Mustang Corral Program Highlights

 

Key Note Speaker - Dr. Bertice Berry 

Dr. Bertice Berry will be a  key note speaker for the 2009 Mustang Corral program. Dr. Bertice Berry is an award winning lecture, author, educator, and published socialist who has reached out to both corporate and private organizations with her humorous approach to subjects that have her audience laughing and thinking at the same time.

Sociologist, and award winning lecturer Bertice Berry, Ph.D., is one of the most sought after lecturers in the country. She combines her skills as a sociologist and researcher, and with her ability to make her audiences think and laugh at the same time. She is the best selling author of the inspirational memoir, I'm On My Way, But Your Foot Is On My Head, four novels and two humor books.

Berry who believes that no one is fulfilled doing only one thing, combines her love of art and her spirit for community activism into an art gallery she Co-owns. All proceeds from the gallery go to families in need. Her newest book, “The Ties That Bind: A Memoir of Race, Redemption and Memory” is a remarkable story of abolition, freedom and redemption. “The Ties That Bind” will be released February 3, 2009.

Berry is most proud of becoming an instant mother to her five adopted children. "They really are my blessing in disguise," Berry says, "I'm just waiting for them to take the costumes off.

To learn more about Dr. Bertice Berry please visit www.berticeberry.com.

Spirit and Traditions

Join us to identify and name the different traditions, songs, and cheers/chants associated with SMU. You will be able to articulate the meaning of one of SMU's many traditions and enjoy the 'Top Eleven Traditions Video".

Round Up Groups

Mustang Corral participants will be divided into round up groups which is lead by a Mustang Corral leader and will be comprised of 12-15 students. This will allow students to interact with other students and learn more about their peers in a smaller setting.

StrengthsQuest

During the Mustang Corral, you will be introduced to the StrengthsFinder assessment, StrengthsQuest philosophy and all 34 Strengths. The StrengthsQuest philosophy will allow incoming students to engage in many conversations, and serve as the common language across the SMU community.  Learning about your top five strengths will allow the opportunity to talk to your roommate, professor, or a staff member about how you see your strengths in a variety of areas in your life---academic life, developing study skills, or in your personal relationships throughout your college experience.  Click here to learn more about StrengthsQuest.

Diversity

The Diversity Session will identify a variety of stereotypes about different groups of people based on ethnic backgrounds, hobbies, geographic location, sexual orientation, etc. You will also be able to recognize the amount of diversity within your new surroundings and learn about the common interest in the community.

Olympics

The Olympic activities will allow students to connect with their Spirit Groups through different team-building activities, which promote face-to-face interaction as well as critical problem solving. Students will be able to recognize distinguished/famous SMU alumni through a series of competitive interactions with other teams.

Sneak Preview

On day two of Mustang Corral, students will be able to connect with current faculty members in an off-campus setting and learn more about their distinguished areas of study. They will identify and understand first-year issues through themed discussions with faculty members.

Hunger Banquet

During this session, students will be able to identify the poverty and hunger issues facing the world and community today. Students will recognize and reflect the differences among the three income groups defined in the activity. The hunger banquet will also examine the unequal distribution of global resources and how that relates to worldwide poverty.

Candlelight Ceremony

This is the most famous and memorable event at Mustang Corral. Senior student leaders will have the opportunity to identify key elements of their SMU experience that have deeply impacted current students and young alumni. Current students will have an opportunity to reflect and verbalize their individual experience at Mustang Corral.