Student Senate voted to support the Bush Library in its entirety Tuesday evening. It is the first time a student organization on campus has publicly taken a side on the Bush Library debate.

The past few weeks have sparked a great deal of debate nationwide regarding the possibility of SMU hosting the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Faculty members have voiced concerns about the so-called “think tank” portion of the library; Methodists across the country have come together in a single petition against the institute; countless numbers of opinion pieces have been written and published in national media organizations; and now, an SMU student organization has chosen a side.

The resolution supporting the Bush Library and Institute passed after a few short comments. The final vote resulted in 27 yeas and five nays.

During the speaker’s podium at the beginning of the meeting representatives from around campus stood up and voiced their concerns about the Senate’s proposed support of the library.

Matthew Haley, president of the SMU Democrats, spoke out as a representative of his organization against the institute.

“I issued a formal complaint,” said Haley.

At a meeting last week, the SMU Democrats decided to oppose the institute portion of the library.

Beth Newman, an SMU English professor, also urged the Senate not to vote for the Bush Library if the institute is attached.

Toward the end of the meeting, Senator John Jose stood before the senate and said that the claims by the faculty were simply “ridiculous.” He emphasized that the library would open the university up to a plethora of resources and regardless of varying political views the senate should embrace the library, institute and all.

Jose pointed out that the SMU campus couldn’t have too many competing ideas regardless of their individual ideologies.