University of Massachusetts president Jack M. Wilson recommended yesterday that the Board of Trustees rescind an honorary degree awarded to Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe more than 20 years ago.
The recommendation to withdraw Mugabe's award came after allegations that he had been involved in human rights violations and suppressed opposition to his policies.
The University awarded Mugabe the degree in 1986 after his 1980 election, when he was "seen as a force for democracy and reform," said the press release.
"In the two decades that have passed since the honorary degree was awarded, Robert Mugabe has pursued policies and taken actions that are antithetical to the values and beliefs of the University of Massachusetts," said Wilson in a statement. "I must recommend that we sever the connection that was formed when Robert Mugabe appeared to be a force for positive change in Africa. Today, that promise no longer exists."
If the board votes to follow through with Wilson's recommendation at its June 12 meeting, Mugabe's will be the first honorary UMass degree to be rescinded.
Board of Trustees chairman Robert J. Manning said that the board would take time at the meeting to discuss Wilson's suggestion and would "do what is appropriate and right."
The UMass student senate petitioned the board last year to withdraw Mugabe's degree. In response to the request, the board voted to officially rebuke his actions at its June 2007 meeting, referring to Mugabe as "a tyrannical dictator whose rule has been marked by intimidation, violence, fraud, and robbery," according to the Boston Globe.
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