Obama And ASU: Who Has Received An Honorary Degree?

William P. Carey founded and chaired the real estate investment-banking firm, W.O. Carey & Co. LLC, in New York City. His company owns more than 650 commercial and industrial facilities throughout the world. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment is being a member of a club so exclusive that even the president of the United States remains on the outside looking in.

Carey holds an honorary degree from Arizona State University. He is not an alumnus of the institution. But he has his ties to it. His grandfather played a role in the school's founding and Carey himself has donated prodigiously, including a gift of $50 million for the ASU business college, named in his honor: "The W.P Carey School of Business."

Money may not have played a role in getting Carey his degree. The degree came in 1998 while the donation came in 2003. Regardless, Arizona State University found the New York investment banker's accomplishments of enough merit to bestow upon him the academic title.

The same, it seems, is not true of Barack Obama. Despite giving the commencement address at the university's Tempe campus on May 13, the president will not receive an honorary degree. The reason: "His body of work is yet to come," said Sharon Keeler, a spokeswoman for the university. "That's why we're not recognizing him with a degree at the beginning of his presidency."

ASU's decision, announced on Thursday, has already floored members of the academic, political and media communities. At once bizarre and insulting, critics are curious as to what, exactly, a sufficient body of work resembles under the university's standards. After all, in addition to being the first African-American elected to the office of the president in our nation's history, Obama has served in the United States Senate and authored two best selling books.

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].

In light of it all, it's worth looking back at who Arizona State University has offered honorary degrees. Here is a list. And here are a notable few:

* Wu Qidi: the vice minister of education of the People's Republic of China was given an honorary degree at ASU in May 2006

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* Cesar Chavez: The Mexican-American labor and civil rights activist was bestowed an honorary degree in 1992.

* Lawrence Douglas Wilder: The nation's first African-American governor in Virginia received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement address at ASU in 2004.

* Rita Colwell: A microbiologist who was the 11th director of the National Science Foundation, received an honorary degree in 2004.

* John Christian: A long-serving lawyer and community activist, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002.

* Jane Dee Hull: Arizona's first elected female governor received an honorary degree.

* Alfredo Gutierrez: A long time Arizona legislator, was given an honorary doctorate in 2000.

* Kim Campbell: Canada's 19th prime minister, received an honorary degree in 2005.

* Lord John Browne of Madingley: The President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chief Executive of BP, received an honorary degree in 2005.

* Peterson Zah: The one time president of the Navajo Nation was honored in 2005.

* Rex G. Maughan: The founder, president, and CEO of Forever Living Products and Terry Labs, was honored in 2002.

Comments

[chaselv413]

How frickin embarrassing. ASU can give an Honorary to a communist from China, but not to the first African American president. Disgusting.

[voteblue4evr]

These 'ASU hater' comments are about as pathetic as the garbage spewed by Limbaugh. As an Obama-voting liberal I'm really embarassed by the tone of the comments directed at Arizona State. Arizona State is actually making strides towards environmental sustainability in ways other universities haven't even begun to dream. With all the serious stuff Obama has to fix (banking; Iraq/Afgh; unemployment; global warming) why are we so up in arms about an honorary degree? I mean ASU may have more conservatives per capita than a school like the University of Arizona, but these comments are polarizing and do nothing to advance our cause. ASU is a fine institution and just because we may not agree with him not getting an honorary degree it's not the end of the world. I can only imagine the anger on these posts if ASU had awarded W an honorary degree in the first 100 days of his presidency. Meanwhile many posts sound like the insane liberal versions of sean hannity and rush limbaugh. Chill out people, we offer something better.

[chaselv413]

Yeah, I'd say a degree from ASU would be a downgrade anyway. I'd take one from Harvard and Columbia any day.

[sandiaview]

One word for ASU: Insulting!

I hope all those money generating African-American athletes take note and head away from this kind of environment!

[Norge]

Mugabe has been given 12 honorary doctor degrees in economics from universities all over the world including the USA these past 15 years..

How is that for a laugh.

