Written by Luqian (Ariel) Li | Talon Co-executive Editor
Interviews by Luqian (Ariel) Li, JaMalachi Willis, Meredith Colton, Olivia Lovely
Some members of Tallahassee Community College are upset about an advertisement on TCC’s main campus. Some see it as a simple business promotion, while others view it as an attack on the TCC community’s character.
The sign is an on-campus advertisement that advertises Attorney Johnny Devine’s law firm. The headline for the ad reads, “ARRESTED?” in red, all-caps type.
This sign is posted at two locations: one near the TCC Computer Technology Building and the Learning Commons, and the other near the Communications and Humanities Building and the Fine and Performing Arts Center. These ads are posted and managed by Captiveyes, a company that places advertisements for businesses on different campuses in town.
Some members of the TCC community took offense to the ad’s message.
Third-year TCC student Rolondo Coto said the ad “implies that people who go here are more likely to get arrested.”
Second-year TCC student Katelyn Shipley said both signs are posted in very visual locations, directly under campus maps.
“It’s by one of the main parking lots,” Shipley said as she stood in front of the sign by the CT Building. “It’s the first thing you see.”
All advertisements displayed on TCC campus have to be approved by TCC administration, said TCC Director of Strategic Communications Amanda Clements in an email statement.
When provided with reactions to the ad, TCC Vice President for Communications and Chief of Staff Candice Grause said the ad does not represent the opinions of the College. However, “we [the college] understand that what is relevant content for some may not be relevant for others.”
“That said, these concerns are noted for the future,” Grause said in an email statement. “We welcome student feedback on any part of their campus experience as it helps us improve!”
TCC Professor of English Lu Vickers said the ad portrays a negative image of the TCC community, and she thinks it should be removed.
“It gave me a feeling that the advertiser has a bad impression of who our students are,” Vickers said.
Vickers said one of the signs is located near the Fine & Performing Arts Building, where communities gather when they visit TCC’s campus, and public events such as TCC’s annual symposium are held. She doesn’t think the ad’s message aligns with the college’s values.
Vickers said even though she recognizes the need for an attorney under certain circumstances, she believes that TCC should have more “uplifting” messages displayed on campus.
“Many of my students are aspirational. They wanna go further in their lives,” Vickers said. “The college should have signs out there that reflect that,” she said.
Attorney Johnny Devine, however, said his intention was only to better serve the TCC community.
Devine has been practicing law for 25 years. In an in-person interview from his law office, he said a representative from CaptivEyes contacted him to see if he wanted to advertise on TCC’s campus.
Devine said he also has signs on Florida State University and Florida A&M University campuses, but the messages displayed may be different to advertise different aspects of his service. He said he has never received any complaints about his ads.
“I have never had this problem before,” Devine said.
Devine said one can never know when they are going to need help, and it is helpful to have an attorney’s number on hand, and he has already gotten calls from TCC students in need since the ads were posted.
Not everyone in the TCC community feels negatively about the ad, either.
TCC Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Leticia Henderson Baker “personally [didn’t] see any issues” because the sign is a paid advertisement.
Baker said it might have been helpful for the TCC administration to have posted a statement near the ad to let the TCC community know the message does not represent TCC’s opinion.
Some students said they do not really care about this ad.
“Ambivalent is the word, which is neutral, I guess,” said second-year TCC student Kyle Devlin.
