In 1990, MSU honored Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe with an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree when he spoke at the university's commencement ceremony.

At the time, he deserved the award.

He was viewed as a hero and a great revolutionary leader, according to Bill Fletcher Jr., president of the TransAfrica Forum. Mugabe helped create a program in the 1970s that improved health and education for the black majority. At the time he was an educational speaker who could offer a broader world view for departing seniors.

But since then, Mugabe has taken on the role of dictator of Zimbabwe. He is accused of human and labor rights infractions, using food as a mechanism of political oppression and using rape against political opponents. He also embarked on a "moral" campaign against homosexuality, stating that "unnatural sex acts" could receive a penalty of as many as 10 years in prison.

ASMSU is now lobbying for MSU to revoke the degree.

Mugabe might have once been someone MSU wanted associated with its name in the past. But now, he should not have any connection to this university. He no longer represents the same values and ideals he was once awarded the honorary degree for, and the honor should be revoked. There isn't a precedent for revoking honorary degrees at this university, and now it's time to set one.

As ASMSU Academic Assembly Chairperson Robert Murphy said, the award exhibits MSU's respect for someone. Mugabe does not deserve that respect.

Although this now goes into the hands of the university, we encourage ASMSU to ensure Mugabe's degree is revoked. The administration seems a little too wary to take back the degree. They need to look at this leader's past to ensure that it's still what MSU wants to represent both now and in the future. As a university, we need to be careful what our hands are in. Using rape and food as tools of manipulation and upholding a dictatorship are not qualities MSU upholds.

Take Mugabe's honorary doctorate back.

Set a precedent.