Today's Homework: More Talk, Less Taser

As horrible as it is to watch a campus police officers taser a student during an event at the University of Florida--a Q&A with Senator John Kerry, no less--the incident raises two very painful, but vital questions for college campuses across America:  (1) What is the best way to speak out on political issues in a post-VA Tech massacre world?  (2) What is the best way for campus police to react to students speaking out on political issues?

Neither of these questions are partisan, but they do raise the specter of a potential crisis looming just over the horizon: an incident that could arise where a student expressing anger on a political issue is perceived as a danger to the community and brought down by campus police with overwhelming force or worse: with deadly force.  This time, it happened with a taser gun.  But what about next time?

Campus police have a difficult task--a thankless task--but tasers are clearly not the answer.  How can campus police be prepared to distinguish between an angry protester and an angry threat to a room? What is the best way to quiet a protest on campus?  How should police respond to civil disobedience on campus without causing physical harm or worse to students?

Unfortunately, these important topics have yet to be discussed in any real way since the tragedy at Virginia Tech this past April.  The horrific event of that morning have undoubtedly left campus police in a heightened state of alert--not to mention the students.  In the shadow of that day,  it is likely much more difficult on a college campus to make the difficult distinction between threatening actions and angry, but safe expression--and yet, the ability to quickly make this distinction is crucial to maintaining a healthy university community.

Now is the time for America's university communities to raise this topic and to have this conversation before something truly tragic happens. 

As a step towards averting any such potential tragedy, I hereby assign the following homework to college police and students across America: start talking to teach other.

This particular homework assignment will be graded "Pass-Fail," and the future of America's university communities depends on it.

What form should the assignment take?

For starters, every university and college across America should consider initiating regular coffee and donut sessions with campus police and students.  The goal would be to give students and campus police a chance to get to know each other a bit more, with an eye towards greater understanding and respect.  Neither need for campus order nor freedom of expression need to compromised in any way by these sessions.  The only thing that stands to be lost is the lack of understanding that leads to fear and escalations of violence in campus incidents involving police and students.

Police on campus, for their part, need to get to know how students speak and what their passions are so they can have a better understanding of which students are and are not dangers to the community.  At the same time, students need to to get to know campus police officers to learn about their interests, their jobs and their role in protecting the very communities that students seek for learning and expression.

Political opinions are keyed up on both sides of the political spectrum in America--and college campuses are full of students seeking ways to express their views, as well as police officers looking to do their best to maintain open communities in which everyone can learn and thrive.

More talk,less taser is definitely the best way forward.

(cross posted from Frameshop)

Comments

[rasqual]

http://i.a­.cnn.net/c­nn/2007/im­ages/09/18­/offense.r­eport.0722­74.pdf
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=657_1190085332
http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=157250

Viewing the video from Meyers' own camera, it's obvious that he basically puts the police on notice when they politely intervene the first time: "I'm calling the shots here." According to the police report, at the moment of intervention the officers had just been directed by the event sponsor's leadership to remove the student. Meyers' behavior escalated; the charitable reading is that he was out of control. The officers were completely calm as they restrained him on the ground after he wrested himself free in the back of the room. As for the number of officers in play, some folks seem to think these kinds of things are supposed to be "a fair fight." The point, however, is to bring the subject under control so that no one is hurt (subject or officers). The difficulty in controlling flailing limbs diminishes when you can have one person on each limb.

Folks, this was right out of the book -- a flawlessly executed performance of duties by calm officers.

Folks who talk about Meyers not "deserving" tasing are speaking like children. This is not about deserts. Tasing is about bringing a subject who's endangering himself/others under compliance. This is not about "punishment."

The campus police will be entirely vindicated. Why do I know this -- because I'm aware of a right-wing plot to exhonerate them? No. Because what they did was by the book.

The scariest part about this incident has been the ignorant, hysterical reaction to it. Another blogger on this site calls these police "absolute scum" and says "as far as I'm concerned, people watching this happen a few feet away would be justified in defending the victim from the officers with the use of any weapon available."

