The University of Massachusetts Amherst and its alumnus Bill Cosby have split ways amid allegations of sexual assault and rape . At least 15 women have spoken out to various media outlets accusing the comedian of sexual misconduct . `` Bill Cosby has agreed to resign as an honorary co-chair of UMass Amherst 's capital campaign . He no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university , '' said Ed Blaguszewski , a spokesman for the school . Cosby got his master 's and doctorate in education from the university in the 1970s . Many of the women accusing Cosby say he drugged them before he raped them . Some of the alleged attacks took place decades ago . The 77-year-old comedian has denied some of the allegations and refused to discuss others . He has never been prosecuted . The accusations have taken their toll on Cosby 's reputation as the beloved Dr. Huxtable -- the sweet , sweater-wearing father on the sitcom , `` The Cosby Show . '' They 've also hit his earnings , as Netflix postponed a stand-up comedy special and NBC also decided against moving forward with a Cosby project . A lawyer for Cosby has called the increasing number of claims of sexual assault against the comedian `` ridiculous '' and said the media should stop airing `` unsubstantiated , fantastical stories . '' Martin D. Singer said in a written statement sent to CNN that it defies common sense that `` so many people would have said nothing , done nothing , and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years . '' One of Cosby 's accusers , Andrea Constand , did file a civil suit . In January 2004 , Constand , then a 31-year-old staffer for the women 's basketball team at Temple University -- Cosby 's alma mater -- was at the comedian 's Cheltenham , Pennsylvania , home when Cosby provided her medication that made her dizzy , she alleged the following year . She later woke up to find her bra undone and her clothes in disarray , she further alleged to police in her home province of Ontario , Canada , in January 2005 . Though Cosby 's attorney initially called Constand 's claim `` utterly preposterous '' and no charges were filed , Cosby settled a civil suit with Constand that alleged 13 Jane Does had similar stories of sexual abuse . When Cosby attorney John Schmitt sent out a blanket denial of several allegations that have cropped up recently , he later amended his denial to say he was n't referring to Constand , who resolved her differences `` to the mutual satisfaction of Mr. Cosby and Ms. Constand years ago . '' Ex-prosecutor wanted to charge Bill Cosby but lacked evidence .
' Cosby ` ` agreed to serve as an honorary co - chair of UMass Amherst 's capital campaign '' At least 15 women are speaking out , accusing the comedian of sexual harassment . He has either denied or refused to address the allegations .