New In School

PHOTO BY VICTORIA MCKAY

human rights public relations fashion media

STORY BY NIKKI DABNEY

DESIGN BY ANNIE STEPHENS
SMU is continuing to shape new world
changers through its three new majors: human
rights, public relations and fashion media.
A human rights minor was created in 2007
and became the fastest-growing program at
SMU from 2008-2011. The human rights
major was established in January 2012, making
SMU the first university in the South and the
fifth in the nation to have such a program.
Before this program, there was not a
unified force on campus to discuss human
rights, Director of the Embrey Human Rights
Program Rick Halperin said. SMUs goal is
to be the national leader in human rights in
higher education and lead the way in creating
a culture that is more aware of human rights.
Not only did the human rights program
affect the lives of the people they were fighting
for, but it also impacted the lives of the students
involved.
Studying human rights has affected
everything I do, Co-president of the Student
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Academics

Leadership Initiative and Editor-in-Chief of

Human Writes Paige Bluejacket said. For
example, I was surprised to find out that we
rank third in the number of people we have
killed using the death penalty, right behind
China and Iran.
The journalism faculty was also adapting
to the changing world through its new fashion
media major.
Fashion media is an area that is extremely
present in the history and culture of Dallas,
Professor and The Belo Foundation Endowed
Distinguished Chair in Journalism Tony
Pederson said.
Because the fashion media program at
SMU was popular and innovative, students
had an edge in the journalism world.
Succeeding in such a competitive
industry requires hard work and a thorough
education, said Brooke Reagan, the student
representative on the fashion media faculty
recruitment team. Such a unique educational
background certainly gave me an edge to earn
a competitive internship at a fashion magazine
in New York City last summer.
As the world of communication continued

to expand, public relations evolved from simply

sending messages to establishing a relationship
with an audience. SMU recognized this need
in an evolving field and established a public
relations major in fall of 2012.
The digital age has made it imperative
that organizations communicate with their
publics in ways that are authentic, relevant
and ongoing, Director of public relations
Sandra Duh said.
The public relations major gave students onhands experience in creating this relationship.
We are working with Lincoln High School
to create an Entrepreneurial Culinary Arts
Program, junior Chelsea Grogan said. It is
brand new, so we get to build the campaign
from the ground up creating logos,
fundraising, writing grants.
Duh had aspiring goals for the public
relations major to continue to grow and be
successful.
When asked where someone should study
public relations, I want both academics and
professionals to think SMU, Duh said.

PHOTO BY TANNER THOMPSON

what do you think?

I want to change the world, which sounds

crazy, but the people who are crazy enough
to say that are the only ones who can.
Paige Bluejacket
Class of 2015

Now, we have a vehicle to talk in a cohesive

way and implement discussions and
programs. SMUs goal is to be the national
leader in human rights in higher education
and lead the way in creating a culture that is
more aware of human rights.
Rick Halperin
Director of the Embrey
Human Rights Program

2
1. Students work on a group project during a Public Relations class.
PHOTO BY victoria mckay

2. A student models a student-designed outfit during a fashion show.

PHOTO BY tanner thompson

I am so excited about the addition of the

PR major. The wide range of courses being
taught by field professionals really allows us
as students to take a hands-on approach to
public relations, providing us with valuable
skills and unparalleled experience.
Chelsea Grogan
Class of 2015

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New Majors