Tallahassee certainly has a reputation that surpasses itself. Whether it’s called “Tallanasti” or just “home”, every FSU student has a story about something they’ve seen that is clearly specific to the town.
Some even call Tallahassee a “simulation” because sometimes everyday life just doesn’t seem real. When you go outside or just go to class, you can always see something remarkable. The people watching here are like a live reality TV audience. Tallahassee proves that people truly make this place.
In the beginning, the students witnessed many things as they drove to class every day. From Quidditch matches (now called “quadball”) on Langford Green to gunfights on Landis, junior Katherine Kubillan has seen it all. During her freshman year, she discovered Tallahassee while in the middle of a furry convention.
“I was just walking to class one morning and there were furries everywhere,” Kubiyan says. “There was Sonic (the Hedgehog). It was wild.”
Tallahassee never lacks for surprises and even celebrity appearances. Internet-famous musicians such as CupcaKKe graced the FSU Student Union stage at Downunder. The queue for CupcaKKe wrapped around the Students’ Union and stretched all the way to campus as students got excited about trying to get the look of an internet celebrity. Other performers such as Sean Kingston and Shaq also visited Tallahassee to perform at the Potbelly’s nightlife club.
Nothing is safe in Tallahassee. Countless traffic cones and signs have mysteriously disappeared and reappeared in a college student’s apartment. The “Rice Purity Test,” based on the Rice Purity Test and modified for Florida State students to “track your progress while in Tallahassee,” includes a category for stealing traffic cones and signs, as this has become a primary activity for students. .
Natasha Harwood has noticed that Florida State students tend to be more successful in high school. “I witnessed someone jump into one of these construction cranes and then start riding it,” Harwood says. Unfortunately, she didn’t get to see where the man took his new construction crane – although they certainly made their mark in Tallahassee.
When it comes to nightlife, Tallahassee students also exhibit questionable behavior. Reported cases have involved anything from public indecency, urinating in the street or getting too curious with a partner in questionable places.
Megan Galaini, a Florida State University senior, remembers a story when she was walking home from happy hour in Township. “I was walking home in broad daylight and the boy in front of me stopped at the electrical box and urinated on it,” Galaini says. “I wish he would wait until I passed him.”
FSU students weren’t the only witnesses to the city’s character. University of Florida student Julia Reinhardt visited the former Soviet Union and also claims to have seen some of Tallahassee’s charm. “I saw a guy pee on the wall outside of Recess… he fell while he was peeing and then started falling into the urine,” Reinhardt says.
Some people adore FSU so much that they seem to want to share that love while socializing on campus. FSU senior Carly Stubbs says she heard a person publicly tell the story of how they were involved in this activity on Landis Green. Stories like these make it clear that a blanket to lay on the grass can be more of a necessity than a luxury.
As far as the general public knows, FSU’s undefeated streak and top-five finish in the 2023 season has captured national attention. However, the team has also recently received some attention from Netflix’s 2020 celebrity Joe Exotic. After FSU’s victory over the Clemson Tigers, cornerback Jordan Travis was lovingly nicknamed “Tiger King” by FSU students.
This upset Exotic as he calls the phrase his trademark. He publicly spoke out on social media: “Hey Jordan, your buddies sending out hate messages about you being the Tiger King just shows the damage you’ve done to my trademark. See you in court.”
He even went so far as to release jerseys in collaboration with the Florida Gators, ranked No. 22 in the AP College Football Poll. Florida State students responded by taking to social media and sending Joe Exotic “Go Noles” direct messages.
Tallahassee may have a dubious reputation—and Florida State University certainly has some unique characters—but none of them are certainly boring. The stories and experiences make a trip to Tallahassee unforgettable, and their legacy lives on.