Mr. Boudin’s parents are Katherine Boudin and David Gilbert, who became infamous in the 1970’s as members of the radical group the Weathermen. In 1981, they were convicted for taking part in the Brink’s robbery, during which two police officers and a guard were killed. Chesa was raised by Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, Weathermen colleagues of his parents, in Chicago. But his family connection remains strong: Mr. Boudin’s parents write to him almost every day and, since they’re permitted to make collect calls from prison, Mr. Boudin reprogrammed his Yale dormitory phone to override a campus-wide block on receiving collect calls, according to The Times.

Close to 1,000 students are nominated for the Rhodes each year. In his application, Mr. Boudin wrote of his parents’ situation and what he’s taken from it: "As a child, I relished my personal freedom and tried to compensate for my parents’ imprisonment. Now, I see prisons around the world: urban misery in Bolivia, homelessness in Santiago and illiteracy in Guatemala."

Shortly before winning the Rhodes, Mr. Boudin was informed that he’d also won a Marshall scholarship, which also sends students to England. Since he can’t accept both, he’s decided to take the Rhodes.

Chesa has written several op-ed pieces asking for his mother's parole, many are no longer available free online. We're glad he got his wish. Nothing will bring back the slain. Let's get over an eye for eye--as Ghandi said, it only leaves the whole world blind. Kathy Boudin has done her time.

Update: 8/22: The Parole Board stands by its decision and refuses to reconsider it.

Update: 8/24: Here is a moving article written by Chesa Boudin published in Salon a while back on what it was like to visit his parents in jail for 17 years He is a remarkable young man.