UConn Could Revoke Cosby's Honorary Degree Wednesday

By Chris Dehnel and Justin Heinze

Bill Cosby's honorary degree from the University of Connecticut could be revoked by Wednesday.

The UConn Board of Trustees has included the matter on its Wednesday agenda. The meeting is slated for 9:45 a.m.

Cosby is in the midst of a sexual assault case in Montgomery County. After several attempts to have the charges thrown out, the next hearing in the case is set for July 7.

A formal trial date still has not been set, according to court documents, although a pretrial conference will take place on September 6.

Cosby faces charges of indecent sexual assault related to incidents with former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. The alleged incidents occurred in Cosby's Montgomery County home.

UConn has never revoke an honorary degree, university spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said.
An honorary degree - Doctor of Fine Arts - was conferred upon Cosby by UConn in May 1996. Cosby has since been engaged in a legal battle for alleged sexual misconduct.

"Since the conferring of this honorary degree, Mr. Cosby has admitted, in sworn dispositions, that he engaged in conduct that is incongruent with the values of the University of Connecticut," UConn Provost Mun Choi said. "The university respects the principles of due process and Mr. Cosby's right to a fair and public trial on the criminal charged against him. But the conduct he admitted ... provided compelling reasons for the university to consider the revocation of his honorary degree."

UConn wouldn't be the first school to revoke a degree given to Cosby.

Haverford College revoked his degree in February. In November, the California State University Board of Trustees revoked an honorary doctorate that was presented in Cosby in 1992. Other colleges to rescind degrees from Cosby include George Washington University, the University of San Francisco, Fordham University, Tufts, Goucher, Drexel University, and Boston University.

On March 30, UConn's undergraduate student government passed a resolution asking for the degree to be taken back. In May, the university senate endorsed that resolution.

"The consensus of the UConn community and the recommendation of the administration is that the board of trustees should revoke Mr. Cosby's honorary degree," Choi said.

He continued, "The University of Connecticut, and all institutions of higher education," must work diligently to prevent sexual assault and to support care for victims.

Over the past couple of years, UConn has revised its sexual assault policies to make it easier for victims to report crimes and to train students and staff members in intervention and recognition when it comes to sexual misconduct.

Over 50 women have accused Cosby of indecent assault and related crimes, but Constand's case is the first to be brought this far along in the legal process.

Cosby continues to deny all allegations of abuse.

Photo credit: Michael O'Brien via flickr creative commons