Lincoln University President Robert Jennings resigns amid controversy over rape comments

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania university says its president has resigned after he was criticized for comments he made about women and sexual assault.

Lincoln University’s board of trustees said it accepted Robert Jennings’ resignation Monday morning. Theuniversity named general counsel Valerie Harrison as acting president.

Jennings apologized earlier this month for his comments at an all-women’s convocation in September about how false rape allegations can ruin a young man’s life.

Portions of the remarks were posted online and some parents criticized them as appearing to blame women for sexual assault.

Board chair Kimberly Lloyd announced Jennings’ departure in a letter posted to the university’s website.

The bulk of Lloyd’s letter focused on Harrison and the future of the historically black university in rural Chester County, about 45 miles west of Philadelphia.