SE Valley Times

During a conversation with David Orr, a professor of practice in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University President Michael Crow was asked what profession he would consider if he were 18 years old again.

Crow didn’t hesitate. He said he’d pick the same career path.

“I don’t have a specific job (in mind), but I just have this thing that, in our society, if done right, the universities and the colleges are powerful tools for adaptation to the future,” Crow said. “I became hugely enamored with learning as a child. So, I think I would do the same thing, but I would try to learn more, learn more broadly, learn more quickly and figure out better ways to teach and better ways to communicate.”

The Q&A session with Orr and Crow in the Carson Ballroom of Old Main was the keynote portion of a two-day event celebrating the book launch of “Democracy in a Hotter Time,” which examines the intersection of democracy and climate change. The book was edited by Orr, and Crow was one of the contributors.

The event featured talks on topics such as law, international politics, and communications from voices across ASU and other institutions including Johns Hopkins University, New America, the Small Planet Institute, the University of Denver, Washburn University, and the University at Buffalo.

“Democracy in a Hotter Time,” edited by ASU Professor of Practice David Orr, explores the complex crises of democracy and climate change and their ramifications for humanity's future.

“The key to the story here at ASU is that America isn’t done,” Crow said during Tuesday's keynote. “Our path to democratic ideals that so many of us love and aspire to see further in our country isn’t done. And that includes higher education.”

Crow emphasized that universities must educate young people on issues like climate change and sustainability. Starting with the 2024–25 school year, ASU requires all newly admitted students to take a course on sustainability.

“One of our problems with climate change is that people don’t even know what we’re talking about,” Crow said. "They have no idea. They think it’s about whether or not it snows or rains or whether or not it’s a little bit hotter in July than it was when I was a kid."

“That isn’t what it’s about. It’s about the entire energetic system of the planet and our role in that. So what I’m hoping in the next 75 years is that we find a way to have more positive engagement in understanding ... of the entire population.”

Orr asked Crow what role universities should play in navigating today's political divide. Crow stated that universities must focus on determining what people really want. He noted that ASU’s Center for the Future of Arizona has identified “eight or nine” areas of shared public values.

For example, Crow mentioned that over 90% of Arizonans want a sustainable future while more than 75% desire healthcare access for everyone.

“When you get to 75%, 80%, and 90% in a democracy, that is sufficient consensus to move forward and make things happen,” Crow said.

Crow added that universities need to protect free speech, be open to new ideas, understand history, and prevent falsehoods from spreading.

“We’re here to allow for expression of ideas and free speech,” he said. “That’s what democracy is. It’s a place where you bring your ideas to the table and then you argue it out. So I’m like bring on the arguments but follow the rules. Bring on new ideas but follow rules."

“You have a better idea about what should be taxed or how to run government? Let’s hear it. Let’s look at it. I have no problem whatsoever with all different views and ways people look at things."

In 2020, Crow co-authored “The Fifth Wave: The Evolution of American Higher Education” with William Dabars from ASU’s Office of University Affairs. According to Crow, previous waves included colonial colleges; emergence of public colleges; building land-grant universities; emergence American research universities.

ASU Professor David Orr speaks during an event launching “Democracy in a Hotter Time” at Old Main on ASU's Tempe campus.

Crow described ASU as prototype fifth wave—a "new kind university."

“We need large-scale institutions working at level social change speed social dynamics," he said." Progress being made innovations occurring.”

At ASU focus producing "master learner"—students capable learning higher levels complexity importance including knowledge sustainability understanding its importance

“You built environment everything we’ve made structures societies systems energy tools existence natural system part grown Sustainability building sustainable outcome relationship between built environment natural environment."

“We’re not sustainable path now moving toward sustainable outcomes educating students graduating chance understanding levels complexity learning going forward.”

"We’re trying make certain thinker enabled think actual issues planet works role sustainability relationship us.”