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Southern Methodist University, often known by its acronym of SMU, is a private university in University Park, Texas, USA. University Park is one of two adjacent Dallas suburbs sometimes called The Bubble (the other being Highland Park) because they are surrounded by the city of Dallas and are two of the most wealthy regions of the city and the surrounding metropolitan area.SMU was founded in 1911 by the United Methodist Church, and the first building (Dallas Hall) opened in 1915. The university currently operates campuses in Dallas and Taos, New Mexico, serving a total of almost 11,000 students.
1 University facts and figures
Of the university's roughly 11,000 students, around 6,000 are undergraduates. 20% classify themselves as "minorities", and half of the student body claims religious affiliation (despite the university's name, only 14% of its students claim affiliation with the Methodist church).
The school's sports teams, known as the Mustangs, participate in NCAA Division I (I-A for football) as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The team was once a national powerhouse and will soon leave the WAC to join Conference USA.
In the television show DallasDallas was a long-running primetime television soap opera about a wealthy Texas oil family. It aired on the CBS network from April 2, 1978, to May 3, 1991. The series is probably best-known for the central character of J. Ewing, the vain, greedy, scheming the character of Lucy Ewing was a student at Southern Methodist University, and several scenes were shot on location in the main quad.
Dallas Hall is registered in the National Registry of Historic Places. A scene from "Born on the Fourth of July" was shot around the exterior of the west wing of Dallas Hall.
2 Famous alumni
SMU alumni have found success in all fields. Some famous SMU graduates are First LadyA First Lady is the female spouse of an elected male head of state such as a president or governor. Duties and ceremony While the traditions and expectations of a First Lady vary by country and have changed significantly over time, they typically include Laura BushLaura Welch Bush (born Laura Lane Welch on November 4, 1946) is the wife of President George W. Bush and serves as First Lady of the United States. Early life and career Laura Lane Welch was born in Midland, Texas, the only child of Harold and Jenna Welch, actress Kathy BatesKathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an American theatrical, film and television actress. Bates was born in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from White Station High in Memphis. She attended the Southern Methodist University, majoring in theatre, a, Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes (pronounced no-BELL or no-bell are awarded annually to people who have done outstanding research, invented groundbreaking techniques or equipment, or made outstanding contributions to society. It is generally regarded as the supreme comme-winning physicist James Cronin , senator John TowerJohn Goodwin Tower ( September 29, 1925 April 5, 1991) was a conservative Republican United States Senator from Houston, Texas. Tower served in the Pacific Theater during World War II on an amphibious gunboat. He returned to Texas after the war and comple, golfer Payne StewartPayne Stewart ( January 30, 1957 October 25, 1999) was an American golfer. Born in Springfield, Missouri, he attended Southern Methodist University; a year later he joined the PGA TOUR. He won eleven Tour events, including the 1989 PGA Championship, and t, Heisman TrophyHeisman Memorial Trophy Award is given annually to the top college American football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Award was presented by the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan, New York, a privately owned recreation faci winner Doak Walker , TV and film producer Aaron Spelling, journalist Craig Flournoy and playwright Beth Henley (both recipients of the Pulitzer Prize in their fields), TLC Network personality Paige Davis, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Monday Night Football commentator Don Meredith and computing pioneer Robert Dennard.
