Petition for Sewanee to Revoke Charlie Rose's Honorary Degree

Class of 2005

C’1985 EQB

As an alumna I am deeply ashamed of my alma mater because of the Charlie Rose honorary degree. At what point do you reverse the decision to stand with this misogynistic position? How many bishops, students, faculty, and alums will it take? Please do the right thing and rescind the degree. Thank you, Farris Ralston

Class of 2013

Class of 2009 EQB

There is no question here. Revoke Charlie Rose's honorary degree from Sewanee. Helen Paul C'81

Sewanee C’12

Sewanee C'09

EQB C’97

2012 Sewanee Grad, and I don't want my Alma Mater associated with Rose

C '92 Thanks to all who took the initiative.

C '94

Revoking Rose's symbolic degree will be a great step in changing the rape culture at Sewanee. I hope McCardell and the Board of Regents will stop KNOWINGLY giving REAL degrees to students found guilty of sexual assault by the university next. A girl can dream!!

- a disappointed first year

Stronger and Truer

Sewanee was the first place I learned what misogyny meant. Touched inappropriately by a professor, ignored as the only female student by a second, sexually assaulted by an alum when I was also an alum, and the list goes on. The reign of fear, assault, and misogyny that female students experience at Sewanee needs to end. It is the most beautiful evil place I have ever been. EQB - how good to see students, alums, professors, and the community come together as one to change what women face at Sewanee. If Sewanee hopes to exist in the future, it needs to honor it's daughters. It is not our place to condemn or forgive Mr. Rose; it is our place to say we will not honor a person of his admitted character.

8 years ago Featured

C'13, Class Chair, monthly donor since 2014. I have canceled my donations and will not ask my peers to support an institution that willfully refuses to support survivors. Vice Chancellor, Board of Regents, do the honorable thing.

The behavior of Sewanee over the last few years has embarrassed me to no end. This is the icing on the cake. I sent them (the VC and staff) a letter about an alumni who severely sexually harassed me and they literally did nothing. They did not even have the decency to respond. Not surprised they would do nothing about CR. Just an administration of old rich white men protecting rich old white men. I’m done with Sewanee. I wish I had gone to another school.

As an alumna of Sewanee, I'm embarrassed that this is what we're making national headlines for. The Sewanee I know and love is represented by the incredible students, faculty, and community members who are refusing to accept this poorly reasoned and poorly written decision from the Board of Regents and Vice-Chancellor.

This is bigger than Rose. This is about an administration whose ears are hardened to the voice of its community, its students. They say that this culture of abuse--and excusing such abuse--must end. Best for McCardell and friends to start listening.