UIC, University Of Chicago Urge Obama To Put Library In Chicago
(CBS) -- The two local universities competing to become home of the Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum came together Monday to say they are unified in wanting Chicago to be the winner, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Chicago hosted a unity breakfast to stress that they both want the Obama library on this city, whether it is on the South or West Side.
UIC vice president Derrick Douglas says it will mean jobs, economic opportunity and learning for the whole city.
"While some of us may have differing ideas about the library, we stand united in our shared desire to build it in Chicago and to have our city reap those benefits," Douglas said.
Alfred Tatum, dean of UIC's College of Education says there is no rivalry about that.
"Balkanization has no place in the city as we think about ways to preserve and extent the legacy of President Obama," Tatum said. "We are one Chicago."
The message is aimed squarely at the Obama Library Foundation as it chooses a site. Columbia University in New York and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu are also bidding for the library.