As we go through life here in the city that I love dearly known as “Tallanasty”, it’s clear that school isn’t the only thing on student’s minds. I can’t speak for everyone, but for a good amount of students class, homework, and tests, are actually the last things on our minds. A word known by the majority of kids at FSU, “ratchet”, is the perfect way to sum up the scene in this city. A couple of weekends ago, a friend of mine had a 17-year-old girl who hopes to attend Florida State next year staying with her for the weekend. The 17-year-old asked, “Do people actually call this place Tallanasty? I don’t understand why.” My friend replied with a smile on her face and said, “Tonight when you go out you will see why.”
As a freshman that lived in Degraff, I frequented the Tennessee Street McDonald’s all too often, and once on a Thursday night at midnight while completely sober. As I sat in the booth with one of my friends, I felt like I was watching the Ringling Bros. Circus, I kid you not. I witnessed a mid-argument couple wearing sombreros making out at the counter, I saw two people get arrested on the sidewalk, I watched a girl spill her Coke all over her table and helplessly stare at it, the list goes on. It made me laugh, mostly because I knew the feeling of being in that McDonald’s after partying at the strip. We can all relate to the feeling that that girl probably felt the next night when she went out for the first time in Tallahassee. Extreme excitement, fun, good-looking people everywhere, lots of alcohol, along with sweaty and sloppy guys and girls staggering around.
The popularity of alcohol in Tallahassee is extremely obvious; with billboards on every street corner advertising drink specials offered on different nights of the week. Drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and molly, are also popular, but not advertised. These drugs are incredibly easy to find in this city, scarily easy, in fact. FSU students are known for being big fans of partying, but is it too much?
This year, FSU was ranked number five on Playboy’s “Top Party Schools” list, further solidifying our self-made image as students that don’t mind a party here and there. On College Gameday “I’m Shmacked” made a video of students who were interviewed during tailgates about the different types of guys they prefer. The “I’m Shmacked” video represented an interesting piece of the student body of Florida State. FSU is a great school, but if our image keeps heading toward just being a “party school” and a school with girls who are okay with being treated horribly by men (see “I’m Shmacked” video), then we’re doing something wrong.
As much fun Tallahassee is, we have to remember to balance it out with getting good grades as well. As members of Greek life, we should also be going above and beyond to be known as the students who exceed in raising money for great causes, and are leaders in the community. Have fun in this city we call “The Nasty”, but do your part to make it a better place as well.
