SC State Students Rejected the Speaker, and Proved Why

Who thought it was a good idea in the first place to invite South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette to deliver the commencement address at South Carolina State University?

The students made the right choice by turning down the invitation and moving forward. Sadly, Lt. Gov. Evette seemed to react more like an upset supporter than a public servant. She basically acted as if, since she could not speak at commencement, no one else should be allowed to either.

The students already saw that it was not a good match. Having support for Donald J. Trump, ICE policies, efforts to end DEI programs, and repeating the claim that the present administration has done more for HBCUs than any other as misleading and out of touch with reality.

Elected officials should know that not every invitation is a good fit. Often, the best response is to respect what the students want and act professionally. In this case, though, the situation showed a concerning sense of entitlement and lack of political maturity.

Ongoing criticism of DEI also shows a basic misunderstanding of what DEI really means. Mixing up Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with affirmative action has become an easy political story for people who should know better, especially those in public office. The Lt. Governor’s response seemed thin-skinned and dismissive of the people she is meant to serve.

What stands out most is the idea that different opinions do not deserve much respect unless they match her own political views. It suggests that only the Governor’s office knows what is best for HBCU graduates.

In the end, maybe this controversy had a purpose. It showed students and people across South Carolina how Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette deals with disagreement and criticism, not with respect, class, or tact, but with retaliation and political posturing.