The University of South Carolina chapter of National Ground Game partnered with the Unfuck America Tour to host the tour's first stop of the year.
This event was held in opposition to Uncensored America's event, hosting conservative influencer Myron Gaines. National Ground Game brought political commentator and online debater Steven Bonnell, known online as Destiny, to encourage open discussion with students on Feb. 13.
National Ground Game is a political action committee that works to build a democratic presence on campus and reclaim the youth vote, according to its website.
It planned its first event, which ran throughout the day, to coincide with the nonpartisan free speech group Uncensored America's concurrent event. National Ground Game moved the date to align with theirs after the original was cancelled due to weather.
Ethan Alexander, one of the communication administrators for National Ground Game, said the goal of the group was to counter the Myron Gaines event with Destiny, whom he said was the best debater of his generation.
Event organizer and National Ground Game chapter coordinator Amy Zellmer was also present and emphasized the importance of college students' involvement. She said college students are impressionable and that getting involved young has stuck with her to this day.
"I think you become a lifelong liberal when you get involved young," Zellmer said.
There was also significant student involvement in establishing the National Ground Game chapter at USC and in the event. However, even the students involved wished to remain anonymous in some respects, including withholding certain personal details or declining to provide quotes entirely.
Information science student Mark, who was one of the students who wished to remain anonymous, is the president of the USC chapter of National Ground Game. He decided to step up, even though no one else wanted to, despite his apprehension in joining leadership while serving in the Marine Corps Reserve.
"I decided this is my First Amendment right. This is something the military respects," Mark said. "If I'm going to practice citizenship, this is the best way to do it, so I feel like that's the most American choice I can make."
Other students were also involved in organizing and setting up the event. Second-year theatrical production and design student Spencer Stevens helped set up the reservation and served as the liaison between the National Ground Game national team and on-campus coordinators. He also said this event is important for university students.
"Maybe (people will think) their opinions actually matter. Maybe their opinions can change something," Stevens said."They're more likely to make South Carolina a swing state."
National Ground Game opened its event with an open debate between students and two speakers, including Alexander. He said his favorite question from one of the several student audience members concerned violence against political adversaries.
Soon after, its main speaker, Destiny, took over and began debating students on several topics, including gerrymandering, the conflict in Venezuela, and President Donald Trump.
"It's important to be able to have a critical dialogue about what the opposition thinks, and it’s important to be able to defend critically what you think and what you believe," Destiny said.
Biology student Brookellyn Arrowood is currently a member of the National Ground Game chapter, but she said she would like to get more involved. Arrowood said shejoined because of how America looks for both adults and children, and she said she's hoping for change for her and her generation.
While Alexander said the event went "fantastic," a physical altercation broke out during the event. Nathaniel Wallace Lee, who is not a USC student, said he was debating with a few others when one man allegedly became physical with Lee. The two began to scuffle before the alleged aggressor was pulled away and detained by police.
Bystanders noted the aggressor was supposedly in support of the Communist Party.
As the event ended, Alexander said he hoped this controversy would draw attention. While he wishes it had a larger student turnout, he believes several parts of the debate will go viral.
"We absolutely want to pursue more." Alexander said. "We can have some fun debating conservatives, but we need Democrats."