MADISON, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Dakota State University hosted its commencement ceremonies on Saturday to celebrate the graduating class of 2025.
The attendance of one of their honored guests, former South Dakota Governor and current Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, sparked protests in Madison.
Leading up to graduation weekend, there was still uncertainty about what the rumored protests in response to Noem’s selection as a commencement speaker might look like.
Protesters lined Washington Avenue along the way to the Dakota State Fieldhouse, each with signs to express their displeasure with honoring their former governor, disagreeing with her actions as DHS Secretary.
“We don’t think that she is somebody that deserves any sort of honor from anybody,” said one protester with the local group Madison Area Stands Together, or “MAST”, Susan Wicks. “She’s currently right now violating the constitution, deporting people to foreign detainment centers without any due process.”
“I think that recently she’s shown herself to be a tool of the Trump administration and implementing policies that go against the Constitution of the United States,” John Nelson, another MAST protester, said.
Protesters said the faculty and staff of DSU were ignored when they raised concerns about honoring Noem on Saturday.
“DSU didn’t listen to the town, the faculty or their students, and we think that’s abhorrent,” Wicks said.
Inside the Fieldhouse, Noem received an honorary degree, a doctorate in public service. DSU cited Noem’s work championing the school and its cybersecurity programs.
“Then Governor Noem was always ready to listen to our proposals, ask insightful questions to learn more about our plans, and was eager to move forward to support those initiatives,” DSU President José-Marie Griffiths recalled during the ceremony.
Students each made their own decision about whether to protest or not. Some decided not to walk in the ceremony at all, while others discussed the possibility of other forms of protest, like staging a walkout or hiding signs in their cap and gown to bring out when Noem began speaking. Ultimately, they chose to stay in and take in the ceremony.
Max Lerchen graduated on Saturday with a master’s degree in business administration. He was a graduate assistant coach on the track team and said he enjoyed his time at Dakota State.
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