Connor Gillies reports on Strathclyde Uni Refusing To Say Whether It's Scrubbing #OscarPistorius Honour

Oct 22, 2014, 09:08 AM

Strathclyde University is refusing to say whether it will strip Oscar Pistorius of an honorary degree.

The athlete was jailed for five years yesterday for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day last year.

His defence team said he would spend a sixth of the term in prison - 10 months - before being placed under house arrest for the remainder of his sentence.

The 27-year-old, who was found guilty of culpable homicide last month, appeared to wipe his eyes as the sentence was handed down.

He was given an honorary degree from Strathclyde back in 2012.

It was recognition for his outstanding sporting success and was handed out at the ceremony at the university's Barony Hall.

Clyde News has been continually phoning Strathclyde University since Pistorius was convicted asking them whether or not the honour would be removed.

A spokesman for the University of Strathclyde told us at the time: “We are aware of Judge Masipa’s verdict and a decision regarding Oscar Pistorius’ honorary degree will be made in line with University procedures.”

The university website states that honorary degrees are awarded to "recognise exceptional service and contribution to to society".

It continues to say "honorary graduands are people whose work and reputation is compatible with the University’s core values: integrity, honesty and openness."

"In their lives they will have demonstrated an affinity with the University’s purpose as a “Place of Useful Learning” with an ambition to make the world better educated, more prosperous, healthy, fair and secure. Through their life’s work they will be role models for our students, graduands, staff and the wider community."

Will Strathclyde University continue to think Oscar Pistorius represents its core values or will they strip him of this honour in light of the killer being jailed?