The University of Pennsylvania will remove Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn’s name from a plaza on its campus and a scholarship fund he started after allegations of sexual misconduct against him were revealed last week.
The university will revoke honorary degrees awarded to Wynn and comedian Bill Cosby, who also is at the center of allegations of sexual assault — an action it hasn’t taken in 100 years, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“It has been a century since the University of Pennsylvania last revoked an honorary degree, and we do not take that decision — or the decision to remove Mr. Wynn’s name from the Commons and from the scholarship fund he created — lightly,” university officials said in a statement. “We view these as extraordinary and essentially unique circumstances that call for an immediate, decisive, and clearly ethical response.”
Allegations against Wynn were brought to light in a Wall Street Journal report last week, which detailed accusations spanning decades from multiple women who worked for Wynn’s Las Vegas properties.
Some of the women alleged Wynn pushed them to perform sexual acts, and others said he made comments or touched them inappropriately.
Wynn served as the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, which parted ways with him Saturday in the wake of the allegations. Many GOP lawmakers and party organizations have also returned campaign contributions they received from the casino magnate.
Wynn has denied the allegations against him and blamed them on his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn.