What is a “New American University”?

Today in my Inclusive Community Development class, three students gave short presentations on diversity and some of the challenges that sometimes arise when there isn’t diversity. One student today began her presentation by asking the class “What comes to mind when you think of a New American University?” The class for the most part was pretty silent. I began to think about what it meant and the only thing that popped into my head was “Having a large student population!” One person yelled out “Michael Crow!” or “ASU”. The student presenter smiled and politely nodded at the answers and then gave her own interpretation of the meaning of a New American University.

She said at first she thought that it meant that the university was only meant for natural born Americans. She thought that it would discriminate against immigrants and transfer students from other countries. She believed that a New American University was something negative and she didn’t understand how ASU could possibly promote that. This was all before she did some research on her own. This student found that ASU becoming a New American University wasn’t something negative but actually something profoundly positive. ASU is trying to break the mold and make positive social, economic, and cultural changes. Arizona State is striving to make an impact on Earth for the better. After getting the real meaning of what a New American University was, her whole view on the idea changed. The student then went on to show a short video of what ASU is striving for and what a New American University really means.

After this student’s short presentation it really made me proud to be a Sun Devil and be a part of Arizona State University. I feel enlightened knowing what it actually means to be a New American University and it makes me want to be more a part of this change ASU is aiming for. Check out the amazing video our class got to watch and also check out this website to get a better understanding of ASU becoming a New American University. Have a Positive Impacting Week!



Lonni Summers