Uncensored America to Sue University of South Carolina Over Funding Denial
Story Summary
Sean Semanko of Uncensored America has made public his intentions to bring a lawsuit against the University of South Carolina following the student government’s refusal to fund an event organised by the group.
Denied Funding
The group has reported that the student government withheld support up to $3,576, which was planned to facilitate the group’s event. Regardless of financial hurdles, a significant number of students have maintained their resolution to participate in the roast, proving undeterred by the controversy.
Unphased by the backlash, Sean Semanko on behalf of Uncensored America stated “With all this backlash, we have taken some time to reevaluate the status of this event, and after careful thought and deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to go forward with the event as planned.”
Lawsuit Announcement
Semanko revealed the group’s plan to begin legal proceedings, not only against the University of South Carolina, but also against its students, faculty, and all perceived antagonists of their First Amendment rights. He stated powerfully, “The short answer is we will sue anyone who has infringed on our freedom of speech and sought to prevent us from staging this event. You can intimidate us, you can defame us, you can deny us funding, but you can’t prevent us from conducting this event.”
Escalating Controversy and Student Reactions
The contention surrounding the group’s event intensified when approximately 30,000 individuals signed an online petition imploring the university to halt the roast. Concerns were raised about the student government’s decision-making process as they had previously allocated resources for other politically themed events.
Opinions among students are polarised. Some students, expressing a desire to attend the event, emphasized the importance of education and broadening understanding, especially in view of impending elections. However, others expressed strong opposition to the event and Uncensored America’s procession despite the discomfort it is causing their peers.
When approached for comment on the impending lawsuit, a spokesperson from the university stated that they have not yet received the lawsuit and maintain a policy of not commenting on ongoing litigation.