A University of Arizona student is causing a heated debate on social media after celebrating her graduation with a pole dance while wearing the traditional cap and gown and little else.
The racy video of her swinging on a pole drew strong reactions online, with some showing support, some attempting to shame her and others drawing a comparison with a student who caused a similar controversy last year.
Rachel Davenport, who goes by the name ‘Rachel Davenpole’ on social media, posted the celebratory video to Instagram and screenshots to Twitter, where she dances provocatively on a pole in lingerie, clear heels and her cap and gown.
‘I couldn’t have made it this far without the amazing support from everyone at @verticafitness! From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much,’ she said thanking a fitness company that specializes in pole dancing.
Davenpole said she graduated recently from the university’s School of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Rachel Davenport, who goes by ‘Rachel Davenpole’, recently graduated from the University of Arizona and created a stir online with how she celebrated
Davenport’s photos have gotten 7.5 million views on Twitter as of Monday, with an Instagram post celebrating those close to her in addition to the video.
Davenport- who wrote on May 28 that she’d been dancing for two years – initially made an uproar on Twitter by responding to a popular version of a meme that asked: ‘How do you serve c*** in an academic way?’
She responded with two pictures of her pole dance and wrote: ‘Like this.’
When one user responded to her photos on Twitter by saying ‘you look dumb as hell,’ Rachel clapped back, writing ‘Graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.8GPA) and received over $40,000 in scholarships… let’s get u a mirror so we can see who this tweets about babes.’
A supportive tweeter noted ‘as a pole fitness enthusiast… it’s not that serious… it’s literally a sport.’
That was backed up by another supporter who wrote that her move was ‘actually as impressive as f***’
Detractors were just as blunt in their assessment of the photos with one calling her a ‘degenerate!’
‘Graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.8GPA) and received over $40,000 in scholarships… let’s get u a mirror so we can see who this tweets about babes’ Davenport wrote in response to the criticism
Davenport’s photos have gotten 7.5 million views on Twitter as of Monday, with an Instagram post celebrating those close to her in addition to the video.
‘I couldn’t have done this without the support of my amazing friends and family who’ve been there every step of the way! Thank you all so much for your unconditional love and support.’
Rachel hasn’t given further comment on the online uproar but has promoted her Venmo account, adding: ‘like what you see? Don’t be shy, empty your wallet.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the University of Arizona for comment.
Some posters, whether on Davenpole’s side or not, cited that a young woman at a historically black college had her degree placed on hold last year after a similar stunt.
Terica Williams, a Florida rapper, posed in front of a snake sculpture at Florida A&M University to celebrate getting her Master’s Degree from the school.
‘As I’m standing here with my Masters Degree at the tender age of 24, I am the living proof that clothes do not define you. I encouraged every body to embrace their bodies and step outside social norms,’ she captioned the provocative post.
The university froze her transcripts after the post went viral and wouldn’t present her with a degree for five months.
Terica Williams found herself in a similar spot last year and backed Davenport’s posts after graduation
The Tallahassee Democrat reported that Williams was eventually found to not be in violation of school policy after proving that she’d photoshopped a thong out of the photo and was therefor, technically up to code.
‘I think that my picture opened up a lot of conversation and dialogue,’ Williams said in November. ‘I hope that a lot of people see it as me being my authentic self and still being successful.’
Williams, however, got word of Davenport exploits and after the shaming and hassle she’d faced, seemed to not be in a charitable mood.
‘Y’all do her how y’all did me,’ Williams, who goes by the handle ‘Terica Star’ on social media, wrote after seeing the photos.