Spring Break
Trustees should follow lead of First Lady
Issue date: 2/27/07 Section: Opinion
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Recently, First Lady and SMU trustee Laura Bush said that she would not vote on or participate in the decision-making process regarding the proposed Bush Library complex.
We think several other trustees who have had long-term personal, financial or political relationships with President George W. Bush should also recuse themselves from this project rather than permit questions to be raised about whether they have interests that conflict with their fiduciary duty as trustees of the university.
Among them are eight trustees, seven of whom have been major fundraisers and contributors to Bush political campaigns. All information presented below is from public records.
1) Robert H. Dedman Jr. is chair and CEO of Club Corp. International. The Dedmans are long-time friends of the Bush family, and Dedman raised at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign and gave more than $16,000 to Bush gubernatorial races
2) Ruth Altshuler is a Dallas philanthropist and investor. She pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign and gave $25,000 toward the 2001 Bush inaugural gala.
3) Alan Feld is a lobbyist and one of two senior executive partners of the 25th largest law firm in the U.S., Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP. He pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign.
4) Ray L. Hunt is the Chair and CEO of both Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and Hunt Oil, one of the largest privately owned petroleum companies in the world. He was appointed to the president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in 2001 and pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush campaign. He gave $100,000 toward the 2001 Bush inaugural festivities and Hunt Consolidated, Inc., gave another $250,000 toward the Bush 2005 presidential inaugural gala. Hunt already has donated $35 million toward the Bush Complex at SMU.
5) Michael M. Boone is a corporate attorney and founding partner of the prominent law firm Haynes & Boone, the third largest contributor to the Bush re-election in 2004. The firm and Boone have been active financial and political supporters of Bush since he ran for governor. Boone pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 presidential campaign and at least another $200,000 in 2004. According to the Center for Responsive Politics in 2004, Boone's law firm was the ninth-largest patron of George W. Bush's overall political career.
We think several other trustees who have had long-term personal, financial or political relationships with President George W. Bush should also recuse themselves from this project rather than permit questions to be raised about whether they have interests that conflict with their fiduciary duty as trustees of the university.
Among them are eight trustees, seven of whom have been major fundraisers and contributors to Bush political campaigns. All information presented below is from public records.
1) Robert H. Dedman Jr. is chair and CEO of Club Corp. International. The Dedmans are long-time friends of the Bush family, and Dedman raised at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign and gave more than $16,000 to Bush gubernatorial races
2) Ruth Altshuler is a Dallas philanthropist and investor. She pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign and gave $25,000 toward the 2001 Bush inaugural gala.
3) Alan Feld is a lobbyist and one of two senior executive partners of the 25th largest law firm in the U.S., Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP. He pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush presidential campaign.
4) Ray L. Hunt is the Chair and CEO of both Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and Hunt Oil, one of the largest privately owned petroleum companies in the world. He was appointed to the president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in 2001 and pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 Bush campaign. He gave $100,000 toward the 2001 Bush inaugural festivities and Hunt Consolidated, Inc., gave another $250,000 toward the Bush 2005 presidential inaugural gala. Hunt already has donated $35 million toward the Bush Complex at SMU.
5) Michael M. Boone is a corporate attorney and founding partner of the prominent law firm Haynes & Boone, the third largest contributor to the Bush re-election in 2004. The firm and Boone have been active financial and political supporters of Bush since he ran for governor. Boone pledged to raise at least $100,000 for the 2000 presidential campaign and at least another $200,000 in 2004. According to the Center for Responsive Politics in 2004, Boone's law firm was the ninth-largest patron of George W. Bush's overall political career.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 9
Asad Rahman
posted 2/27/07 @ 9:25 AM CST
Gentlemen,
I might check your facts once more. Sadly, Mr. Dedman passed away a couple of years. I would also encourage you to look at a current list of trustees and to their status. (Continued…)
Cristin Lavelle
posted 2/27/07 @ 11:08 AM CST
These trustees are not appointed by George Bush. They do not owe him anything - rather, it sounds like George may be the one owing them a favor.
Family names like the Hunts, Altshulers, the Dedmans, the Sewells, the Coxes, and the Fords are synonemous with SMU itself. (Continued…)
Mark
posted 2/27/07 @ 3:02 PM CST
Ok, we get it, you're all former or current ministers. BUT YOU DO NOT OWN THIS SCHOOL, NOR DO YOU MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING THIS SCHOOL.
That being said, Have a nice day. (Continued…)
JKC
posted 2/27/07 @ 3:40 PM CST
Dear Asad Rahman:
While I don't feel there is a need for the Trustee's to step down, Dedman is on the Board. His father passed away several years ago. (Continued…)
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