Hate, hypocrisy and yes, I said it, racism, is alive and kicking in the hallow halls of Arizona State University and Notre Dame. This is part one in a series of two articles that I will write in regard to these two universities that are all but too eager to accept “Jamal” and “Yolanda” as athletes, (it’s all about the Benjamins), but are reluctant in accepting a United States President named Barack Obama.  My first piece is written in regard to the blatant disrespect shown by Arizona State University President Michael Crow towards United States President Barack Obama.                

I believe that the Huffington Post was the first major news media to break the story that President Barack Obama who is scheduled to be the commencement speaker at ASU this year, would NOT be presented an honorary degree as is the custom for many of ASU’s past commencement speakers.  ASU Media Relations Director Sharon Keeler says, unlike other universities, the processes for selecting commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients are independent. Keeler states that honorary degrees are given "for an achievement of eminence" and that President Obama was not considered for an honorary degree because his body of achievements, at this time, does not fit within that standard.  Evidently Sharon Keeler, ASU President Michael Crow and company are all hypocritical morons who should (in order to save some face for the university) retire.

Further, I subscribe to the idea that as a way of flexing of our “economic muscle”, our children, relatives and friends should no longer attend Arizona State University as athletes which only lines the pockets of the school each and every time ASU appears in televised games and especially in post season tournaments. Perhaps the lost of money from not having “Jamal” and “Yolanda” playing for their sports programs will rekindle an interest in appreciating the various talents of young Black and Brown student athletes. (Not to mention my Caucasian brothers and sisters who are down with the cause) 

OK, let’s list some of President Obama’s “achievements of eminence”. (1) President of the United States of America, (2) Leader of the “Free World”, (3) Professor of constitutional law, (4) Community Organizer, (5) State Senator, (6) First Black President of the Harvard Law Review, and oh…(7) The first Black President of the United States of America.

What was ASU President Crow thinking when he purposely and callously allowed the snubbing of President Obama by denying him an honorary degree from his university? There is a thin line between GOP ideology and racism and it appears that this charlatan of academia (ASU President Crow) was all but too happy to blur the lines in an attempt to justify his insidious beliefs.  Let me make it perfectly clear that I do not believe for one moment, the entire staff of professors and administrators at Arizona State University to be bigots and ideologues of political obstruction.  However, I do believe that ASU President Crow is a representative of “old guard” ASU alumni and state officials who do not respect our current President and his administration.  Because the state of Arizona has an African American population of fewer than 5 percent as opposed to the national average of approximately 12.8 percent, state officials have very little interest in accepting and promoting racial diversity.  This is evident in the state’s resistance of observing MLK day as a National Holiday and it’s recent barring of Arizona public schools from teaching it’s students any subject that may be interpreted as being counter to democracy and Western civilization.  The mastermind behind this racist ideology is Arizona Representative Russell Pearce.  The measure appeared as an amendment to Senate Bill 1108, which originally would have made minor changes to the state’s Homeland Security advisory councils.  By the way, the House Appropriations Committee approved the new proposal on a 9-6 vote.  Additionally, the measure would outlaw students of the state’s universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University. 

It appears that state elected officials of Arizona haven’t caught up with the reality that the world has changed in its view of cultural and racial diversity, or perhaps ASU President Crow has acknowledged the change and likens himself to legendary Arizona sheriff Wyatt Earp and like Minnesota’s crazy ass (I had to say it) Representative, Michele Bachmann, is planning on rallying all hired guns for a shoot out at O.K. Corral.

“The Art of War” is in full effect.

If you feel as hurt and disturbed as I do, here is an address and telephone number to Arizona State University’s President that you may want to have, just in case you want to send him a letter or drop him a call in regard to your disgust with his university’s pomposity and hypocrisy:

Academic/Administrative Requests
Office of the President
Mail Code 7705
PO Box 877705, Tempe AZ
85287-7705
Phone: (480) 965-8972
FAX: (480) 965-0865