2008 Woodie Awards
Livin' the dream: "Don't tase me, Bro!"
Dean Atyia
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Opinions
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Since the 2006 incident in which UCLA police tasered a student in the computer lab for lack of identification and uproarious behavior, more and more students have felt unwarranted electricity shocking their bodies or the sharp pain of pepper spray invading their pores. It's one thing to hear about these instances at political speeches and large universities, but what if they occur at home on the Middlebury campus? I'm no expert on the use of non-lethal force in law enforcement, but reason alone suggests that Jenna Levine '07.5 did not deserve a face-full of pepper spray for her actions outside of the VACA party on Oct. 26.
When John Kerry spoke at the University of Florida, a student named Andrew Meyer questioned him about his affiliation with the Skull and Bones, a secret society at Yale University with rumored political membership. Because the student raised his voice and demanded an answer, two law enforcement officials escorted him to the back of the auditorium while a third leveled the sights of his taser. Meyer pleaded, "What did I do?" Before long, he was held on the ground by no less than seven officers. These odds may make for a good fight for Jet Li, but for Meyer, I'm pretty sure the threat had been diffused. Rather than handcuff and remove him, an officer chose to shock Meyer once or twice for good measure.
Was the student a significant threat to Senator Kerry? Possibly. Does that justify forceful restraint? Of course. Was it necessary to shock the poor kid? Absolutely not. It is unjustified, it is inhumane, it is everything that "V for Vendetta" preached against. Recently, students have seen more and more instances of police brutality - yes, I said it - brutality on their doorstep.
First of all, a message to Jenna - don't ever hit someone with a gun! Ever! And if you didn't hit the cop, don't give them peace signs because apparently they don't like that either. Secondly, even if Ms. Levine did berate the police officer verbally and physically, did he require pepper spray to restrain her? No - absolutely not. Any police officer that feels threatened by an unarmed girl who weighs circa 120 pounds in a Halloween costume should seriously rethink his job. I know it was Halloween and all the costumes and lights were a little scary, but seriously!
When John Kerry spoke at the University of Florida, a student named Andrew Meyer questioned him about his affiliation with the Skull and Bones, a secret society at Yale University with rumored political membership. Because the student raised his voice and demanded an answer, two law enforcement officials escorted him to the back of the auditorium while a third leveled the sights of his taser. Meyer pleaded, "What did I do?" Before long, he was held on the ground by no less than seven officers. These odds may make for a good fight for Jet Li, but for Meyer, I'm pretty sure the threat had been diffused. Rather than handcuff and remove him, an officer chose to shock Meyer once or twice for good measure.
Was the student a significant threat to Senator Kerry? Possibly. Does that justify forceful restraint? Of course. Was it necessary to shock the poor kid? Absolutely not. It is unjustified, it is inhumane, it is everything that "V for Vendetta" preached against. Recently, students have seen more and more instances of police brutality - yes, I said it - brutality on their doorstep.
First of all, a message to Jenna - don't ever hit someone with a gun! Ever! And if you didn't hit the cop, don't give them peace signs because apparently they don't like that either. Secondly, even if Ms. Levine did berate the police officer verbally and physically, did he require pepper spray to restrain her? No - absolutely not. Any police officer that feels threatened by an unarmed girl who weighs circa 120 pounds in a Halloween costume should seriously rethink his job. I know it was Halloween and all the costumes and lights were a little scary, but seriously!
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Appalled
posted 11/08/07 @ 1:19 PM EST
If the situation was reversed, and two grown men were visibly inebriated and one made sexual advances on a policewoman, there would be no question as to who was in the wrong. (Continued…)
Salty
posted 11/08/07 @ 8:07 PM EST
Sir, have you no taste for sarcasm? This author writes for the people!! Don't be a fascist; try to relax.
Sincerely,
Grain of Salt
Sisyphus39
posted 11/09/07 @ 10:01 AM EST
Are we being conditioned as a society to expect police control through "non-lethal" means.
It's not non-lethal to some . . .
RESIST!
Those "guidelines" of the police are not "of the people" but are against the people!
Taser is torture. (Continued…)
Annoyed
posted 11/15/07 @ 3:16 PM EST
Hey "Grain of Salt," (or should we call you 'Friend of Dean?' be aware that the label of "Writing for the people" is an absurd gift when this columnist has just contradicted himself by saying repeatedly that the officer had no right to mace Ms. (Continued…)
irritated
posted 11/18/07 @ 4:27 PM EST
I agree with annoyed, that these girls got what they deserved. They were being drunk, unruly, and actually hitting cops, which everyone knows is a bad idea. (Continued…)
Emma
posted 11/19/07 @ 4:09 PM EST
"Reality check: just because you are beautiful, rich, and a total airhead may get you around Middlebury, but cops shouldn't and obviously don't care if you are a skinny blond girl or a 250 lb man. (Continued…)
Molley
posted 11/20/07 @ 7:41 AM EST
Emma,
Not that I agree with irritated but I think he/she/it is speaking about their appearance from first-hand knowledge.
Furthermore, he/she/it is arguing exactly the same thing as you are. (Continued…)
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