Rep forced to return his honorary degree and Forbes goes fascist
January 14, 2021
Students and staff sent around a petition to take back an honorary Ph.D. given to Rep. Tom Cole at Grinnell College, based in Iowa. He graduated from the college in 1971. Rep. Cole gave it back before a decision was made by the university. The university let him.
Cole is one of 120 House Republicans who rejected electoral votes from states where the election integrity was in question.
The university president Anne Harris released a letter publicly stating that Rep. Cole “voluntarily relinquished” his honorary degree. She added unnecessarily that the college leadership was considering taking it back.
House Republican Relinquishes Honorary Degree Following Student Petition
House Deputy Minority Whip Tom Cole (R-Okla.) voluntarily gave up an honorary doctorate from his alma mater on Jan. 12 after a student petition called on the school to rescind the award.
Cole, who joined some 120 House Republicans in challenging electoral votes from states where election integrity was under question, graduated from Grinnell College in 1971. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by the Iowa-based private liberal arts college in 2016.
In a public letter, Grinnell College President Anne Harris said Cole contacted her and “voluntarily relinquished” his honorary degree; she revealed that the college leadership was considering taking it back from the congressman.