In the five months I have spent at ASU, I have not encountered a more controversial personality than ASU President Michael Crow. I have never spoken to the man but have heard quite a few diverse opinions about him.
Students -- especially the ones who write to this publication -- seem to believe Crow is all about the bling-bling. They take it for granted that Crow would jump into the Grand Canyon if a prospective sponsor asked him to. While some of the bad press Crow gets is well deserved, he does not get credit for some of the positive changes he is bringing to ASU.
I completed my undergraduate degree at a small university in Missouri. When the state government cut higher education budgets in 2001, I saw a fall in scholarships, on-campus jobs, course offerings and new infrastructure.
On the other hand, a lack of state funding is less likely to stymie ASU because of Crow's abilities as a prolific fundraiser. The lesson for public universities across the United States is that the less they rely on state money, the more they can inoculate themselves from capricious economic cycles. Crow deserves at least some credit for allowing ASU to remain competitive.
Another thing Crow has going for him is his desire to improve the school with innovative ideas. His emphasis on constantly evolving technology connecting all schools within ASU is as futuristic as it is inspiring. People who have actually heard Crow explain his plan have been impressed with the level of detail in it. Crow has been in the technology field for a while and seems to know what he is doing.
There is also the tie-up with archrival UA for the proposed medical school in downtown Phoenix to consider. This will not only bring new students and help keep existing ones, it will boost the economy of downtown Phoenix.
And the state-of-the-art research facility at the former Los Arcos mall site in Scottsdale is sure to win nationwide attention. If you add the recently held presidential debate to the list of achievements, it's hard not to notice a pattern of steps Crow is taking to put ASU on the map as a top-class school. There may soon be a time when Arizona will be known for the Grand Canyon and Arizona State University.
Despite of all these efforts, Crow's reputation on campus belies his vision and efforts. There is a twofold reason for students having their reservations about him.
First, Crow and his staff do a horrendous job of communicating with ASU students. The folks responsible for PR on behalf of the president should first be fired and then fired at. Crow and his staff have failed completely to explain to the students the benefits of all his decisions to bring sponsorships to the University.
It is hard to exaggerate the difficulties in getting the message out to such a huge and diverse student body. Crow must use imaginative and unconventional means to reach out to the students. As an example, eating a meal in the dorms with the students would give them the opportunity to understand Crow better and to mention their grievances. This approach is kinder and more tactful and surely beats an impersonal statement from Crow that he would prefer freshmen living in dorms without offering any criticisms of the disastrous job Residential Life is doing.
Unfortunately, Crow only made matters worse by not responding to any of the students' complaints after almost half of Lot 59 was closed for an "event" two weeks ago. Instead of seeing the benefits of the money coming in, students end up being miffed by the way Crow raises it.
Second, Crow gives the impression he would do pretty much anything to please anyone with a checkbook. Trying to bully this publication into meeting the University's morality requirements just to cater to a donor's complaint was not smart.
I do agree with Crow that The State Press is at least partially answerable to the University for what it publishes, but he does not have to fry our collective nipples to make his point.
Mr. President, you are doing a good job overall. I'd just like to see you not deny yourself some well-deserved credit.
Nishant Bhajaria is a computer science graduate student. Suggest ways to wreck a printer at nishant.bhajaria@asu.edu.
