Spring Break
Peruna named official SMU mascot
Brooks Powell, Staff Writer, blpowell@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
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Senate Membership Chair Jack Benage and Senator Jake Torres, a Peruna handler, said they were concerned a potential change in the mascot was not brought before the students and the greater SMU community.
To encourage passage of the resolution, the Department of Recreational Sports brought the live mascot, Peruna VIII, and his stuffed analog to the floor of the Senate.
Numerous individuals spoke in favor of the piece, including SMU class of 1944 alumna Francis Ware.
Ware's family has had a tremendous impact on SMU, including facilitating its founding. Her grandfather Stephen J. Hay II, mayor of Dallas from 1907-1911, lobbied Dallas citizens to buy the bonds necessary to build the first building on campus, Dallas Hall, as a tribute to their generosity.
Ware, a former SMU student body secretary, said Peruna has been taken for granted.
"Peruna is really more than a mascot - he's an icon," Ware said. "An icon is not a real thing, you know, but it represents the real thing perfectly. And that's our spirit."
Judith Banes, executive director of Recreational Sports, also shared a variety of anecdotes about Peruna from her years as an SMU student.
The resolution passed with 32 votes for and three votes against.
The senate also passed a bill that is intended to address allegations of misconduct on the part of SMU Police in fraternity houses.
According to the legislation, SMU officials, including police officers, will be barred from entering fraternity houses unless invited between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. seven days a week.
Senator Matt Neman, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, said police are not looking for students who may be in medical distress because of alcohol consumption, but are seeking out and citing students for the slightest infractions of SMU alcohol policies.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Sober Dover
posted 10/28/09 @ 1:19 AM CST
It's so sad that on one page of the DC there is an article illustrating the ever-remaining problem of alcohol abuse by first years and on another, an article where the Senate votes in favor of restricting police enforcement in fraternity houses. (Continued…)
brad cummins
posted 10/28/09 @ 10:49 PM CST
The horse issue is ridiculous - the "mascot" of the SMU Mustangs is an untrained and mean little shetland pony - Ms. Pickens gives us 2 beautifully trained American Mustangs and we take this ridiculous position. (Continued…)
Prinz
posted 11/06/09 @ 11:02 AM CST
Brad Cummins,
Peruna is SMU's mascot. Not wanting Ms. Pickens to jack with our 75+ year tradition has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting Ms. (Continued…)
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