A quarter century ago, Spelman College, a highly rated liberal arts educational institution for African American women in Atlanta, received a $20 million gift from Bill and Camille Cosby. As a result, an endowed visiting professorship was established at the college and in 1996, the college opened the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center.
Last December, when accusations of rape or sexual assault by more than two dozen women against Bill Cosby were reported in the press, Spelman College “suspended” the visiting professorship. The scholar who was serving as the Cosby Endowed Professor for the 2014-15 academic year was listed as simply as the “Spelman Distinguished Visiting Scholar.”
Now, after the contents of a 2005 deposition were released in which Cosby admitted to several extramarital affairs and procuring Quaaludes for use during sex, Spelman College has decided to eliminate the Cosby Professorship.
A statement was released by the college that read: “The William and Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Endowed Professorship at Spelman College has been discontinued.” The college said the “related funds” were returned to the Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation, which was founded by Camille Cosby in honor of her mother.