What is it about?

Contemporary student activism has revealed deep feelings of alienation on college campuses, prompting strong reactions to current and historical racial injustice, including the history of Cecil Rhodes. Can advisors promote restorative justice by encouraging reflection upon privileges afforded to Rhodes scholars and their responsibility to address society’s global problems?

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Why is it important?

Student activism both in the U.S. and abroad (including #RhodesMust Fall) reveals that there are worldwide negative feelings among college students toward institutional racism and honoring historical figures that represent past injustices. However, this does not appear to have generated backlash against the prestigious Rhodes scholarship in the United States. For U.S. fellowship advisors, current activism raises several salient questions regarding the “prestige” of the scholarship named after Cecil Rhodes. Though U.S. campuses do not honor Cecil Rhodes through statues, we do consider the Rhodes scholarship to be among the most prestigious in the world. What do we consider “prestigious,” who decides, and who benefits?

Perspectives

The potential that Rhodes scholars have to do good in the world is one step toward restitution for the injustices of the past, and a scholar worthy of the privileges afforded will be the one prepared to commit to a lifetime of leadership and public service. The processes in which we engage to help students navigate their thoughts about Rhodes, his legacy, and the opportunities presented by the scholarship may offer insight into our ability to reconcile such issues as injustice, philanthropy, privilege, and social responsibility.

LeAnn J Adam
Oregon State University

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This page is a summary of: The Rhodes Scholarship in the Current Era of Student Activism: What Do We Consider “Prestigious” and Who Benefits?, Journal of College and Character, July 2016, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/2194587x.2016.1195753.
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