ASU Renaming Scholarship Program After Obama

[jaysunb]

After a day of withering criticism over its decision not to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree, Arizona State University announced on Saturday that it would expand a scholarship program in the president's name.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/11/arizona-state-to-start-ba_n_185880.html

HERE IS THE RELEASE FROM ASU

ASU to name and expand most important scholarship program to honor President Obama University apologizes for honorary degree confusion
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University invited President Barack Obama to speak at its graduation ceremony out of the greatest respect for him as an individual and world leader.

"I apologize for the confusion surrounding our invitation to President Obama to address ASU students at commencement," said ASU President Michael M. Crow. "The entire ASU community has been electrified with excitement since we learned of his participation in our commencement ceremony. We hope that the recent discussion of honorary degrees will not detract from the honor and thrill that ASU - and indeed all of Arizona - is experiencing in anticipation of his visit. I am honored, as are our faculty, staff and students, that President Obama will give his first commencement speech as president of the United States at ASU."

In recognition of President Obama's commitment to educational access and to an entire career dedicated to public service, ASU is naming and expanding its most important scholarship program in his honor. Going forward, this program will be called the President Barack Obama Scholars and will offer thousands of students with the greatest financial need the opportunity to go to college.

"It has always been our intention to recognize and honor President Obama's accomplishments during his visit," said Crow, "but we had not yet determined the best or most appropriate way to do so. Although the focus and attention of the media and others has been on an honorary degree, we never felt that was the only--or even the best--means of honoring his tremendous service to our country. Naming this scholarship program after President Obama that will affect the lives of thousands of students is an honor befitting, not only the president's exceptional achievements, but also his values as an individual. The President Barack Obama Scholars program will be a legacy that will endure and inspire others for generations to come."

Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona USA

[Ken Burch]

1. I love the sound of cave-ins in the morning.

(to paraphrase a character played by a well-known Republican actor).

[Vinca]

2. So they're saving their honorary degrees for businessmen

who send them large piles of money?

[Poiuyt]

12. Well, there was that Canadian prime minister who served four and a half months

She was never elected in the first place, served a few months and then went down in a humiliating defeat.

[PCIntern]

3. What they need to do in the state which elects McCain repetedly,

which initially did not want to have MLK Day as a holiday, is to rename the entire state after Obama:

OBAMAZONA

that might do it for me...anyting else is a cop-out

[jaysunb]

4. OBAMAZONA !

:rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

11. Now see, that's funny!

Can I use this name to do a satirical OP?

[PCIntern]

14. Of course! My honor!

[auburnblu]

5. Unless your own school or military school

Unless Obama is giving a commencement address at his own school, (Harvard) or a military school (West Point), it should just be expected that he should get an honorary degree. He's the President. Who cares if its his first or seventh year in office. I'm assuming Notre Dame is giving him an honorary degree.

[BlooInBloo]

6. That's nice. Fuck you, ASU.

[COLGATE4]

7. TOO FUCKING LITTLE

TOO FUCKING LATE!!!!!

[DCKit]

8. But will they fund it?

That whole thing looked like a really mean spirited set-up to me. And way tacky to boot.

[jaysunb]

9. Good question

But I have a feeling that the clumsy original statement ( incomplete body of work ) may have come from a poor spokesperson.

Let's hope the gradual bluing of Arizona will help implement and nurture the scholarship.

[City Lights]

10. Nice try.

:eyes:

Obama is too good for Arizona's Sucky University.

[walkaway]

13. ASU tries hard but remains a national joke.

They will never live this down.