SC State Rescinds Lt. Gov. Invite Amid Protests

South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers has rescinded the invitation for Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to speak at the upcoming commencement ceremony. This decision follows two days of student protests and comes after Evette referred to the protesting students as a “woke mob.”

President Stands With Students

In a video posted to X, President Conyers was seen standing with his students, affirming their right to protest. He stated, “What I saw yesterday, what I saw today, was college students exercising their free rights… So how someone can confuse what happened, and perhaps because that person wasn’t here… I will admit you’ve done exactly what I did some 35 years ago as a student on these same grounds.”

Conyers acknowledged that he couldn’t change what was said on social media but refused to let outsiders label the future generation as “thugs.” He invited anyone skeptical to visit the campus and see for themselves.

Safety and Celebration as Priorities

In a statement to WLTX, Conyers explained that the university has “decided to move in a different direction” for commencement. While Evette was initially chosen for her record as a business leader, the situation evolved into a safety concern. The university stated it will welcome Evette at a later date, emphasizing that “The safety and well-being of our students, families, faculty, staff and guests will always guide our decisions.” Commencement, he added, “should remain a moment of celebration focused on our graduates and their achievements.”

Student Concerns and Evette’s Response

The student protests, which gained support from figures like Bakari Sellers, centered on “morality issues.” One student expressed, “We’ve been here four, five years, and for commencement we should have someone who is going to celebrate us. How can someone who goes against everything we stand for and believe in, morality-wise, how can that person uplift me on my day of stepping into the real world?”

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Evette, who is also running for governor, continued to voice her stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on college campuses. Upon learning of the rescinded invitation, she issued a statement: “The fact that a speech had to be canceled for credible safety threats is exactly why we cannot give up the fight to end indoctrination and DEI on campuses once and for all. The root problem is professors who gin up feigned outrage at the detriment of their students, who they should be teaching to think critically. End tenure now!”