By the book police work versus that kind of remark on this web site? Yeah. Scary stuff.

[jhNY]

Ever watch COPS? Police with but the vaguest suspicion of wrongdoing routinely throw innocent folks across the hoods of their cars so as to cuff their hands behind their back before they even begin to talk to them, because that's the only way they feel safe when talking to members of their community, from whose taxes their salaries are paid.

Hard to be surprised at this latest over-reaction. After all, it's Florida, where at least since 12/2000, law has been whatever the most powerful say it is. If I were that student, I'd be looking forward to a lifetime of ease courtesy of my winnings in civil court.

[Cosmic Logic]

Let me see if I correctly understand the priorities of todays campus stalwarts...in the event 2 students are murdered in their campus dorm, don't alert the campus; in the event a killer is on a rampage, shooting and maiming scores of students in a campus building, don't be in too big of a hurry to rush the building to end the carnage...better to analyze and debate a proper course of action. On the other hand, if a student exercises his right of civil disobedience and has the audacity to interrupt any of our clueless Congressional occupants from delivering more of the usual Congressional bullshit, get to him quickly, subdue him, shackle him, and Taser him to shut him the hell up! In the meantime, the Congressional occupant pretends not to know the Campus stalwarts used excessive force and continues his discourse of how America's democracy is flourishing. Now I've got it. It makes me feel really proud to know we have exported this form of freedom to our neighbors and friends in Iraq.

[kittycago]

excuse me but what made you look at this incident and even remotely be reminded of the killer psycho that was mentally ill in Virginia?One is a portrait of communication break downs at many different levels that led to the senseless slaughter of innocents and the other is a brash student asking quetions in an open forum.The only thing they have in common is that they are both on campuses.What a sick stretch to even try to attach these 2 completely different incidents.In Virginia the authorities did way to little.In Florida the thugs with a badge stifled free speech and used the modern day equivalent of a billy club to do it.What a crock this entire premise you present here today is.What would you be saying if his heart stopped due to the taser current?For what?He broke no laws.
You also say before something tragic happens.How much more do you need than the slaughter of the Hokies and the stifling of free speech for our students?
There is no discussion here.It is wrong to kill and it is wrong for law enforcement to use excessive force with a weapon.What more do you need to see?

[JimR]

I'm sorry, but I support the campus police on this one. It is regrettable that a taser was used. However, the guy showed absolutely no inclination that he would calm down and stop resisting. He was given MANY chances to do so. When a police officer tells you to do something, you do it, and sort it out later.

We don't get to see his behavior before the police intervened, but it seems clear he was being disruptive. Kerry may have wanted to address the accusations (which is what they sounded like), but he is not in charge there.

The police told him if he did not stop resisting, he would be tasered. The guy continued to agitate. The taser was applied very briefly, and that, finally, seemed to get his attention.

What was the alternative here? Allow the kid to assume control of the event with his rantings?

[radmul]

Florida is a scary place. While this young man was a little paranoid it seems they were arresting him for nothing more than asking a question. Once again the truncated version of events provided by television will distort the true meaning of this event.

[jhNY]

If you don't obey (and quickly too) the commands of police officers, then you're resisting authority, and disrespecting the rule of law through application of force, which results in swift application of force by police personnel, who are always right, so as to re-establish your respect of authority and the rule of law, or at least force. If the police weren't always right, no one would have allowed them to decide when to use deadly weapons in the first place, because then innocent people could get hurt, which fortunately can't happen anywhere in America, where the police are always right, or at least always free to re-establish their authority by swift application of force, which fosters obedience and therefore benefits every good citizen.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

that authority is granted by the people and can easily be removed

I assume your post is tongue-in-cheek as it is preposterous to suggest that the police are granted deadly weapons because they are always right - as a matter of fact the 'rule of law' has repeatedly found these public SERVANTS wrong. they are granted this authority because the populace thought it better to have someone more trustworthy than a common criminal armed, hardly a high benchmark, and it has been repeatedly shown that many officers are no better. to those officers out there who are upstanding officers of this society I commend you and hope that you too would quickly denounce those who do your service a disservice.

any officer that believes that overwhelming force is necessary to police a society and would whine that otherwise their life could be in jeopardy would be wise to take up a role in the military where such is the expected standard because putting your life on the line and being above reproach is exactly the nature of the service our police should attempt to provide. you need only look to the british bobby to know what real public service of law enforcement looks like.

