Those arbiters of free thought and expression at Southern Methodist University are objecting to the building of George W. Bush's presidential library on their campus, according to this article at The Raw Story.
The blog of Paul Burka, the senior executive editor of the magazine Texas Monthly, includes excerpts of a letter written to SMU's president by faculty, administrators, and staff of the university's Perkins School of Theology, worrying about siting the library at the university. In it, they say they would:...regret to see SMU enshrine attitudes and actions widely deemed as ethically egregious: degradation of habeas corpus, outright denial of global warming, flagrant disregard for international treaties, alienation of long-term U.S. allies, environmental predation, shameful disrespect for gay persons and their rights, a pre-emptive war based on false and misleading premises, and a host of other erosions of respect for the global human community and for this good Earth on which our flourishing depends.
I can understand the concern that the school not be associated with scandal and corruption. Lord knows, it's had enough of that on its own:
-- Only school to ever receive the Death Penalty for multiple violations of NCAA rules.
-- Admission by William Clements to knowledge of the kickback-for-players "Ponygate" scandal.
Of course, SMU's own excesses aren't what those liberal professors are upset about.
Some faculty members are not happy generally to be associated with the library of a president who — his librarian wife notwithstanding — isn’t seen as a big fan of intellectual life...
Johnson said that there are also real problems with the message the library could send. SMU historically has had a reputation for attracting wealthy students — a reputation that the university has tried to fight in recent years by offering generous scholarship to low-income students. "I think it might be a setback in terms of trying to attract a different constituency among students," Johnson said. "Children of wealthy, leading Republicans in this state come to SMU, and then they are groomed here to become Republican leaders in all sectors of society. We shouldn’t be in the business of just replicating Republicans."
Brad Cheves, vice president for external relations at SMU, said Sunday evening that officials couldn’t comment on the faculty letter, when it hasn’t been delivered and it is unclear how many people have signed...
However, Cheves stressed that "SMU has and continues to celebrate a diversity of thought."
Yes, let's celebrate diversity...including thought. I guess we know what those elitist professors are worried about now (aside from their paychecks). They don't mind the brainwashing that goes on in Austin at the taxpayer-sponsored University of Texas where they're training up the next class of Democrat leaders in society. But don't expect these guys to defend the right of Republicans to spend their money on a private institution.
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