tdhurst

(you can call me tyler)
“It's time to stop hiding behind brands, corporate policies or the way things used to be. Evolve. Get better. Let's learn from each other. It's called the Collaboration Revolution. Welcome to the Relationship Age.” - Tyler Hurst
Apr 9th 2009
Tags: Just my thoughts

Obama not worthy of honorary degree…from ASU?

First black president of the United States. Wrote two best sellers. One of the most successful persons in this country.

And yet not worthy of an honorary degree from ASU.

I’m not exactly sure how these honorary degrees work, but it can’t be much more than a PR ploy. Don’t tell me that it’s not COMPLETELY subjective and that anyone, anywhere, can receive an honorary degree from any institution that deems them worthy.

Isn’t this the same state that wouldn’t recognize MLK Day for years? The one that has waged a war on Hispanics? The same one that has some of the lowest level of education funding in the NATION?

Thank you, President Obama. You’re good enough to be president, good enough to speak at the ASU commencement, but no honorary degree yet for you. According to ASU, you have to earn “earn” it (edit).

So get on that.

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Could barely fit this in my mouth, let alone swallow it all.IMG_2245IMG_2243IMG_2246IMG_2241IMG_2242IMG_2210IMG_2223IMG_2209
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  • andrewkfromaz
    I think most ASU people got blindsided by the fact that he's coming to ASU, particularly the honorary degree committee. Who would have anticipated that he would elect to come here? The statement that Obama may have not even been nominated for an honorary degree (yet) simply tells me that no one felt particularly motivated to offer him the degree this year. He'll be the first Black President for at least four years, and he certainly has a lot of potential to have a big impact in that time (or, for that matter, after his Presidency ends! See: Jimmy Carter's Nobel Peace Prize, for example).
  • Disclaimers: I didn't vote for him. I support him when I can, but already disagree with some of his actions.

    That being said, I do not see what the big deal is one way or another. Whether I agree with him or not, the accomplishment of becoming the first African American President of the United States is HUGE. If ASU says they are waiting for "his greatest work...yet to come": why? Becoming President is not a sufficient accomplishment? Sheesh.

    On the other hand, we all acknowledge that an honorary degree is purely PR, otherwise meaningless. Why does anyone care?

    BTW, great discussion topic, Tyler.
  • andrewkfromaz
    "Andrew - not much is made of it because its some scientist no one has heard of before that day and won’t think of the next day. This is a little bit of a different situation."

    It will be different b/c a popular president is delivering the commencement, not "some scientist" (I dislike your characterization of academics here, and I don't think it's true that they typically deliver these speeches).

    I think this started out as an oversight and got political. ASU will reverse its position and offer him the degree, neither he nor the students graduating will really care, other than those who care about the political "snub."
  • Nina
    ASU says this
    "We have tremendous respect for President Obama, and that is why we invited him to speak at our graduation ceremony. We are honored that he accepted our invitation, and that we will be the first university in the nation to host him for a commencement ceremony.
    In recent years, we have determined not to give honorary degrees to sitting politicians or major donors, but to do so based on an individual's body of work. While President Obama has already achieved remarkable success--including becoming the first African-American president--his greatest work is yet to come. "

    http://www.twitter.com/asu
  • Nina
    Andrew - not much is made of it because its some scientist no one has heard of before that day and won't think of the next day. This is a little bit of a different situation.
  • andrewkfromaz
    It's customary (in my very limited experience) to bestow the honorary degree on whoever delivers the commencement address. It's a brief ceremony and not much is made of it, it certainly doesn't take away from the students any more than having a popular president address them would anyway.
  • Nina
    Debbie - you kind of hit the nail on the head with this
    "Maybe they’re trying to keep the focus on the reason he’s coming, rather than making it all about him."
    Graduation is about student accomplishments first and foremost. He is already pulling so much focus from that, the degree ceremony would be like "President gets degree, oh and there were some students there..."
  • Ahh.. my head was in client work all day. Didn't get the release until one of my friends showed me. Dr. Crow is so much fun ain't he.

    ASU-Fail!
  • Kev- The issue for me here isn't really if that he's not getting a degree, it's that ASU basically told him that he wasn't good enough. NOt sure where that even came from.
  • My only thought about POTUS speaking at anyone's commencement is the logistical security and transportation nightmare involved with such a visit. Will it be worth it?

    Regarding your post: is it an appropriate time to give him an honorary degree anyway? He's there for the students' graduation, not just any old visit. Maybe they're trying to keep the focus on the reason he's coming, rather than making it all about him. He'll (hopefully) be around for a while.
  • Public education with politicians in the news these days are cuts and more cuts. This is a total PR move. But not just for ASU. For public education as an institution in AZ and hits to your point

    "The same one that has some of the lowest level of education funding in the NATION?”

    Let's hope that this release, and this "ploy" gets folks at the State Legislature on board to STOP CUTTING education.

    So... great PR move. And as far as your comment... "You have to earn it."

    Can you give us examples of how to? Or does the Harvard degree not count?
  • andrewkfromaz
    So what's all this, then?

    "Isn’t this the same state that wouldn’t recognize MLK Day for years? The one that has waged a war on Hispanics? The same one that has some of the lowest level of education funding in the NATION?"
  • It is a dick move to make such a big deal about it... Maybe they're wanting more funding for education as a lot was cut? I don't know if that's the way to get it across to him but I'd LOVE if Obama suddenly became busy and couldn't make the commencement now... haha that'd be awesome!
  • I don't think it's a conspiracy, I think it's stupid that they basically said Obama wasn't good enough.
  • andrewkfromaz
    The claim by the university's media folks is that the two processes of asking someone to speak at commencement and offering someone an honorary degree are independent; as such, I don't think this is a conspiracy.

    Another theory that jumped into my mind is that someone on the honorary degree committee wants to wait until Obama walks on water and/or cures cancer, ends global poverty and so on to bestow the honorary degree, but presumably (and hopefully) that's not the case.
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