By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer Tales Azzoni, Associated Press Writer
Tue Nov 10, 2:34 am ET
SAO PAULO A woman expelled for wearing a mini-dress that caused a near riot
at a Brazilian college and made her an Internet sensation said all she wants is
to go back to school. Well, she got her way.
Geisy Arruda, a 20-year-old tourism student, can return to the classroom after
Bandeirante University reversed its decision to expel her following a flood of
negative reaction in a nation known for tiny bikinis, beaches and Carnival.
The dean of the private college in suburban Sao Paulo released a statement
Monday announcing the reversal, without saying why it had decided to let her
back in.
Videos of students ridiculing and cursing Arruda for her short outfit turned up
on the Web, and quickly made headlines across Brazil and drew attention around
the world to the Oct. 22 incident.
Arruda was forced to put on a professor's white coat to cover her short, pink
dress and was escorted away by police amid a hail of insults by students, some
of whom shouted "whore."
Arruda said just before Monday's decision that she was humiliated by the
experience and was never warned by university officials that her dress was too
racy, according to the private Agencia Estado news agency
"If a security guard or a professor had told me something I would have humbly
returned home and changed my clothes," she said, accompanied by seven lawyers
at a packed press conference.
Her expulsion prompted complaints from the national student union, Brazil's
minister in charge of women's policy and a demand from the Education Ministry
that the university explain why it had kicked her out.
The student had told reporters through one of her lawyers that she was going to
sue the college so she could finish the semester.
Arruda and her lawyers could not be reached for comment on the school's
reversal, but in her interview ahead of the decision she said she wanted to
return to school but was also scared about going back.
"I only want to go into the classroom, sit down, study and take tests," she
said.
Although Brazil is known for revealing clothing especially in beach cities,
where many bikinis are referred to locally as "dental floss" most college
students dress more modestly on campus, commonly in jeans and T-shirts.
The university published newspaper advertisements Sunday saying it expelled
Arruda for disrespecting "ethical principles, academic dignity and morality."
The ads also alleged Arruda acted in a provocative manner incompatible with the
university's environment.
University lawyer Decio Lencioni told Globo TV that the institution was merely
following its rules.
"The problem is not her clothes," he said. "It's her behavior, her attitude."
Lencioni and the university alleged Arruda even raised her dress and stopped to
pose for photos the night she wore the short dress on campus. He said she also
chose the longest way to get to class to attract the attention of more
students.
Arruda vehemently denied the claim, saying, "It's a big lie that I raised the
dress," Agencia Estado reported.
In Sunday's ads, titled "Educational Responsibility," the college said it had
previously warned Arruda to change her behavior and decided to expel her after
talking to students, staff and Arruda.
"I always dressed in a way that makes me feel good and that doesn't offend
anybody," Arruda said during an interview with Brazil's Globo TV. "I was always
like that and was never recriminated by anybody."
Civil police in the city of Sao Bernardo do Campo outside Sao Paulo, where the
university is located, said they will investigate the students accused of
heckling Arruda. The university said some will be temporarily suspended.