DOJ accused USC of an unconstitutional policy. University says it never existed
The U.S. Department of Justice publicly accused the University of South Carolina of potentially violating the U.S. Constitution for a policy that barred “controversial” speakers and activities from taking place outside.
Such a policy never existed, nor had it ever been considered.
In a letter addressed to USC President Michael Amiridis and posted on social media, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote that the Civil Rights Division had received “troubling allegations” concerning a meeting between administrators and student leaders from the campus chapters of Turning Point USA and Uncensored America, conservative student groups known to host contentious speakers on campus.
According to the letter, administrators informed students that such event would “no longer happen outside for the rest of the semester,” and cited the recently assassinated Charlie Kirk as a “known disruptor.”
Dhillon said USC may have violated the First Amendment and accused it of viewpoint discrimination.
“We urge the University to immediately eliminate any unconstitutional policies and reaffirm its support for outdoor expressive activities that promote the peaceful exchange of ideas that Charlie Kirk championed,” Dhillon wrote.
Dhillon posted the letter online with the caption “U of SC—act unwise, get a surprise! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Attorney General Alan Wilson said he spoke with Amiridis, who assured him no policies limiting free speech will be implemented. He along with 16 other attorneys general had sent a letter to presidents and deans across the country urging them to protect free speech last week.
“I appreciate the work of Harmeet Dhillon and her team at the Justice Department for bringing this to our attention, and I spoke to her as well. I am confident this will be rectified by university leadership, and quickly,” Wilson said in a news release.
But university officials maintain they never considered such policies in the first place.
“There was a misunderstanding,” USC spokesman Jeff Stensland said. “The university has never made any sort of blanket policy about not allowing events to take place outdoors, and that seemed to be the takeaway that the group had. ... We’ve hosted many high-profile speakers outdoors, and will continue to do so. We do have to work with the student groups and with law enforcement to make sure that there’s a viable security plan in place, but that’s always been part of the process, and will continue to be.”
The USC chapter of Turning Point USA is scheduled to host a mock trial with Alex Stein, a right-wing Youtuber and comedian, on Sept. 29.
Stein, Stensland said, opted to have the event indoors at the Russell House.
“We honor requests from student orgs to host guest speakers outdoors & will continue to do so, regardless of the student org or the speaker visiting campus,” USC posted on X. “As we have done for years, we will work directly w/ TPUSA/UA to ensure a safe outdoor environment for speakers & attendees.”
Dhillon thanked the university for the clarification.
The DOJ’s accusation stirred up online criticism directed at the university, from allegations of “pushing” ideology and “woke culture” to calls for defunding.
“It shouldn’t have taken a letter from the DOJ to do the right thing. Disappointed in my Alma Mater,” one person wrote on X.
USC has yet to receive the posted letter, nor any official correspondence from the Department of Justice, Stensland said.
