Brazil student expelled after wearing mini-dress

The Associated Press

Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 | 9:22 a.m.

A Brazilian university expelled a woman who was heckled by hundreds of fellow students when she wore a short, pink dress to class, taking out newspaper ads Sunday to publicly accuse her of immorality.

The private Bandeirante University in Sao Bernardo do Campo, outside Sao Paulo, said 20-year-old Geisy Arruda disrespected "ethical principles, academic dignity and morality."

Arruda made headlines last month when she had to be escorted away by police after she tried to go to class wearing the mini-dress. She put on a professor's white coat and left amid a hail of insults and curses.

Video of the Oct. 22 incident was posted on YouTube and picked up by Brazilian networks. Arruda has since appeared frequently on TV, saying she is struggling to return to normal life after being humiliated.

Bandeirante University published advertisements accusing Arruda of attending class with "inadequate clothing" and having a provocative attitude that was "incompatible with the university environment."

In the ad, titled "Educational Responsibility," the college said it had warned Arruda to change her behavior and decided to expel her after talking to students, staff and Arruda herself. It accused her of posing for pictures and provoking other students.

Arruda told Folha Online on Sunday she was appalled.

"I was the victim," she said. "How can I be expelled? It's absurd."

Arruda said she learned of her expulsion through the news media and had not received official notification.

She said university officials told her last week she would be allowed to return to classes with the protection of a security guard.

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