i don't know how i missed posting in this thread, i live in gainesville. check out this email all the students got. i didn't even know kerry was on campus, i found out about the whole thing the next morning when i checked my email.
Sender: Student Government
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To:
UF-STUDENTS-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU
Date: Tue Sep 18 13:58:55 EDT 2007
Subject: Incident at Senator Kerry Forum
As you are by now aware, yesterday afternoon, as a town hall forum with
Senator John Kerry was ending, there was an incident in which a student
was tasered. Many of you, and many of your parents, have expressed your
concerns regarding this incident to me and my staff. I would like to
assure you that the University is interested in learning what happened and
in ensuring that we utilize best practice protocols in maintaining a safe
campus environment while protecting the freedom to speak.
I would like to reiterate the immediate steps, laid out by President
Machen in his letter to the university community, which are being taken in
response to the incident.
University of Florida Police Chief Linda Stump has requested the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement conduct a formal investigation into the
arrest of UF student Andrew Meyer. An independent review such as this will
make sure the results are objective and impartial. Chief Stump's priority
is to ensure that the public remains confident in the department's ability
to keep the campus safe.
Two officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid
administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The institution plans to assemble a panel of faculty and students to
review our police protocols, our management practices and the FDLE report
to come up with a series of recommendations for the university.
Administrators and police officials plan to analyze the incident and
conduct an internal review and will consider changing protocols in
response to this incident, if necessary.
Finally, as is standard procedure, the State Attorney's Office will review
the charges brought against Mr. Meyer. We have communicated with the State
Attorney and understand that a review of the case will be expedited.
We plan to keep students updated on any progress through our website,
www.vpsa.ufl.edu.
Sincerely,
Patricia Telles-Irvin
Vice President for Student Affairs
[edit: ...oh yeah, it happened before i came back here after being gone for a long while... long enough to remember lethrneck on the old board.... don't remember him ever posting about bands, though.]