Bill Cosby Update: Spelman College Stops The Cosby Professorship


Atlanta’s Spelman College cut ties with Bill Cosby this week, amid the numerous accusations of sexual abuse against the comedian and actor.

People reports that Cosby, 78, had an endowed professorship with the college. Yet, after Cosby’s 2005 deposition was disclosed earlier this month, the school decided to cut all ties with Cosby, per Audrey Arthur, a spokesperson for Spelman College.

“The William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship at Spelman College has been discontinued and related funds have been returned to the Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation.”

The professorship was created in 1988 and named after Cosby after he and wife Camille brought numerous scholars to the school and donated $20 million. USA Today reports that Cosby’s generous donation was the largest ever given to a predominantly black college.

In the 2005 deposition, Cosby admitted to giving women Quaaludes in an attempt to have sex with them. He also admitted to paying many women off to ensure that they didn’t tell his wife. Yet, he’s adamant that the large number of cases that resurfaced against him are untrue.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 02: Comedian Bill Cosby and wife Camille O. Cosby walk backstage during the 38th annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on March 2, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for NAACP)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 02: Comedian Bill Cosby and wife Camille O. Cosby walk backstage during the 38th annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on March 2, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for NAACP)

Cosby hired attorney Monique Pressley to represent him, and it didn’t take long for her to start backing Cosby up. She indicated that the 2005 court documents have over 1,000 pages, yet the only portion being reported is the small section on Cosby giving women drugs.

“There are a thousand-plus pages that are available of Mr. Cosby in his own words, and what we’re seeing so far are headlines that are grabbing one excerpt or two and misinterpreting them. The deposition said that there was use of Quaaludes, which was done often in the ’70s. It was considered a party drug called ‘disco biscuits’ and it was something that was done frequently, not just by Mr. Cosby but other entertainers.”

Pressley also talked about the high number of women coming forward with similar accusations. She feels that Cosby should be treated as innocent until proven guilty.

“What I am saying is that Mr. Cosby has denied the accusations that have been lodged thus far. The sheer volume or number of people who are saying a particular thing does not make it true.”

So far, Bill Cosby hasn’t been charged with any criminal acts. He still maintains that he is innocent of all of the accusations, which come from more than 30 women who accuse him of drugging them up and sexually assaulting them.

[Photos Courtesy of Spence Platt/Getty Images & Michael Buckner/Getty Images]

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