On this TJPS Truth In Transit investigation, I visited Orangeburg, South Carolina, after university leadership formally invited Republican Lt. Governor Pamela Evette to be a commencement speaker for graduation.

The move, made in December 2025, was not told to student government leadership until this month. Upon being informed, they unequivocally disagreed with the decision, and it sparked a wave of resistance! I had many questions and concerns, so I traveled down to Orangeburg myself.

I got to witness the board of trustees meeting, speak to student government representatives, and interview an alumn, who happens to be an elected official on the county council and a persistent advocate for the HBCU. In this report, I tell the history of resistance behind this HBCU, how students mobilized and won victory, and the power of using your voice to effectuate change!