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Crow explains why ASU snubbed Obama


So far, Arizona State University is sticking to its decision that President Barack Obama will not receive an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement ceremonies on May 13.



In the initial stories about the decision, ASU officials said, essentially, that Obama hadn't accomplished enough to earn such an honor. As if they were telling the first black person to become president of the United States, "Get back to me when you've done something with your life."



After having written a blog about this Wednesday, I was able Thursday to ask ASU President Michael Crow if he had any additional comments on why Obama was snubbed.



He said, essentially, that everything written about the controversy previously was wrong.



Then he explained his policy on honorary degrees.



He said, “We invited a commencement speaker. We are not giving an honorary degree this year, and we don't give honorary degrees to sitting politicians. When I took office I said we are not giving any honorary degrees to any donors and we're not giving honorary degrees to sitting politicians.”



Crow added, “If you look at who we have given honorary degrees to the last few years, each of them has a unifying thing about them. They were involved their entire lives either practically or symbolically in something we are trying to do. As a role model for us. Or in the area of designing universities to do new kinds of things.”



OK, but a few years back ASU gave a degree to the Vice Minister of Education for the People's Republic of China. That sounds a like a "sitting politician" to me.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/EJMontini/50586

dbackjon wrote:Crow explains why ASU snubbed Obama


So far, Arizona State University is sticking to its decision that President Barack Obama will not receive an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement ceremonies on May 13.



In the initial stories about the decision, ASU officials said, essentially, that Obama hadn't accomplished enough to earn such an honor. As if they were telling the first black person to become president of the United States, "Get back to me when you've done something with your life."



After having written a blog about this Wednesday, I was able Thursday to ask ASU President Michael Crow if he had any additional comments on why Obama was snubbed.



He said, essentially, that everything written about the controversy previously was wrong.



Then he explained his policy on honorary degrees.



He said, “We invited a commencement speaker. We are not giving an honorary degree this year, and we don't give honorary degrees to sitting politicians. When I took office I said we are not giving any honorary degrees to any donors and we're not giving honorary degrees to sitting politicians.”



Crow added, “If you look at who we have given honorary degrees to the last few years, each of them has a unifying thing about them. They were involved their entire lives either practically or symbolically in something we are trying to do. As a role model for us. Or in the area of designing universities to do new kinds of things.”



OK, but a few years back ASU gave a degree to the Vice Minister of Education for the People's Republic of China. That sounds a like a "sitting politician" to me.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/EJMontini/50586

i hate to say it but it is a tradition to give a honorary to degree to the speaker so obama should get one

I'm still trying to figure out why BO chose ASU for a commencement speech is the first place. Did Mesa Community College turn him down?

bulldog10jw wrote:I'm still trying to figure out why BO chose ASU for a commencement speech is the first place. Did Mesa Community College turn him down?

Favor to John McCain?

ASU Halts Recognition of MLK Holiday
Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, still basking in the glory of his school’s biggest public relations coup since the Sun-Devil basketball program’s 1994 point-shaving scandal, today announced that the University will no longer officially observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

“This should in no way be construed as a lack of respect for Reverend King,” Crow told reporters, noting that the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, “was only 39 years old when his life was tragically cut short,” and then explaining, “Thus, in the opinion of our Board of Governors, his main body of work was still ahead of him. To bestow an honor such as closing the school for a day every year would not be appropriate.”

The announcement came only one day after the university made public its controversial decision not to bestow an honorary degree upon President Obama when he delivers their Commencement address next month, ironically defending their position using the same rationale. A decision on the school’s continued recognition of Christmas Day is not expected until shortly before the fall semester course schedule is released, but based on recent events, Crow said he would advise students and faculty to, “get their shopping done by the middle of August”.

Past speakers who did receive honorary doctorates but could not be reached for comment include Frank Borman (1969), who, at age 41, received his just six months after commanding NASA’s Apollo 8 mission and six years before becoming CEO of the now defunct Eastern Airlines, and Kim Campbell (2005), who in 1993 became the first female Prime Minister of Canada, holding that office for 132 days, which, as Mr. Crow pointed out, “is a record for female Canadian Prime Ministers that still stands to this day”.


http://www.thedesperateblogger.com/

I know I will get flamed for this but here goes. I think all of this honorary degree BS is just that, BS. If you didn't go to class, put in the book time, and EARN a degree from John Doe University/College than you shouldn't be given one just for something that you did.

It seems to me that if I invent a car that runs on farts and I give a speech at Harvard I would get a degree for something. BS. If I didn't put in my time and do what every other college student does to earn a degree it cheapens every degree that that University/College ever handed out.


Just my 2 cents.









