The Bush Presidential Library proposal deadline is today. Eight schools have entered the bidding contest – SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, University of Texas, University of Dallas, Midland College and UT Arlington – and Ed Board thinks only one will bring the competition.
But first, glance over that list again. Did anything you read cause you to raise a brow?
Something like-Midland College? Seven universities are running and a community college thinks it has a chance? Ed Board thinks not, but extends a pat on the back to Midland for attempting. Next.
Texas A&M and UT are out. Both already have presidential libraries and Ed Board thinks Bush is not one to share the spotlight with his father or LBJ.
The University of Dallas doesn’t have deep enough pockets to throw up a building with 16 white columns and a gold cupola. Moving along.
Texas Tech is not near any major city. The only things going on in Lubbock are football games, alcohol and tumbleweeds. Can you imagine the pandemonium that would break out if slightly tipsy tourists were trapped inside Bush’s library because several large tumbleweeds were blocking the exits?
Baylor is SMU’s only competition. It has more land and, some argue, a better location since it’s located off I-35 in between Dallas and Austin.
Speaking of location, Ed Board sees SMU as the prime choice to build a presidential library. For one, it’s located in Dallas, a growing, business-oriented and affluent city. Two, Laura Bush is an SMU alumna and currently sits on the Board of Trustees. Three, the First Lady has said she wants to live in Dallas after her husband’s term ends. In addition, the Bush Presidential Library completely goes with the Laura Bush Promenade-it would be the “his and hers” monument of college campuses.
But Baylor has tried to gain the upper hand through the local and national media. It uses the Waco Herald-Tribune as its public relations outlet to rally local support. Having the goods is one thing, but pretending to have the goods and inflating the fallacy is just pathetic.
SMU doesn’t need to throw publicity stunts to get the White House’s attention – the President and First Lady know what we have.
It could just be us, but all the signs seem to point to SMU as the best candidate for the new library.
