Cocoa University repeals privileged degree it gave Cosby

Brown University has made a decision to revoke Bill Cosby’s honorary degree.

Paxon says the humorist got the degree for incorporating his own character into his anecdotal one while holding onto such values as “genuineness, reasonable play, adoration for family, and admiration for mankind”.

It has become clear, by his own admission in legal depositions that became public this summer, that Mr. Cosby has engaged in conduct with women that is contrary to the values of Brown and the qualities for which he was honored by the University in 1985. He has never been charged with a crime. The principles upon which such a determination is made for an honorary degree include an assessment of the facts and circumstances of the individual situation, and a judgment regarding (1) whether or not the conduct of the honorary degree recipient is grossly inconsistent with the values of Brown and (2) does the conduct run counter to or undermine the accomplishments that were cited as the basis for awarding the honorary degree.

Reruns of “The Cosby Show”, the landmark sitcom from the 1980s have already been pulled off. His tour dates have been scrapped. Cosby’s case is being represented by John P. Schmitt of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler who wrote to the Rev. Joseph McShane, president of Fordham.

Fordham issued a similar statement. The lawyer also alleged that the language used by the University is more befitting a tabloid journal rather than a respected institution of higher learning.

The Marquette University in Wisconsin and Fordham University in New York have announced that they are pulling the degrees given to the comedian to honor him.

Schmitt said the two universities have helped legitimize the allegations against Cosby.

Both Jesuit schools said it is the first time they have rescinded an honorary degree.

Fordham and Marquette are the latest schools to distance themselves from the comedian, joining Central State University, Temple University and Spelman College. A statement from President Michael R. Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers described the rationale for the move.

Boston’s Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst – Cosby’s alma mater – also dropped programs that bore his name.