
The question of whether Sean "P. Diddy" Combs should have his honorary degree revoked is complex and requires a thorough and balanced evaluation. It depends on various factors, including the policies of the honorary degree-granting institution, the nature of the allegations or actions leading to such a consideration, and the broader societal views that can influence institutional policy. This complexity underscores the need to understand the situation before judgment comprehensively.
Before fully exploring the issue of revoking an honorary degree, it is essential to grasp the diverse criteria for awarding such degrees. While varying significantly between institutions, these criteria generally emphasize significant contributions to society, exceptional achievement in a particular field, a strong alignment with the institution's vision and mission statements, and core values. For example, the Howard University Office of the Secretary states: "The Honorary Degree is conferred on a selective basis, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, to distinguished individuals who merit special consideration for demonstrated achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the mission of Howard University." What, then, is the mission of Howard University?
Howard University is a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research-intensive, historically Black private University that provides an educational experience of exceptional quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels to students of high academic standing and potential, emphasizing educational opportunities for Blacks. Moreover, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching, research, and service, committed to the development of distinguished, historically aware, and compassionate graduates and the discovery of solutions to human problems in the United States and throughout the world, With an abiding interest in domestic and international affairs, the University is committed to continuing to produce leaders for American the global community.
Before we advocate revoking Combs’ honorary degree, let us examine why he received such recognition. Howard recognized Combs for his significant contributions to the music industry as a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur. Combs has spent the last decades as one of the most influential figures in the music industry, having founded Bad Boy Records, which launched the careers of The Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Faith Evans. And he’s a three-time Grammy winner. He’s also impacted as an entrepreneur, social influencer, and philanthropist. Combs expanded his music brand to include fashion with Sean John Clothing, media with Revolt TV, and adult beverages with Ciroc Vodka. In 2004, Combs launched the “Vote or Die” –a celebrity-led voter engagement initiative--to increase voter turnout and to empower young people to participate in the electoral process. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he donated $1 million to the Red Cross to support disaster relief. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used his platform to raise money for healthcare workers and organizations providing pandemic relief services to underserved communities, making a tangible difference in their lives. During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, Combs spoke out against racial profiling and police brutality and, through his social media, interviews, and public statements, voiced his advocacy for police reform. As a founder of Revolt TV, he used his platform to raise the voice of the BLM movement and other social justice issues related to the Black community, amplifying their concerns and demands.
When Howard University awarded Combs an honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree in 2014, he had a decades-long track record of leveraging his music and business platforms to influence social and political causes. In 2016, two years after receiving his honorary doctorate, he helped found Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School in New York, a school established to provide quality education to underserved communities, reflecting Combs' commitment to educational opportunities for Blacks. That same year, he pledged $1 million to Howard University—a school he attended from 1987 to 1989 but did not graduate from—to establish a scholarship fund for students who demonstrate need, a testament to his commitment to service and truth, Howard's core values. Howard enrolls a majority Black student population, with many having financial need, and thus benefited from the scholarship program, further solidifying the relevance of Combs' contributions to the institution.
From a career success, philanthropic contributions, humanitarian efforts, cultural influence, social justice, and alums connection lens, Combs checks all the boxes—Howard's Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees deemed him a distinguished individual with demonstrated achievement and distinction in his career and in the stream of social activities associated with his name and his brand. In other words, Combs's career and brand aligned with the mission of Howard University. However, it also aligned with the "prestige and publicity factor" many higher education institutions seek. Awarding Combs an honorary degree also served to enhance Howard's prestige. When Combs was awarded an honorary degree, he delivered the commencement address in a highly publicized affair that drew media attention to Howard University.
Higher education institutions strive to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative attention. A positive reputation enhances a university's prestige, attracting highly quality prospective students and faculty, potential donors and funding agencies, alumni supporters and financial donations, business and community partnerships, positive media perception, community and public relations, and campus morale. Negative attention undermines all these goals and can tarnish an institution's reputation. Recently, an old 2016 video surfaced of Combs violently assaulting onetime girlfriend, singer, and actress Cassie Ventura. On June 7, 2024, the Howard University Board of Trustees issued a statement informing the University's community and the public of Combs' honorary degree revocation. A Howard University spokesperson stated the following:
“Mr. Combs’ behavior, as captured in a recently released video, is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor.”
In addition to revoking Combs’ honorary degree, the Howard University Board of Trustees terminated his $1 million scholarship from 2016, agreed to return his $1 million contribution, and terminated a 2023 pledge of $1 million made by the Sean Combs Foundation. Howard’s decision is undoubtedly reflective of the 2016 video recording of Combs assaulting Ventura, her federal lawsuit—which Combs settled—in which he was accused of rape and domestic violence, four other lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking, and the raid on his mansions in Miami and Los Angles by Homeland Security as part of an ongoing investigation. Although Combs has not been criminally charged, he has been convicted in the court of public opinion, where you are guilty until proven guilty and guilty even if proven innocent, as public perception is complex to change even in the face of evidence.
