The flag of South Carolina State University flies from the Statehouse dome, below the American and state flags, in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. The flag flew from sunrise to sunset to celebrate the Bulldogs' win as national football champions for historically Black colleges and universities. The honor coincided with the annual King Day at the Dome on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. (Photo courtesy of Sam Holland/SC House photographer)
COLUMBIA — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will no longer speak at South Carolina State University’s commencement ceremony next week, following outcry from students and legislators, the university president announced Wednesday.
The announcement, which was also the historically Black university’s first public acknowledgement it had initially selected Evette to speak, included no alternative speaker for the May 8 graduation.
“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,” university President Alexander Conyers wrote in a statement.
The university initially chose Evette, who is running for governor in a crowded Republican primary, because of her career as a businesswoman, Conyers wrote. Before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019, Evette founded and led human resources firm Quality Business Solutions.
Lt. Gov. Evette set to give SC State commencement speech, causing student protest
Conyers invited Evette on Dec. 3, according to the governor’s office.
As a business owner, Evette “represents the kind of innovation, resilience and real-world achievement that aligns with the aspirations of our graduates,” Conyers wrote.
His statement did not address why the school had yet to announce that Evette was the speaker, 4 ½ months after inviting her and just over a week before commencement.
“Our intent was to provide students with a speaker whose professional journey could offer practical insight and inspiration as they prepare to enter the workforce,” Conyers said.
Students, who learned about Conyers’ choice before any announcement, saw the matter differently. A student-run petition called for the university to select a different speaker, pointing to Evette’s political history.
Student Government Association President Zaria Tucker, in a Facebook post, called for someone who reflects “the voices, values, and lived experiences of the students it celebrates.”
Legislators said some of Evette’s political stances, such as her calls to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on public college campuses, flew in the face of the values of a historically Black university.
“SC State is, and must continue to be, a place where ideas can be exchanged freely and constructively,” Conyers wrote. “The voices and perspectives of our students are an important part of the academic experience and contribute to the ongoing dialogue that strengthens our university community.”
In response to the protests of her appearance, Evette vowed to double down, particularly on her stances about diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Conservative voices will never be bullied or silenced anywhere in South Carolina,” Evette posted on X an hour before the university announced she would no longer be the speaker. “See you at commencement.”
Evette is among seven Republicans and three Democrats on June 9 primary ballots in their bid to be the next governor.
On Wednesday morning, Evette told reporters her speech was neither “politically charged” nor geared for GOP voters.
Her combative responses on X about the protest suggested otherwise. She repeatedly challenged her opponents to “bring it on,” referred to them as “woke mobs” and promised “they are really going to hate my speech.”
But during a virtual news conference, Evette said her speech was written as an inspirational message about the American dream, using her own story as the granddaughter of immigrants as an example and sharing the advice of her father, a tool and die maker.
“I’m going to bring a speech that talks about what hard work does, what they can become,” she said, “how you can be anything you want to be: That’s the message I’ve tried to send every time I spoke (at a commencement) because I think these young people are the promise of tomorrow.”
The speech was completed more than a month ago and had not been changed at all since, according to the governor’s office.
The SC State address was slated to be Evette’s sixth commencement speech as lieutenant governor.
She spoke to graduating students at Limestone College in May 2020, at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in October 2020, Spartanburg Community College in May 2022, at Lander University in May 2023 and at Francis Marion University in December 2024, according to the governor’s office.
Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
