A Christian university in Tennessee says it will not reconsider inviting Bill Cosby to speak at the school’s upcoming benefit dinner. This decision has sparked criticism due to recent sexual assault accusations against the famous comedian.
Freed-Hardeman University said that the dinner scheduled for Dec. 5 will go on as planned.
A statement posted on the school’s Facebook page read, “"Our 50th FHU Benefit Dinner remains scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, to focus on our main goal — providing an avenue for donors to invest in the students' lives. We committed to a contract with Bill Cosby many months ago after soliciting input from alumni and friends.
"While recent developments have drawn attention to our event because of the speaker, we hope that people will remember: 1.) this dinner is about helping students, and 2.) while we are reading stories in the media, they represent real people whose lives will be affected long after FHU's dinner has passed. Please join us in praying for healing and peace for those involved.”
The statement was met with a mixture of approval and criticism.
David Brown, of the Memphis Chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said that he will protest the event if Cosby is in attendance.
"If he does show up Dec. 5 to the auditorium, I'll be out there protesting, and I won't be alone," Brown said. "I know this is about raising money, but you can raise money more admirably than this.”
Publication date: November 21, 2014
