FSU kicks off spring commencement ceremonies differently, in honor of shooting victims
As the university celebrated the first of its five main spring commencement ceremonies at the Tucker Civic Center with the College of Business's graduating class, the atmosphere was initially somber with the celebration coming two weeks after a gunman killed two and injured five students on FSU's campus April 17.
'Before we begin, we need to acknowledge the loss that our community has suffered,' FSU President Richard McCullough said ahead of a moment of silence. 'Multiple people were injured and many more were deeply shaken. It was a tough day in the history of Florida State University.'
But as McCullough highlighted the fact that the students this spring make up the largest graduating class in FSU's history, the crowd's spirit was lifted as a powerful round of applause and shouts of excitement filled the arena. Nearly 8,700 students will be awarded degrees this semester as commencement events began May 2 and continue May 3.
In an April 24 message, McCullough informed the campus community that a moment of silence would take place before each commencement "to honor Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba, whose lives were lost in the violence," and victims still recovering.
The university also will have increased security measures during the graduation events this weekend, and the heightened presence of law enforcement in and around the civic center Friday reminded attendees of what happened weeks ago.
The rest of the Friday afternoon ceremony flowed according to the university's regular program – from the patriotic national anthem performance and a motivational keynote speech to students turning their tassels and throwing their caps up in the air.
Smiling from ear to ear, many students waved to their family and friends and made the well-known tomahawk chop gesture as they crossed the stage. Occasionally, a few members of Black Greek-letter fraternities celebrated the special moment with a quick stroll, displaying their pride while becoming an FSU alum.
Nonetheless, a reference to the tragedy that recently struck FSU's campus was made by outgoing FSU Student Body President Jackson Boisvert during his speech.
'Over the last few years – and especially over this last month – that word (unconquered) has taken on a much deeper meaning,' Boisvert said. 'In a place that so many of us call our home, we were reminded just how quickly everything can change. We lost members of our FSU family. We're still mourning, still healing.'
FSU graduate Hanna Siegel – who crossed the stage May 2 after majoring in finance and real estate – said she was glad a moment of silence was part of commencement, especially since she was on campus during the April 17 shooting.
"It made me cry a little bit, but I thought it was really nice,' Siegel said. 'I love FSU so much that I'm coming back for my master's starting this summer. I'm gonna be here again, so I didn't get that sad.'
With the May 2 afternoon class of spring 2025 being from FSU's College of Business, keynote speaker Ash Williams – vice chair of J.P. Morgan Asset Management – shared advice on the approach the students should take after graduating as they navigate the business world, and life in general.
'Don't look at the world as a single path,' said Williams, a two-time FSU alumnus. 'It's a winding road, and there are all kinds of wonderful sights to see along it, so be open to those changes. Look for places that can open doors, give you exposure and accelerate your progress.'
McCullough also shared inspiring words with the students in a lighthearted address to close the commencement event, where his closing speech was made up of several music references – including singer Mac Davis's 'Stop and Smell the Roses' and Lana Del Rey's 'Ride' – to get his message across.
One of his last song references was rapper Kendrick Lamar's 'tv off,' which was met with engaging cheers and laughter from students.
'He's got a line in there that says 'Got my foot up on the gas cause somebody's gotta do it,' and I listen to that all the time,' McCullough said. 'That means people depend on you to get it done, because somebody has got to do it. And you know who the people are that can do it? It's Florida State grads.'
FSU's commencements are ticketed events. For information on how to watch them livestreamed, visit https://commencement.fsu.edu/.
Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU spring graduations begin with moment of silence following shooting
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
FSU grad student employee faces misdemeanor battery charge after 'antisemitic harassment'
A case of "antisemitic harassment" at Florida State University – which made it all the way to the U.S. attorney general's office – has resulted in a misdemeanor battery charge. The short video that went viral on social media captured an altercation between a woman, who is an FSU employee and graduate student, and a Jewish student. The woman is seen flipping off and yelling at a man sitting inside the Leach Student Recreation Center before apparently shoving the man. According to recently released court records, a misdemeanor battery charge was brought against the employee Aug. 4. The Tallahassee Democrat does not typically name individuals charged with misdemeanors. An advocacy group, Stop Anti-Semitism, started ciruclating the video and flagged FSU President Richard McCullough on the social media post saying the "assault warrants immediate expulsion." The university immediately responded to the post, condemning the act and assuring the public that the incident would be investigated. As the video spread on social media, FSU released another statement saying that the woman shown in the video "has been prohibited from returning to campus" and that charges may be forthcoming. Under the university's protocol, the altercation will be investigated by law enforcement first, then the university will take disciplinary action. The woman will be prohibited from campus until both investigations and disciplinary proceedings are complete, FSU spokesperson Amy Farnum Patronis said. Potential discipline could range from a writen reprimand to expulsion. Court records detail the encounter between the two, offering insight from each of their perspectives. 'She definitely just hate crimed me' The FSU student told police that he had just finished working out and bought a drink from the gym's in-house juice bar when out of nowhere the woman approached him and started tellling him that he was "part of a mass genocide" and "killing people," according to court records. "I was in shock," the student told police. "I didn't understand what she was saying." As he tried to ignore her, he said the woman continued to tell him he was killing people and his "family needs to die" because he was wearing an Israel Defense Forces shirt. He said that she tried grabbing his drink and sort of shoved him after she made the comment that she would pour his drink on his head if they weren't inside the on-campus gym. "But I kind of just pushed her hand away," he said. "She definitely just hate crimed me." The student said she "started screaming, '[expletive] you, the whole gym, you need to go to hell, I hope your whole family dies" as she left the gym, which is depicted in the viral video. In the 8-second clip, the woman is seen approaching and yelling at the student "Expletive] Israel, free Palestine," the woman says as she appears to bump the man or bat the phone away. "Put it on [expletive] Barstool FSU, I really don't give a [expletive]. You're an ignorant [expletive] son of a [expletive]." 'I'm very offended by it' The woman was on a spin bike, which has a view of the gym, when she spotted the man's shirt that she said she found to be "very offensive," according to court records. "I just got very upset and went down and expressed my First Amendment rights, freedom of speech, and talked to them," she told investigators. She said that she told the student he "should be ashamed" to support an army "committing severe human rights violations," as she sees photos every day of starving people and Palestinians, and "I'm very offended by it." The student, she said, began recording her as he was telling her she was "uneducated" and didn't know what she was talking about. At this point during the altercation, the woman admitted to cursing at him as seen in the video. The woman "advised she understands that she should not have handled this incident in the manner she did, and she is very embarassed," court records say. "She also displayed being very apologetic and was willing to apologize to him for her actions." Investigators asked if any extra footage, such as security cameras in the gym, would show her possibly shoving the student, and she denied ever touching him. The detective asked again if it was possible that she could have shoved him while trying to grab his smoothie to which she said, "No, I did not shove him at all; I never put my hands on him." "When I left out of Leach, I knew that was a bad idea," she told police. Survelliance footage captures similar interaction as viral clip The FSU investigator noted in court records that the woman appears to hit the man's shoulder in the viral video, causing him to lean back in a "defensive manner as if he was pushed." In his review of the gym's survelliance camera footage, the investigator saw a similar interaction as recorded in the video circulating on the internet. The woman "appears to touch [the man's] left shoulder in a shoving motion while trying to attempt to reach for his beverage," court records say. The man "can be observed leaning back in a reactionary and defensive manner while lifting his left arm up to protect himself." After that, the woman is seen walking away to grab her belongings and saying something to the gym employee as she left. The gym worker told police that he didn't even realize any argument occurred until she approached him. He said the woman said it was "unfair" and asked why they let the student in with the shirt on. The worker "advised he just let [the woman] vent, and she left the premises without any further incident." After asking the gym employee for guidance, the student immediately reported what happened. FSU said in its statement that its "commitment to swiftly and effectively respond to incidents of hate is unwavering." "We appreciate the prompt report of this incident, which allowed us to address this instance of antisemitism without delay," the university said. The viral moment even drew attention from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi who responded to FSU over social media and thanked the university for its "prompt action." 'Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Florida or anywhere else,' she wrote, adding that civil rights officials in the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Jack Heekin of the Northern District of Florida would also investigate. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@ Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State employee charged after viral 'antisemitic' altercation Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex writes letter supporting his release
Virginia Huynh, has written a letter to the judge pushing for him to be released. The ex-girlfriend was supposed to testify against him in his criminal case, but dropped out days before the trial began. She has now penned a letter pushing for Combs' release on bail. Huynh, who goes by Gina, was part of the prosecution's case against Combs, initially anonymously referred to as Victim-3. Before the trial began, prosecutors alerted the court that they could no longer locate Victim-3 and had lost touch with her and her attorney.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: What to write to acquaintance charged with ‘horrific crimes'
Dear Miss Manners: A person I have known for many years has just been arrested and charged with horrific crimes. I would not say we were ever close friends, just cordial acquaintances. It seems likely this person will not walk free again for many years, if ever. I want to reach out and write a letter to them in jail. What would be appropriate to say in a situation like this? 'Hi, how are you doing?' seems inappropriately shallow and perky under the circumstances. 'HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?' would certainly not be polite. What would be reasonable?
