MAGA supporter says Marquette University threatened to cancel her admission over pro-Trump TikTok video
The Milwaukee school at Marquette University reportedly threatened to cancel the admission of an incoming freshman after she posted a TikTok video expressing her support for President Donald Trump. In a video titled “When the libs find their way to your page”, Samantha Pfefferle danced along with captions such as “When people see that I support Trump,” “Then try to hate on me” and “And think I’ll change my views,” according to a report by The College Fix.
As reported by the student news site, the video features a Trump 2020 flag and a sign that reads “Marquette 2024". The video also features rapper 6ix9ine’s hit “GOOBA,” with lyrics such as “He’s mad, she’s mad, big sad, haha, don’t care, stay mad."
According to Pfefferle, some people have even gone to the extent of threatening her life over the video, which went viral. “I hope you get shot,” one user wrote. “I’d pray for you but you’re not worth it,” another added. Speaking to The College Fix, Pfefferle said she “was extremely disappointed by the incendiary comments. The response from my peers has been repulsive.”
She then revealed that Brian Troyer, dean of undergraduate admissions, told her that her acceptance into the college was not certain. “[He] had the heart to tell me I wasn’t a student,” Pfefferle told the student news site, explaining that she had already had a full class schedule and had paid for housing in advance. “If that doesn’t make me a student, what does?”
Pfefferle later confirmed that the school had finally informed her on Monday that her admission would not be revoked. According to her, some school administrators asked her a line of questions that appeared to judge her morals. “They also asked me hypothetical questions regarding Dreamers,” she revealed to the Fix, referring to undocumented immigrants who arrived on US soil as children and are protected from deportation under the Obama-era DACA program.
“How would I respond if a Dreamer who lived down the hall from me came up to me and told me she didn’t feel safe or comfortable with my views and me being on campus,” Pfefferle told the outlet.
“They also asked me if they thought there was anything I could do to improve my image on campus," she continued. "They proceeded to ask if I was comfortable with the reputation I have established for myself. The assistant dean asked if I put any thought into the response I would be getting from my videos.”
In a statement, the Jesuit school said its “admissions decisions are made based on academic achievements and student involvement, not political views" and that the report that the institute “might rescind the admission of incoming freshman Samantha Pfefferle is false.”
“Marquette has not rescinded her admissions offer,” the statement continued. “Concerns about this new student that were brought to the university’s attention were not based on political affiliation but on the alleged use of discriminatory language."
"In this case, there were also concerns for the incoming student’s safety, which were investigated by the Marquette University Police Department and discussed with the incoming student,” it added.