[jhNY]

Yep, totally tongue-in-cheek and yep I agree with your post entirely. Thanks for reading!

[pravin]

We can debate all day whether the cops were right to haul the guy away. I am liberal and I am shocked that fellow liberals just stood idly by smiling like jackasses. The problem we are having is with the methods of the cops . This was escalated needlessly. They should have just let him vent on his way out and just tossed his ass out. Bouncers do it routinely with bigger guys in bars.

[TexSkep]

There is no question the student was deliberately provocative and "looking for trouble" He was verbally abusive and agitated, and putting the police to the test. That is the nature of protest and civil disobedience. Not making a value judgement on whether his vehicle of protest was the most appropriate or not. However he did not appear to be violent or pose any threat other than verbal. Whether or not the police followed their own internal policies on use of taser, is half the question. The other half is whether their policies are appropriate. Clearly dealing with a verbally abusive protester is not easy, but if the police want to be respected as competent and professional, then
they must find more appropriate ways to deal with this kind of situation.

[BMSstudy]

"He was verbally abusive and agitated, and putting the police to the test. That is the nature of protest and civil disobedience"

Really? I thought it was standing up for your beliefs in a dignified and calm manner?

[Graywolf48]

What one observer may define as "abusive and agitated" another might define as passionate and deeply concerned. I don't know which is which in this case. I was not there. I only can judge from the various video tapes being shown. The student has the microphone and is asking a multi-part question to Mr. Kerry. He states that according to Greg Palast's book "Armed Madhouse" which he is holding in his hand that Kerry won the election of 2004 and was apparently angry that Kerry conceded the election too quickly. He went on to ask if Kerry and others were afraid Bush was going to attack Iran, why Kerry and other Democrats refuse to impeach Bush to prevent an attack on Iran. Then the student goes on to ask or infer that perhaps all of these things are related to Mr. Kerry's membership in the secret "Skull and Bones Society" of which Bush is also a member.

Now, I have some experience in the mental health field and when dealing with someone who is mentally unstable, it is often a better to let them rant on and talk them down than to escalate the situation and have to resort to force. This is a college campus and an angry or passionate college student, not necessarily mentally unstable, although that's possible. Perhaps the title of the book he held sent off alarm bells "Armed Madhouse"...

Had I been Mr. Kerry, I would have told the campus police to let him finish and I would have tried to engage him and thereby reduce the tension. The police reacted quickly and applied too much force too soon in my opinion. Mr. Kerry failed to show any leadership, especially given his personal experience as a protester. Shame on him. If Mr. Kerry doesn't want to be exposed to citizens who question him and his fellow Democrats motives, perhaps he should take a leaf from the Bush book and only speak to pre-screened loyal followers who have been provided the questions they are to ask. This is a sad day for America.

[TexSkep]

Yes, really! At least putting the authorities to the test is at the core of protest. Challenging the bounds of "what is allowed" is necessary. Being dignified and calm is a plus, but not always possible. I'm am not advocating being abusive and agitated, in fact it is usually poor tactics, but is not really relevant. The fact is bad manners is not a crime. If it were, the clerk at Home Depot should be tasered when she answers her cell phone as I'm talking to her.

[Mickeleh]

From the video, you can hear Kerry (off-camera) saying he will answer the question(s). You don't see Kerry's point-of-view of the police capturing and subduing the questioner. So, maybe he didn't know what was going on. But now it's the afternoon of the day after. Could we please hear from Kerry now?

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

I'm loathe to say it but it even seemed that Kerry tried to distract the audience while this was going on with some humor.

I can't believe this. If those officers had treated me like that they would have had a fight on their hands - I think that he showed incredible restraint not to lay into them - heck if they're going to taser us anyhow might as well go down fighting.

