In 1996, Bill Cosby was awarded an honorary Fine Arts doctorate by the University of Connecticut. On Wednesday, the board of trustees unanimously voted to revoke the award. This marks the first time in history that the school has ever revoked an honorary degree, according to the Hartford Courant.
The Courant reports that the vote followed a plea made to the board of trustees in March by Daniel Byrd, president of student government at UConn. "He does not deserve this distinction from such a prestigious university," Byrd said. By May, student government received unanimous support from faculty, staff and students, and the University Senate.
More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of sexual misconduct, and Cosby admitted in a deposition that he drugged women before trying to sex with them.
Cosby is set to go to trial in Pennsylvania.