Baylor Says Its Values 'Nice Fit' with Bush's
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:41 amBy COLLEEN McCAIN NELSON / The Dallas Morning News
In the Bush presidential library sweepstakes, Baylor University has plenty to offer, including lots of land and a belief system consistent with George W. Bush's, the school's president said Monday.
"We think Baylor is a very nice fit with the president's values," Dr. John Lilley said.
Whether the Baptist university's culture, its interstate access or its site along the Brazos River will sway Mr. Bush or his library selection committee is still unknown. Dr. Lilley, who was inaugurated as Baylor's president last month, said he has received no indication which of the three library finalists has the edge or when a decision could be announced.
"The rumor-mongering that goes on about this is quite amazing," Dr. Lilley said. "We just simply don't know."
On Monday, selection committee spokesman Taylor Griffin would say only that the library group "is still considering the proposals."
Baylor and two other finalists, Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas, have been in a holding pattern for several months, fielding queries about their plans and cautiously touting their strengths while dancing around questions about their competitors' weaknesses.
SMU, which counts Laura Bush and several White House officials among its alumni, has long been considered the front-runner. Baylor officials have even joked that if the first lady were partial to building the library at SMU, the president might grant her wish.
Meeting with The Dallas Morning News' editorial board, Dr. Lilley emphasized that those were light-hearted remarks about Mrs. Bush, saying, "whether she will choose to be involved that way ... none of us knows."
"Baylor has friends in the White House," Dr. Lilley added.
While Baylor's president avoided direct comparisons with his competitors, he mentioned the 109 acres the school owns along the Brazos River as a strong selling point. SMU officials have said they have plenty of land, but its urban site would be significantly smaller.
"I'm sure SMU has some positives that we don't have," Dr. Lilley said.
Baylor has fended off suggestions that Waco would be a less-than-inspiring location. A column in The Economist, a British newspaper, recently described Waco as a "dreary town."
But Dr. Lilley cited the Central Texas city's proximity to the high-traffic Interstate 35, the school's scenic campus and new developments planned in Waco. "It has many of the qualities that could make it into a boomtown," he said.
The price tag for the Bush library remains in flux, but estimates suggest that more than $200 million will be needed for the project. Dr. Lilley said that won't be a problem.
"We'll raise whatever is required," he said.
In the Bush presidential library sweepstakes, Baylor University has plenty to offer, including lots of land and a belief system consistent with George W. Bush's, the school's president said Monday.
"We think Baylor is a very nice fit with the president's values," Dr. John Lilley said.
Whether the Baptist university's culture, its interstate access or its site along the Brazos River will sway Mr. Bush or his library selection committee is still unknown. Dr. Lilley, who was inaugurated as Baylor's president last month, said he has received no indication which of the three library finalists has the edge or when a decision could be announced.
"The rumor-mongering that goes on about this is quite amazing," Dr. Lilley said. "We just simply don't know."
On Monday, selection committee spokesman Taylor Griffin would say only that the library group "is still considering the proposals."
Baylor and two other finalists, Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas, have been in a holding pattern for several months, fielding queries about their plans and cautiously touting their strengths while dancing around questions about their competitors' weaknesses.
SMU, which counts Laura Bush and several White House officials among its alumni, has long been considered the front-runner. Baylor officials have even joked that if the first lady were partial to building the library at SMU, the president might grant her wish.
Meeting with The Dallas Morning News' editorial board, Dr. Lilley emphasized that those were light-hearted remarks about Mrs. Bush, saying, "whether she will choose to be involved that way ... none of us knows."
"Baylor has friends in the White House," Dr. Lilley added.
While Baylor's president avoided direct comparisons with his competitors, he mentioned the 109 acres the school owns along the Brazos River as a strong selling point. SMU officials have said they have plenty of land, but its urban site would be significantly smaller.
"I'm sure SMU has some positives that we don't have," Dr. Lilley said.
Baylor has fended off suggestions that Waco would be a less-than-inspiring location. A column in The Economist, a British newspaper, recently described Waco as a "dreary town."
But Dr. Lilley cited the Central Texas city's proximity to the high-traffic Interstate 35, the school's scenic campus and new developments planned in Waco. "It has many of the qualities that could make it into a boomtown," he said.
The price tag for the Bush library remains in flux, but estimates suggest that more than $200 million will be needed for the project. Dr. Lilley said that won't be a problem.
"We'll raise whatever is required," he said.
