Despite Calls From Students, Sewanee Declines To Rescind Honorary Degree For Charlie Rose

Sewanee, a liberal arts university in Middle Tennessee, has decided it will not revoke an honorary degree it awarded to Charlie Rose in 2016.

The veteran news anchor was accused by several women late last year of making unwanted sexual advances in the workplace, and some students at Sewanee: The University of the South had wanted its governing board to take action.

Following a student petition in December, student trustee Claire Brickson presented the idea to the Sewanee board of regents earlier this month. She talked to them about sexual misconduct on campus and argued that rescinding Charlie Rose's honorary degree could encourage more victims of assault at the school to come forward.

"It just seemed like this was such an opportunity to address sexual harassment on campus in such a definitive way," she told WPLN. "As a university, we do not support this behavior either on campus or off."

She pointed to two schools in New York — Fordham and SUNY Oswego — that have revoked honorary degrees for Rose. And his alma mater, Duke, also rescinded a prestigious journalism award given to alumni.

Read more: http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/despite-calls-students-sewanee-declines-rescind-honorary-degree-charlie-rose