On Monday night, September 17, John Kerry appeared at the University of Florida to speak and answer questions from a panel of audience members. For two hours, the event went on without incident. Then, 21 year old Andrew Meyer got his turn to ask Kerry a question. Rather than explain it with my interpretation, you can see the video of what happened here and decide for yourselves. Here is an article written by abcnews.com about the incident.
Research: As Guth and Marsh say, this is the information gathering phase. Right now, the University of Florida is under a lot of heat to get to the bottom of what went on and come to an official stance on the matter, from Meyer’s actions to the actions of the UF police. Since the incident is only two days old, this phase is not complete yet. However, you can read this and see what the University is going to do as stated by the school’s President. To me, the President seems to be right on in what he has said will be done to understand the matter.
Planning: Undoubtedly, UF will begin planning for incidents such as these and how to handle them in the future. They probably didn’t give much thought to something like this happening, and I can’t imagine they would ever let something like this escalate as much as it did again. They have already commenced with an ad-hoc plan, to address this specific situation, and they should certainly come up with some contingency plans for the future.
Communication: The University has been taking hundreds of calls and emails on the matter already, which is what led to the President releasing the statement you have already seen above. They should continue to stress that there is an ongoing, independent investigation, so as to show their commitment to uncovering the truth- whatever that may mean for the University. If the investigation turns out badly for them, they can handle it from there and tell the public what they are going to do to make up for their wrongdoings. You can click here to see the UF Police Chief’s webpage and the type of system they have there (MUCH more serious than Marist Security)
Evaluation: Again, since the incident is so recent, it is tough to evaluate how the University is ultimately going to handle the situation.
So far, they seem to be on the right track by hiring an independent investigator and placing two of the police officers involved on leave.
In my opinion, the police acted with unnecessary force on a kid who can be heard saying, “I’ll get up and leave right now,” then pleading, “Please don’t tase me, bro,” before ultimately getting shocked and filled with pain.
But, we will have to wait and see what the investigation uncovers.
As the ABC story above said, Meyer likes practical jokes and has his own website.
Whether that is relevant in this incident, I don’t know.
Here is his website.
8 comments:
Brain, thanks for posting this. I have seen bits and pieces of this story on TV over the past few days, but it wasn't until reading your blog and looking at the video/article links that I really knew the details.
I see that you analyzed the strategic PR plan from the vantage point of the university. After thinking about it for a sec, I realized that one could also look at it from Andrew Meyer's point of view.
As we briefly discussed in class, PR can be looked at as management of relationships between an organization and its publics. It can also be viewed as relationship management between an individual and society. Not to get super official or anything, but on page 5 of Seitel’s The Practice of Public Relations, Seitel conquers with this when he quotes Professor Melvin Sharpe as saying the PR process works to “harmonize long-term relationships among individuals and organizations in society.” Let’s look at Andrew Meyer as the individual, and analyze his strategic PR plan (or lack there of).
R: Meyer definitely did his HW. When asking Sen. Kerry his questions, he quoted multiple sources, knew his info, and had his main source of info with him on the spot.
P: Although Meyer did not plan for the incident to end as it did; he definitely planned out his questions for Sen. Kerry, and planned on bring his source of research with him. None of this was spontaneous (maybe just his emotions, and an occasional Taser to the chest…)
C: Meyer surely communicated his action through the mic and into the auditorium for Sen. Kerry and his fellow classmates to hear. He was loud, clear, emotional, and prepared for his communication. Perhaps he even rehearsed his questions to some of his buddies.
E: As Brian said, it is still a little too early to analyze this situation. However, if I had to guess, I am willing to bet that Meyer has evaluated it, and is happy with the turnout. Not only has he stood up for what he believes in, but he has also received multitudes of national publicity which will only help boost his website and career.
Brian,
Thanks for a very thoughtful post about the UF student tasering incident.
First, your post is well organized and filled with very useful links. I was appalled at the police actions after watching the YouTube video that you located for us. I had seen short clips on the news before, but this longer video provides important context that helps us understand the incident.
Second, I wanted to comment on one aspect of the UF public relations process: planning. I wouldn't let UF off the hook even if they "didn’t give much thought to something like this happening." Part of good public relations planning requires organizations to come up with contingency plans that they can quickly implement in a crisis or incident like this. I agree with you that maybe they had not given this type of situation much though ... but they should have.
I also looked at the UF Web site. Other than the letter from the UF president that you linked us to, I could find only an audio clip of the president's press conference on this matter. The UF page for news releases focused on research issues and it buried its release of the president's letter way down on the site.