AND, dbackjon, this isn't because it is Obama. It goes for every damn honorary degree handed out EVER.

That is why they are honorary

NO work done, no value

dbackjon wrote:That is why they are honorary

NO work done, no value

I still think it is BS.

grizzaholic wrote:

dbackjon wrote:That is why they are honorary

NO work done, no value

I still think it is BS.

I concur. And to give one to a BLACK man. Jesus, what next?

AZGrizFan wrote:

grizzaholic wrote:
I still think it is BS.

I concur. And to give one to a BLACK man. Jesus, what next?

Bank CEO's???

It is a bunch of BS, Ted Turner was thrown out of Brown U. for conduct unbecoming of an Ivy League student, 30 years later he's given an honorary degree for leaving the school millions upon his death.

I applaud ASU's stance and agree wholeheartedly.

Now ASU is an embarrassment

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_ ... ary_degree

TEMPE, Ariz. – Stung by criticism of its decision not to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he makes a commencement address next month, Arizona State University announced Saturday it will rename a scholarship program for the president.

Another tempest in a media teapot. ASU's decision should be respected.

Some pussy college like my alma mater will probably make old Barry feel better.

Ivytalk wrote:Another tempest in a media teapot. ASU's decision should be respected.

Some pussy college like my alma mater will probably make old Barry feel better.

Hmm...

bulldog10jw wrote:Now ASU is an embarrassment

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_ ... ary_degree

TEMPE, Ariz. – Stung by criticism of its decision not to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he makes a commencement address next month, Arizona State University announced Saturday it will rename a scholarship program for the president.

Agreed wholeheartedly. Folding under the pressure like a weak tent. WAFJ.

grizzaholic wrote:I know I will get flamed for this but here goes. I think all of this honorary degree BS is just that, BS. If you didn't go to class, put in the book time, and EARN a degree from John Doe University/College than you shouldn't be given one just for something that you did.

It seems to me that if I invent a car that runs on farts and I give a speech at Harvard I would get a degree for something. BS. If I didn't put in my time and do what every other college student does to earn a degree it cheapens every degree that that University/College ever handed out.

Just my 2 cents.

AND, dbackjon, this isn't because it is Obama. It goes for every damn honorary degree handed out EVER.

I agree.

grizzaholic wrote:I know I will get flamed for this but here goes. I think all of this honorary degree BS is just that, BS. If you didn't go to class, put in the book time, and EARN a degree from John Doe University/College than you shouldn't be given one just for something that you did.

It seems to me that if I invent a car that runs on farts and I give a speech at Harvard I would get a degree for something. BS. If I didn't put in my time and do what every other college student does to earn a degree it cheapens every degree that that University/College ever handed out.


Just my 2 cents.




AND, dbackjon, this isn't because it is Obama. It goes for every damn honorary degree handed out EVER.

But then Stephen Colbert would just be Stephen Colbert, and not Stephen Colbert, DFA.

Now, the latest is that they're going to name their scholarship program after Obama, but NOT give him an honorary degree....jesus, what a mess.

ASU could adopt the South Park flag.

AZGrizFan wrote:

bulldog10jw wrote:Now ASU is an embarrassment

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_ ... ary_degree

TEMPE, Ariz. – Stung by criticism of its decision not to award President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he makes a commencement address next month, Arizona State University announced Saturday it will rename a scholarship program for the president.

Agreed wholeheartedly. Folding under the pressure like a weak tent. WAFJ.

Reversing their stance and giving the POTUS something for making a speech at their school. They have lost a lot of credibility.

Is this one of those Worst Weeks Ever for ASU or what?

On another note, no longer observing MLK day odd... Brown this week said no more Columbus Day. He killed Indians and we do not want to observe that. The irony... The schools namesake and founding donors became rich through Slave trade. No name change though.

Crow just needs to give up and resign.


To NOT give Obama an honorary degree in the first place shows how fucked up in the head that School is.


Board of Regents should just spare us all the embarassment and shut the place down.

dbackjon wrote:Crow just needs to give up and resign.


To NOT give Obama an honorary degree in the first place shows how fucked up in the head that School is.


Board of Regents should just spare us all the embarassment and shut the place down.

I agree wholeheartedly with Crowe's decision.

AZGrizFan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Crow just needs to give up and resign.


To NOT give Obama an honorary degree in the first place shows how f**k[*] up in the head that School is.


Board of Regents should just spare us all the embarassment and shut the place down.

I agree wholeheartedly with Crowe's decision.

And if Bush or Reagan, while president had come to speak, and Crowe denied them an honorary, would you feel the same?

Given the list of honorary degrees that ASU has given out, to people that have accomplished much less, this is an insult to the President of the United States.

Crowe needs to be fired, ASAP.