Spring Break
The "Fantastic Failure Institute" will undermine SMU
Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Opinion
Elected delegates of the United Methodist Church will meet in Dallas in July and will be asked by SMU to give final approval to the use of university land for the proposed Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Institute. The 290 delegates represent the 1.83 million United Methodists living in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Louisiana who founded in 1911 and own SMU - "lock, stock and barrel." Should a majority of them vote to allow SMU to use the land to build the partisan Bush institute, it will be a lamentable precedent in higher education.
While the wisdom of establishing a library and museum may be debatable, establishing an autonomous, partisan think tank will unquestionably damage the academic reputation of a quality university. The partisan mission and independent structure of the proposed institute, which has been obscured in the debate, is a bona fide threat to the academic integrity of SMU.
How do we know the shape the institute will take? According to a Bush Foundation document signed by the president's brother, Marvin Bush, the institute's mission is "to further the Bush Administration's domestic and international goals," which precisely defines partisanship. Further highlighting its partisan nature is the likely appointment of republican mastermind Karl Rove to "take charge…of the design, fundraising, and planning" for the institute, according to U.S. News and World Report.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner admits that the Bush institute will engage in partisan hiring procedures and staffing. He explained to the SMU faculty that "the institute will want to hire independently its fellows to address its areas of focus…. [T]his approach would fall outside of university practices and standards." One can only imagine what this might bring to campus: How about Scooter Libby as distinguished fellow in political ethics?
SMU History Professor Alexis McCrossen, who has researched the topic and gave a comprehensive report to the SMU faculty, wrote in 2007:
While the wisdom of establishing a library and museum may be debatable, establishing an autonomous, partisan think tank will unquestionably damage the academic reputation of a quality university. The partisan mission and independent structure of the proposed institute, which has been obscured in the debate, is a bona fide threat to the academic integrity of SMU.
How do we know the shape the institute will take? According to a Bush Foundation document signed by the president's brother, Marvin Bush, the institute's mission is "to further the Bush Administration's domestic and international goals," which precisely defines partisanship. Further highlighting its partisan nature is the likely appointment of republican mastermind Karl Rove to "take charge…of the design, fundraising, and planning" for the institute, according to U.S. News and World Report.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner admits that the Bush institute will engage in partisan hiring procedures and staffing. He explained to the SMU faculty that "the institute will want to hire independently its fellows to address its areas of focus…. [T]his approach would fall outside of university practices and standards." One can only imagine what this might bring to campus: How about Scooter Libby as distinguished fellow in political ethics?
SMU History Professor Alexis McCrossen, who has researched the topic and gave a comprehensive report to the SMU faculty, wrote in 2007:
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Meghan
posted 1/29/08 @ 2:09 PM CST
It was clear right from the start that SMU and Bush Library do not go together. The opportunity cost of giving up so much for this is not befitting of a premier university such as ours. (Continued…)
Martha Voigt
posted 1/30/08 @ 10:39 AM CST
Where may I sign a petition against the Bush library being on the property of SMU? Thanks you in advacne for this information.
Shalom, Martha Voigt
Mr. Darwin Yeary
posted 2/18/08 @ 11:57 AM CST
I hope the Delegates that meet in July 2008, will vote down the George W Bush Library and Think Tank. The War crimes committed by Bush and his top associates in Washington, is not worthy of any honor at all, especially in a Church based University. (Continued…)
Smells fishy
posted 9/20/08 @ 11:20 PM CST
Seems like this will be a miserable failure unfortunately.
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