The Dallas Mastermind Group, guest speaker Philip Jabour of Southern Methodist University explained some of the unique planning challenges facing this urban private university. When SMU was founded in 1911, it was far from the city surrounded primarily by empty land. Today, SMU, as is the case with other urban universities, must consider “town and gown” relationships (how the university’s growth affects neighboring residential neighborhoods) in its development decisions. Parking is a particularly challenging issue for SMU. There can never be enough parking, Philip said. SMU’s master plan includes additional Parking Centers (the university’s preferred name for parking garages).