Bill Cosby Resigns from Temple University Board of Trustees

The embattled comedian and actor Bill Cosby, who more than a dozen women have publicly accused of drugging and raping them, has resigned from his position on Temple University's Board of Trustees.

The short statement announcing his resignation was posted on the Temple University website. It made no specific mentions of the allegations against Cosby, but alluded to them by saying, "I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation from the Temple University Board of Trustees."

Cosby referred to his past at Temple, which he attended on an athletic scholarship in the 1960s by saying, "I have always been proud of my association with Temple University."

The statement ends with a brief passage from Temple that says they have accepted Cosby's resignation.

Philly.com reports that Cosby has been on Temple's Board of Trustees for 32 years. Philly.com notes the resignation was motivated in part by public pressure on the university to cut its ties to Cosby. For example, a petition on the social activism website Change.org had over 1,000 signatures calling for Temple to end its relationship with Cosby.

Cosby's relationship with Temple is not the only one that has suffered as a result of the rape allegations. Both Netflix and NBC have said they will not air television shows and stand up comedy specials they created with Cosby.

Many people have also begun returning tickets to a stand up comedy tour he is currently headlining. A number of philanthropic and political organization decided to return funds Cosby helped to raise for them as well.

Despite the current controversy, the Smithsonian's National Gallery of African Art has chosen to stand by Cosby. It has shown no sign of, or interest in, cancelling a show it is running that is drawn entirely from works owned by Cosby and his family.