Throughout the week, students have been invited to catch a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of well-known faculty and students, and today, UF President Kent Fuchs will take hold of the account.
They have the chance to take selfies, stream videos and doodle across the UF Snapchat this week.
No matter where they were, UF students and alumni saw Ted Spiker, the Department of Journalism chairman, jam out to Phil Collins.
Per his Snapchat story, they now know he prepared for his sports media and society class by bobbing his head to "In the Air Tonight."
"I feel like there’s a fine line on social media, and you can either be safe or crazy, and I didn’t want to be totally safe," said Spiker, who took over the UF Snapchat on Tuesday, allowing students who follow user uf1853 to see short videos and pictures posted to the app in the past 24 hours.
"I wanted to be interesting," he said.
Christina Yi, a UF advertising junior following the Snapchat takeovers, said she enjoyed Spiker’s antics.
"I felt like every single snap was very comical and witty, which I didn’t expect because it’s hard to come up with a good snap story," the 20-year-old said.
UF Student Body President Joselin Padron-Rasines was the latest to take over the snap story.
She spent all day Wednesday showing students what her day-to-day life is like, taking them virtually to a meeting with Vice President for Student Affairs Dave Kratzer and visiting student organizations tabling on Turlington Plaza.
"I always make it a point to talk to students and student organizations, so I thought, ‘Why not showcase them on the story?’" she said.
Parts of the story feature her on Turlington Plaza strutting toward a Gator Fencing member and laughing; posing with her arm flexed, Rosie-the-Riveter style, at the Reitz Union food court in celebration of Women’s Equality Day; and typing in her office as someone narrates her actions in an Australian accent.
"I’ve learned a lot about Snapchat," she said. "I was not an experienced Snapchatter before."
While UF elementary education sophomore Gabrielle Yatauro said she just skims the snap story, she appreciates seeing a new face every day.
"It’s nice to see what’s going on and be informed," the 19-year-old said.
Yi said she is looking forward to Fuchs’ snap story today.
She said she has enjoyed his previous UF videos, like when he attempted the nae nae dance in the convocation video, and can’t wait to see what he brings to Snapchat.
"I’m super excited for him to take over because he seems like a great guy," she said. "Maybe he’ll do the nae nae again."
Contact Alexandra Fernandez at afernandez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @alexmfern
