‘Don’t Tase me, bro’ student breaks silence
Meyer: I think this whole experience has been an opportunity for me to learn and become a better, more complete person. I’ve never had to deal with anything so challenging as the media heat lamp before in my life.
As for my post-grad plans, they haven’t changed much. I didn’t know what I was going to do then, and I still don’t now.
TODAYshow.com: How has this experience changed your campus life at the University of Florida? Has the national attention had a larger effect on the student body?
Meyer: After my incident, Student Government held open-mic debates, which I had never seen before. Also, the University is looking into the use of Tasers on campus, so that’s a plus. Other than that, things on campus are about the same. The topics in the student newspaper, the Alligator, have changed a bit, but the lack of respect for the rag is still the same.
TODAYshow.com: Do you feel generally supported by the student body or is the vibe more negative?
Meyer: It’s probably split right down the middle, as it was when I wrote about Dance Marathon or Chris Leak. I’ll tell you though, people definitely have an opinion. They either love me or they hate me. Scratch that. Most students are probably apathetic towards me, as they are towards everything else that doesn’t involve their FaceBook.
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TODAYshow.com: How has this event and the national attention affected your family?
Meyer: My parents and my sister have been a rock of support for me throughout this whole situation. If anything, our family is stronger because of this.
TODAYshow.com: What is your biggest criticism of the media in covering your story?
Meyer: I haven’t seen any mainstream news outlet once dissect the questions I asked the Senator. Everything is about me personally or the taser. This is the type of tabloid journalism prevalent in America today. When my story is over, they won’t start covering Blackwater or Ron Paul. It’ll be Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, business as usual.
TODAYshow.com: “Don’t Tase me, bro” has been printed on T-shirts, coffee mugs, parodied on YouTube. It’s even a ring tone. Do you own any of these items? What’s your general reaction? Do you think the message on these commercial items sends a good reminder to people, or do you feel it merely represents people trying to profit off of your situation?
Meyer: I have not profited from my catch phrase at all. The YouTube music videos and the ring tones and such, sometimes it amuses me, sometimes it saddens me. I think “Don’t Tase me, bro” genuinely makes some people think about the growing threat to American rights. But I think most people are having a laugh, disregarding the seriousness of the situation. Thank you Jon Stewart.
TODAYshow.com: Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have changed about your own actions at the John Kerry forum?
Meyer: I have talked about this a lot in my apology letters. Next time, I will definitely line up in front of the microphone sooner!
I wish I had maintained my compsure. The next time I will.
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