The University of Rhode Island’s new president is calling on the college’s board of trustees to revoke the honorary degrees given to Gen. Michael Flynn and former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
URI President Marc Parlange claims that the two men “no longer represent the highest level of our values and standards that were evident when we first bestowed the degree.”
Parlange has been in the job since August and reversed former URI President David M. Dooley’s decision not forward a similar recommendation to the board of trustees.
“As a civic institution, URI has the privilege and responsibility to sustain and preserve American democracy by insuring and modeling good citizenship,” Parlange wrote.
“Revoking these honorary degrees reinforces our values and allows us to lead with truth and integrity.”
“The University of Rhode Island’s new president is asking the board of trustees to revoke the honorary degrees awarded to Michael Flynn and Rudy Giuliani because the two men no longer reflect the institution’s values and standards.”-@projo https://t.co/vZSVM5jXtz
— Heidi Cuda (@Heidi_Cuda) January 19, 2022
Flynn was not happy and fired back saying:
“They will come after us all if we don’t stand up to this madness. I am so sick and tired of their lies and deceit.
“And the New President of URI didn’t have the guts to give me the courtesy of a phone call, email, nothing. Zero courage, total disrespect, and sheer wokeness now exists on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.
“This will not change until we get them out of power.
“This is going to take a massive change at the very top of our government with leaders who are ready to take dramatic steps to change the culture of our education, media, and justice systems.
“It can be done.
“As well as other institutions of power.”
“This is very serious.
“Again, they do this to me as though they think I’ll weaken in the knees instead I actually find strength in their weakness and the sneaky way they deal with these type issues,” Flynn said.
From The Providence Journal:
“As a civic institution, URI has the privilege and responsibility to sustain and preserve American democracy by insuring and modeling good citizenship,” Parlange wrote.
“Revoking these honorary degrees reinforces our values and allows us to lead with truth and integrity.”
URI honored Flynn in 2014, conferring upon him the Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa.
Giuliani was awarded the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa in June 2003 in conjunction with a reception at the International Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame.
