Crow: Trump admin missing big opportunity on Mexico
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In a guest commentary for CNN.com, Arizona State University President Michael Crow wrote that NAFTA and Mexico have been beneficial to the United States, but that the Trump administration has been counterproductive by perpetuating negative stereotypes about its southern neighbor.
"Over the past two decades, the North American Free Trade Agreement has created the world's largest trading bloc, a vibrant, resource-rich economic zone that makes all of North America more competitive in the global economy," Crow wrote. "Judging from American political discourse, you'd think trends in Mexico amount to a liability for the United States, instead of a huge asset."
Crow said the Trump administration's negative narrative also unfairly extends to Mexico's people and culture - and that it's up to ASU and other universities to add facts and insight into the conversation, as well as continue an open dialogue for collaboration between the two nations.
"As the president of a university in a border state, I can see how outdated, misinformed stereotypes of Mexico that are commonplace in the news and in our popular culture represent a collective failure on our part as educators. In my role, I feel it's especially important for institutions of higher learning to build a greater understanding between both countries, not only by increasing the two-way flows of students across the border, but also by partnering with Mexican universities to conduct joint research projects on shared challenges facing our societies," Crow wrote.