Controversial Roast Funding Denied at USC
Columbia, S.C. – In a decision that has sparked conversations across the campus, the student government at the University of South Carolina (USC) voted 27 to 10 to deny a request for funding from the organization Uncensored America. The funding, amounting to 3,576.99 dollars, was aimed at supporting a roast event that featured Vice President Kamala Harris as a subject.
The Request Breakdown
Uncensored America’s funding request included a variety of expenses, including 1,500 dollars for guest speakers, with the notable name of Proud Boys Founder Gavin McInnes included, 803 dollars for decoration, 647 dollars for camera rentals, 126.99 dollars for advertising flyers, and 500 dollars allocated for security provided by USC Police.
The Political Debate
The discussion around the funding request was quite lively. Some senators argued that the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission, supports the claim that money spent on political events is a form of protected speech. However, others raised concerns, pointing out that the event is not directly tied to any political campaigns, such as those of former President Donald Trump, which raised questions about its eligibility for funding under university guidelines.
Student Senator Camden Kaye shared his thoughts, stating, “In order to both protect – I think – the university and student government, we have kind of had a policy of, ‘We will not take your political viewpoint into consideration when doing this.’” Kaye emphasized that the determination to deny funding wasn’t about choosing sides but rather adhering to predetermined guidelines.
Encouraging Participation in Other Events
In contrast to the heated debate surrounding the roast event, student body president Patton Byars is pushing a different initiative. Byars is encouraging students to participate in Blatt Bonanza, another event happening on campus on the same day as the roast. “This is the event that we should be talking about,” Byars mentioned. “We’re going to have a lot of free and fun activities there, whether that’s inflatables, bouncy houses, spikeball, or pickleball among other things.”
Reactions from the Student Body
The fallout from the vote continues to draw a variety of responses from students on campus. Senior Zamiyah Johnson was at the senate meeting and expressed her surprise and excitement about the outcome. “I honestly truthfully did not go in there thinking that… it was going to go the way that it went. But I am absolutely ecstatic,” she said.
On the other side of the discussion, Student Senator Isabella Miller raised an intriguing point regarding the nature of the advertising materials that were part of Uncensored America’s proposal. Miller argued that the promotional flyers might run afoul of South Carolina laws on sexual misconduct. “The South Carolina law specifically dictates secretions as part of the sexual misconduct, and the promotional material… may have been disseminating that to people who are under the age of 18,” she stated, raising serious questions about the legality of the event’s promotions.
Taking Precautions for Campus Safety
In light of the situation, the Student Senate did approve a separate motion to increase security across campus on the day of September 18, just ahead of the planned event. This is a move aimed at ensuring that all students feel safe while engaging in activities, whether they choose to attend the roast or participate in the festivities at Blatt Bonanza.
As Columbia continues to navigate this situation, students are left to ponder the implications of such funding requests and how they might shape the campus community in the future. Whether students take the stage at a roast or bounce around in inflatables, the conversation about free speech and student activities at USC is far from over.
