TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - A Tallahassee public relations firm speaks out on how Florida State University officials are handling the recent controversy surrounding two football players facing battery charges.
De'Andre Johnson and Dalvin Cook are facing battery charges for different instances, which prosecutors say, involved the men punching a woman at a bar.
Following the two incidents, the FSU administration, as well as the athletics department, have announced programs with the goal of shaping student-athletes into better students and citizens.
FSU President John Thrasher spoke to the football team Monday, telling them that playing football for Florida State is a privilege, not a right.
Michelle Ubben, from Sachs Media Group, says FSU officials have acted quickly to the recent controversy: "When your image is under attack there are two really important things. One is to act decisively to correct any problems and the other is to tell your own story, don't let others define you, make sure that you provide all of the information and let people know your positive story."
With these recent incidents, Florida State students, alumni, and fans have taken to social media with the hashtag #somuchmorethanfootball to show others what they love about the university.
A program, Ubben says, can truly change the negativity surrounding the university: "This is a campaign that money can't buy, this is a genuine out pouring of love and support from people whose lives have been effected by FSU and that's not something you can advertise for that's not something you can create that's something that's very organic."
As of Tuesday evening, the hashtag is still one of the top trending topics on twitter in the Tallahassee area.
