WP: SMU Holds Meeting on Bush Library: Faculty Concerned about Reputation, Political Interference

[DeepModem Mom]

University Holds Meeting on Bush Library
SMU Faculty Concerned About Reputation, Political Interference
By Matthew C. Wright
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, January 25, 2007; Page A10

DALLAS, Jan. 24 -- Members of the Southern Methodist University faculty again raised concerns that the building of the George W. Bush presidential library on campus might damage the school's reputation, said a participant at a closed-door meeting on Wednesday.

At the tightly guarded meeting, several members of the faculty questioned school president R. Gerald Turner about the political institute that will accompany the library. The institute will conduct research on issues that will be determined by Bush. Many of the questioners wondered whether such a powerful institution on campus will influence the type of research that can be conducted by SMU faculty and whether it will have an impact on the university's reputation.

"We're worried about a group of people on campus with a lot of money and a lot of power who aren't concerned for our values as an academy," Dennis Foster, a professor of English and a faculty senate member said, according to a participant in the meeting who asked not to be identified....

No official action was taken during the meeting. Faculty members will relay any further concerns to the faculty senate, which will then summarize them and present a list to Turner. Turner said after the meeting that he will take the concerns into advisement as he goes into negotiations with the president's site-selection committee in the coming weeks....

***

In reality, the faculty can do little to stop the library because several university leaders, including Turner, are committed to bringing it to SMU....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401876.html

[colorado_ufo]

1. Who would want a House of Lies

built on their campus?

[Lasher]

3. Those who wanted a serial liar to be our president

Lots of rich Publicans send their kids to SMU.

[lligrd]

2. Only Books In This Library Besides The Goat One

will be the books exposing this corrupt administration.

[Ian David]

4. Because being associated with Bush would detract from the legacy of Ted Haggard. n/t

[brentspeak]

8. Care to explain what you mean by that?

Also, as long as you're here, weren't you the individual who once posted a cartoon of a yellow ribbon magnet with the words "I screw the troops' wives"? Care to explain what you meant by that?

[Ian David]

15. The Fabulously Reverend Ted Haggard is a CrystalMeth Odist

And you are the only person I have ever met beside my mother (and my wife) who can dredge-up such old misdeeds from my past such as the "I Fuck Our Troops' Wives" Yellow Ribbon.

I don't see how "IFOTW" and The Fabulously Reverend Ted Haggard The CrystalMethOdist are connected, though.

In any case, if I recall correctly, I already apologized for what I acknowledged was a misguided attempt at an anti-recruitment slogan.... like... what... two years ago?

I'm sorry that it still keeps you awake at night. I didn't know I had caused you such long-lasting psychic damage.

Do I need to give you a hug, to make you feel better about it, after all this time?

Edited to add: I just checked. That was back in May of 2005.

:hug:

[DeepModem Mom]

16. I believe Haggard was head of the independent New Life Church, and not a Methodist. nt

[Ian David]

18. Ooh, you may be right... Wikipedia doesn't say he's a Methodist

That leaves me with two options.

1) Apologize for being wrong.

or

2) Edit Wikipedia to say he's a Methodist, and declare victory.


Nah.

I'm sorry I thought Ted was a Methodist.

And I'm not going to play the blame-game, but Stephanie Miller did say it first.
http://www.pastpeak.com/archives/2006/11/ted_haggard.htm

Thanks for setting me straight!

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Anytime!

:)

[tanyev]

5. "issues that will be determined by Bush"

Oh, please. Which whiskey goes down the smoothest? What are the best tires for my bikey-wikey? That man isn't going to spend another second thinking about "issues" when he finally gets to leave the White House.

[yellowcanine]

6. I think they are concerned about SMU being associated with a right wing think tank.

And imo their concerns are well placed. The mission of any group set up by Bush will be to salvage his "legacy" by doing "research" and writing articles and books which will have a goal of glossing over the failures and hyping the successes of the Bush presidency. A tall order, yes, but after all, a similar group at the Nixon library managed to transform a disgraced crook into an "elder statesman" so it is not impossible. Some SMU faculty want no part of that and I don't blame them.

[tanyev]

7. Oh, I'm not disputing that a right wing think tank will be set up in his name.

They have every right to be concerned about that. But the idea that Little Boots will himself be steering it is in the realms of fantasy.


Oooh--just had a thought. Maybe that is what Jeb will devote the rest of his life to. Georgie gets to live out the rest of his days having his fantasy life at the ranch, drinking and clearing brush, and Jeb becomes the caretaker of the family legacy.

[marshall]

10. I would like to see data

How has having a Presidential Library associated with its campus affected UT-Austin and A&M-College Station? Both of them also have a school of public affairs or something like that. Have they shown themselves to be nonpartison in their approach?

[bring_em_home_bush]

9. Here is a report on the meeting

http://bushlibraryblog.wordpress.com/2007/01/24/history-professor-reports-on-jan-24-faculty-meeting-with-president-turner/

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Thanks, bring! nt

[Spangle]

11. MIGHT damage the school's reputation

Woops! Seems like a few people have woke up and noticed reality.

"We're worried about a group of people on campus with a lot of money and a lot of power who aren't concerned for our values as an academy,"

Well,if they have been paying attention these last 6 years, they have reason to be concerned that the pattern will not change.

When it was hoped that Bush's name will be forever a Honorable one, such worrys were brushed aside, considering the reward of the free PR that would have came with having the Libary there. With people flocking to it to glory over it and Him, etc. The Bush fantasy is over and people see it. No longer is it considered such great free PR. The Bush people are kinda getting a rep for running over anyone who disagrees with their ideas, view points, agenda, etc. The group really does have a reason to be concerned.

[otohara]

12. Hire Extra Security

because it will be a target for vandalism.

[tabasco]

13. The History Department should poo-poo the library plans.

They know how much Bush will be reviled for generations to come.

The most corrupt President ever.

[Hobarticus]

14. And SMU guts it's academics for a handful's personal politics...

Watch the faculty abandon en masse.