Northwestern University withdraws offer of honorary degree to Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Northwestern University has withdrawn its offer of an honorary degree to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright “in light of the controversy around” Barack Obama’s former pastor.
The school on Thursday also said Wright’s assertion that the invitation was revoked after Northwestern’s president told him he “wasn’t patriotic” is not accurate.
(AP)
A Northwestern spokesman, in a statement, said the Evanston university did not want the controversy engulfing Wright and Obama to impact the school’s commencement activities.
“Earlier this academic year, acting on the recommendation of faculty committees, Northwestern University extended an invitation to the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, former senior minister of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, to receive an honorary degree at Northwestern’s commencement in June,” university spokesman Alan Cubbage said.
“Commencement at Northwestern is a time of celebration of the accomplishments of Northwestern’s graduating students and their families. In light of the controversy around Dr. Wright and to ensure that the celebratory character of commencement not be affected, the university has withdrawn its invitation to Dr. Wright.”
Wright has come under intense criticism after clips of past sermons were circulated on the Internet, including him yelling, “God damn America!” and blaming the government for spreading the virus that leads to AIDS.
Obama, a longtime member of Wright’s church, at first tried to distance himself from Wright’s controversial words. But after Wright went on the speaking circuit and continued to make controversial comments, Obama lashed out the man who married him and baptized his two daughters.
“His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church,” Obama said on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Wright told the congregation of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Texas that he had been uninvited to Northwestern’s commencement, where he was to receive an honorary doctorate in sacred theology, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“The president of the university called and told me he was withdrawing the degree because I was not patriotic,” Wright told the congregation.
Cubbage disputed that assertion Thursday.
“Dr. Wright was quoted as saying that his invitation to receive an honorary degree was withdrawn by Northwestern President Henry Bienen because Dr. Wright ‘wasn’t patriotic enough,’ ” Cubbage said in a follow-up statement.
“If Dr. Wright was quoted accurately, that statement is not true. In his conversation and correspondence with Dr. Wright in March, President Bienen never characterized Dr. Wright’s views or made a judgment about them.
“The letter said, ‘In light of the controversy surrounding statements made by you that have recently been publicized, the celebratory character of Northwestern’s commencement would be affected by our conferring of this honorary degree. Thus I am withdrawing the offer of an honorary degree previously extended to you.’ ”
Wright could not be reached for comment Thursday.
