Spring Break
Taser incident ignites debate
Erik Myers and Jessi Stafford
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News
At CSU, Police Department officers have been carrying Tasers since fall 2004. In a statement released by CSUPD, Tasers "are another tool with which law enforcement officers can defend themselves and others from combative, resisting, destructive and/or violent individuals."
The statement continued, citing the effectiveness of Tasers in reducing injury to officers and suspects.
The UF incident incites memories on this campus from earlier this year when CSU changed its free speech policies, influenced by pressure from student activists and members of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Areas of peaceful assembly were expanded from the plaza outside the Lory Student Center to the entire campus itself. CSU dropped the prohibition of "references to alcoholic beverages and other drugs," instead prohibiting advertisements that encouraged illegal behavior. CSU changed its Hate Incidents policy as well, which once prohibited "expressions of hostility," but now only prohibits incidents of harassment and abuse.
Students and FIRE officials involved in the push for change said they were pleased with the results of the change in policy.
FIRE Media Director Emily Guidry said the UF incident was a different legal situation. However, FIRE officials agreed that the response from campus police had overstepped boundaries of common sense.
"Campus police and administrators can remove audience members who refuse to abide by reasonable rules, like time limitations on questions," Guidry said. "But the problem here is obvious: the university police's response was totally out of proportion and brutal."
Some students CSU agree.
"The kid, I think, was just doing it as a prank, being annoying," said Matt Kenfield, a senior speech communication major. "I do wish the police would've reacted differently about it; you think that eight police could probably take down one kid."
Yet, Richard Borger, a freshman chemical engineering major at UF, said he felt the actions taken by the officers of his university were justified.
"He failed to obey a direct order from a law enforcement officer," Borger said in a Facebook message. "If he would've just been calm, things would have went a lot better for him; unfortunately he could not do that, and it ended in him being Tasered."
UF President Bernard Machen released a statement Tuesday saying that a formal investigation into Meyer's arrest would be made, and that two campus officers had been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Staff writers Erik Myers and Jessi Stafford can be reached at news@collegian.com.
The statement continued, citing the effectiveness of Tasers in reducing injury to officers and suspects.
The UF incident incites memories on this campus from earlier this year when CSU changed its free speech policies, influenced by pressure from student activists and members of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Areas of peaceful assembly were expanded from the plaza outside the Lory Student Center to the entire campus itself. CSU dropped the prohibition of "references to alcoholic beverages and other drugs," instead prohibiting advertisements that encouraged illegal behavior. CSU changed its Hate Incidents policy as well, which once prohibited "expressions of hostility," but now only prohibits incidents of harassment and abuse.
Students and FIRE officials involved in the push for change said they were pleased with the results of the change in policy.
FIRE Media Director Emily Guidry said the UF incident was a different legal situation. However, FIRE officials agreed that the response from campus police had overstepped boundaries of common sense.
"Campus police and administrators can remove audience members who refuse to abide by reasonable rules, like time limitations on questions," Guidry said. "But the problem here is obvious: the university police's response was totally out of proportion and brutal."
Some students CSU agree.
"The kid, I think, was just doing it as a prank, being annoying," said Matt Kenfield, a senior speech communication major. "I do wish the police would've reacted differently about it; you think that eight police could probably take down one kid."
Yet, Richard Borger, a freshman chemical engineering major at UF, said he felt the actions taken by the officers of his university were justified.
"He failed to obey a direct order from a law enforcement officer," Borger said in a Facebook message. "If he would've just been calm, things would have went a lot better for him; unfortunately he could not do that, and it ended in him being Tasered."
UF President Bernard Machen released a statement Tuesday saying that a formal investigation into Meyer's arrest would be made, and that two campus officers had been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Staff writers Erik Myers and Jessi Stafford can be reached at news@collegian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 41
SpellChecker
posted 9/21/07 @ 9:43 AM MST
Your headline for incident is misspelled as incendent.
You should be ashamed.
John
posted 9/21/07 @ 3:27 PM MST
What????? It's justified to taser someone because they're being disruptive? Are you serious? If 8 police officers can't "subdue" one person without using a taser they have some serious training issues there. (Continued…)
Jason
posted 9/22/07 @ 10:31 AM MST
He deserved everything he got.
He was coninually asked to leave. He refused and freaked out. He was asked to calm down. He refused. He was flailing around wildly and resisting the officers. (Continued…)
Bob
posted 9/22/07 @ 10:38 AM MST
They should have zapped him again when they got him off camera, and back in the police dept. Matter if fact I'll zap his ass if I had the chance. Freedom of speech is not for you to make an ass of your self in front of cameras so you can put in on youtube
John
posted 9/22/07 @ 11:10 AM MST
"Monday's incident on the University of Florida's campus in which a student was Tasered while speaking out during an assembly has sparked debate across the country over free speech and the use of a Taser by law enforcement officials. (Continued…)
Sheldon Harris
posted 9/22/07 @ 11:28 AM MST
College students keep pushing the parameters of free speech. One enrolled in college is not the final answer to the world problems. Before striking out on your own you should realize several things. (Continued…)
John
posted 9/22/07 @ 11:43 AM MST
Get the facts before you debate the issue. If you read student eyewitness accounts of what happened, you'll find that this jerk was being both *physically* disruptive as well as verbally. (Continued…)
grandmother barbara
posted 9/22/07 @ 12:05 PM MST
Freedom of speech does not mean that you can or should say anything that may come into your small mind. Life alone will give you a better idea about how to express your feelings without showing your lack of a vocabulary where you fall into the lowest class of humanity by using cuss words. (Continued…)
Bush Fan
posted 9/22/07 @ 12:05 PM MST
That little shit head got what he deserved. So screw him
NSC
posted 9/22/07 @ 12:36 PM MST
First of all I want to commend the Editors of the Collegian for being so smart by using the "F" word. We know it always adds SOOOOOO much to a debate to use curse words. (Continued…)
Post a Comment