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SUNY Oswego initiates process to rescind honorary degree given to Charlie Rose

Gino Geruntino
/
WRVO News File Photo
Charlie Rose appeared at SUNY Oswego in 2014 for the college's annual media summit.

SUNY Oswego has started the formal process of revoking the honorary degree it presented to journalist Charlie Rose in 2014. 

Rose, former co-anchor of "CBS This Morning" and host of his eponymous PBS show, was welcomed to SUNY Oswego in 2014for the college's annual media summit. During the visit, he was awarded an honorary doctorate. That award came into question last month when allegations surfaced that Rose had make unwanted sexual advances toward several women.

He was fired by CBS, PBS stopped distributing his show and SUNY Oswego started the process of rescinding that degree last week.

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson says it's not the first time that's happened in the wake of several sexual harassment allegations against prominent figures.

"Our last board of trustees meeting just two weeks ago, we revoked a degree - an honorary degree - that was given to Harvey Weinstein by the University of Buffalo," Johnson said. 

Weinstein, a film executive, was fired from his company after being accused of sexual misconduct.

If SUNY Oswego's effort to revoke Rose's degree advances, Johnson and the SUNY board of trustees will eventually weigh in. Several other schools across the country have rescinded their own awards for Rose in recent weeks, including the University of Kansas, Duke and Arizona State.

Payne Horning is a reporter and producer, primarily focusing on the city of Oswego and Oswego County. He has a passion for covering local politics and how it impacts the lives of everyday citizens. Originally from Iowa, Horning moved to Muncie, Indiana to study journalism, telecommunications and political science at Ball State University. While there, he worked as a reporter and substitute host at Indiana Public Radio. He also covered the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly for the statewide Indiana Public Broadcasting network.