Bill Cosby resigns from Temple University board [updated]
Comedian Bill Cosby appears at Temple University's commencement in Philadelphia in 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Bill Cosby has stepped down from his alma mater’s board of trustees, following allegations by multiple women that he sexually assaulted them.
Cosby did not address the allegations in his statement of resignation as a Temple University trustee.
“I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students,” he said. “As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University Board of Trustees.”
Temple University had been facing increasing pressure to sever ties with Cosby as two other schools and several TV stations have done. More than 1,000 people signed a petition on change.org that urged the school to end its relationship with Cosby.
“I think that this is the right result for Temple and the community,” said Kerry McCormick, a 2005 Temple graduate who started the petition. “I don’t think that an alleged rapist should be on the board of a public institution.”
Cosby sat on the board of trustees at Temple for 32 years.
The board said in a statement that it “accepts Dr. Cosby’s resignation … and thanks him for his service to the university.”
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
University of Delaware to pay $716K to settle claims it failed to disclose professor’s ties to China
Federal prosecutors contended that UD’s lack of transparency in getting a research grant caused the space agency to violate federal law.
21 hours ago
Listen 1:23
U.S. civil rights probe faults Philadelphia School District over handling of antisemitism reports
Federal investigators cited complaints about allegedly antisemitic social media posts by a school board member, an assistant superintendent and four teachers.
4 days ago
The University of Pennsylvania said the new filings in a 2022 class-action lawsuit were meant to embarrass the schools. Ten have agreed to settlements.
6 days ago
