ASU Chooses Not to Award Honorary Doctorate to President Obama April 13, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Associated Content Articles , trackbackPresident Barack Obama will not receive an honorary degree when he delivers the commencement address from
ArizonaStateUniversityon May 13, according to ASU President Michael Crow. This highly controversial decision has refueled the debate about honorary degrees and who should receive them. Instead of an honorary degree, a scholarship program for students with financial need has been named for the president.
Spokesperson Sharon Keeler stated that honorary degrees from ASU are conferred on individuals with a body of work, and President Obama did not yet have a body of work because his presidency has just begun. Many have claimed that President Obama already has already made a significant contribution to society and is deserving of the honor. ASU President Michael Crow indicated that the university did not award honorary degrees to sitting politicians. Previous honorary doctorates have been awarded to scientists, humanitarians, and public servants. However, donors and business leaders are also on the list. According to the Arizona State University website, author Erma Bombeck, astronaut Frank Borman, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, journalist Walter Cronkite, and film director Blake Edwards among many others have received honorary degrees from Arizona State University.
There are two sides to the controversy of awarding honorary degrees…
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http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1643590/asu_chooses_not_to_award_honorary_doctorate.html
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