From Campus Reform:
More than 150 University of Chicago professors and lecturers are protesting a “socially regressive” plan to build an “Obama Center” next to the school’s campus.
In a letter signed by scores of faculty members, the professors argue that while they broadly “support the idea of establishing the Obama Center in our neighborhood,” they also share many concerns expressed by local community groups about the existing proposal.
“First, there are concerns that the Obama Center as currently planned will not provide the promised development or economic benefits to the neighborhood,” the letter explains. “Because the current plans place the Center next to the Museum of Science and Industry and across the street from the University of Chicago campus, there is no available adjacent land in which to start a new business, set up a new café or restaurant, [or] bring another cultural center to the neighborhood.”
Another concern stems from the plan to hand over large portions of historic public parks to the Obama Foundation for use in building the venue.
“At a time of increasing complexity and pressure in urban life, Chicago should be dedicated to preserving our public parks as open areas for relaxation and play for all its citizens,” the letter states, criticizing the slated intrusion into the Midway Plaisance and Jackson parks.
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