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Tasering Moves UF To Postpone Kevorkian

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The Associated Press

Published: October 2, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida announced Monday it is postponing an appearance by assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian after the controversy over police use of a Taser on a student during Sen. John Kerry's speech.

School officials said they need more time to address security and events management policies and procedures. They cited the Taser incident involving 21-year-old student Andrew Meyer as the reason for the change, according to a statement.

'While we would like to see these matters resolved sooner rather than later, I believe we should allow adequate time to make any policy or protocol changes needed to ensure a safe and civil environment for full, free, diverse and lively discourse,' President Bernie Machen said.

Kevorkian's visit, which will include a panel discussion on assisted suicide with professors in law, medicine and philosophy, was scheduled for Oct. 11, but was postponed until January.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has not completed an independent review of the Taser incident. The university also is assembling a nine-member task force of students and faculty to review university security and events management procedures to develop a series of recommendations.

The scuffle started during the Sept. 17 town forum when Meyer refused to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up, police said. He had asked Kerry about impeaching President Bush, why he didn't challenge the 2004 election results and whether he and Bush were members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University.

Two police officers involved in Tasering Meyer remain on paid leave while the investigation continues. Meyer has been charged by police for resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, but the State Attorney's Office has not filed formal charges.

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