Gerald Turner

friarwolf · Post by **friarwolf** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:51 pm

Greatest SMU President of all Time???? Talk amongst yourselves.............

mr. pony · Post by **mr. pony** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Gotta be in the top 2.

Kiper · Post by **Kiper** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:16 pm

Hard to compare to the presidents of years gone by (I arrived during AKPye's era), but despite the library, Turner has done some great things (stadium, Boulevard, hiring Orsini, raising the endowment to a bazillion bucks, etc.)

smu diamond m · Post by **smu diamond m** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:33 pm

I think he has done an amazing job. Best of all time? I don't know enough to make that assertion.

He is a nice guy, and thats all that matters around here

Samurai Stang · Post by **Samurai Stang** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:46 pm

What good are buildings if there is no glory associated with them! A castle may stand for a thousand years, but unless it is the home of a hero it will only be a shack. This is where Turner fails.

Hoofbeat83 · Post by **Hoofbeat83** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:10 pm

despite my feelings about the library (see other thread), i do believe that dr. turner has been an outstanding president. his success in fundraising is well known (and a meaningful contribution to the long life of SMU), but he has also made measurable improvements to the overall academics of our school while maintaining our legacy of producing well-rounded graduates. i think he's a good one.

FWMustangGirl · Post by **FWMustangGirl** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:49 pm

I think Turner is great. Considering there is only one other president in my frame of reference, he's definitely the better of the two for the school.

PK · Post by PK » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:07 pm

This one is hard to beat.

WILLIS M. TATE
SMU PRESIDENT 1954-1972, 1974-1976

Willis M. Tate├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├óΓÇ₧┬ós tenure as president was remarkable not only for its record length but also for his vision for the University. As SMU├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├óΓÇ₧┬ós longest-serving president, Tate guided the University through turbulent times of protests and attacks on academic freedom.

As a student, faculty member, dean, and president, Tate├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├óΓÇ₧┬ós life was intertwined with SMU. Although born in Denver, Tate spent part of his childhood in Dallas. He graduated from high school in San Antonio, but as he said, it was inevitable that he eventually come to SMU. He majored in sociology, earning a Bachelor├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├óΓÇ₧┬ós degree in 1931 and a Master├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├óΓÇ₧┬ós in 1935. Following graduation, he returned to San Antonio, where he taught and served as principal at two schools. He later served in the Methodist church in Houston before returning to SMU as assistant dean of students and teacher of sociology. In May 1955, Willis Tate was inaugurated as the fifth president of SMU. In his inaugural address, he stated a basic principle of his faith: That a nation remains free only as universities are free in their quest for truth. In 1965, after being nominated by SMU faculty, Tate was awarded the Alexander Meiklejohn Award of the American Association of University Professors ├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼├àΓÇ£for support of academic freedom.├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼

ThadFilms · Post by **ThadFilms** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:38 pm

Turner has been amazing. I think he really gets it. Even with his success at winning the Presidential Library, I actually see him as liberal. A visionary. You could even say especially with his success at winning the Presidential Library.

I love being, partially, in on the inner circle... what with my father so often being a part of the faculty senate, I get all of these little inseider tidbits. Let me say the man is shrewd cunning, and has real goals for this university, and he is not afraid to go after them.

But at the same time do them in the appropriate manner.

While we may want to see everything as being slow to change at SMU, just look at his commitment to every part of our academic institution. No stone has been left unturned. Look at his tenure:

The art museum - while actual architecture was a mistake - it is wonderful to have a large space available that our rich collection justly deserves.

In recent years look at the unprecedented amounts given to this University for all schools. I mean just look at all of the new buildings for the [ghasp] the engineering school at a traditionally liberal arts university.

We have a jewel of a football stadium. An unmatched tailgating event in the state of Texas. On that same note ... just keep going, Orsini, Doh, Crum, and Jones.

The vision that Turner has been working on for the schools 100th anniversary has been nothing short of amazing. I wish next year was my freshman year in college.

To be fair, I think I often wish that.....

But, Dr. Turner is doing EVERYTHING he can to turn SMU into everything I wished it was when I was, a major university in all forms. Orsini mentions a commitment to being top 25 in everything we do. Where did that come from? Dr. Turner.

mr. pony · Post by **mr. pony** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:35 pm

Thanks, Dr. Turner, for your leadership in bringing the Bush library to SMU.

I'm very proud that it will be on campus.

Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex · Post by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:54 pm

mr. pony wrote:Thanks, Dr. Turner, for your leadership in bringing the Bush library to SMU.

I'm very proud that it will be on campus.

Figures.

Samurai Stang · Post by **Samurai Stang** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:58 pm

He lucked out that Laura Bush went to SMU and [deleted] Cheney was on the board of trustees. Do not make it seem as though the Bush administration had no ties to SMU. This would have happened no matter who was running the university....except Pye. He was an idiot.

The wealthy alumni decided on their own to build a stadium.

Turner is nothing but the spineless mouthpiece of the university. He has no real power but is simply a glorified fund raiser. The second he voiced his real opinion he would be fired and replaced by the real powers that be with a new puppet.

Tuition has gone up 8% every year for near the past ten years under Turner. Please praise him as he bleeds students dry. This is if anything a sign of being among the worst presidents.

The following presidents are better than Turner: Robert S. Hyer, Willis Tate, Umphrey Lee, and Charles Claude Selecman. I do, though, believe Turner is substantially better than Pye.

couch 'em · Post by **couch 'em** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:14 pm

How many of you people would be on here e-loving Turner a year or two ago today?

How long did Turner keep Copeland around? Do you really think he went out of his way to build Ford out of love of athletics?

No question Turner is a great fund raiser, but how many decisions about the university is he actually making? Do you think he has been fighting all these years for a PE major and a bball practice facility? For a top shelf football coach at $2 million/yr?

Who sets the vision for the University as to what buildings to expand or build? Was it Turner pushing the university to expand the grossly neglected engineering school?

Our insane asian friend above makes a good point on the Bush library: Did Turner do something spectacular in bringing the library here? Laura went here, Bush plans on living in Dallas near SMU, the Cheney connection, TONS of other cabinet connections, he even tried to put a graduate of SMU Law on the Supreme Court!

He did a good job making it happen, but I think almost any decent university president could have done the same. The library was meant to come here from the beginning.

So many people on this board are wishy-washy to the extreme. One day you hate some one or some thing, then after one positive thing happens you love them. One bad thing happens and you hate them.

If you really care about SMU football, I don't see how you can participate in this Turner love fest.

NavyCrimson · Post by **NavyCrimson** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:08 pm

Samauri Stang: "... He has no real power but is simply a glorified fund raiser."

Agree but tell me what college prez isn't. Thank God our board realizes that too much power in the hands of a liberal college president now days is disastrous. Remember AKA-Pye?

that's great raplh · Post by **that's great raplh** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:42 pm

he is a great leader and we are lucky to have him