Boo to President Barack Obama. After we spent all week blaming the national media for blaming ASU, we’re finally ready to set everyone straight about the real cause behind the Snub Heard Around the World. With certainty, we can tell you that it wasn’t political retribution for beating out our state’s senator in the presidential election, nor is it racism or plain disrespect. No, the person to blame for instigating the controversy surrounding honorary degrees was none other than the 44th president himself. While Obama was making his NCAA Tournament selections last month with ESPN’s Andy Katz, he picked the Temple Owls to defeat the Sun Devils in their first-round matchup. You had to know we wouldn’t forget, Mr. President. Obama dropped the ball; now can the nation just drop the ASU-directed anger?
Bravo to the spirit of social action currently gripping ASU. Among the events on this week’s agenda: Wednesday night’s “Take Back the Night” rally to raise awareness about sexual violence, Saturday morning’s Pat’s Run in honor of the legendary Pat Tillman (and in support of the Pat Tillman Foundation) and Saturday evening’s Relay for Life, an inspiring all-night event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society. A key component of the University’s grand master plan is to produce a significant societal impact. This week, ASU students have earned their kudos as they have stepped up and taken the school one step closer to fully realizing that goal.
Boo to the moronic banter on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” While discussing the most critical news story to ever hit this great nation of ours in its 233-year history (for those not playing along with the sarcasm game, feel free to join in anytime), commentator Mike Barnicle asked a cute question about our fine University: “ASU? Isn’t that where you go to get a master’s in lawn mowing?” Ha. Ha. Ha. We would be insulted, if not for the pure idiocy behind the statement. While Barnicle was lobbing senseless, uncalled-for insults at our student body, he made it clear that his education falls short of even reaching a third-grade level — and he for sure didn’t attend ASU. A basic ecology lesson from the School of Life Sciences would reveal that Arizona has a desert climate. It’s called that for a reason, moron — we have mostly desert landscaping, not lawns.
Bravo to Bruce Snyder’s life and legacy. This week, we sadly had to say goodbye to the former ASU football coach who led the Sun Devil football team to arguably its greatest season in school history. Snyder guided the 1996 squad to an undefeated season, a Rose Bowl berth and ASU’s greatest win, a 19-0 thumping of two-time defending champion Nebraska. Snyder will be forever remembered for that magical season and for the immense contributions he made to the ASU community. “We have lost one of the great coaches in college football,” coach Dennis Erickson said. Indeed we have.
