USC’s Uncensored America chapter hosted a debate table featuring conservative influencer Myron Gaines on Friday, Feb. 13. The event at the Russell House Patio was Gaines’ third appearance at USC.
Uncensored America is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating for freedom of speech and the end of cancel culture. USC’s chapter has hosted political activist Laura Loomer and political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos since its founding in March 2023.
“We all come to college to develop,” Chapter President Jacob Whisenant said. “We all come to college to learn ideas and challenge old ideas.”
Gaines debated with students on topics such as feminism, immigration and U.S.-Israel relations. Two signs displayed said "I.C.E. did nothing wrong," and "Valentine’s Day is for simps," prompting students to prove Gaines wrong.
Over the course of the three-hour event, students lined up behind the microphone to engage with Gaines in front of the audience. Some students said events like this are important for college campuses.
“It gives kids, college students an opportunity to speak their mind and also learn more,” first-year pre-business student Lucas de Arellano said. “I’ve been listening to a lot of other people bring up a lot of interesting points.”
Other students were critical of the event. Event attendee Nathaniel Wallacelee is not a USC student and drove from Pickens, South Carolina, to USC's campus. He debated with Gaines about the shooting of Alex Pretti and said he disapproved of Gaines’ method of engagement.
“I don’t think it’s like a real conversation,” Wallacelee said. “He tries to be as inflammatory as possible.”
After witnessing Gaines' disagreement with another student in which Gaines argued the 19th Amendment should be repealed, first-year biology student Isabel said she thought Gaines' approach was unfair.
"I felt like he was getting really emotional with some of the speakers," Isabelle, who requested her last name not be included, said. "He was kind of calling them names and cursing at them."
Second-year biology and psychology student Autumn Griffin said she wasn't as affected by Gaines' comments.
“I’m really just coming here for entertainment purposes,” Griffin said. “I don’t believe in anything that he says.”
Further down Greene Street, USC’s chapter of National Ground Game hosted a stop of the UnFuck America Tour with progressive political commentator and podcaster Destiny.
National Ground Game is a Democratic political group, and organizers intended for the event to provide an alternative viewpoint to Gaines.
Columbia resident and non-USC student Will, who asked not to be identified by last name, said the group presents a liberal perspective on how people can collaborate to fix the country and counteracts misinformation.
“Obviously, our values and our political beliefs do not align,” said geography doctoral student Bianca Malkoc, who helped bring NGG to USC. “However, in the spirit of debate, in the spirit of America, we’re both here together.”