UND-Affiliated Foundations Rescind Honors For UND Grad Peter Nygard After Sexual Assault Conviction

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR/CNN) — Two UND-affiliated foundations are cutting remaining ties to Peter Nygard.

The 82-year-old former fashion mogul was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault in a Toronto court on Sunday, following a six-week trial.

Nygard was accused by five women of attacking them in a series of incidents from the 1980s to the mid-2000s.

He faces similar charges in other jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada.

The Center for Innovation Foundation board has voted to remove the 2004 Entrepreneur Hall of Fame recognition given to Nygard, a 1964 UND graduate.

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors has voted to rescind a Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership awarded to Nygard in 1978.

They are also working with the North Dakota Attorney General to discontinue the awarding of a scholarship endowment that was funded by Nygard’s company.

It has not been awarded in several years and there are no current students whose education is being funded by the scholarship.

On Monday, UND issued a statement which says in part:

The actions for which Nygard has been convicted and the other allegations brought against him, as reported, are disturbing and completely inconsistent with University values. Our thoughts and concern remain wholeheartedly with the victims of these troubling actions. We also remain committed as ever to eradicating sexual violence and discrimination from both our campus and society.