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Law students at the University of South Dakota planned a "Hawaiian Day" party but changed the name of the event to "Beach Day" after an administrator told them that their original theme may have violated university rules about inclusiveness, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported. When the name of the event was changed, students were told that the dress code was the same in that floral shirts were encouraged and leis would be worn. But a subsequent message said that the leis would be dropped.
Now the president of the university, Sheila Gestring, has announced that she is investigating whether the student organizers' free speech rights were violated. "Administrative censorship of student speech and expression is a serious matter and not something USD condones without compelling justification consistent with board policy, such as a genuine threat," said a statement announcing the investigation. "Free expression and a fierce dedication to an open marketplace of ideas is at the very heart of USD’s foundation as a liberal arts university."
