SDSU Students' Hate Speech Video Sparks Statewide Reckoning

Rival campuses urged to reflect on their own cultures of discrimination and accountability.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:09pm

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A video surfaced this week showing South Dakota State University students using hate speech, sparking outrage and calls for the university to address the underlying campus climate that enabled such behavior. While SDSU has responded with a statement condemning the actions, critics argue the university must take more substantive steps to combat discrimination and ensure the safety of marginalized students. Rival schools in South Dakota are also being urged to examine their own cultures and whether they are doing enough to challenge harmful behavior on their campuses.

Why it matters

The incident at SDSU exposes a broader statewide problem around who feels protected on college campuses in South Dakota and who doesn't. Hate speech doesn't emerge in a vacuum, and this video reflects a cultural climate where some students feel comfortable using slurs without fear of consequences. Addressing this issue requires a deeper reckoning, not just dismissing it as 'boys being boys'.

The details

The video in question featured SDSU students using hate speech, including racial slurs. The instinctive reaction from rival campuses has been to point fingers and distance themselves, rather than reflect on their own cultures. However, the underlying issue is not unique to Brookings - every campus in South Dakota likely has students who have heard similar comments before, whether in group chats, at social events, or in classrooms.

  • The video surfaced on social media this past week.

The players

South Dakota State University

The university where the hate speech video originated, and which is now facing calls to address the campus climate that enabled such behavior.

Rival schools in South Dakota

Other colleges and universities in the state that are being urged to reflect on their own cultures and whether they are doing enough to challenge discrimination on their campuses.

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What’s next

SDSU has stated it will be investigating the incident further, but critics argue the university must take more substantive action to address the underlying campus climate and ensure the safety of marginalized students.

The takeaway

This incident at SDSU highlights the need for a deeper reckoning across South Dakota's college campuses around who feels protected and who doesn't. Dismissing hate speech as 'boys being boys' only perpetuates the harm, and all universities in the state must reflect on whether they are truly creating an environment where discrimination is challenged and marginalized students feel safe.