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NIU Committee Recommends Retracting Hastert's Honorary Degree

NIU's Altgeld Hall
Susan Stephens
/
WNIJ
NIU's Altgeld Hall

A Northern Illinois University committee says the school should revoke Dennis Hastert’s honorary law doctoral degree. That’s according to a news release from the university.

According to a news release, the committee said in a memo to President Doug Baker that Hastert’s recent felony conviction and sexual abuse testimony “do not reflect the values of the institution.”

Baker will take the recommendation to the NIU Board of Trustees during its 2 p.m. May 19 meeting. Additional comment from NIU officials was unavailable.

Other figures who have been awarded honorary degrees from NIU include U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth and former U.S. Representative Paul Simon.

Editor's Note 5/20/16: Tammy Duckworth has never been an Illinois State Representative. The above correction has been made.

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