We Stand With You
Image Courtesy: Florida State University News
At approximately 11:56 am EST on April 15, 2025, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, the first shot was fired, sending students, faculty, staff, and other bystanders into the beginning of a catastrophic journey.
By 11:40, the aftermath had already ended; however, those four minutes became a lifetime for those caught in the crossfire. Four minutes of fear, filled with thoughts of their last words to their loved ones, and futures discarded. For six people, this reality was close. For two, this became their last moment.
Moments like these shatter not just those directly affected but the entire community. Panic ensued amongst the student body, fearing for their safety, wondering about the safety of their loved ones questioning what happens next.
This story is not unfamiliar to most American students and educational professionals. This marks the 9th mass shooting in Florida, and the 98th US shooting in 2025 alone. School shootings have become a significant and recurring issue in our country. Something that should never have happened. Something we can stop. We should not have to continue to live in fear as we walk our campuses, as we send our children to school in the future.. This is our reality. But it shouldn't be.
Strike Magazine was founded in Tallahassee, Florida. Thanks to the efforts of students and community members, we can showcase and highlight the creative minds of young adults across the nation. Without it, many individuals would not have this positive and uplifting outlet to express themselves, even in times of loss and grief.
The University of Georgia Strike Chapter stands with FSU and all those affected by these devastating circumstances. We stand with our founders. We stand in grief. We stand in anger. We stand in frustration. We stand for lives lost. We stand for lives changed.
As devastating events continue to plague our country, we continue to fight. But as we continue to fight, we must also take care of each other, love each other, hold each other and appreciate each other.
Strike Out
Katherine Fivgas and Maura Rutledge
Editor: Blake Witmer
Athens