Republican state legislators from South Carolina's House Freedom Caucus are pushing to strip funding from the state's only public historically Black college or university after school administrators rescinded an invitation to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette as a commencement speaker following student protests.
The controversy began when South Carolina State University initially invited Evette, who is also running for governor in 2026, to deliver remarks at spring commencement. Students subsequently organized multiple demonstrations around campus, objecting to her positions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, abortion rights, and her support for President Donald Trump. Following the protests, university President Alexander Conyers announced the decision to 'move in a different direction' citing safety concerns.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican legislators and Evette herself have characterized the student protests as an example of ideological cancellation of conservative voices on college campuses. Evette told Fox News Digital: 'Somebody with a conservative point of view shows up and everybody wants to cancel them. We saw it with Charlie Kirk, and we saw with Riley Gaines, and we've seen it with Ben Shapiro. I never thought I'd be in that kind of list, but here we are and it's a real shame and it has to end.'
House Freedom Caucus members argue that a public university accepting state funding cannot discriminate against speakers based on political viewpoint. They say the university's decision sets a precedent that could silence conservative voices at other state institutions.
Evette, who founded and formerly led a company that grew into a billion-dollar enterprise, noted the university originally cited her business record as justification for the invitation before rescinding it. She said attorneys representing the university told her office the cancellation was due to 'credible threats,' though specific details of those alleged threats have not been publicly disclosed.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and student advocates say the defunding effort punishes students for exercising their right to protest and would disproportionately harm Black students at an institution founded specifically to serve them. Student Government Association President Zaria Tucker addressed the board of trustees, saying: 'Commencement is not about politics, but more about representation. What we need as students. Not someone to come and tell us what they need to do as governor, or another position that they're running for in this state. But, more to uplift us as students.'
Critics note that South Carolina State University serves approximately 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students, with a majority-minority enrollment. They argue that threatening institutional funding undermines the autonomy of HBCUs, which have historically operated with limited resources compared to predominantly white institutions.
Progressive organizations have pointed out that student protests were described as peaceful by participants themselves. In video of Conyers announcing the decision to students, he said he did not want people to think students at South Carolina State are 'thugs' or a mob, prompting chants from students who responded: 'We are not a mob. We are just aware.'
What the Numbers Show
South Carolina State University receives approximately $41 million annually from state appropriations, according to recent budget documents. The institution also receives federal funding through Title III programs designed to support HBCUs, which totaled roughly $9 million in the most recent fiscal year.
The university employs approximately 1,100 full-time staff and faculty members. According to enrollment data, about 83% of students at South Carolina State receive some form of financial aid, with a significant percentage being first-generation college students.
State funding accounts for roughly 25% of the university's operating budget, making legislative appropriations a substantial portion of institutional revenue. Any reduction in state support could affect scholarship programs, facility maintenance, and faculty positions, according to budget analysts familiar with HBCU financing.
The Bottom Line
The standoff between Republican legislators and South Carolina State University represents an escalating conflict over free speech, institutional autonomy, and the role of student activism on college campuses. If funding legislation advances, legal experts say it would likely face constitutional challenges under First Amendment protections for viewpoint neutrality at public universities.
What happens next: The House Freedom Caucus is expected to introduce defunding legislation during the next legislative session. University officials have not indicated whether they will reverse their decision on Evette's invitation. Evette continues her gubernatorial campaign while maintaining that she would welcome dialogue with students who disagree with her positions.