In the age of cancel culture, where individuals, typically high-profile celebrities, athletes, politicians, executives, and public figures, face intense public scrutiny, criticism, and boycotts, support from a myriad of stakeholders can and will be withdrawn due to behaviors and remarks perceived as culturally insensitive, inappropriate, or offensive; criminal or allegations of criminal conduct; or controversial. There is no due process; the backlash or punishment is immediate, far-reaching, and has reputational damage and financial repercussions.
Given the social media amplification of negativity, the widespread acceptance of public shaming, negative publicity, and the resulting reputational damage, as well as the advent of cancel culture in influencing public discourse and perception, Howard University decided to distance itself from Combs to protect its own brand identity on one hand and institutional integrity on the other.
Did Howard University get it right by revoking Combs' honorary degree and canceling current and future financial agreements with the Sean Combs Foundation? Can we interpret their actions as holding honorary degree recipients accountable for harmful or criminal behavior? In an age where the media shapes public perceptions and negative stories dominate the narrative, it's easy to see why ending the relationship with Combs is the right decision. Public pressure is accurate, and Howard's key stakeholders—students and potential students, faculty, alums, and donors- can influence the decision-making process and outcome.
When the issue of institutional integrity is considered, Howard University, like all institutions of higher education in the United States, must safeguard the institution's ethical standards. Revocation of an honorary degree usually occurs when the individual's actions are at odds with the institution's vision, mission, and core values. In the case of Combs, visual evidence of an assault combined with allegations of misconduct or criminal behavior is enough for a university to prioritize adhering to ethical standards, at least publicly, over granting Combs due process on his pending legal issues—not that he deserves such, given the video evidence of him engaging in domestic violence.
Honorary degrees are just that: an academic recognition bestowed by a university to an individual the institution deems worthy of receiving such. They are purely symbolic and ceremonial, enhancing both the granting institutions and the recipient’s prestige. When an individual is no longer considered “worthy,” as with Combs, the granting institution can revoke an honorary degree to maintain its reputation and communicate its commitment to integrity and ethical conduct.
Dr. Faisal enjoys a fulfilling spiritual and family life with his wife, Christie, and their daughter Gabrielle. He is passionate about servant leadership and preparing students from underserved communities for college success. The motto “Excellence is Our Norm” summarizes his belief that all students can achieve academic and social success with appropriate investment –not intervention. He has written two books, one on fatherhood and the other on the servant leadership philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is currently finishing a book on the life and legacy of Cornelius L. Henderson, an African American chief design engineer for the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnels. Dr. Faisal’s hobbies include bike riding and sports, researching African American history; writing for the Michigan Historical Society; collecting vintage college memorabilia and literature; collecting memorabilia from the Negro Leagues and Black Fives era; and visiting museums, book stores, cultural centers, and historical sites.
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Before fully exploring the issue of revoking an honorary degree, it is essential to grasp the diverse criteria for awarding such degrees. While varying significantly between institutions, these criteria generally emphasize significant contributions to society, exceptional achievement in a particular field, a strong alignment with the institution's vision and mission statements, and core values. For example, the Howard University Office of the Secretary states: "The Honorary Degree is conferred on a selective basis, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, to distinguished individuals who merit special consideration for demonstrated achievement and distinction in a field or activity consonant with the mission of Howard University." What, then, is the mission of Howard University?
Howard University is a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research-intensive, historically Black private University that provides an educational experience of exceptional quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels to students of high academic standing and potential, emphasizing educational opportunities for Blacks. Moreover, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching, research, and service, committed to the development of distinguished, historically aware, and compassionate graduates and the discovery of solutions to human problems in the United States and throughout the world, With an abiding interest in domestic and international affairs, the University is committed to continuing to produce leaders for American the global community.
Before we advocate revoking Combs’ honorary degree, let us examine why he received such recognition. Howard recognized Combs for his significant contributions to the music industry as a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur. Combs has spent the last decades as one of the most influential figures in the music industry, having founded Bad Boy Records, which launched the careers of The Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Faith Evans. And he’s a three-time Grammy winner. He’s also impacted as an entrepreneur, social influencer, and philanthropist. Combs expanded his music brand to include fashion with Sean John Clothing, media with Revolt TV, and adult beverages with Ciroc Vodka. In 2004, Combs launched the “Vote or Die” –a celebrity-led voter engagement initiative--to increase voter turnout and to empower young people to participate in the electoral process. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he donated $1 million to the Red Cross to support disaster relief. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used his platform to raise money for healthcare workers and organizations providing pandemic relief services to underserved communities, making a tangible difference in their lives. During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, Combs spoke out against racial profiling and police brutality and, through his social media, interviews, and public statements, voiced his advocacy for police reform. As a founder of Revolt TV, he used his platform to raise the voice of the BLM movement and other social justice issues related to the Black community, amplifying their concerns and demands.
