GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On a summer afternoon, University of Florida senior Garrett Shanley sat outside his apartment, headphones on, as he finalized a story that would soon go viral. The 21-year-old journalism student was about to publish a scoop that would reverberate across the state and beyond.
Shanley’s investigation, published in the student-run Independent Florida Alligator on August 12, exposed a dramatic surge in spending under former UF President Ben Sasse. The report revealed that expenses in Sasse’s office had tripled to $17.3 million in his first year as president, driven largely by lucrative contracts with consulting firms and high-salaried remote positions for Sasse’s former U.S. Senate staff and other Republican allies. The story sparked immediate reactions, prompting investigations and drawing national media attention.
A Scoop That Made Waves
The report detailed how much of the spending under Sasse’s tenure was shrouded in secrecy, with the contracts awarded to his GOP allies left largely undisclosed. “Sasse’s consulting contracts have been kept largely under wraps, leaving the public in the dark about what the contracted firms did to earn their fees,” Shanley wrote.
The article quickly gained traction online, attracting retweets, shares, and comments. Within hours, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis ordered an investigation into the spending. The story caught the eye of major newspapers, with the Miami Herald reprinting the article in full. Shanley even appeared on MSNBC to discuss his findings.
“It’s one of those stories that you could tell was going to make an impact from the moment you read it,” said Aidan Bush, the summer editor-in-chief of the Alligator, praising Shanley’s determination and journalistic rigor.
Old-School Reporting in a Digital Age
Shanley’s work was a product of relentless, old-school reporting. He relied on publicly available data and record requests, reportedly filing over 200 requests to uncover the contracts and spending details. With the pressure of knowing that other major outlets were chasing the story, Shanley worked swiftly, publishing the article just days before the Alligator’s summer staff turnover and his departure for an internship at the Chronicle of Higher Education.
The story was a fully student-led effort, with no assistance from faculty or outside journalists. The Alligator’s student reporters see themselves as serious journalists, often going head-to-head with better-funded professional outlets. Yet, they still maintain the lighter side of college life, with Shanley once playing DJ at a staff party.
Tough Environment for Student Journalists
Reporting on UF’s administration has been challenging for the Alligator. Sasse, who had been more willing to engage with national media like the New York Times, was elusive when it came to the campus paper, agreeing to only one interview via email. Regular meetings with student editors were canceled shortly after Sasse assumed office, and public records requests were delayed for months.
Then, on July 18, Sasse abruptly announced his resignation on social media, citing his wife’s health issues. The news came as a shock to the Alligator staff, who had not anticipated the move.
Just four days later, the Alligator published another major story. This time, reporter Vivienne Serret uncovered internal conflicts between Sasse and UF Board Chairman Mori Hosseini, suggesting that these tensions played a significant role in Sasse’s departure. The report, based on interviews with nine current and former administrators and top donors, revealed a power struggle that had remained hidden from public view.
The Impact and Future of Student Journalism
The Alligator’s stories garnered over 300,000 views on its website, and the attention translated into tangible support. The student newspaper received more than $10,000 in donations following the publication of the stories, the second-largest donation in its history.
For Shanley, Serret, and their colleagues, the experience underscored the importance of student journalism in holding powerful institutions accountable. Their work is part of a broader trend where student journalists are increasingly breaking significant stories that professional outlets struggle to match.
Journalism professor Roger Boye highlighted the impact of student journalism, predicting that it won’t be long before a student newspaper wins a Pulitzer Prize.
As for the Alligator, the work continues. Shanley passed his sources and leads to the next generation of reporters, who are now digging deeper into UF’s financial records and ongoing issues related to Sasse’s tenure. The student journalists remain undeterred, committed to uncovering the truth and continuing their hard-hitting reporting.
