SC State relents, decides to pick new commencement speaker after Evette backlash
South Carolina State University is relenting and is changing its May 8 commencement speaker following students protests over the choice of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
“Out of an abundance of caution for safety and with careful consideration, the university has decided to move in a different direction for this spring commencement,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said in a statement.
“Commencement should remain a moment of celebration focused on our graduates and their achievements, and we are committed to ensuring an environment that reflects that purpose,” Conyers added.
After the school’s announcement, Evette on social media reiterated her call to end college tenure, a stance she has repeatedly said while running for governor.
“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,” Evette posted. “The root problem is professors who gin up feigned outrage at the detriment of their students, who they should be teaching to think critically.”
The school said the decision to invite Evette was because of her record as a “business leader and entrepreneur.”
Before Evette became lieutenant governor, she founded Quality Business Solutions, a company that helps businesses with human resources tasks.
She has centered her campaign for governor around her support for President Donald Trump, which has included calling for the end of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Earlier Wednesday, Evette said she was looking forward to speaking at the graduation ceremony and said she did not intend to be political in her remarks at the college.
“I’m sure a lot of these people that are there, that are family and graduates and faculty may or may not vote for me, and that’s okay, but there has to be dialog on college campuses. There have to be opposing views,” Evette said.
But Evette said on social media Tuesday those objecting to her appearance on the would “really hate my speech.”
Addressing the media Wednesday, she invoked Charlie Kirk saying colleges should be places where students hear multiple sides of an argument. She also defended calling the students protesting a “woke mob.”
“When people stop talking, when people stop listening to each other, is when violence happens. And you know there was always great and better ways to do things and what was happening,” Evette said to reporters. “What we saw with hundreds of people coming together, yelling and chanting, is a mob, anyway you slice it.”
Conyers said in his statement said SC State remained committed to having an environment where individuals may express views peacefully and respectfully.
“Our students have exercised their rights in a manner that reflects the importance of civic engagement and respectful discourse within a university community,” Conyers said.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 6:48 PM.
