Editorial: Pitt, rescind Cosby’s honorary degree

At the class of 2002’s commencement ceremony at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, then-Chancellor Mark Nordenberg welcomed America’s dad ­— at the time— into the Pitt family.

“Today it is my privilege to formally recognize your distinguished 2002 speaker for his lifetime of high achievement and unparalleled contributions adding richness to the human condition,” Nordenberg said.

In a traditional graduation gown instead of a trademark sweater, Bill Cosby came up to deliver the commencement address.

At the time, few people had anything negative to say about Cosby — and those who did were unfortunately not taken very seriously. Fifty-five allegations of rape and sexual assault later, the public doesn’t  hold Cosby’s reputation in as high esteem.

As we are forced to reconcile with the sheer magnitude and the disturbing details of the accounts that the 55 accusers have brought forth against Cosby, colleges across the country are trying to determine what to do about their once-cozy relationships with the star.

Pitt, of course, was not the only university to trade Cosby a degree for a commencement speech. In fact, Cosby was invited by nearly 60 other schools to do the same, according to The New York Times. Typically, these schools offered Cosby honorary degrees in return for delivering these speeches — a prestigious honor that follows recipients outside the commencement ceremony, becoming a part of their legacy.

In light of what we know now, the University committee that recommends people for honorary degrees will meet before the end of the semester to decide whether or not to rescind Cosby’s honorary degree, according to Ken Service, Pitt’s vice chancellor for communications.

“As far as we can determine, Pitt has never rescinded an honorary degree,” Service said.

If the University wants to maintain and further facilitate its efforts against the culture surrounding sexual assault, this is a time for firsts.

The very idea behind an honorary degree is that the recipient actively embodies the institution’s core values and commitments. Like a statue, an honorary degree solidifies an institution’s everlasting respect and admiration for the figure.

Cosby no longer embodies our values. Pitt simply cannot ignore the dozens of alleged victims by holding on to this association — to do so would be to undermine the University’s ongoing efforts in combating sexual assault, such as its involvement with the “It’s On Us” campaign.

In fact, as court documents from a 2005 civil lawsuit filed by Andrea Constand — one of the many women who accuse Cosby of sexual abuse — reveal, Cosby admitted to giving women he wanted to have sex with prescription Quaaludes. Although Cosby said he received consent, the known side effects of the drug are dizziness, mental confusion and sedation — effects that would make the consent of Cosby’s accusers extremely difficult.

Pitt cannot facilitate a culture of respect for sexual freedoms while simultaneously endorsing a man whom more than 50 women say embodies the opposite.

Other schools who had, at one point, awarded Cosby with honorary degrees have recognized this paradox and are beginning to rescind the honor. Fordham, Marquette, Brown and the University of San Francisco have all done so within the last two weeks, according to The New York Times.

“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,” Christina Paxson, the president of Brown, said in a statement.

For the sake of our own values, let’s hope that this realization will also “become clear” to the committee determining Cosby’s future with Pitt.