USD settles lawsuit by ex-DEI employee who claimed she was called 'whore'

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The University of South Dakota and the South Dakota Board of Regents have settled a lawsuit brought by a former contract employee who alleged that she was called a “whore.”

The Board of Regents agreed to pay Semehar Ghebrekidan $100,000 – which included back pay and a nearly $25,000 fee to her attorney. In return, Ghebrekidan agreed to settle the lawsuit and sign a release, which was obtained by The Dakota Scout.

“The parties desire to fully and finally settle and resolve, for valuable consideration, any and all actual and potential claims, causes of action, and disputes that plaintiff and her attorney may have against defendants,” the agreement reads. “Accordingly, without any admission of liability, the parties have reached this agreement and compromise after considering the substantial expense and uncertainty of future litigation, trials, and appeals, and with the desire to resolve all pending or potential disputes and administrative matters in their entirety.”

Ghebrekidan joined USD as an international student advisor on June 22, 2018. She came to USD from South Dakota State University, where she helped found the Diversity Academy and worked as a graduate assistant in the diversity, equity and inclusion office, according to her lawsuit.

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