A University of St. Thomas student has apologized and is withdrawing from the school after a heated exchange with a left-wing activist went viral, drawing millions of views, sparking a firestorm of racism accusations against her and prompting plans for a protest on the university’s campus later this week.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during the situation with the protesters,” she wrote in a statement published Tuesday on the university’s website. “Regardless of the circumstances, I should have handled the situation with respect, and I take full responsibility for my behavior. I am truly sorry.”
The student was referring to an incident captured on video in which she can be heard telling someone, “Go back to your country, bitch.”
And while the young woman faces the fallout from her words, little attention has been paid by mainstream media or the university to the man at the center of the confrontation — including his history of provocative behavior.
Alpha News spoke with Sarah Barker, who attended the Oct. 14 Turning Point USA event featuring women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines at the University of Minnesota, where the confrontation occurred. Barker says she is all too familiar with Derek Torstenson, the left-wing activist at whom the student’s remarks were directed.
Having encountered Torstenson at multiple events, Barker described what she says is his familiar playbook: Shout insults, hurl sexually explicit remarks and provoke people until someone finally snaps.
“He does this to get a reaction out of people,” Barker told Alpha News.
And this time, it appears he got one.
The viral video of the student has garnered nearly 8 million views on X, accompanied by a caption claiming she directed the remark at a “brown man.” The post sparked a wave of online backlash and accusations of racism against the student, with Bring Me The News even characterizing her words as a “racist comment” in its headline.
Torstenson, who appears to be white, claims to be adopted from Moscow and speaks with a “strong accent.”
Now, as the student takes responsibility for her words, Barker’s account raises questions about the conduct that preceded the viral exchange — and why so much of that context was missing from the public narrative.
Eyewitness describes provocateur’s tactics
Barker attended the Oct. 14 event where the interaction with the St. Thomas student occurred. She said Torstenson held a megaphone near her ear while shouting insults such as “you’re a transphobe,” “you hate trans people,” and “you should have been aborted.”
Having encountered Torstenson at previous demonstrations, Barker said she knew better than to take the bait. She ignored him, prompting him to shout, “Are you deaf?”
But not everyone knows to ignore the provocations.
“When someone responds to his filth, he amps it up, and focuses on them,” Barker said.
Barker also described another of Torstenson’s tactics: wielding a large folding fan emblazoned with the word “CUNT” while shouting through a megaphone. Torstenson was seen using both at the Oct. 14 event.
“He holds the megaphone and then he claps the fan closed and open, and it’s very loud. So he can shake it open and closed, and it’s very, very loud and annoying,” she said.
“He very much wants to incite people,” Barker said.
Although Barker was outside during the time of the confrontation, she did not witness the exchange between Torstenson and the St. Thomas student. However, she believes the young woman may have fallen into the same trap she has seen others encounter at previous demonstrations.
“This student didn’t know to ignore him,” she said. “She responded as many others have at other protests and rallies.”
Alpha News previously reported on Torstenson’s history of appearing at protests marked by heated confrontations.
Video from at least one incident in February shows police detaining him outside of a Target store.
An X user shared images reportedly showing Torstenson shouting through a megaphone at a Target manager in Richfield.
St. Thomas student apologizes amid fallout
On Tuesday, St. Thomas released a statement on behalf of the student in which she accepted responsibility for her behavior and acknowledged that she should have handled the confrontation differently.
“I understand that my actions have consequences, and I take responsibility for that,” she said. “I know I have a lot to learn from this experience, and I am committed to educating myself and better understanding how my words and actions affect others.”
Her apology comes four days after the University of St. Thomas condemned the student’s language and announced that it was investigating the off-campus incident.
Great work everyone. You bullied a teenager into dropping out of college. I guess everyone wins here. https://t.co/tZlRjTnoUz
— Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb) October 21, 2026
“The language heard in the video is inconsistent with the university’s values and convictions,” the university said.
As Alpha News previously reported, the university was asked whether administrators were aware of Torstenson’s reported behavior before the confrontation and whether that context would be considered in the investigation.
Alpha News also asked what steps the university was taking to protect the student from harassment, threats or retaliation amid the widespread publicity.
The university did not respond to those inquiries.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
