'Summa --- Laude': Grocery store censors graduation cake due to 'profanity'
A South Carolina woman isn’t happy a grocery store censored her honor graduate son’s cake, which was supposed to include the Latin phrase “summa cum laude.”
Cara Koscinski told The of Charleston she ordered a cake online from Publix that was supposed to say “Congrats Jacob! Summa Cum Laude class of 2018.”
"He did not know we were getting a cake because he's not a big cake-eater. So we were all standing there, waiting to see it, and when we opened it, it was a huge shock to all of us," Cara Koscinski told
She says the online message box did not like the word “cum,” the Latin word for “with.” The computer marked it as a naughty word and substituted three hyphens.
"The website had censored me and this is a website that you can refer to for the Latin term for summa cum laude which means 'highest honors,'" she said.
Koscinski said she then filled in a box for special instructions, explaining the Latin word, and placed the $70 order. Another family member picked up the cake, not knowing what it was supposed to say. It came with the hyphens.
"The cake experience was kind of frustrating and humiliating because I had to explain to my friends and family like what that meant. And they were giggling uncontrollably. At least, my friends were," said Jacob Koscinski.
Cara Koscinski says the store gave her a refund and a gift card when she complained.
A Facebook post about the ordeal is going viral.