We’ve all seen the video by now, either on the news, YouTube or CollegeHumor.com during the past two weeks. It’s almost laughable at first, kind of like a bad episode of ‘Cops.’

On Sept. 17, University of Florida student Andrew Meyer asks Sen. John Kerry a long-winded, nonsensical question involving secret societies and stolen elections during a school-sponsored event. Kerry, stuttering, and apparently uncomfortable with the question, agrees to answer. But Meyer doesn’t clam up. His rant causes campus police officers to ask him to leave, and after several refusals and a small struggle, he is Tasered to his cries of ‘Don’t Tase me, bro!’

This one incident opens up several issues colleges must face when bringing high-profile, controversial speakers to campus. It’s not only up to professors, administrators and campus police to maintain order. Those who participate in the events must be responsible as well.

What many people like Meyer do not understand is that causing a scene draws attention to the behavior, not the message. A month from now when we look back on the University of Florida incident, we won’t be thinking about the interesting questions Meyer asked Kerry. We’ll just see Meyer as the loud-mouthed student who was Tasered by campus police.

Those who peacefully protested Chief Justice John Roberts’ speech during the Newhouse III dedication two weeks ago should be commended for their behavior at such an important event. They came to the Quad and the Newhouse lawn bearing ‘Bong Hits 4 Roberts’ signs and other free speech paraphernalia. There’s no doubt Roberts knew they were there. Their mission was accomplished.

My call for restraint and responsibility when speakers come to campus is hardly a pat on the back to University of Florida’s campus police. Despite the lunacy of Meyer, Florida’s public safety officers did not assess the situation correctly in using force against a student. Although Meyer was loud and rambunctious, it is clear from the video that he posed no threat to those present in the auditorium. He was holding a book, not a weapon. He made no threats toward Kerry or the officers attempting to remove him. Although he did not go about it the proper way, he just wanted his questions answered.

Tony Callisto, chief of the Department of Public Safety at Syracuse University, said there are specific guidelines officers must follow before they can use force. In the case of speakers on campus, he said there will always be a chance of someone who has to be asked to leave, but unless they pose a clear threat, force will not be used.

‘Students here are given a lot of latitude with the questions they can ask,’ Callisto said.

Colleges and universities are designed to be open forums for debate and opinion. Controversial speakers will come, and students should be encouraged to disagree. But in an academic setting, it is more important than anywhere else to make protests in a productive manner that does not damage the credibility of your ideas.

Steve Kovach is a biweekly columnist for The Daily Orange. He can be reached at sjkovach@gmail.com.

Published on October 2, 2007 at 12:00 pm