Pretty clear that on campus protests at FSU influenced Phoenix Eikner

The FSView & Florida Flambeau article from January 2025, referenced in the Tallahassee Democrat, covered a protest organized by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Florida State University (FSU) on January 14, 2025. The protest, held at FSU’s Integration Statue near the Student Union, was an anti-Trump rally criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda and FSU’s policies. Phoenix Ikner, identified as a political science major, was quoted in the article commenting on the protesters: “These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons. I think it’s a little too late, he’s [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there’s not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”

The article, published by the FSView & Florida Flambeau, a student-run newspaper owned by Gannett, also noted the presence of FSU Police Department officers monitoring the event and counter-protesters, including FSU economics major Felix Bartolett, who expressed disagreement with the rally’s message. The SDS group faced prior penalties, having been de-listed as a recognized student organization at FSU until May 15, 2025, following a protest at an FSU Board of Trustees meeting on November 10, 2023.

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Excerpts from the FSView & Florida Flambeau Article

The following are all relevant excerpts from the article, focusing on the protest’s context, Phoenix Ikner’s quote, and other key details:

1. Introduction and Protest Overview:

   "A body of anti-Trump students and civilians marched at FSU in protest of Trump, ongoing conflict and discriminatory policies on Jan. 14, 2025."

   • This sets the stage for the event, a rally organized by Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) targeting President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda and Florida State University (FSU) policies.

2. Background on SDS’s Status:

   "In the last year, FSU penalized the group for multiple conduct infractions. After forming a protest at an FSU Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 10, 2023, Tallahassee SDS was de-listed as a recognized student organization at FSU until May 15, 2025."

   • This highlights SDS’s contentious relationship with FSU’s administration, noting their de-listing as a recognized student organization due to prior protests, which frames their January 2025 rally as a continuation of activism despite institutional pushback.

3. Protest Scene and Ikner’s Quote:

   "Once the protesters reached the Integration Statue, Florida State University Police Department (FSUPD) officers stood on guard and groups of onlookers began to form. 'These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons,' Phoenix Ikner, a political science major, said. 'I think it’s a little too late, he’s [Trump] already going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 and there’s not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I don’t think anyone wants that.'"

   • This excerpt introduces Phoenix Ikner as an onlooker, not a protester, offering a critical perspective on the rally. His comment suggests skepticism about the protest’s effectiveness and a dismissive tone toward the protesters’ actions.

4. Counter-Protesters:

   "Some observers countered the ideas of the protesters. 'It’s an anti-Trump rally, and obviously I don’t quite agree, so I just think it might be a fine opportunity to not necessarily culture-jam, but make our presence known,' FSU economics major Felix Bartolett said."

   • This indicates the presence of counter-protesters, providing a balanced view of the event by showcasing differing opinions. Bartolett’s comment suggests a desire to engage in the discourse without disrupting the protest outright.

Integration Statue at FSU