Monday, December 15, 2014

Spelman College in Atlanta has suspended a prestigious endowed professorship in Bill Cosby's name following a string of sexual assault allegations against him

The historically black women's college created the William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship after receiving a $20million gift from the 77-year-old comedian in 1988. But now, it has indefinitely suspended the star's chair, saying that it can no longer meet its objectives to enhance the 133-year-old school's intellectual, cultural and creative life. It comes as an increasing number of women are stepping forward to claim Cosby drugged and sexually abused them in decades past. The decision follows online protests by many Spelman students, who have criticized Cosby's links with the college by using the Twitter hashtag #NotMyFather, referring to the star's TV persona. It also follows Cosby's resignation from the board of trustees of his beloved Temple University. The University of Massachusetts Amherst, where Cosby got his graduate degrees, also recently said that it had asked him to step down as honorary co-chairman of its $300 million fundraising campaign. And the Berklee College of Music will reportedly no longer award a scholarship in his name.

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