In a press release, the university stated that its board of trustees had voted to strip the two men of their degrees. The board's decision came following a recommendation from the university's president and its honorary degree committee to take the honors back.
"After reviewing the recommendation from the President, who endorsed the committee's recommendation, the Board voted to approve the revocation of these honorary degrees," URI Board of Trustees chair Margo Cook said in the press release. "The Board of Trustees supports the University and its mission to uphold its values, especially its commitment to intellectual and ethical leadership and fostering an environment of diversity and respect."
URI President Mark Parlange stated that he had made the recommendation after agreeing that Giuliani and Flynn "no longer represent the highest level of our values and standards that were evident when we first bestowed the degree."
