Grinnell College awarded Representative Tom Cole '71 (R-OK) an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Commencement in 2016. 

Upon acceptance, he told students that in a leader, they should look for "an institutionalist, someone who believes in the institutions of the country, who believes in fair play, who believes in open elections, who believes in the public process, and who understands something about the institutions that they're going to try and lead."

He also advised choosing "a traditionalist. Not a traditionalist in the sense of traditional values, but somebody who understands the traditional values of the American people, which again is openness, fair play, free elections, full debate, popular decision."

Last night, Representative Cole desecrated the very public process he claims to value by voting against the certification of Electoral College votes.

Grinnell College President Anne Harris wrote in a January 6 email to students, "I also feel more strongly than ever that the work of Grinnell College is the work of democracy." 

If Grinnell College wants to hold true to its proclaimed values, then leadership should rescind Tom Cole's honorary degree.