No Honorary Degree for Obama: ASU

Barack Obama probably doesn’t need the extra diploma, but it’s usually considered a package deal: give a commencement speech, get an honorary degree. Arizona State, lucky enough to get Obama as its speaker, has decided that the leader of the free world isn't worthy of one. Seriously. An ASU spokesperson tells Dawn Teo of the Huffington Post that honorary degrees are given “for an achievement of eminence,” and  "his body of work is yet to come."

Of course, ASU gave an honorary degree to Barry Goldwater when he was just a senator. Titans of industry, accomplished scientists, college presidents, even foreign dictators have all had sufficient achievements, but election as the first black Harvard Law Review president, a senator, and the first black president—not to mention writing two best-sellers—doesn’t cut it?