Thirty five Rhodes Scholars have signed an open letter in support of Bernie Sanders for the 2020 Democratic Nomination, decrying former Rhodes recipient Pete Buttigieg’s frequent citing of his own time in the programme.
In a letter entitled “Rhodes Scholars on Bernie, Buttigieg, and Meritocracy”, published in Common Dreams on Wednesday, the undersigned stated: “From our privileged position, we believe that the only candidate who is committed to transforming inequality and creating universal access to education is Bernie Sanders.”
In the letter, available on commondreams.org, the educational policies of Sanders’ campaign are cited as the primary motivation for the support given. Specifically, his “plan to eliminate student debt, invest in historically black colleges and universities, and guarantee tuition and debt-free public colleges, [means] he is the best candidate to ensure that other students have access to the opportunities we have had.”
Describing him as the candidate “most committed to rectifying these profound inequalities”, the scholars conclude with the statement: “As Rhodes Scholars, we believe that our credentials should not be relied upon in lieu of a strong and proven record of public leadership. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate with the demonstrated experience and will to rectify the systemic injustice in America.”
Candidate Pete Buttigieg, former Mayor of Southbend, Indiana, was awarded the scholarship in 2004, studying in Oxford in that year. In keeping with his frequent internet portrayal as the “smart” candidate (so described by The New York Times), Mayor Pete claims to speak eight languages and worked in naval intelligence, in addition to his academic achievements.
The scholars acknowledge this, describing the Rhodes programme as lending Buttigieg “tremendous credibility, privilege, and respect in most professional arenas.”
However, they are quick to address an alternative view of the prestigious award. As opposed to being an indicator of erudition and a pinnacle of education, the letter states that the “Rhodes Scholarship is thus largely a marker of socioeconomic privilege, as well as a willingness to play by the rules of elite institutions, rather than an indicator of political commitment or capacity. Endowing Buttigieg with considerable political leverage due to his academic or personal achievements—without a broader understanding of his privileges—illustrates how inequality has been recast by elites as meritocracy.”
Continuing with this sentiment, the letter suggests that a Rhodes scholarship is further proof of Pete’s social advantage: “Consider the context of Oxford University, where in 2018 over 60% of undergraduate students came from private or grammar schools… The share of students in the 1% that attend elite colleges is already at an all-time high. In effect, most American students are locked out from an opportunity like the Rhodes Scholarship before they reach adulthood. Pete Buttigieg, by contrast, attended private schools sfrom childhood.”
Similarly, the credited author and 2019 Rhodes Scholar Jaz Brisack denounces any claims that the program is any marker of integrity or political ethics: “But the Rhodes Scholarship is rarely the moral litmus test it purports to be. This is exemplified by the Rhodes Scholar who was indicted on US government fraud charges in 2009 and the resignation of a Missouri governor over allegations of sexual misconduct and violations of campaign-finance law in 2018.”