GOP lawmakers seek to defund South Carolina State University

8 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 1

Nine South Carolina House Freedom Caucus Republicans urged cutting all state funding after the university rescinded Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette's Spring 2026 commencement invitation over student protests and safety threats.
University president Alexander Conyers said he personally changed course out of caution, while Evette said attorneys told her office there were credible threats and accused opponents of trying to cancel conservatives.
Students said their protests were peaceful and objected to Evette's views on Trump, DEI and abortion, while Republicans called it unacceptable that the state's lieutenant governor could not be kept safe on campus.

Can public universities protect free speech when facing student protests and threats to their state funding?

What defines a 'credible safety threat' on campus, and where is the line between peaceful protest and disruption?