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University of Maryland Board rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degrees

Posted at 4:28 PM, Jun 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-22 16:32:04-04

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has decided to rescind three honorary degrees granted to famous comedian Bill Cosby following his conviction on three counts of sexual assault in April.

The three institutions in the university system who awarded the degrees – University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, College Park, and University of Maryland, Eastern Shore – requested the board take such action.

“As Maryland’s public university system, we are collectively and individually committed to reducing the incidence of sexual misconduct and to responding when it occurs,” USM Chancellor Robert Caret said in a statement. “The universities’ requests, and the board’s decision, to rescind honorary degrees awarded to an individual later convicted of sexual assault reaffirms our values and sends a signal to all students, faculty, and staff across our institutions and to the people of Maryland. Sexual misconduct will not be tolerated, much less honored.”