When Howard University awarded Combs an honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree in 2014, he had a decades-long track record of leveraging his music and business platforms to influence social and political causes. In 2016, two years after receiving his honorary doctorate, he helped found Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School in New York, a school established to provide quality education to underserved communities, reflecting Combs' commitment to educational opportunities for Blacks. That same year, he pledged $1 million to Howard University—a school he attended from 1987 to 1989 but did not graduate from—to establish a scholarship fund for students who demonstrate need, a testament to his commitment to service and truth, Howard's core values. Howard enrolls a majority Black student population, with many having financial need, and thus benefited from the scholarship program, further solidifying the relevance of Combs' contributions to the institution.
From a career success, philanthropic contributions, humanitarian efforts, cultural influence, social justice, and alums connection lens, Combs checks all the boxes—Howard's Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees deemed him a distinguished individual with demonstrated achievement and distinction in his career and in the stream of social activities associated with his name and his brand. In other words, Combs's career and brand aligned with the mission of Howard University. However, it also aligned with the "prestige and publicity factor" many higher education institutions seek. Awarding Combs an honorary degree also served to enhance Howard's prestige. When Combs was awarded an honorary degree, he delivered the commencement address in a highly publicized affair that drew media attention to Howard University.
Higher education institutions strive to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative attention. A positive reputation enhances a university's prestige, attracting highly quality prospective students and faculty, potential donors and funding agencies, alumni supporters and financial donations, business and community partnerships, positive media perception, community and public relations, and campus morale. Negative attention undermines all these goals and can tarnish an institution's reputation. Recently, an old 2016 video surfaced of Combs violently assaulting onetime girlfriend, singer, and actress Cassie Ventura. On June 7, 2024, the Howard University Board of Trustees issued a statement informing the University's community and the public of Combs' honorary degree revocation. A Howard University spokesperson stated the following:
“Mr. Combs’ behavior, as captured in a recently released video, is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor.”
In addition to revoking Combs’ honorary degree, the Howard University Board of Trustees terminated his $1 million scholarship from 2016, agreed to return his $1 million contribution, and terminated a 2023 pledge of $1 million made by the Sean Combs Foundation. Howard’s decision is undoubtedly reflective of the 2016 video recording of Combs assaulting Ventura, her federal lawsuit—which Combs settled—in which he was accused of rape and domestic violence, four other lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking, and the raid on his mansions in Miami and Los Angles by Homeland Security as part of an ongoing investigation. Although Combs has not been criminally charged, he has been convicted in the court of public opinion, where you are guilty until proven guilty and guilty even if proven innocent, as public perception is complex to change even in the face of evidence.
In the age of cancel culture, where individuals, typically high-profile celebrities, athletes, politicians, executives, and public figures, face intense public scrutiny, criticism, and boycotts, support from a myriad of stakeholders can and will be withdrawn due to behaviors and remarks perceived as culturally insensitive, inappropriate, or offensive; criminal or allegations of criminal conduct; or controversial. There is no due process; the backlash or punishment is immediate, far-reaching, and has reputational damage and financial repercussions.
Given the social media amplification of negativity, the widespread acceptance of public shaming, negative publicity, and the resulting reputational damage, as well as the advent of cancel culture in influencing public discourse and perception, Howard University decided to distance itself from Combs to protect its own brand identity on one hand and institutional integrity on the other.
Did Howard University get it right by revoking Combs' honorary degree and canceling current and future financial agreements with the Sean Combs Foundation? Can we interpret their actions as holding honorary degree recipients accountable for harmful or criminal behavior? In an age where the media shapes public perceptions and negative stories dominate the narrative, it's easy to see why ending the relationship with Combs is the right decision. Public pressure is accurate, and Howard's key stakeholders—students and potential students, faculty, alums, and donors- can influence the decision-making process and outcome.
When the issue of institutional integrity is considered, Howard University, like all institutions of higher education in the United States, must safeguard the institution's ethical standards. Revocation of an honorary degree usually occurs when the individual's actions are at odds with the institution's vision, mission, and core values. In the case of Combs, visual evidence of an assault combined with allegations of misconduct or criminal behavior is enough for a university to prioritize adhering to ethical standards, at least publicly, over granting Combs due process on his pending legal issues—not that he deserves such, given the video evidence of him engaging in domestic violence.
Honorary degrees are just that: an academic recognition bestowed by a university to an individual the institution deems worthy of receiving such. They are purely symbolic and ceremonial, enhancing both the granting institutions and the recipient’s prestige. When an individual is no longer considered “worthy,” as with Combs, the granting institution can revoke an honorary degree to maintain its reputation and communicate its commitment to integrity and ethical conduct.
Dr. Faisal enjoys a fulfilling spiritual and family life with his wife, Christie, and their daughter Gabrielle. He is passionate about servant leadership and preparing students from underserved communities for college success. The motto “Excellence is Our Norm” summarizes his belief that all students can achieve academic and social success with appropriate investment –not intervention. He has written two books, one on fatherhood and the other on the servant leadership philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is currently finishing a book on the life and legacy of Cornelius L. Henderson, an African American chief design engineer for the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnels. Dr. Faisal’s hobbies include bike riding and sports, researching African American history; writing for the Michigan Historical Society; collecting vintage college memorabilia and literature; collecting memorabilia from the Negro Leagues and Black Fives era; and visiting museums, book stores, cultural centers, and historical sites.
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