ASU on Obama degree: 'We blew it'

[Pirate Smile]

ASU on Obama degree: 'We blew it'

04/14/2009 12:43 PM
Daniel Scarpinato

PHOENIX — In the ongoing soap opera surrounding President Obama‘s plans to speak at the Arizona State University graduation commencement next month, the university’s top spokeswoman now says “we blew it.”

In an email to a concerned out-of-state citizen, Terri Shafer, ASU’s associate vice president of marketing and strategic communications, makes what might be the most blunt concession yet by the university.

If you remember, ASU first said it would not award Obama an honorary degree. After controversy erupted, ASU President Michael Crow announced plans to create an Obama scholarship. But Crow said ASU always intended on honoring Obama.

Shafer says in the email, forwarded to the Star, that ASU “blew it” and “learned a big lesson.”

“We could have—and probably would have—awarded an honorary degree to the president before this controversy erupted,” she writes. “But after it started, we determined it would not be appropriate to offer a degree to President Obama under circumstances in which the offer might not be considered to be genuine or positive.

Here’s the money quote from Shafer: “You are right. We blew it. We have learned a big lesson, and we are taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future.”

The rest of Shafer’s the email:
“We invited President Obama to speak at our commencement because we are committed to leadership, excellence and diversity. He is the best example we could imagine, as an extraordinarily talented and accomplished individual committed to public service. Although we were hoping to announce the President Barack Obama Scholars program when he comes here on May 13, we are pleased to do so now because it will open the door to college for more than 1,500 students this fall who would not otherwise be able to attend.”

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/politics/14361/asu-on-obama-degree-we-blew-it

Fix it now, not in the future.

[Duke Newcombe]

1. From the desk of Captain Obvious.

[MadMaddie]

2. Yawn....the damage is done......

[Supersedeas]

38. that's how I see it too

[cali]

3. yep, you blew it. now fuck off ASU administrators.

[jojoloco]

4. They blew it

The damage caused by a first reaction cannot be undone by a half-assed apology.

[DevonRex]

5. ASU sullied its own reputation and now they regret the consequences

they're suffering because of their actions.

I still thinks it is like saying the black guy is good enough to entertain us but not good enough to sit at the table with us for dinner before the show.

[CreekDog]

6. The candor is refreshing actually

I don't know how I feel about him not getting the degree now.

I do think he should get the honorary degree --things already look bad, so what's the harm? Is someone going to say, "well he really doesn't deserve it but they gave it to him anyway?"...well they are going to say he didn't deserve it whether or not they give him the degree. You know what, since he does deserve it, give it to him anyway.

[Thrill]

7. They don't get it. The problem wasn't giving him a honorary degree. Its the excuse

and reasons they gave for not doing it.

[DevonRex]

8. Yep. Which prompted everyone to research exactly who they HAD

given degrees to in the past, which made everyone realize it was a lie.

They should have said nothing at all rather than lie.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. What were the reasons given, initially?

[Cha]

19. That President Obama

hadn't been around long enough to accomplish an honorary degree?

Sounded bizarre to me.

[JI7]

26. that he hasn't accomplished enough to get one

[Teaser]

10. y'think?

dumbasses.

[Fire1]

11. My my, How will he go on!!! Like a an attorney of constitutional

law, United States Senator and a Harvard Grad at the top of his class NEEDS recognition from ASU. Wow!

[AZ Criminal JD]

12. Why did he accept the ASU invite?

and reject the invites from the elites that you grovel to.

[Fire1]

14. Because he's a gracious human being.

[AZ Criminal JD]

16. So he agreed to lower himself to the common folk at ASU

Interesting worldview.

[WinkyDink]

32. I believe the terms "elite" and "common folk" are yours.

[Alexander]

35. As is the arrogant, defensive attitude.

[Pirate Smile]

23. Because he wanted to - he didn't insult ASU. ASU insulted him.

I know this sucks for you but they screwed up. They just did. There really isn't any plausible excuse so getting defensive isn't going to help.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Hey asu: FUCK YOU.

[AZ Criminal JD]

17. Your envy is showing

Please cover it up, you are embarrassing yourself.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. Envy of what?

[rufus dog]

22. Dude, you are embarrassing yourself.

ASU decision sucks more than the Suns this year.

And I am a person who graduated from ASU, and been a Suns fan for 40 years. (without a title)

Crow and his team messed up, Obama spent a lot of time at ASU last year, I'm sure he made the decision based upon the students support along with an objective to turn AZ blue.

Frank Kush was a fucking dick too. Doesn't mean I didn't like his teams.

[BlooInBloo]

24. Um, what does that even MEAN?

:rofl:

[WinkyDink]

33. ENVY?! Of a State U.?! Yeah, really. (And I went to PSU.)

[Alexander]

34. Envy? When it comes to ASU, there's nothing to be envious about.

One common theme I've noticed during my time here - native Arizonans tend to be defensive and arrogant if anything about their precious state is criticized.

You'd think with all this arrogance, you'd at least have something to show for it.

[NatBurner]

15. and now, a word from chuck d

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39DJqI8puV0

show em whatcha got

[BlooInBloo]

25. BWAHAHAAH!!! Haven't heard that one in forever.

[Cha]

18. Rec'd~ This is important and I'm the first Rec..

How many times does an official admit they "blew it"?

[LynnTheDem]

21. So here's what ya gots so far; ya gots ASU saying "no HD"; ya gots ASU saying

"We never said no HD"; then ya gots ASU saying "We haven't decided what we're going to do"; then ya gots ASU saying "Oopsie! We Fucked Up!"

Hmmm.

[Cha]

37. We got ASU being totally befuddled

from the get go. Who's is charge? Where does the buck stop at ASU?

[old mark]

27. And all they needed was a little gentle reminder to bring their error

to their attention....


Again, I say: Dr Crow, Fuck You!


mark

[MissDeeds]

28. Quite a legacy the administration has given ASU

They will forever be remembered as the university that dissed not only a US president, but the first black US president. Nice going, dudes. :thumbsdown:

[Vidar]

29. They blew it, they admitted it. Seems to be enough.

[Peacetrain]

30. Ya think????/ NT

[WinkyDink]

31. I hope the President is "busy" that commencement day.

[Alexander]

36. I don't. I'm graduating and I want to see him speak.

Why do so many of you want to punish us students for something our idiot school administration did?