Graduating seniors ring in new tradition at ceremony

Approximately 46 graduating seniors helped usher in a new SMUtradition on Monday night.

They gathered with their families and friends at an inauguralceremony in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center to receive their alumniclass ring.

Although the ring has been offered for a number of years, thisis the first class to receive its ring in this ceremony.

“The university has chosen one ring to create a unifyingeffect amongst students and alumni. An official ring makes a simplestatement about shared guides and loyalty,” said JillStephenson, the assistant vice president of the Office of AlumniRelations.

The ring was chosen because of its link to SMU’s past.

It contains the image of Dallas Hall on the front with a ponyetched in the back.

“You wear the ring with the image of Dallas Hall alwaysfacing you and the image of the pony on the back is a reminder ofthe Mustang family behind you,” President R. Gerald Turnersaid.

“Let it always remind you that you’re always welcometo come back home to your Mustang family.”

The alumni association found the image that is used when it wasgoing through old school archives.

It is a reproduction of a ring worn by past students, Turnersaid.

“We hope that this class will speak to future generationsand share in the binding of the schools proud history,”Turner said.

The ring is available in white gold, yellow gold or silver. Theschool choices are the Dedman School of Law and the Cox School ofBusiness.

Although it was hoped that the ring would be more widelyaccepted, the alumni association is not disappointed in its effortsand results.

Robert H. Clark, the president of the Alumni Association, saidthat the association has “diligently researched to find a wayto try to bring the new classes closer to home.”

He is sure that the ring will become a firmly entrenchedtradition at the school.

Stephenson said that they hope to reach future students throughthe Corral meetings, word of mouth, and advertisements.

“I started not to buy the ring,” senior SusanBlackwell said. “It is so expensive (the average price isaround $500), and the design was pretty limited, but my husband anddaughters talked me into it.

I’m really glad they did. I’m so excited now becauseof what the ring represents. It ties my future to theschool’s past and will be a reminder to me of what I haveachieved. … It says that I achieved something special atSMU.”

Clark said that more styles may be available in the future whenthe tradition is more established.

A small reception was held at 6:30 p.m., followed by the ringceremony at 7 p.m. Stephenson welcomed the group, and UniversityChaplain William M. Finnin delivered an invocation.

“It’s a good tradition that I am glad to welcomeback. We hope this is the start of many more ceremonies in thefuture as it was in the past,” Turner said.