[drawkbox]

Actually I live in Chandler, went to ASU as a graduate. I like what ASU is doing to urbanize Tempe and even Phoenix downtown. It is growing too big probably but it does drive lots of technology. The engineering 'brickyard' at ASU right there in a highly trafficked part of town is a good message to send to people. The ASU Research Park for instance has many high-tech companies there and it is also a park for people to come to and play. This is similar to what Intel does around their locations in Chandler, AZ.

Anyways, as long as it doesn't harm the educational experience then it may actually help the area as a whole. I feel I got what I needed out of my education but that is really up to the student in the end.

Also, on the sports teams, most of the time this funds a large part of the school so in the end it is a necessary evil. Much like how defense brings the most innovative technologies, even this here internet.

I agree that schools need to focus on quality education experiences and get better professors. I think that the internet and universities that open up to that can share the best professors with the world.

We will see an enormous change in this regard in our lifetime, the University as we know it will be much different. It has taken some time, but the internet and cost reducing measures to information and education are shaking harder at the pillars of these college institutions.