Tinder offers scholarship to student booted from sorority because of the dating app
(Facebook/Shannon Workman)
Like many students in university, Shannon Workman has an account on Tinder. But she had to learn the hard way that being on the popular dating site was against her sorority’s “human dignity” rule.
The third year student came under fire after she was spotted wearing a Chi Omega sorority shirt in her profile picture on the site.
“[The Chi Omega official] said pictures that are promiscuous or risqué in nature require a personnel meeting,” Workman told Good Morning America. “I was so humiliated.”
But she was also smart.
Called into a disciplinary meeting, Workman secretly recorded the proceedings, capturing the sorority officials calling her “disrespectful” and requesting a “membership revocation.”
The picture that forced Chi Omega to take disciplinary action against Workman. (Facebook/Shannon Workman)
She then refused to partake in any further disciplinary actions, telling the board, “I’m never coming back.”
And Tinder took note.
Upon hearing about the incident, the company reached out to Workman to offer her a full year’s scholarship to cover her final year of school.
“We think what Shannon did sends a very empowering message to young women and college students, which is actually one of Tinder’s largest audiences,” Tinder co-founder and CEO Sean Rad told BuzzFeed. “Don’t conform, don’t let people tell you your beliefs are wrong just because it’s not the same as their beliefs.”
ALSO SEE: Now girls are being sent home from school because boys are peering up their skirts
In addition, they offered Workman a paid internship with the company.
“It’s the first time we reached out to someone whose story inspired us and asked them to be part of the team,” Rad said. “Her actions showed a depth of leadership and courage that is admirable and something we value as part of our company culture. We always want to stand up for our users who stand up for us.”
ALSO SEE: Recruitment video montage likens sororities to joining a cult
While Workman hasn’t made any firm decisions on whether or not she plans to take the internship, she’s thrilled that the company reached out after hearing about what happened to her.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing,” she told BuzzFeed. “I do stand up for Tinder because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. Some people use it for hookups but I don’t, and a lot of great things happen through Tinder.”
What do you think of Tinder reaching out to this student after she was forced to leave her sorority? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
