While the University of Massachusetts and other institutions of higher learning have cut ties to actor and comedian Bill Cosby due to allegations of rape from more than a dozen women, Spelman College, an all-women, historically Black, liberal arts institution in Atlanta, has so far not taken any official action.
Spelman College has had a special relationship with Bill Cosby and his wife Camille. More than 25 years ago, the Cosbys made a $20 million donation to Spelman College. In 1996, the college opened the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center. An endowed professorship at the college honors the Cosbys. Two of the Cosby’s daughters were Spelman students.
In a statement, Beverly Daniel Tatum said that “the college is not in a position to comment regarding the allegations.” She went on to say that “sexual assault is a profoundly serious issue for any educational institution. Please know that we do not condone sexual violence in any form and understand our critical role as a women’s college to lead in the fight against it.”
