Temple faculty condemns Cosby, wants his degree rescinded

Temple University’s faculty members have voted to condemn Bill Cosby over the sex assault allegations he faces. They also are urging the school to rescind the longtime Temple supporter’s honorary degree.

Cosby stepped down as a trustee last year.

The school’s faculty senate also condemned the chairman of the trustees, Patrick O’Connor. It said it was a conflict for the Philadelphia attorney to have defended Cosby in a sex assault lawsuit by a former Temple employee a decade ago.

The university and O’Connor are downplaying the voice vote’s significance. They say fewer than 40 of more than 2,000 full-time faculty members attended last week’s meeting.

O’Connor’s law firm says he acted within the rules of professional conduct and vetted the issue with the Temple board.

Cosby denies allegations by dozens of women he assaulted them decades ago.