George W. Bush has always said he thinks history will be his judge. His decision not to give history very much to work with, however, is causing some problems at Southern Methodist University, which recently agreed to house his presidential library:mccain_bush.thumbnail.jpg

While presidential libraries are usually seen as a coup for any university, bringing with them prestige and tourists, the Bush library has provoked anger among academics and religious leaders.

A number of academics at SMU and elsewhere in the US believe the war on Iraq and the president's views on issues such as gay rights and torture made the university an unsuitable location.

Alarm has also been expressed over the independent institute that will fund research promoting Bush's ideas and vision. Academics have also said that an executive order, signed by Bush, which gives presidents and their families more control over presidential papers, could result in material being censored.

Benjamin Hufbauer, an associate professor of art history at the University of Louisville, said the agreement at SMU was "totally different" to that of other universities hosting presidential libraries, reports the Inside Higher Ed website.

"Academics everywhere should be concerned about this. Clearly this goes against the idea of dispassionate inquiry, of looking at things on the basis of fact and merit. If it's ideological, that's opposed to the mission of a university," Hufbauer said.

The Rev William McElvaney, a professor emeritus of preaching and worship at SMU's theology school, added: "As long as that executive order is in place, it's really a censored library. What self-respecting university would accept a censored library?"

The religious thinktank Ekklesia said some Christians believed Bush's views were against church teachings, and reported that those opposed to the library would continue their fight in court.

The Rev Andrew J Weaver, a united Methodist pastor and SMU alumnus who has led a petition against the library plan, said: "SMU has signed something that is totally out of bounds, and it's only a matter of going to court with them. It will be David vs Goliath, but David won the first time."

I can see how being home to the Bush approved propaganda archives could be academically troubling. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "spin room."

(h/t Jim M.)