Bill Cosby's name disappears from Baltimore institutions

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - The Johns Hopkins University has rescinded an honorary degree awarded to Bill Cosby following his conviction on sexual assault charges Thursday.

In a statement, the university said: "We stand in firm opposition to sexual assault, whether on our campus or elsewhere. This decision underscores that opposition."

Johns Hopkins Spokesman Dennis O'Shea said at the time that the university awarded Cosby an honorary degree in 2004, school officials were unaware of the many allegations against him.

Several students interviewed Friday at the Hopkins Homewood campus agreed with the university's decision.

"People will cut ties with someone who is, like, morally unfit in the public, so, yeah, I feel like it makes sense," said student Eugene Asare.

Collete Chang, another student, said the verdict in the Cosby trial "shows that people who commit bad actions should not be rewarded and rather should be punished."

Six years ago, Cosby and his wife Camille donated $2 million to the St. Frances Academy in East Baltimore.

In return, the school named their community center in honor of the couple.

But principal Deacon Curtis Turner said Friday that, after Cosby was convicted, crews immediately removed the sign with the names of Drs. Camille and Bill Cosby on the front.

In light of the conviction, Turner called it "the right thing to do."

Three other universities in Maryland which awarded an honorary degree to Bill Cosby are also considering rescinding the degrees.

In a statement, the University System of Maryland says any efforts to rescind such a degree would begin with a request from the institution.

The statement said: "Once a request is submitted to the University System of Maryland, the Board of Regents may consider it as early as its next scheduled meeting on June 22."