Recently UF student Andrew Meyer was forcefully removed from a town hall style Q&A with former presidential candidate and current senator John Kerry and tased. A video of the entire incident is online, and UF OTR is covering all the latest developments.

News of the event reached West Lafayette quickly and when OTR spoke with students, their reactions varied. A few students are outraged at the officers “abuse of power and horrible judgment,” while others echo the feelings of the officers: Meyer resisted arrest by a police officer and received the same treatment any one else would. One feeling does seem to resonate across campus-- shock. Students are asking the obvious questions of, “Why would the police do this?” or “Could this happen to me?”

Now, some allege that Meyer asked the provocative question in order to film it and post it on a private website with other inflammatory material. Do his intentions justify the force used by the police?

Meyer is allegedly tied to this Harry Potter prank in Florida where he spoils the end of the most recent, and final, Harry Potter book by writing the ending on a sign. UF OTR has also reported that Meyer allegedly told friends he would have some fun at the Kerry speech that was approaching.

Presented with this new information, it still seems that most students feel sympathy for anyone tasered and attacked in the manner with which Mr. Meyer was. Some students were inflamed by the police, others buy Meyer’s contempt for authority. Either way, few are jumping completely on either side of the issue and placing blame.