The issue: Michael Crow's first 5 years
A now-famous rumor circulating through the Valley is that Arizona State University President Michael Crow never sleeps. So when he met with The Republic editorial board in October, we asked him, "What keeps you up at night?"
After reassuring us he does sleep, he answered our question in the more figurative sense, "The biggest struggle that we have remains this notion of Greater Phoenix itself and how it views itself."
Phoenix will be one of the great cities based on population, Crow said. But, he asked, will it be a center of creativity, economic diversity and social mobility? Will it be great in these other ways?
It was a curious point for Crow to make at this particular juncture. Because he seemed to be proving just the opposite.
Crow was at The Republic to detail Arizona State University's successes in his first five years. And they are legion:
* A promising new campus in downtown Phoenix.
* The recruitment of top-flight scholars.
* A record $218 million in research expenditures.
* Some 6.5 million square feet in new construction.
* An athletic department showing the first glimmers of its former glory.
Crow has brought new energy and bold ideas to Arizona that are finding expression in construction cranes in Tempe and downtown Phoenix. He is taking a giant public university and spreading it across the metropolitan area, weaving it more fully into the community and making it a larger player in the economic development of the region.
He couldn't do that and do it so quickly had the Valley not bought into his vision. Had Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon not seen the possibilities of collaboration to boost downtown revitalization, the ASU cranes might never have gone up. Had Scottsdale not bought the land for SkySong, ASU's innovation center in south Scottsdale might still be pie in the sky. In east Mesa, ASU Polytechnic enjoyed the support of the state, Mesa and the East Valley Partnership, all lining up to serve Crow's vision. In short, Michael Crow has found a metropolitan region eager to raise its sights. It only needed good ideas and persuasive leadership to get on board. When Crow came to Phoenix, he found fertile ground for his soaring ambitions. "One of the coolest things about being here," he said, "is that at Columbia (University in New York City, where Crow served for 11 years) it would take years to get things done. Here you plan it one year. Do it the next."
Sunday, The Republic editorial pages launched a report on Crow's first five years. Because he's successfully pushed the university out beyond the Tempe main campus, ASU is an intensely local story in several Valley towns and cities. Today, the Opinions pages in the community Republics examine how Crow's vision is evolving locally.
But the big picture here should ease Crow's fitful sleep. His success is making an important point about Greater Phoenix -- that if you have energy and initiative and a great idea, this is a place where you can make that idea happen. Fast.
There will be others who will figure this out, who will tap into the promise that is metro Phoenix. And they won't necessarily come from outside Arizona.
Who will be the next Michael Crow?
-
5 places to learn more
In your community Republic
* SCOTTSDALE AND THE NORTHEAST VALLEY: ASU at SkySong is using high technology to teach at-risk high-school students. Today
* WEST VALLEY: ASU West has a new focus and a new mission. Today
* SOUTHEAST VALLEY: Michael Crow has worked hard to raise the prestige of ASU's main campus at Tempe. Today
In five years, Crow has helped transform the Polytechnic campus from an overflow facility to a major player in the southeast Valley economy.
Thursday
* PHOENIX: In downtown, Crow's ambition can be measured in construction cranes. Today
At AzCentral.com
Go online to asucrow.azcentral.com to read "ASU's Michael Crow: The First 5 Years" and to see video of ASU campuses across the Valley.
-
Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper, whose Editorial Board consists of: Robert J. Dickey, John Zidich, Joanna Allhands, Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor, Steve Benson, Phil Boas, Ward Bushee, Richard de Uriarte, Jennifer Dokes, Joe Garcia, Cindy Hernandez, Kathleen Ingley, Robert Leger, Doug MacEachern, Joel Nilsson, Ed Perkins, Robert Robb, Bob Schuster, Linda Valdez and Ken Western.