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Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree Revoked By California State University
Bill Cosby at the National Action Network Awards Gala (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Bill Cosby's honorary degree from California State University has been revoked by the school in light of accusations of sexual assault against the entertainer.In an unprecedented move, CSU's board of trustees announced today that they would rescind an honorary Doctor of Letters degree given to Cosby in 1992, reports KPCC. The degree was given to the actor from Cal Poly in Pomona, but will now be removed in the wake of allegations from dozens of women that the actor and comedian drugged and raped them.
"Cosby's conduct is contrary to the values of the CSU and inconsistent with the criteria and high standards that honorary degree recipients are expected to exemplify," the board explained in a statement released Friday. "The Board took action to revoke the previously awarded honorary degree in order to maintain the prestige, reputation and credibility of the CSU, Cal Poly Pomona and other honorary doctorate degree recipients."
This is the first time the 23-campus public university system has revoked an honorary degree in the 52 years that they have been bestowing the recognition, according to The Sacramento Bee. CSU joins a growing list of schools that have taken back honorary degrees from Cosby, including Brown, Marquette, Fordham, Bryant and Drexel universities.
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