South Carolina State funding targeted by Republican lawmakers over Pamela Evette decision

South Carolina State University is facing political backlash after student protests led to the cancellation of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s planned commencement address. In response, a group of Republican lawmakers is seeking to remove $5 million in state funding designated for a proposed S.C. State convocation center.

According to Columbia television station WIS 10, Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Aiken, and several other legislators are pushing to exclude the funding from the state budget, arguing that a publicly funded institution should not allow a small group of students to determine which viewpoints are heard on campus.

The controversy began after South Carolina State withdrew Evette as its spring commencement speaker amid mounting opposition from students. An online petition opposing her appearance gathered more than 20,000 signatures, with critics citing her stance on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and her alignment with conservative policies.

In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Banister, Republican lawmakers argued that state funding should be reconsidered, claiming the university had created an environment where not all South Carolinians are welcome.

Evette responded on social media, saying the cancellation and reported safety concerns reinforce her opposition to DEI programs on college campuses. She argued that faculty members contribute to political division and called for an end to tenure.

The dispute has intensified tensions over free speech, political ideology and the role of public universities, placing South Carolina State at the center of a broader debate playing out across higher education.

The SC State & Pamela Evette Controversy
Category	Details
The Controversy	South Carolina State University disinvited Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette as its Spring 2026 commencement speaker following days of heavy student protests.
The Student Backlash	Students staged sit-ins and marches to protest Evette's conservative political stances, particularly her outspoken support for eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs on college campuses.
The University's Stance	SC State President Alexander Conyers officially cited "an abundance of caution for safety" and the well-being of the campus community as the primary reason for dropping Evette from the ceremony.
The Political Retaliation	In response, nine Republican state representatives authored a letter demanding the state budget committee and Gov. Henry McMaster block $5 million in funding earmarked for a new convocation center at the HBCU.
The GOP Argument	The lawmakers argue the university "capitulated" to a "woke mob" and that publicly funded institutions must face financial punishment for denying conservative free speech.
Evette's Response	Following the cancellation, Evette doubled down on social media, stating that the situation proves exactly why lawmakers "cannot give up the fight to end indoctrination and DEI on campuses once and for all."