[timeforachangenow]

STUDENT SHOT DOWN IN PUBLIC FORUM

how's that for a proper desciption­./headline for this disgusting effort to silence dissent...

Is it TIMEFORACHANGENOW yet?????

[niftyjwn]

save a donut. tazer a cop.

[Rondo]

I googled this article from 2005 which addresses taser gun fatalities.

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14876248&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6

Here is one paragraph from the article:

"National statistics on Taser-related deaths vary. The American Civil Liberties Union reports more than 130 deaths in the U.S., while Amnesty International reports more than 120 deaths in the U.S. and Canada -- both figures since June 2001. The groups want Taser use suspended until studies are done on how the device affects people on drugs or with heart conditions."

Notice the emphasis on fatality stats. I wonder what the stats are on serious bodily injury from these harmless peace keepers.

The students who sat back with Senator Kerry and watched this spectacle of authoritarian power unfold without a word of protest are little different in my mind from the commentors to this and one other Huffpost op ed on this subject who "bad mommed" the student.

Would these commentators object if the student were seriously injured or worse? I doubt it.

Senator Kerry needs to make a public statement about this incident. He needs to stand up for freedom of speech and question public speaking rules that expose citizens to physical attack for exceeding time limits.

There is another story making the rounds on television about a kid who drives around in a car that has a video camera installed inside. He has captured several police officers on tape abusing their authority during routine traffic stops.

Don't get me wrong. I applaud our public servants.

Police and Firefighters in particular risk their lives everyday for a paycheck.

Unfortunately, in this case, the subject was only armed with a sharp tongue.

[JimR]

So the police should have allowed him to seize control of the microphone and take control of the event? If you notice at the beginning of the tape, he never stopped to let Kerry answer. He was interested only in ranting.

[JackLewis]

I really don't see how anyone in his right mind can say that what happened there is OK and that the guy got what he deserved.
The speaker might have been somewhat long winded but he was about to ask an extremely important question (one that is not supposed to be asked).
A question that goes to the heart of this republican/democrat bipolar disordered beast we call the american
democracy. The most disturbing thing is how undisturbed Kerry seems to be by all of this and how the other sheep (I mean students)
don't react all that much to the clear reality of the police state they live in (they perhaps feel a lot safer...).
You might also want to ask yourself why bother analysing democrat vs republican electoral leadership races and campaigns when the last two elections were demonstrably fixed.
So what was Kerry's answer anyway?

[cardholder]

I agree. I do believe, however, that a most important element has been overlooked in the discussion.

Any institution of higher learning is supposed to be teaching the student to think, for themselves. This young man was wanting the discussion to cover pivotal issues in the current grassroots uprising. If, on the one hand, you equip students with the analytical skills most desired by any future employer,(of a journalist especially), but on the other hand punish and intimidate the student applying these skills in the real world in order to punish the thinking that has cost his family thousands of dollars to acquire, what is the real mandate of the institution of higher learning?

There were two, widely covered instances of civil disobedience that seem to have been aimed at chilling future participants. First, the protest against the IMF conference in Seattle.
The protesters were herded into a small space and then in the most abusive demonstration of police brutality, one police officer held open the protester's eyes while another sprayed pepper spray directly, at close range, into the eyes. This was repeated, very deliberately, and filmed in a timely fashion for the 6 O'clock news. This outrage was committed against peaceful civil disobedience. The second was the most recent, I think, episode of tasering of a student at UCLA (?) in the library. If you apply analytical thinking to these examples of campus police or municipal authority overstepping the bounds of their real job description, what else can you think?

[frybread]

The only thing the student did wrong was resisting. If he wouldn't have resisted arrest he wouldn't have been Tasered. Although I agree that, even with the kid resisting arrest, all five of the cops should have had him under enough control to not have to Taser him. I think the cops just wanted to show their power and teach him and the audience of students a lesson.

[june8]

"What is the best way to speak out on political issues in a post-VA Tech massacre world? "

Could you please elaborate? Where is the connection between the VA Tech massacre and political speech?