This College Isn’t So ‘High’ on POTUS

Image Source: Lehigh University’s Twitter

That moment when… you’re browsing the news online and stumble upon your alma mater being mentioned in the national press… a lot. Last week, I learned that my former (as in ten years ago – HOW?) stomping grounds, Lehigh University, had bestowed an honorary degree upon Donald Trump in 1988. I also learned that a majority of the LU faculty now have buyer’s remorse/gifting regret and want to jump in a hot tub time machine, take that diploma back and pretend this never happened.

Of the professors and school faculty who participated in a ballot, approximately 83% of them voted to rescind Trump’s degree. Some choice words they offered as part of their reasoning: “By staying silent we are bystanders; we normalize hate speech, condone discrimination and bullying; we enable people in positions of power to corrode the foundations of civil society; and we abdicate our commitment and responsibility to uphold and sustain our core values.” DAMN.

Considering that LU also revoked an honorary degree from Bill Cosby (gee, I wonder why…) not too long ago, it’s clear that they aren’t messing around. I’m proud of my small-town Pennsylvania college for making a big-time statement and doing what they feel is right.

Posted by Ilana