Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Social media
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Right wing -
Incident Responses:
University investigation issuing in sanctions
Campus police
Other Law Enforcement
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
On February 28, 2026, a racist video was posted to the SDSU Snapchat story. The roughly 46-second video featured multiple SDSU students using racial slurs and making references threatening Black people. The video also included gestures and language implying violence toward Black individuals. The video was deleted shortly after it circulated but had already drawn attention from students, faculty, and media outlets.
South Dakota State University officials and the Brookings Police Department began investigating the video on March 3, 2026. SDSU President Barry Dunn stated that the university was conducting a formal investigation and emphasized that “actions or language that demean, exclude or threaten others run counter to our values and have no place in our community.” He encouraged students and staff affected by the video to use support resources, including SDSU Counseling Services and the Employee Assistance Program for eligible staff.
Later, on March 12, 2026, President Dunn addressed the incident during a campus meeting. He described the video as “painful and deeply inappropriate” and restated the university’s commitment to a welcoming and respectful campus environment. He noted, “While I am limited in what I can share during an active investigation, please know that this situation is being handled with the seriousness and the care it warrants. We will continue working with the appropriate university offices to fully investigate and respond in a manner consistent with university policies and law.”
After the March 12 meeting, student leaders, including the Black Student Alliance President and Diversity Liaison for the Students’ Association, released statements saying that “more should be done” to hold the responsible individuals accountable. Their statements reflected concern over both the content of the video and the broader impact on the campus community.
The university coordinated with campus law enforcement and the Brookings Police Department to identify those responsible. As of the latest reporting, no individuals had been publicly identified or disciplined, and the investigation was ongoing.
