I love SMU... have no problem with Bush.. but....
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:02 pmAt the outset let me say that I'm happy for SMU in winning the right to host a presidential library. It's a very prestigious thing and will be good for this entire area. I love SMU and want to see good things happen to the school.
However, it is clear to me that SMU's bid was inferior to the one submitted by the University of Dallas. The Bush Library Selection Committee made a mistake in selecting the SMU site. Here's why:
1. UD was offering 200+ acres of land for a library, museum and policy institute. SMU is going to try to shoe-horn in the whole project on about a dozen acres of land. UD's plans were for a grand gathering place that could have easily accomodated many visitors and events. SMU's plans are small scale and will blend in with the campus in general. It will be anything but "grand."
2. SMU has had to fight tooth and nail to get this land, UD already owns most of their land and the city of Dallas owned another small portion of land that they indicated they would have been happy to donate to the project. Until that lawsuit with Mr. Voidika (sp?) is over this will continue to be an embarrassment to the project and school.
3. UD's administration and faculty were fully behind the project and excited about it. SMU's administration has fought the faculty and some in the Methodist church over this project. Again, this will continue to be an embarrassment to the project. I am very surprised that the committee would want to give this library to a school that had so much vocal opposition to it.
4. SMU could have joined forces with UD to solve this problem, but chose not to do so. (you'll have to trust me on this one) In fact, when Texas Tech saw what UD was offering, they tried to do just that. There's no reason why the policy intitute and museum couldn't be in Irving while the actual library with all the papers resides on the campus of SMU. (or some other combination)
So why did this happen? It's very simple: many of the folks who said they would put up big money for this project said that money was contingent on the library being built at SMU. That's sad. They genuinely support this president, but have created a situation that will make his library not nearly the kind of beacon for his legacy that it should be.
However, it is clear to me that SMU's bid was inferior to the one submitted by the University of Dallas. The Bush Library Selection Committee made a mistake in selecting the SMU site. Here's why:
1. UD was offering 200+ acres of land for a library, museum and policy institute. SMU is going to try to shoe-horn in the whole project on about a dozen acres of land. UD's plans were for a grand gathering place that could have easily accomodated many visitors and events. SMU's plans are small scale and will blend in with the campus in general. It will be anything but "grand."
2. SMU has had to fight tooth and nail to get this land, UD already owns most of their land and the city of Dallas owned another small portion of land that they indicated they would have been happy to donate to the project. Until that lawsuit with Mr. Voidika (sp?) is over this will continue to be an embarrassment to the project and school.
3. UD's administration and faculty were fully behind the project and excited about it. SMU's administration has fought the faculty and some in the Methodist church over this project. Again, this will continue to be an embarrassment to the project. I am very surprised that the committee would want to give this library to a school that had so much vocal opposition to it.
4. SMU could have joined forces with UD to solve this problem, but chose not to do so. (you'll have to trust me on this one) In fact, when Texas Tech saw what UD was offering, they tried to do just that. There's no reason why the policy intitute and museum couldn't be in Irving while the actual library with all the papers resides on the campus of SMU. (or some other combination)
So why did this happen? It's very simple: many of the folks who said they would put up big money for this project said that money was contingent on the library being built at SMU. That's sad. They genuinely support this president, but have created a situation that will make his library not nearly the kind of beacon for his legacy that it should be.
