VERMILLION, S.D. — Unversity of South Dakota officials have said they plan to strengthen student conduct policies and do more work on cultural sensitivity after an incident involving an American Indian student during the school’s homecoming parade.
Alexis Oskolkoff, 30, a senior majoring in anthropology and Native studies, told the Argus Leader newspaper that she and her 10-year-old son, who were dressed in tribal regalia for the Oct. 5 parade, were taunted by other students who made an inappropriate comment and gestures regarding their race.
“He was really upset,” Oskolkoff said of her son. “You could tell it hurt his feelings. I shouted at them, so they stopped. I mean, I’m used to having racial things said to me. But when it comes to my son, I put my foot down.”
Dean of Students Kim Grieve called the incident “very, very disappointing, very troubling,” and university spokeswoman Tena Haraldson said the university prides itself on being inclusive of people from all cultures.
“It’s always going to be an ongoing process of education and enlightening people,” Haraldson said. “Sometimes people say and do stupid things.”
Representatives from Strollers, the unversity’s oldest student-run organization and the group responsible for the float from which the taunts came, apologized verbally and in writing to Oskolkoff and her son.
“I was shocked and horrified when I heard about the event,” Strollers President Chris Jahr said. “The situation was very disappointing, and I am glad to have had a chance to rectify it for all parties.”