I don't think they were very prepared for this crisis, from a public relations standpoint, and days later they still don't have much to show how they are taking action ... other than a terse statement that they are "investigating" the matter. I don't think this is enough.
Again, good work, Brian.
Mark
I am appalled by this incident. The president of the school stated that "Freedom of speech is alive and well within the University." How is this alive and well, when I student is tasered for his well-supported beliefs? The president goes on to say in the letter, that with freedom of speech comes responsibility. Yes, responsibilty, as in not inciting riots, and not shouting fire in a crowd. Andrew did not incite a riot and he did not cause panic. The school is backing up their campus security, not their students (or really their public, as without the students they wouldn't exist). This is like a CEO backing a corporate scandal. It is not illegal to do what he did, and Andrew was wrongfully arrested and I give him credit for standing up to what he believed in. This is an act of heroism. Andrew fought for what he believed in and took quite a blow from it. The school is going to be in huge trouble as more and more people see campus security's incriminating video. Great Post Brian.
I think it goes a little far when you have university police putting their hands on a student for using his rights. Yes, I agree that is no way to talk to a Senator, but no matter who he was talking to they could have handled that a lot better.
Also, since when do university police have tasers? Sure they're they for our safety, but since when was any campus so unsafe that they needed tasers to handle their students. I think that America has come so over-protective of itself that we'd do anything to just to 'get back' at 'them.'
Devo -
I agree when you said since when do campus security have tasers! When did that happen? I mean look at those guys in the video - I thought that was a SWAT team. They looked like younger, in shape, legit security! Nothing like the grandpas who write me $50 dollar tickets for parking illegally for 20 minutes and for "obstructing garbage removal" at midnight in Fulton!!!!! Since when does garbage removal happen at midnight anyway!?
Sorry, all personal problems aside, I disagree when you said America has become too over-protective. I think that in the world we live in today, we can't have that mentality. I'm all for Carpe Diem and not living in fear (after all I am a fanatic for SCUBA diving and Sky Diving), but with terrorism and pyscho's murdering classmates (i.e. V Tech, Columbine, etc.) we must be protective of ourselves and our neighbors at all times! If tasers on campus security aid the protection and safety of other students, faculty, and university staff, then by all means let them have tasers. BUT, be sure they know when is the proper time to use them! Surely it was not on good ole Andrew!
This case is so interesting and can be debated so many ways. It seems like what happened to Andrew happened very quickly and without thought from any parties involved. It could well be one of those incidents that no one can explain their thought process behind. Like getting in a car wreck, when it's over, there is no remembering what you did during it or even how it started. This leaves no room for excuses to be made, but it certainly could have been one of those situations.
Dan, I agree with you. In the world we live in today where there is so much crime at schools, we criticize for not protecting enough and criticize for protecting too much. Who decides what is just the right amount of protection and how we create that? If having all campus security and police carry tasers will make a difference in safety, I say then why not make that a reality. Police are allowed to carry guns, and even though I don't know much about the use of a taser, I'm pretty sure I would rather have one of those used then a gun when there is a quick decision to be made. It seems like this is a case that is not going to be easily resolved.
This case is so interesting in so many ways. The media couldn't really have asked for a better story; finally a proactive and informed college kid challenges a political leader and what happens? He gets tasered, of all things. I do believe, however, that college security officers have to be armed with something, and a taser is better than a gun, but they have to be smart enough to know when using such a weapon is appropriate and necessary. This kid was on the ground with about 5 men on top of him when they tasered him. What is the excuse for that? He wasn't a threat to anyone.
As far as PR goes, the university definitely has to back this kid, PUBLICLY, for as long as it takes. People are outraged and the university should be also. With all the violence that has consumed our school systems, the last thing students need is to worry about the faculty also (I would know, my assistant principle stabbed himself in my highschool bathroom and blamed it on a student. I was in lockdown for 4 hours. Scary...and not fun.) I believe Andrew Meyer is going to be very rich.
I agree with Heather when she states that this case is appalling. I can hardly stomach watching the video footage of the incident. To be honest this story makes me very upset to see how we live in society today. I think it is ashame that in today's society people agree, myself included, that campus security should be issued tasers for protection of themselves and students. However, the tasering of this particular student should have never happened. What happened to freedom of speech? Andrew Meyer, though slightly impolite, was not hurting or causing harm to anyone while speaking to Sen. Kerry. The situation got out of hand. I agree with Anna that for the university to keep credibility and not completely ruin their reputation they must back up Andrew Meyer 100%.
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