ASU Official: We'll Consider Giving Obama A Degree When He's Out Of Office

UPDATE: Mike Allen reports:

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.”

* * *

Arizona State University's decision to not award Barack Obama and honorary degree despite his role delivering the university's commencement address has left a lot of people puzzled and posing questions: Is politics at play? How will this be resolved? Why would the university invite him in the first place?

Well, here, apparently are some answers. A reader sends over a response she received from Emily Dalton Smith, the director of communication at the Office of the Provost.

The university, it seems, has recently decided to stop giving honorary degrees to major donors or sitting politicians. But the best line comes near the end: "We will be delighted to consider him for an honorary degree once he leaves office at the end of his presidency," Dalton Smith writes.

Mind you, they won't give him the degree once his time in office is over. They will "consider him" for it.

Multiple calls and an email to Dalton Smith went unreturned.

HERE IS THE EMAIL:

Dear xxxxxxxxxxxx,

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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. We will be delighted to consider him for an honorary degree once he leaves office at the end of his presidency.

Sincerely,

Emily Dalton Smith
Director of Communication
Office of the Provost

Are you an ASU student or alumnus? HuffPost wants to hear from you. What are people saying on campus? As an alumnus, will this effect your decision to donate to your alma mater? Write us at [e-mail].

Comments

[jingles32]

CNN reported a bit ago that NOW ASU has decided it will be creating a scholarship for disadvantaged kids, "kids who would otherwise never be able to attend college," in Obama's name. A rep. said that this is even MORE special than an honorary degree!!! These people are too much. Though I'm sure Pres. O would much rather this, anyway.

[kmswriter]

Perhaps crow is donating some of his salary for this scholarship - that would have been a news breaker as well..- i'm sure Obama will...

- i will give them Kudos for their attempt to tamp this down however....

[MizLiz]

I wish they'd get their stories straight. I read ASU was going to re-name their existing scholarship fiund.

[suemag]

I think Obama could find a more prestigious university than this at which to speak- F**k 'em!

[huffingt]

Obama -don't attend.

[NoSillyName]

President Obama SHOULD attend! Ignore the administration's BS and WOW the student body.

[huffingt]

Arizona-you made a biggest mistake.

[lovbug]

I think the staff at the White House made a huge mistake by not confirming if the President will be honored before they allowed him to accept the invitation. They are several other universities that is far more deserving of President Obama's presence than ASU. What the heck does ASU have to offer President Obama? give me a break. He should not have accepted that invite from a non accomplished university like ASU in the first place.

[billygore2000]

There was no huge mistake. ASU, the Arizona university in McCain country, could not have acted more blunderously to Obama's political and PR benefit. Probably the White House cannot believe how Crow's blunder has exceeded anything that was hoped for. It helps to know that McCain was in trouble this past November in his home state. And that Arizona, besides already blue Tucson, is threatening to turn blue and oust McCain in 2010. Can Obama win hearts when he visits the North Korea of Arizona? That's the question

[kmswriter]

Wish i could join you in your wildcat fever - but am transplant from mass.....bc-umass-celts-redsox-patriots

although my husband was an ASU fan up until these last few days - he will join you in your favored wildcat -

And I will continue to beat the dem drum in Maricopa...

[roshni]

I think our president is way above this B.S. It has become a joke now. The students at ASU will benefit from a great speech.
Crow will have egg on his face.
End of story.

[1088]

Please President Obama, do not accept it at anytime!

[Mishkin]

I am still unsure of the chronology. Was the initial offer of commencement speaker at ASU proffered by ASU to the president or from the president's staff to ASU? At what point and by what avenue was the information that the president would not be receiving an honorary doctorate disseminated? The reason that I ask is that this appears to be a calculated insult to the president of the United States. Have other commencement speakers at ASU not received honorary doctorates? If so why not? Why would you invite someone to speak at your commencement ceremony that you did not deem worthy of an honorary degree?

This whole dustup may be as simple as a sufficient number of small minded academics on the doctorate committee who were still chafing at the results of the last presidential election decided to take a cheap shot at the expense of their institution. And although this is all conjecture on my part; it appears that the doctorate committee was not consulted until after the president had accepted. The canard that this exemplary citizen's body of work to date does not merit approbation from Arizona State University is ludicrous. In public and academic life reputation is the coin of the realm, and much like the previous administration, they have squandered their surplus through pettiness and will be left with a huge public-relations deficit.

[Steve Connolly]

ASU is waffling about bestowing Mr. Obama with an honorary degree? Who on Earth would want an honorary degree from a university that is an academic laughingstock?

[billygore2000]

Arizona is a magnificent state, except for Phoenix and Maricopa County. That the president would even set foot there testifies to the greatness of his vision (which is beyond mine).

[kmswriter]

Billygore2000 - pls - we invite you to our dem headquarters - we are gearing up for mccain 2010 - as well as all elections in state - times are changing - and NO - we do not see this thru defeatists eyes - and NO we will not give up or give in - there are wonderful people in Maricopa County who believe as you do....join us...

