Feb 4, 2008 9:02 pm US/Central
Tensions At SMU Rise As Bush Library Deal Nears
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
More than 250 Southern Methodist University students are being forced out of their apartments.
SMU notified the 275 students living in apartments along Binkley Avenue by mail. The university plans to tear the apartments down, and the students must vacate the units by the end of May.
"It's definitely an inconvenience for us," said SMU student Jake Holloway. "This is my junior year. We were planning on living here until we graduated."
The letter does not spell out specific plans, but most living in the apartments share the same opinion.
"It's definitely going to be something related to the Bush Library," said SMU student Carlos Sune.
SMU stands by the letter. Officials at the university said, "SMU has been acquiring property on the east side of campus to meet emerging needs. These include additional residence halls, intramural fields and other possible expansions."
Many in the SMU community believe the Bush Library is a done deal. But there are those in the Methodist church still putting up a fight.
SMU is governed by the South Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist church, which represents 1.8 million Methodists in eight states, including Texas.
Bishop Scott Jones, the president of the College of Bishops, said a committee called the Mission Council has the authority to lease land to the Bush Foundation.
SMU officials said they already received approval, but some of the 290 delegates of the South Central Jurisdiction disagree.
"The action that the Mission Council has taken needs to be ratified by all the delegates of the South Central Jurisdiction. I would want my vote to count in this matter," said delegate Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie.
All 290 delegates will meet in Dallas this July. A growing number of delegates say they're prepared to vote against the Bush Library.
But Bishop Jones said, "There will not be a vote. The Mission Council has spoken, and we're moving on."
SMU is hoping to seal the deal with the Bush Foundation within a month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
