cafeteria before School of the Arts with divisions Church. Since 1915, some 30,000 degrees its doors were even opened, to a gathering in one of the new of Music, Art and Drama will be SMU's administration, believ­ have been granted at SMU. life of learning built upon high rooms of the Student Center for located in the Owen Fine Arts ing that the University can be a Among the ranks cf its 65,000 ex- academic integrity, the unfetter­ an informal discussion or a Center, now under construction. stronger, more substantial force students are business and indus­ ed pursuit of truth in a climate formal speech. Freshmen floors "* Several new dorms and an addi­ through its denominational affili­ trial leaders, diplomats, law­ of freedom of inquiry, concern for tion to the Student Center are ation, is seeking to provide lead­ makers, university presidents, every student and faculty mem­ thus have a chance to ask ques­ nearing completion.