ASU has just given us another reason to continue our work...tks in advance

[billygore2000]

Ah Love, you've done my heart good. There's a Democratic headquarters up there in Phoenix, or the general vicinity? I'm reporting this to the Vatican as a miracle. McCain was in trouble this past November, I know. And I'm not surprised 2010 is much on the minds of all three of you in the Democratic headquarters up there. Tucson and Pima County were blue in the face for Obama. Forgive me, I love Tucson and the "Wildcats." I remember that in the 70's and 80's people from Phoenix came to Tucson for its professional theater company, its professional opera company, its professional ballet company. It's always had class. Bring down McCain, and I'll come up there and see the beginning of class in Maricopa County.

[TommyObama]

I second that, Billy. I'm a liberal Tucsonan now living in Tempe, and I assure you this place is going bluer by the day. Our Republican state House and Senate, and Governor Brewer, as well as Sheriff Joe Arpaio, are all governing in ways that assure a continued growth in Democratic and progressive numbers here in greater PHX.

Sit back, and watch the metamorphosis continue. When books are written about the GOP's monumental decline someday, Maricopa County will be held up as Example #1.

[MaryanneAZ]

There are many of us in Phoenix who are not currently involved with the Dem headquarters, but we put up a big effort for Obama in '08. I registered new voters, wrote postcards, sent letters to the editor, telephoned, and sent small donations, but not under the auspices of the formal Party here. I did contact the Party in Phoenix, but never heard back from them at all. Therein lies the problem, we need to band together and communicate with one another. Mc.Cain is not a shoe-in for 2010, not as long as I have breath at any rate. There are many likely Dem voters who are not registered and they need to be reached (very low hanging fruit). We can do it. No Mc.Cain, no way, no how. YES, We Can!!!

[kmswriter]

FYI - ASU tuition hike request

*$7450 for new students ($1200 a year surcharge& $6250 in tuition &fees)
*students who enrolled fall 2008 would pay $7132 total while those enrolled b4 fall 2008 would pay $6769 total.
*ASU is seeking a $40 per semester fee to cover health and wellness services.

President Crow $580,000a year...

sounds like an AIG or BofA or etc etc

[billygore2000]

Does Crow have a real degree? What's his field?

[kmswriter]

Obviously NOT Public Relations

[disgusted48]

it took arizona several years behind the rest of the country to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of the rev. dr. MLK., so why be surprised about this. they are just a little slower than the rest of us.

[Altruth]

Must be the heat!

[billygore2000]

No. It's the people in Phoenix and Maricopa County.

[Altruth]

Lets see, Harvard, Columbia now why would he want a ASU fake degree - wait HE DOESN't.

[qdog112]

This will all go away if the president will just go on prime time TV and show us his birth certificate. It will be a memorable event that can go on right after Palin shows the birth photos of her miracle baby.

I think all they want is proof he's an American. Is that too much?

[Gidster]

The fact thet he had to provide proof of citizenship to run for State and US Senate offices, and had to prove to the DNC that he was Born in the USA to even get on the ballot.

He has provided his birth certificate, to which detractors dismissed.

This is a really stupid argument

[hamchunk]

Now, I do not doubt he was born in the US but, to give these detractors their credit, he has yet to provide definitive proof of his birth certificate. His only reason (it seems) for not releasing it is to poke his finger in the eye of his opponents. This may be fun at certain leveled civilian jobs but he is a President and such actions only show an arrogance and elevated sense of entitlement that is disheartening and disappointing.

[MizLiz]

I don't giver a rat's a$$ if he was born on the plant Neptune...he's exactly what our country needs.

[incognito-ergo-sum]

Yes. 'cause you can't always get what you want. (The Rolling Stones).

[RenoSage]

Be patient, People. Obama will be charming and deliver a memorable commencement address.
And other universities will bestow honorary degrees, as if he needed them, but it is nice to be honored.
And ASU will forever be known as the one who didn't when it had first chance.

[roshni]

Of course you are correct. This whole thing has become a joke and the joke is on Crow.

[dissanayake]

I guess a body of work that is acceptable might be, Being the Goveneor of a state that had the highest number of executions - Waging a false war and sendinf four thousand soldeirs to their deaths,leaving the entire country in a state of economic chaos and divastation. Sure- that's good enough for a r edneck Univarsity.

[billygore2000]

Cute! Does Southern Methodist bestow honorary degrees?

[Gidster]

All of their degrees are honorary........

[hamchunk]

Why do you keep comparing him to Pres Bush? Is that the level of competency and integrity you hope he attains as President? The yardstick for his actions are to be compared to Pres Bush? Are you kidding me? Because, if that is the case, you guys do not seem to have that high of an opinion of Pres Obama and haven't set that bar all too high.

And, no, I did not support Pres Bush, just to stop the Obama love train with its vehement comments that I am sure will start.