Bill Cosby resigns from Temple University board [updated]

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.”