President R. Gerald Turner said he does not and will not have an answer to the political differences between faculty members regarding the George W. Bush Presidential Library during Tuesday’s spring general faculty meeting.
Turner said only time will tell which position is correct, and noted that those answers will hopefully emerge from resources at the library.
Tuesday’s meeting was another in a series of events after the Dec. 21 announcement that SMU was entering into exclusive negotiations for the library. The part of the library that has caused the most concern amongst some faculty members is the proposed Bush Institute.
Turner said the library is a rare opportunity with immeasurable academic resources and SMU would be providing a service to the community and its country.
President of Faculty Senate Rhonda Blair spoke about how important it is to “let the dialogue continue.” Blair said the question is not should the library come to SMU, but how.
“Like the making of America, this will no doubt be a decades-long process,” said Blair.
Turner addressed each of the six categories of questions compiled by Blair during last week’s faculty meeting. In his reply Turner said it would be better for the Bush Institute, the proposed conservative political think tank, to be independent from the university. He said such a move would allow SMU to maintain its individual values.
The idea is for the university and the library to “coexist in structural independence, but mutually thrive,” said Turner.
According to Turner, an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 people would visit annually. Fundraising for the library would come from the Bush Foundation.
“We do not anticipate running the fundraiser,” he said.
The library would be built based upon the amount raised, which hasn’t been projected. Turner said fundraising is a momentum-based activity and he expects supporters of the university to donate.
“To lose it [the library] would raise questions about our ability to compete nationally,” said Turner.
With SMU’s Centennial Celebration approaching, continued support is important. “People give to successful enterprises,” said Turner.
While addressing the questions about SMU’s reputation Turner said that over time the library would bring many scholars and visitors to campus who would not normally acknowledge the university. He also said the political components will fade in time.
“This is a serious opportunity… one we have to seize affirmatively. So let’s get it done,” said Turner.
James K. Hopkins professor and Chair of the history department said, after the meeting, how “important it is for the faculty to engage themselves in the issue.”
Hopkins said Blair gave a courageous speech and Turner’s presentation was very strong. “They appropriately emphasized the seriousness of the issue,” he said.
