Obama may get ASU honor at commencement after all

[azmouse]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/president/articles/2009/04/10/20090410obama0410asu.html#comments


Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, tells POLITICO that the school is reconsidering its widely mocked plans not to give President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement on May 13 and will “honor him in every way possible.”

“There was no intended slight,” Crow said by telephone from his office in Tempe. “We had not yet talked about what honors we might give him as our commencement speaker, and we still have a month to work all that out. We don’t want anyone to think we do not recognize what he has achieved and what he means in America.”

A formal decision has not been made, but it was clear from Crow's comments that the university is headed in that direction. ASU risked becoming a national punch line if it did not quickly retreat from its policy against conferring honorary degrees on a sitting politician.

[Thrill]

1. Thanks but no Thanks

-President Barack Obama

[azmouse]

2. Yep, I don't think Pres Obama cares one way or another but

you should hear the news reporters talking about how bad ASU is looking in the national spotlight.
That's all they really care about here... its ASU's 'reputation', not about doing the right thing.

[Alexander]

3. ASU already looked pretty bad in the national spotlight.

It has a reputation as a party school with little in the way of academic achievement, unless you want a business degree.

Ever since Crow got here, he's been trying to make ASU more "respectable", which really means jacking up tuition every semester and lining his pockets with it. He's one of the highest paid university presidents and he's done nothing to justify his ridiculous salary.

If you watch "Raising Arizona" and "The Simpsons", you can find jokes about how easy ASU is to get into, which is really not that far from the truth.

[azmouse]

4. I live in the west valley so I have to admit to not paying much attention

to what ASU does. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with all the students there.

[ChazII]

5. I am 3 miles to the north

of the main campus. ASU students/traffic isn't too bad. It is good to see that ASU is reconsidering their position on this issue. However, it is not the first time ASU has been the laughing stock of the nation.

[AndyA]

6. I'd heard that ASU based their honorary degrees on a person's accomplishments.

I guess being the first black American President isn't much of an accomplishment? :shrug:

Now, if he'd won American Idol or something like that...no prob... :eyes:

[mix]

11. +1

it's absurd, isn't it?

[Merlot]

7. ... what honors we might give him..."

Notice that he didn't say honorary degree? It sounds like they're trying to come up with an "honorable mention" award.

Like the rest of the world cares....I'm sure Obama doesn't.

Anyone think ASU isn't playing politics? They deserve to be a laughing stock.

[asjr]

8. I hope Pres. Obama tells ASU where they

can relocate that "honor".

[azmouse]

13. That would be great to see but Pres Obama will be gracious

no matter what ASU does.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Holy delusions of grandeur! Like Obama gives a fuck about a non-degree from a non-school?

:rofl:

[WolverineDG]

10. back pedal! back pedal! nt

[mix]

12. good to see that well focused public outrage still works n/t

[azmouse]

14. Yep. It was all about ASU not wanting to look worse than they

already do. Still have to wait and see what is actually done though.

[mix]

15. how partisan, petty and political ASU looks!

or they simply have idiots running the show...it will be interesting to see how it all plays out...why do this and cause all this consternation?