Tinder to pay tuition for student who quit sorority over profile pic controversy

Tinder is reaching out with an offer of financial aid to a University of Nebraska Omaha student who caused a big stir by displaying her sorority’s letters in her profile pic on the dating app.

Tinder CEO Sean Rad has personally contacted the student, Shannon Workman, offering both a full year’s scholarship and a paid internship position at the California office of the dating app, reports BuzzFeed.

Workman was due to have her membership reviewed by the Chi Omega sorority before she posted a pic on Tinder wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the sorority’s logo and message. Having stated that the profile image violated the sorority’s “human dignity” rule, the organization’s board then began its “membership revocation” procedure. Workman refused to participate in the review process, and vowed never to return.

“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,” Rad told BuzzFeed in an email. “Don’t conform, don’t let people tell you your beliefs are wrong just because it’s not the same as their beliefs.”

According to the University of Nebraska Omaha junior, the sorority executive committee didn’t want to be associated with Tinder, an app it views as a place for hookups.

Workman claims that her disagreement in regards to the nature of the app, and the way in which she herself uses it, spurred her decision to leave the sorority. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with [Tinder]. Some people use it for hookups but I don’t, and a lot of great things happen through Tinder,” she stated.

Rad added that the internship offer marks the first time the dating app has personally asked someone to join its team. The multimillionaire CEO claimed that Workman’s act of defiance showed support for the app, inspiring it to return the favor.

“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,” he said.