IDEAS Some SMU students are spending this semester in the inner-city, mostly minority neighborhood of East Dallas’ Garrett Park, hoping to understand and help disadvan-taged citizens.
The program had its genesis last September when SMU senior CHRIS LAKE sought out other students to get involved with Habitat for Humanity, which refurbishes and builds homes in some of Dallas’ poorer neighborhoods.
SMU got into the act officially when History 3310, Studies in Urban Culture, was put on the spring 1992 class schedule, MARI-LYNN JOHNSON, assistant professor of history, will teach the class, which meets once a week in an East Dallas church. But because of potential legal liability, the university isn’t officially sponsoring the student residents of the East Dallas duplex, donated for the semester by a local developer.
Though most of her 25 or so students won’t live in the house, Johnson says they’re all dedicated to their task.
“It’s, wonderful to see that there are students who don’t fit the typical image of SMU students who are wrapped up in themselves and all the trappings of middle class life, but instead are genuinely interested in being of service and using their skills for other people,” she says.
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