USC hosts anime writing course, but apparently lacks funds for state-required Constitution course

The University of South Carolina offers a course in which students can learn about anime writing while it refuses to comply with a state law mandating a Constitution course.

For three credits, USC students can take “Media Writing Advanced: Manga and Anime,” according to The State. At the same time, the school has flouted a state law mandating that students take a course on the Constitution and other founding documents, stating funding concerns.

[RELATED: USC declines Constitution course, keeps ‘Tailgating 101’]

“As a state-funded school, it’s imperative that the University of South Carolina be in compliance with state law, including the provision requiring a class on the Constitution,” South Carolina College Republican chair Will Galloway told Campus Reform. “Teaching the constitution, Federalist Papers, and America’s founding documents—as well as thinkers such as Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Cicero—is critical for the broad intellectual development of university students.” 

“I’m glad South Carolina requires it, but ideally, students should demand to study these documents, documents that provide the cornerstone underpinning their liberty.”

Campus Reform also spoke with USC Turning Point USA President Julia Johnson about the situation.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said. “Every public educational institution should be teaching and reteaching our founding documents. From elementary school through college. Civic education is poor today, and it’s because of a lacking education starting at a young age. We are very upset that USC does not make the founding documents course required.”

[RELATED: USC prioritizes belly dancing course over mandatory Constitution course]

The issue has concerned conservatives and libertarians alike. 

The President of the College Libertarians at USC, Harrison Otto, told Campus Reform that “in today’s political climate, we need more young people who understand the importance and mechanics of our democratic system. USC choosing not to fund such a class could prevent students from having that opportunity.” 

“It seems that there is this push in higher education to completely abandon the precepts and institutions that this nation still depends on,” the College Libertarians president continued. “We criticize our leaders for not following the rule of law but don’t think it’s essential to teach students why those rules exist in the first place. USC choosing not to make the class a requirement seems to be counterintuitive in a political moment where we need leaders who appreciate the constitution, and the principles that founded this country.”

USC, as well as the school’s College Republicans, Young Americans for Liberty, and College Democrats chapters did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. 

USC has previously called the Constitution course requirement “archaic” and has asked lawmakers to consider revising the law. 

A bill currently being considered by state lawmakers would reduce the requirement to study the nation’s founding documents from one year to one semester. 

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