Fordham, Marquette Revoke Bill Cosby's Honorary Degrees

Bill Cosby's saga continues on as two Jesuit universities, Fordham and Marquette, have stripped off the honorary degrees they have given to him due to the multiple sexual allegations of women against the famous comedian, according to a report from Washington Times.

This is the first time for both schools to revoke an honorary degree. The report noted that the Board of Trustees from Fordham, a non-profit co-educational university located in New York, awarded Cosby an honorary doctor of fine arts in 2001. 

Twelve years later in 2013, Milwaukee-based Marquette University and its Board of Trustees also gave Cosby an honorary degree. Marquette finalized their decision to void the honorary degree on Thursday.

“By his own admission, Mr. Cosby engaged in behaviors that go entirely against our university’s mission and the Guiding Values we have worked so hard to instill on our campus," wrote Marquette University president Michael Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers via a letter to the university community.

Fordham also issued a statement regarding their move, saying, “As a Jesuit university, Fordham could no longer stand behind the degree it had bestowed upon Mr. Cosby, hence this unprecedented action." The university also stated, according to People, "Equally appalling is his longtime strategy of denigrating the reputations of women who accused him of such actions."

As per a letter obtained by People, one of Cosby's attorney who was from Fordham Law School himself, Attorney John P. Schmitt, wrote to the president of Fordham Rev. Joseph McShane as a response to the university's released statement.

In his letter, Schmitt wrote, "The statement grossly mischaracterizes both Mr. Cosby's actions and his deposition testimony, in language more befitting a tabloid journal rather than a respected institution of higher learning."

"Nothing in his testimony admits to any nonconsensual sexual contact with any woman whatsoever As you know, Mr. Cosby has been convicted of no crime and has steadfastly maintained his innocence," he continued.

Fordham and Marquette join other universities who rescinded their honorary degrees from Cosby such as Central State University, Temple University and Spelman College.

It can be remembered that Cosby admitted to having extramarital affairs and sexually assaulting women. A previous Latinos Post report on August even stated that two more women came forward to add to the list of sexual assault cases against Cosby. The number of alleged assaults is currently at 50.

However, as per Reuters, the comedian's lawyers have denied the accusations on their clients. Cosby has never been charged for any criminal offense as the allegations are past the statute of limitations.