No he can't! Arizona college snubs Obama

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No he can't! Arizona college snubs Obama

Fri Apr 10, 7:35 PM

PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) - Arizona State University has snubbed President Barack

Obama by declining to give him an honorary degree when he addresses students at

a graduation ceremony there next month, it was reported Friday.

In a break with tradition that has sparked howls of protest, the college has

said it will not honor Obama on the grounds that America's first black president

has an insufficient " body of work. "

US universities invariably bestow honorary degrees upon speakers invited to give

commencement addresses for graduates.

However an ASU spokeswoman was quoted in several reports as saying Obama had

done nothing to deserve the honor, despite being elected the first

African-American president and publishing two best-selling books.

" It's our practice to recognize an individual for his body of work, somebody

who's been in their position for a long time, " ASU spokeswoman Sharon Keeler was

quoted as saying.

" His body of work is yet to come. That's why we're not recognizing him with a

degree at the beginning of his presidency. "

ASU officials did not respond to AFP requests for comment on Friday.

However ASU president Crow told a local newspaper the university will

not reverse its position, saying the college had a policy of not giving honorary

degrees to sitting politicians.

" We invited a commencement speaker, " Crow said. " We are not giving an honorary

degree this year, and we don't give honorary degrees to sitting politicians.

" When I took office I said we are not giving any honorary degrees to any donors

and we're not giving honorary degrees to sitting politicians. "

Past recipients of honorary degrees from ASU include major donors, a movie

director, a poet, a supermarket magnate, and the former head of the Navajo

Nation who was impeached in disgrace.

ASU is being widely ridiculed for the snub. " Isn?t that where you get a degree

in lawn mowing? " an MSNBC commentator said.

A local newspaper published an editorial begging the university to reconsider.

" It?s an odd gap that besmirches the image of an excellent institution, " the

East Valley Tribune said.

" Obama almost certainly won?t speak at another ASU graduation, and no one knows

if another president ever will either. The university should reconsider this

arbitrary decision and honor Obama in May. "

Obama will be receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame when he delivers

their commencement address on May 17.

" Perhaps Notre Dame has a better understanding of what Obama already has

accomplished simply by reaching our nation?s pinnacle of political power and

public service, " the Tribune said.