07-05-2025
DSU students weigh in on Noem's upcoming visit
MADISON, S.D. (KELO) — Dakota State University is getting ready to welcome former South Dakota governor and current secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to campus for this weekend's commencement.
The decision has sparked plenty of conversation among the student body.
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It's finals week on the campus of Dakota State, with graduating seniors receiving their diplomas this weekend. Those same seniors will also hear from Noem as the keynote speaker.
As Noem's arrival on the campus of Dakota State draws closer, students are already beginning to make their voices heard.
'You're really seeing, I don't want to say an even split down the middle, but you have a large amount of people that are in support, and you have a large amount of people that are strongly against,' Dakota State senior Joe Bennett said.
'You can definitely tell this is probably the most active we've seen students as far as standing up for something they believe in,' Dakota State junior Julia Busch said.
Some students disagree with Noem's policies and plan to protest on Saturday.
'You hear a lot of people really disagreeing with the deportations that are happening right now, and Kristi Noem being the head of the Department of Homeland Security, she is directly involved in a lot of that stuff,' Bennett said.
'The students have formed several different groups of opposition to what's going on on campus. The student senate has been leading one of those efforts and leading the student-led protests that are happening at commencement on May 10th,' Dakota State student senate vice president Anden Wieseler said.
Some staff members say Noem has been a quote 'unwavering champion' of DSU programs such as cybersecurity.
'I am a cyber major, so I get that. Obviously, there's been a lot of growth in cyber in DSU as a campus. It is a big deal, so I understand them saying that she has played a part in it,' Busch said.
'Kristi Noem has had a very impressive political career, and I am not naive to the fact that people do support her as a person because she has done a lot of great things for the state of South Dakota,' Bennett said.
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But whatever your viewpoint is, students are encouraging you to make it known.
'I do hope that everyone gets heard,' Busch said.
'It is your constitutionally protected right to be able to voice your opinion,' Bennett said.
A couple of the students we talked with also say they hope the rallies this weekend won't get in the way of the seniors celebrating their accomplishments.
KELOLAND News will be covering the commencement. We will bring you reports on KELOLAND Weekend News on Saturday.
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