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Colleges cut ties with Cosby as accusers climb to 20

Berklee School of Music and his alma mater sever their association with the beleaguered comedian.

By Mary Papenfuss
Colleges are now joining the steady stream of institutions distancing themselves from comedian Bill Cosby in the wake of a mounting number of sex assault complaints against him. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
Colleges are now joining the steady stream of institutions distancing themselves from comedian Bill Cosby in the wake of a mounting number of sex assault complaints against him. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Colleges are now lining up behind entertainment companies to cut ties with comedian Bill Cosby as the number of women accusing him of sexual assault has hit 20.

Boston's Berklee School of Music and his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, have severed their association with him.

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Cosby had been the honorary co-chair of the university's $300 million fundraising campaign, had contributed as much at $500,000, and raised close to $1.5 million for the school at a benefit performance for his alma mater.

"He no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university," spokesman Edward Blaguszewski told the Washington Post.

The move followed a decision by Berklee to no longer offer a scholarship in Cosby's name.

In addition High Point University in North Carolina is removing Cosby from its national board of advisers, and Freed-Hardeman University in Tennesseee canceled his scheduled appearance at a December benefit dinner.

Cosby is still on the Board of Trustees at Temple University, but an attorney who graduated from Temple in 2005 has launched a petition campaign to oust him.

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Cosby has now been accused by 20 women of raping, drugging, coercing or sexually assaulting them since 1965.

As more women came forward, NBC dropped plans to develop a new Cosby sitcom, Netflix canceled a planned Cosby special, and TVLand said it would stop airing "Cosby Show" re-runs.

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