Nationwide — Tyvion Campbell, an African American student from Chicago, Illinois, said she was removed from her graduation ceremony after performing a split on stage. She also said school staff withheld her diploma during the event, leaving her confused and without answers.
Tyvion Campbell, 18, graduated from Chicago Tech Academy and attended her commencement last month at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago. She greeted family and friends and walked across the stage like other graduates.
As she crossed, Campbell performed a split as a celebratory move. The crowd reacted strongly, but school officials did not respond the same way during the ceremony.
Campbell said she expected to receive her diploma immediately after her name was called. Instead, she said she was left waiting at the stage as the ceremony continued.
“I tried to reach for my diploma, and I didn’t get it. I was confused at first. I thought they mixed up my name,” Campbell said, according to the New York Post. “The principal Miss [Zataya] Shackelford told me that I need to think of a way to make up for what I’ve done. This was supposed to be a celebratory moment and I made it about myself.”
Campbell said she was later escorted out of the venue, even though there was no clear rule stating that splits were not allowed during the graduation ceremony. She also said she has not received her diploma since the ceremony.
“It was disappointing,” she said. “It really hurt my feelings. I cried, and I couldn’t even continue the graduation.”
Campbell graduated with a 3.5 GPA and said she planned to study business administration at Georgia State University.
Chicago Tech Academy has not issued a detailed public statement about the incident.