Opinion

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UPD acted to protect speech attendees

By LESLIE LEAR | Sep. 19, 2007

Kudos to Kyle Cox on his commentary regarding UF student Andrew Meyer. Thank you for covering many points the media failed to address during their biased audio clips. Anyone who has viewed the full-length videos of the incident would have to admit there were multiple non-forceful steps taken prior to Tasering Meyer. These steps, although unsuccessful, included asking him to step away from the microphone, turning the microphone off, attempting to peacefully escort him out, attempting to secure and handcuff him and warning him prior to Tasering. The video also showed at the time of the Tasering, Meyer's left arm not secured behind his back, but rather stretched out where he was using it to brace himself in a clear attempt to resist arrest.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Meyer should have obeyed police orders

By Casey Peterson | Sep. 19, 2007

I just hate that Meyer's arrest is another reason for all of the Alligator-reading, Krishna-Lunch eating and uniformly biased college-aged hippies to whine even more than they do already.

---

OPINION  |  QUESTIONS

What goals should Student Government aim to accomplish?

Sep. 19, 2007

Responses cannot be longer than 20 words. Responses may be edited for length, grammar, style, libel and clarity.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Taser incident not a free-speech issue

By ERIN DECKER | Sep. 19, 2007

I was present for Meyer's incident and have to say that the police were 100 percent right in their actions. He was acting extremely aggressive and being very loud and disruptive, growing angry right from the beginning. He seemed to be almost provoking the officers as well. This was not in any way an issue of free speech. Mr. Meyer was not Tasered because of anything that he said. He was Tasered because he was violently resisting arrest. Contrary to rumors, he was not handcuffed while being Tasered. He was Tasered so he could be handcuffed. He was also given repeated warnings that if he did not calm down and comply with the officers, he would be Tasered.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UPD chief should resign after incident

By STEPHEN DEAR | Sep. 19, 2007

Such brutality as conducted by the campus police at the Kerry event shows that campus Police Chief Linda Stump is either culpable for their behavior because she ordered the excessive force or gave permission for it, or she is out of control of her officers.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Gator's dull platform lacks depth, new ideas

By the Editorial Board | Sep. 19, 2007

Considering all that's happened this week - Andrew Meyer, Tasers, UPD, worldwide news coverage and so on - everything else just seems boring in comparison. Take, for instance, the Gator Party platform.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Tainted Paint

By the Editorial Board | Sep. 19, 2007

An anonymous e-mail sent to the Alligator around 4 a.m. Wednesday contained two photographs of two people clad in Guy Fawkes masks - most of us would recognize them from the movie "V for Vendetta."

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Meyer's 'biggest fan'

By JIM ELLIS | Sep. 19, 2007

Meyer is no victim. I first came in contact with Meyer in fall 2004. Disgruntled that he was passed over and I was chosen as the Alligator's humor columnist that semester, he set about ranting about me on his personal Web site. He spent that semester dissecting my weekly columns and writing about what a horrible writer I was. He was my "biggest fan."

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Online smiley faces are a sign of the times

Sep. 19, 2007

I know everyone just can't stop talking about their new favorite expression, "Don't Tase me, bro." As much fun as it would be to tackle this obviously worthy issue, or not, I'm sick of it.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Accent to blame for Tasering incident

By SCOTT BIHOREL | Sep. 18, 2007

Some people seem to be confused about Monday's events surrounding Meyer, accusing the UPD of censoring Meyer's free speech. This is not the case, so let's give credit where credit is due.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Constitution Day ironic day for Tasering

By RUSI PATEL | Sep. 18, 2007

The irony of the Taser incident is that it took place on Sept. 17, the day the country celebrates Constitution Day. It is unfortunate both sides could not remain calm and work to a peaceful resolution. But that could be said about anything, including our own national government.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Defenseless student didn't need Taser

By FERNANDO DIAZ | Sep. 18, 2007

I am appalled at the aggressive tactics used by University Police Department officers to remove Andrew Meyer from the presentation by Sen. John Kerry. How does using profanity or asking why you are being arrested justify the use of a Taser gun on a defenseless college student?

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student's protest showed immaturity

By ROBERT KEYSERLING | Sep. 18, 2007

The UF student's arrest brought back memories of my years at Florida and students' protests for civil rights. It seems this student was more interested in his 15 minutes of fame than in his message.

---

OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

UPD must update Taser-use policy

By the Editorial Board | Sep. 18, 2007

The UF administration is in trouble.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Meyer should have listened to police

By KATHLEEN SHEA | Sep. 18, 2007

For all of those vehemently against what happened at Kerry's speech Monday, I say this: There are two sides to every story.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF students must stand up for rights

By Steve Campion | Sep. 18, 2007

The UF administration needs to Taser UPD after its recent display of excessive force, poor judgment and downright bullying of unarmed student Andrew Meyer. These "officers of the lawC should be ashamed of themselves.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tasers painful, but not vicious weapons

By MATTHEW YOUNG | Sep. 18, 2007

A Taser is hardly "vicious weaponryC as Kyle Cox's Tuesday column stated. The whole point of a nonlethal, safe weapon is to avoid bringing out the actual "vicious weaponry.C

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Police correct to use force on student

Sep. 18, 2007

Andrew Meyer's arrest on Monday has no doubt sparked debate about how much force officers can use. Some believe Tasering him was out of line; others think the punishment fit the crime. But before we pass judgment on anyone, consider this snippet from Florida law:

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Microphone shouldn't have been cut off

By ADAM WYNN | Sep. 18, 2007

The broadcast media's spin on this situation is akin to that of a reality television show. Every video I've seen, including on CNN and MSNBC, has shown only the most controversial parts of what happened.

---

OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Meyer no match for UPD officers

By JOE KASKIE | Sep. 18, 2007

UPD was most definitely justified in using a Taser on Meyer. If it hadn't, he might have overpowered those police officers. Who knows what could have happened then - he might have asked Kerry another question.