PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has opened a hotline to receive complaints about South Dakota’s colleges. She also called on the state’s higher education governing body to ban drag performances, Noem said Friday.
Noem wrote to the South Dakota Board of Regents that states had allowed “liberal ideology to poison their colleges, universities and schools.”
Noem wrote: “Students have been taught to value diversity and equity on campuses all over the country and are given safe spaces to learn to tolerate disagreements, discomfort and dissent in the real world.
She asked the college oversight board for a number of things, including an increase in graduation rates, removing references to “preferred” pronouns from school materials, cutting administrative costs, and ensuring universities do not accept money from China.
Noem presented the hotline as a means to “keep our colleges and universities accountable” and to ensure that everyone is aware of what’s happening.
She said that the information collected from the hotline would guide policy changes.
Noem stated in a press release that “As I collaborate with our Board of Regents, Board of Technical Education, and other stakeholders to chart the path of higher education, this tool will help students, faculty and parents voice their concerns and address them.”
In December , the Board of Regents ordered a review of university events as well as its policy regarding minors’ attendance. This was after conservative legislators criticized a drag performance at South Dakota State University for being advertised to be family-friendly.
