WASHINGTON — The controversy surrounding Bill Cosby is affecting George Washington University, with student leaders and the administration at odds over whether he still deserves an honorary degree.
This week, the Student Association Senate voted unanimously to condemn the university’s stance that Cosby should keep the degree, reports the GW Hatchet — the student-run newspaper.
In October, the university released a statement on Cosby’s honorary degree, which was awarded to him in 1997.
“While we are shocked and disturbed by the allegations against Mr. Cosby, honorary degrees are conferred at a moment in time, based on what the university knows about the honoree at that time,” it reads. “It has never been the university’s practice to rescind an honorary degree.”
A GW spokesperson said Wednesday the university stands by the statement following the student government vote.
Some GW students say they believe the numerous sexual assault accusations against Cosby are grounds for rescinding the degree.
“I think it should be revoked,” said sophomore Hunter Evans. “I don’t think we should honor somebody of his moral character.”
Others, though, disagreed, including sophomore Arjun Peruvemba.
“Bill Cosby can be looked at not as a role model anymore, but he still has done good things in the past,” he said.
Numerous other universities have rescinded honorary degrees from Cosby, but the University of Pennsylvania recently got attention for its refusal to do so. The Ivy League school also cited a practice of not rescinding honorary degrees. Tufts, Brown, Fordham, Marquette, Baylor and Baltimore’s Goucher College are among the schools that have revoked the honorary degrees.
Locally, the National Museum of African Art continues to display pieces that are part of Cosby’s collection, saying the exhibit is about the artwork and does not imply a position on any accusations concerning Cosby.
A mural of Cosby remains outside Ben’s Chili Bowl, but last month someone covered up Cosby’s face with a cutout of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
