(January 18, 2007)—A group of US Methodist ministers launched a petition drive Thursday to persuade Southern Methodist University to stop trying to land the George W. Bush presidential library.

SMU emerged as the apparent winner in the library race over Baylor University and the University of Dallas last month when the site selection committee said it was beginning further discussions with the 11,000 student private university, which is first lady Laura Bush's alma mater.

The petition says "as United Methodists, we believe that the linking of his presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name is utterly inappropriate."

The Rev Andrew J. Weaver of Brooklyn, N.Y. graduated from the Dallas university's Perkins School of Theology.

He says "Methodists have a long history of social conscience, so questions about the conduct of this president are very concerning."

The announcement came less than 24 hours after SMU President R. Gerald Turner told a faculty meeting the library would be a plus for the campus.

Turner also says the library will lead to debate for professors and spur economic development in the city.

Turner said concerns recently raised about the library's public policy institute are unfounded.

A foundation independent of SMU would run the think tank, while scholars studying there would be jointly appointed and under the control of the school.

Some professors have raised concerns about the library - everything from whether it would be a terrorist target to if it would hurt fund-raising.

Click Here For SMU Web Site

Click Here For Baylor Web Site

More News >>Sports >> Weather >>