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AP

Bill Cosby Situation Prompts Universities to Take Unprecedented Action

Sep 25, 2015  •  Post A Comment

A string of sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby has caused the veteran comedian to be stripped of honorary degrees from Fordham University in New York and Marquette University in Milwaukee. The AP reports that the action is unprecedented for both schools.

The story reports: “Marquette’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution Thursday rescinding an honorary degree presented to Cosby in 2013. The degree was immediately rescinded, the school said.”

Fordham’s Board of Trustees stripped Cosby of the honorary doctor of fine arts degree the university presented to him in 2001.

“Both Jesuit schools said it is the first time they have rescinded an honorary degree,” the AP notes.

Cosby has admitted having extramarital affairs and has been accused of sexual assault by a number of women, but has not been charged with any crimes in connection with the allegations, the report notes. Fordham and Marquette join a list of schools including Central State University, Temple University and Spelman College that have distanced themselves from Cosby.

The report quotes a letter from Marquette President Michael Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers in which they write: “By his own admission, Mr. Cosby engaged in behaviors that go entirely against our university’s mission and the Guiding Values we have worked so hard to instill on our campus.”

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One Comment

  1. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
    Methinks there are some sanctimonious hypocrites in charge of some of our universities. Do they actually think anyone knew or cared about some honorary degree they awarded years ago? Methinks they have delusions of grandeur.

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