[Bozwellian]

THe assinine and absurdity of that feeble and flimsy "excuse" as to WHY they did NOT configure President Obama "wrothy" of one of their "honorary" degrees is semi astounding until one recalls the sour grapes of McCain and his loyal supporters there in AZ but his is just one more DISGRACE for them and theirs !!! "THEY" configure he has NOT done much of value,worth ? SUre wish Erma Bombeck was still around , think she could put some perspective on it and do so as one holding one of those (worthless) honary degrees !!! Hope Obama respectfully requests to NOT have their schlarship program named after him --that too tangs of INSULTING no matter how they try to spin it !!!

[russssty]

I used to not really care when ASU was playing another school. in football or hoops I now have a reason to route for the other team. This is an embarassment for the school and its alumni.

[Patricia Land]

It's said that even bad publicity counts, and Michael Crowe has certainly generated negative publicity for ASU, and AZ. This state is near the bottom at education but leads in red light running and is near the top in animal abandonmen­t/euthanas­ia. President Obama and Michelle Obama personify hard work, obtaining an education, perseverance, compassion. Both are more highly respected than any other first couple in many years. If Gov Wilder, first elected African-American governor, was awarded an honorary degree, what is the rationale for not bestowing one on President Obama? This is ludicrous and embarrassing and the only consolation is that this President has honor from the citizens of the World.

[Norge]

Obama did not give enough money to ASU. It is well known that most of that stuff is bought in one fashion or another. Similar to how the mafia buys respect.

Universities give out degrees for their own recognition and if they can cause a bit of controversy even better, they will get more attention.

They have to pay to play. Those with the money can buy most any degrees now adays and if they give big enough gifts the university gives degrees.

[jjgg5]

As employees of the State of Arizona, I hope that the State's Governor, Jan Brewer, will spark an investigation into Arizona States University's possible political/­economical motivations to deny an "honorary degree" to the President of the United States. It's just so puzzling.

[wordvarc]

Something about Crow's statements today reminded me of Frank Kush,
the 'great' ASU football coach who stood in his coaching tower at practice
while urinating on his players below.

[Melissa Meadows]

I am currently a PhD student in biology at ASU, and I am absolutely outraged at our university president, Michael Crow. It's a sad day for all of us who will be thought as having "a masters degree in lawn mowing".

I was so incredibly amazed that President Obama would come to give the commencement address at ASU, so proud of ASU. But now I am just mad.

Please, please, please realize that this has nothing to do with the students and faculty at ASU. The majority are quite taken aback and in no way back this decision. So, please, complain about Michael Crow all you want, but don't put the rest of us down. And, though we aren't ivy league, ASU is a well-known Research 1 institution, and we have fantastic graduate programs in the sciences and other programs.

[wordvarc]

really

[redsongia]

People just slam the "quality" of the school because of how presumptious the slam was. No one thinks any less of ASU grads, but everyone has to wonder who the heck is running that place.

They act like their honors are a favor to Obama, when he's the one doing them the favor by coming at all.

[JAEMPRESS]

President Obama is sure to make this commencement the best ever. That's the kind of guy he is!

[mathy]

Obama has already a great degree from a great university. After all this fuss, Obama should reject the honorary degree, even if ASU offers it to hom now or in the future. ASU is not qualified enough to offer the degree to a great President like Obama

[qdog112]

ASU has the shovel firmly in hand and sadly they keep on digging.

To mix metaphors, like a snow ball rolling down the side of a snow-covered hill - it's growing. Like the size of the fish that the man claims broke his reel - it's growing.

Everyday it grows a little more than it was the day before. William "Smokey" Robinson

[Katie5]

HE ...DOES...­NOT...WANT­...IT...KE­EP...IT...­TO....YOUR­SELF.
Geez, making it seem like the President is actively begging them for the degree.What's with all these anyways?Keep your degree!

[gladys46]

Exactly !!

[AverageJane2]

Arizona eh? Sounds familiar, I think someone who was recently all over the news may have been from there. Can't seem to recall who... hmmm. but I think there is a hint of a taste of maybe sour grapes.

[FebM]

I think you are onto something...... ASU in AZ, Notre Dame and Navy Academy? All perfect destinations for aaaaammmm Prez, I guess

[ObamaAlumni]

Who cares....He has a degree from Harvard. People crack me up. Besides, who needs an honorary degree when you're the person occupying the highest office in the world!