University of South Carolina: Student Senate Denies Funding Request for Student Organization鈥檚 Event
Cases
University of South Carolina Columbia
Case Overview
On September 11, 2024, the University of South Carolina Student Senate voted to deny student organization Uncensored America鈥檚 funding request for an event featuring former Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos and Proud Boys co-founder Gavin McInnes. It rejected the request despite the Senate Finance Committee鈥檚 confirmation that it complied with all applicable rules and standards. During the Senate debate, one senator erroneously argued the sexual connotations in the event鈥檚 title, 鈥淭he Roast of Cumula Harris,鈥 violated university policy governing on-campus advertising and state law on exposing minors to sexual content鈥攏either the policy nor the law exist. Another senator incorrectly argued approving the funding communicated the Senate鈥檚 endorsement of the group and event, while a decision to deny the funding was politically neutral. On September 18, 果冻传媒app官方 wrote USC explaining that the Student Senate violated the First Amendment by denying funding to a student organization based on the group鈥檚 viewpoints and urging the Senate to reverse its decision. On September 25, the Student Senate voted to approve the funding request.