Dayon Hokim Jr | Contributing Writer
When I first heard that FIU had supplied FORT units for the detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, my first reaction was disbelief.
The state rushed the construction of Alligator Alcatraz in just eight days under an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis.
The facility has since been tied to lawsuits from environmental groups, such as Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity who argue it threatens the Everglades’ delicate ecosystem, and from detainees who reported unsafe conditions, limited water access, and outbreaks of illnesses.
From a financial perspective, the risk here goes beyond just moving equipment. A university’s reputation is its most valuable currency. As a student, I’m investing my time, money, and future into this school because I believe that the FIU name will open doors for me.
When our school gets linked to a detention facility accused of mistreating people and harming the environment, that brand takes a hit. And when the brand suffers, so do we.
Donors, grant providers, and outside partners pay close attention to controversies like this. If involvement in Alligator Alcatraz makes them hesitate to support our school, then that means fewer scholarships, fewer programs, and fewer opportunities for students.
The truth is simple: FIU’s reputation is our future. Every headline, every controversy, every decision from the top trickles down to us, the students.
In the end, FIU’s involvement in Alligator Alcatraz shows how even routine decisions can carry big implications for a university’s reputation and its students.
Whether it’s about state assets, financial risks, or public perception, the choices FIU makes today will shape the value of our degrees tomorrow. That’s why transparency, accountability, and putting students first should always guide the path forward.
FIU’s stance has been pure compliance. No deeper reflection, no transparency with students, no acknowledgment of the moral or financial weight of its actions. Just: “They asked, we provided.”
FIU can call it an obligation, but for students, it’s our future on the line.
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