One of the university’s honorary degrees is held by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe — a man who is thought to have killed a number of innocent citizens in his own country.

Mugabe was given an honorary doctorate in law by MSU during fall 1990. Now, he claims similarities with Adolf Hitler and is considered one of this decade’s worst human rights violators.

Ironically, the African leader was once honored for his lifetime achievements and for being a key player in the liberation of Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s.

Mugabe holds honorary degrees from a number of universities, but that may start to change since at least one university has revoked its degree. In June 2007, after extensive committee review, the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. stripped Mugabe of his honorary degree.

And now it is time for MSU to do the same.

Zimbabwe’s president still has his degree because MSU does not have a policy to take it away. The Honorary Degree Committee doesn’t want to open a can of worms by revoking any honors.

But whether or not MSU has an official policy, as long as Mugabe has the honorary degree, it looks as though the university is accepting — even honoring — his behavior.

Given the way Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe has changed since he received the honor, MSU probably shouldn’t want its name associated with Mugabe. And other honorary degree recipients shouldn’t either.

The university shouldn’t concentrate on the hassle revoking an honorary degree might cause. Rather it should consider what an honorary degree means.

What does it say to other honorees that a man who has violated human rights holds their same honor? It devalues the merit for all its recipients.

MSU gave Mugabe the degree for his work decades ago, but after his recent political actions, MSU should take it away.

People are no longer looking at who Mugabe was, but rather who he is now.

That’s not to say his degree should be revoked without consideration or without a review process in place.

The members of the Honorary Degree Committee could set up a student panel, or have a committee debate -as long as they take some action to address the issue.

Our university — and its honor — looks worse for not stripping Mugabe of his honorary degree than we would look by going through with the action.

MSU should not be slapped on the wrist for giving Mugabe the degree 18 years ago, but letting him keep the degree is ridiculous.