South Dakota’s Governor, Kristi Noem, has written a letter to the governing board responsible for six public universities in the state, urging them to redefine the standards of higher education. The Republican governor proposed several recommendations, among which were banning drag shows on campuses and removing mandates requiring usage of preferred pronouns. She also called for the elimination of all preferred pronouns from school materials.
The governor asserted that higher education in the U.S. is currently in a “state of crisis,” pointing to the negative effects of liberal ideologies she believes have permeated many universities and colleges over the past decades. Noem expressed concern that some institutions, once havens for ideological diversity and debate, have now prioritized emotions over facts. According to her, this has led to a rejection of universal truth and knowledge, and a rise in the promotion of ‘individual truth.’
Governor Noem criticized the celebration of drag shows and the imposition of gender theory on campuses. She stated that these topics should be open to debate in classrooms, but not promoted through public performances in taxpayer-funded institutions. She expressed concern over compelled speech, asserting that the mandate for the usage of preferred pronouns has compelled students to conform to ideas they may not agree with.
The letter also announced the creation of a new whistleblower hotline for reporting concerns related to higher education institutions in the state. Governor Noem reaffirmed her commitment to South Dakota’s future, emphasizing the importance of universities and technical colleges in preparing the state’s children for what lies ahead. She concluded her letter by indicating that she recently appointed two new members to the board and will be making more appointments soon.