Bill Cosby no longer can be called "Dr." after two universities rescinded the honorary degrees they had given the comedian.
Fordham University and Marquette University, both Jesuit schools, announced Thursday they have withdrawn the degrees because of allegations the once-popular comedian sexually abused women. Each pointed to statements Cosby made in legal proceedings that he gave Quaaludes to women with whom he wanted to have sex,
CNN reported.
"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," the
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel quoted from a letter by Marquette President Michael Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers. "Every day, we live these values by challenging our students to integrate knowledge and faith into their real-life decisions in ways that will shape their lives."
Fordham, which had given Cosby a doctorate, echoed the sentiments in a statement, CNN reported: "That Mr. Cosby was willing to drug and rape women for his sexual gratification, and further damage those same women's reputations and careers to obscure his guilt, hurt not only his victims, but all women, and is beyond the pale."
More than 50 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of drugging them to have sex years ago. Since then, the comedic star's career has plummeted.
The Associated Press reported this week that a case may move forward in Pennsylvania, which has a 12-year statute of limitations.
As news the universities pulled their degrees from Cosby spread, some went online to show their appreciation for the school's actions:
"Eye roll. Dear Mr. Cosby, Please stop using the fake a** degree we gave you for being rich and famous. Stop signing your name 'Dr.' and go back to 'Mr.' immediately. Thanks," one woman wrote on
Facebook when she heard the news.