OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UPD not a 'progressive' agency
By ANDY DePEW | Sep. 18, 2007I just watched the video of Meyer being arrested on CNN, and I was horrified.
Opinion
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Meyer no match for UPD officers
By JOE KASKIE | Sep. 18, 2007UPD 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.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Microphone shouldn't have been cut off
By ADAM WYNN | Sep. 18, 2007The 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tasers painful, but not vicious weapons
By MATTHEW YOUNG | Sep. 18, 2007A 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
UF students must stand up for rights
By Steve Campion | Sep. 18, 2007The 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Meyer should have listened to police
By KATHLEEN SHEA | Sep. 18, 2007For all of those vehemently against what happened at Kerry's speech Monday, I say this: There are two sides to every story.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Student's protest showed immaturity
By ROBERT KEYSERLING | Sep. 18, 2007The 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Defenseless student didn't need Taser
By FERNANDO DIAZ | Sep. 18, 2007I 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Constitution Day ironic day for Tasering
By RUSI PATEL | Sep. 18, 2007The 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Accent to blame for Tasering incident
By SCOTT BIHOREL | Sep. 18, 2007Some 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
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gyms not so scary
By MEGAN HERON | Sep. 17, 2007I'm writing in response to Colleen Shea's Friday column about fitness. I can't believe someone is actually complaining about fit people working out at the gym. Um, hello? How do you think they got those amazing bodies? And no, not everyone at the gym looks like bodybuilders, but at least they're trying to stay fit. If you're so insecure that you can't work out with other people, stay home.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kevorkian did not help by killing
By Mark LaBelle | Sep. 17, 2007In response to Sam Cain's Monday letter about Dr. Jack Kevorkian, I think Kevorkian did nothing to help suffering people. He killed a lot of suffering people, that's true. But he didn't help them. A doctor is successful in helping the patient if the doctor can treat or cure the patient's condition. If the patient dies, then the doctor was unsuccessful. And if the doctor kills the patient, the doctor is not only unhelpful, but also a killer.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Student Senate will not censor Accent
By ROBERT AGRUSA | Sep. 17, 2007On Sept. 11, a number of students came before the Student Senate to voice their concerns about Dr. Jack Kevorkian coming to speak at UF. This is a highly controversial speaker, and I truly appreciate that students felt strongly enough to come before the Senate to speak to their representatives.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Cafe a positive on-campus addition
By SKEET SURRENCY | Sep. 17, 2007It's not that I particularly enjoy rebutting the Alligator editorial board, but once again I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to defend a project I am involved in from its straw-man arguments and misinformed opinions.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Games should have enough ice cups for all
By Christopher McBryde | Sep. 17, 2007As anyone who attended Saturday's Gators football game can attest, it was very hot and very humid. After fighting my way to my seat through my 90,000 closest friends, I was in need of water. So I went to get some free ice. I was refused. Why? "We don't have any cups," said the girl at the stand. Naturally, I assumed she meant, "We don't have the right cups," since behind her, concession workers were busy filling souvenir cups with ice for ,3.50 sodas.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gym not a hostile environment
By DAVID MCDONALD | Sep. 17, 2007I regretfully read Colleen Shea's Friday column, and I feel she made a mountain out of a molehill. The column started out griping about UF's health promotion initiatives, but Shea spent most of her time exaggerating the gym's atmosphere. Is it bad for UF to promote healthful lifestyles? Is it a problem the GatorWell tents hand out free condoms? And for as many parties as I see on and around campus, can it hurt to educate students about drinking responsibly?
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Homeless should get jobs
By EDWARD MILLER | Sep. 17, 2007In Monday's opinion column, Vincent Massaro lamented the poor treatment the homeless receive from Alachua County. Without the ability to beg in the middle of traffic, and without Tent City, "Where are the homeless to go?" the column asked. The answer is quite simple, Mr. Massaro. The homeless should do like everyone else - they should get a job.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
There are lessons to be learned from Tasered student
By KYLE COX | Sep. 17, 2007I hope nobody feels sorry for the young man who got Tased. I expect that on campus this week, angry protestors will blame the University Police Department for being too aggressive, or blame Accent for inviting Sen. John Kerry to speak or blame Tennessee for riling us all up.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Homeless solution makes things worse
By VINCENT MASSARO | Sep. 16, 2007As I was recycling my stack of week-old Alligators that I had been using as a biodegradable pillow, I realized the local homeless population has come upon even harder times than usual.
