In response to a Canadian jury finding 1964 UND graduate Peter Nygard guilty on multiple counts of sexual assault, two UND-affiliated foundations have taken steps to cut remaining ties to Nygard and his philanthropic activities.
The Center for Innovation Foundation board has voted to remove the 2004 Entrepreneur Hall of Fame recognition given to Nygard.
The UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors has also voted to rescind a Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership awarded to Nygard in 1978.
In addition to rescinding the award, the board is pursuing legal steps with the North Dakota Attorney General to discontinue the awarding of a scholarship endowment that was funded by Nygard’s company. The scholarship has not been awarded in several years and there are no current students whose education is being funded by the scholarship.
Nygard, 82, had pleaded not guilty to all charges, which stemmed from allegations dating back from the 1980s to the mid-2000s.
Nygard is still facing criminal charges in three other jurisdictions.
He is facing charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement in separate cases in Quebec and Manitoba, related to allegations dating back to the 1990s. He is also facing charges in the U.S.
Nygard founded a fashion company in Winnipeg in 1967 that ultimately became Nygard International.
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