'Disgusting': Some call banner hung at UF fraternity prior to FSU football game racist
Banners hung at University of Florida fraternities before the school's football game against rival Florida State University on Nov. 25 have caused a stir on social media sites, with many believing students' signs were extreme and in bad taste.
The signs, which are common on game days, made fun of FSU quarterback Jordan Travis’ season-ending leg injury, with some reading “Break a leg FSU” and “Snappin’ FSU’s szn like JT’s leg."
A banner hung outside the Kappa Alpha house, however, seemed to cause the most concern for those visiting Gainesville and traveling through campus that day.
The sign was modeled after the “Hangman” game, and displayed a dead stick figure with Travis' jersey number — 13 — written on it. The figure had “X”s for eyes and Native American feathers on its head, in reference to FSU’s Seminole mascot.
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Hannah Farrell, director of UF's Division of Student Life, said Student Life staff became aware of an inappropriate banner hanging from Kappa Alpha’s fraternity house on Saturday and reached out to the chapter’s advisor. The chapter had taken the banner down prior to the football game and has since provided a letter of apology, she said.
“Sportsmanship and integrity matter — we expect Gators to hold ourselves to high standards,” Farrell said.
Kappa Alpha’s National Administrative Office sent a statement to The Sun last week, stating that the office is aware of the situation and local undergraduate chapter leadership did remove the banner.
“The banner does not align with the values of Kappa Alpha Order,” the statement read. “National staff have been in contact with local chapter leadership and university administration to review the events leading up to the situation and have scheduled an educational session with the chapter. Staff will continue to engage with the chapter and university and will consider any necessary next steps.”
Conflict on social media
The banner quickly went viral on social media after being posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the Barstool FSU account with the caption: “Making fun of an injury is a scumbag move but this? Hanging Jordan Travis? This is actually sick. The people in Gainesville are f*****g disgusting.”
The X post gained over 700,000 views and hundreds of comments. Many — including UF alumni, students and Gainesville residents — agreed that the banner and the use of the Hangman game was in poor taste. Some on social media called the banner and its message a hate crime.
“We aren’t all like this. I live in Gainesville and agree that this is disgusting,” one X user commented.
“The students that did this should be suspended indefinitely and if this is a fraternity they should also be suspended. Blatant and egregious racism. @UF should expect more from their students. Disgusting,” another wrote.
Others believed it was just a game of Hangman, an intense rivalry, and nothing more.
“It's college football. There are generations of hate and taunting between rival schools. Don't get your panties twisted in a bunch,” one person wrote.
An FSU fan wrote on X that it was a huge rivalry game and that people should “lighten up.”
Another post of the banners mocking Travis’ leg injury gained views in a private Facebook group for University of Florida parents and families, receiving nearly 200 comments with mixed opinions about the signs.
“Just wrong. I can understand all the ‘generally offensive’ signs they post every week, but when a specific person’s horrible misfortune is the best they can come up with, it’s no surprise their class is called into question. I would be horrified if my son were in one of those chapters,” a Facebook user in the group commented.
Florida State went on to defeat the Gators 24-15. Two UF players were ejected from the game, one for spitting on an FSU player and another for targeting.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Banners hung outside University of Florida fraternities cause stir FSU
