Spring Break
It's the institute, stupid
George Henson, ghenson@smu.edu
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Opinion
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There is a contentious back-and-forth going on via e-mail among some SMU faculty regarding the Bush Institute.
The majority of faculty members, if not all, have finally accepted the Library as a fait accompli. Indeed, for the majority of faculty, the library is no longer the primary concern. To paraphrase James Carville, it's the institute, stupid.
Not so much the institute as the structure of the institute. As it stands, SMU will have zero control over Bush's eponymously oxymoronic think tank.
Concerns ranging from the institute's policy focus (preemptive war, denying global warming, expansion of executive powers, creation of an imperial presidency, privation of civil liberties, torture) to who will hold fellowships have many faculty rightfully concerned.
More important, the prospect that departments will be required to accept co-appointments of Institute fellows who, by virtue of their appointment to the institute, will be exempt from the normal departmental hiring practices.
In short, many faculty members are seeking assurances. So far, the administration is saying, "Trust us." For some faculty, those two words are enough. Others have given the administration its just consideration - just about meaningless.
The bottom line is the institute, too, is a fait accompli. The trustees want it. Bush wants it. If Bush has been successful in communicating anything in the last six years, it's that he's the "decider." The faculty has absolutely no bargaining power. Some have accepted that and acquiesced; others haven't.
SMU isn't the University of Florida, and the Bush Institute isn't an honorary degree. The faculty can't vote to deny W his institute the way the University of Florida Faculty Senate voted to deny brother Jeb an honorary degree.
Those who have acquiesced comfort themselves by thinking about "the potential for classroom visits and other student access to institute fellows would be a tremendous asset to our teaching, particularly in fields like political science, history and economics."
The majority of faculty members, if not all, have finally accepted the Library as a fait accompli. Indeed, for the majority of faculty, the library is no longer the primary concern. To paraphrase James Carville, it's the institute, stupid.
Not so much the institute as the structure of the institute. As it stands, SMU will have zero control over Bush's eponymously oxymoronic think tank.
Concerns ranging from the institute's policy focus (preemptive war, denying global warming, expansion of executive powers, creation of an imperial presidency, privation of civil liberties, torture) to who will hold fellowships have many faculty rightfully concerned.
More important, the prospect that departments will be required to accept co-appointments of Institute fellows who, by virtue of their appointment to the institute, will be exempt from the normal departmental hiring practices.
In short, many faculty members are seeking assurances. So far, the administration is saying, "Trust us." For some faculty, those two words are enough. Others have given the administration its just consideration - just about meaningless.
The bottom line is the institute, too, is a fait accompli. The trustees want it. Bush wants it. If Bush has been successful in communicating anything in the last six years, it's that he's the "decider." The faculty has absolutely no bargaining power. Some have accepted that and acquiesced; others haven't.
SMU isn't the University of Florida, and the Bush Institute isn't an honorary degree. The faculty can't vote to deny W his institute the way the University of Florida Faculty Senate voted to deny brother Jeb an honorary degree.
Those who have acquiesced comfort themselves by thinking about "the potential for classroom visits and other student access to institute fellows would be a tremendous asset to our teaching, particularly in fields like political science, history and economics."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Karn Dhingra
posted 3/28/07 @ 10:56 AM CST
I always enjoy forwarding your commentaries on the Bush presidency to my fellow Mustangs in DC.
Karn Dhingra '03
Scott Rewak
posted 3/28/07 @ 11:47 AM CST
Brilliantly stated, Professor. Sure does make you feel good knowing this group will be in position to influence a new generation of their ilk, right here on our campus? Sickening. (Continued…)
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