University of South Carolina: Student Senate Denies Funding Request for Student Organization’s Event

On September 11, 2024, the University of South Carolina Student Senate voted to deny student organization Uncensored America’s 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’s confirmation that it complied with all applicable rules and standards. During the Senate debate, one senator erroneously argued the sexual connotations in the event’s title, “The Roast of Cumula Harris,” violated university policy governing on-campus advertising and state law on exposing minors to sexual content—neither the policy nor the law exist. Another senator incorrectly argued approving the funding communicated the Senate’s endorsement of the group and event, while a decision to deny the funding was politically neutral. On September 18, FIRE wrote USC explaining that the Student Senate violated the First Amendment by denying funding to a student organization based on the group’s viewpoints and urging the Senate to reverse its decision. On September 25, the Student Senate voted to approve the funding request.