Schools cut ties with honorees accused of sexual misconduct

Dozens of U.S. colleges have bestowed honours upon prominent men from Hollywood to the nation’s capital who have recently been accused of sexual misconduct. Their dilemma: deciding whether to revoke them.

More than 10 men facing allegations have received honorary degrees that could face scrutiny, including fired news anchor Charlie Rose, who has collected at least nine, and Pixar executive John Lasseter, with at least two.

Some schools have already started cutting ties, including the University at Buffalo, which rescinded a 2001 honorary degree awarded to film mogul and alumnus Harvey Weinstein. The University of Kansas and Arizona State recently pulled two journalism awards from Rose, citing allegations of groping and inappropriate behaviour from several women.

But other schools have yet to decide the fate of similar accolades, which are often given to honour success but have increasingly been withdrawn when recipients fall from grace.

“It’s an issue that more colleges are facing now, and I think each one will look very carefully at these situations and make their own determination,’’ said Timothy McDonough, a vicepresident of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

Three schools - North Carolina State, New York’s Oswego State and New Jersey’s Montclair State - are all reconsidering honorary degrees given to Rose before he was fired from CBS and PBS on Nov. 21.