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A few weeks ago I came across an ad in the Gainesville Sun soliciting
political activists that felt passionate on issues. The ad included that it
was being carried out at the University of Florida and
had ties to the United States Department of Defense (USDOD). I called
the number provided and left a brief message of interest and received
what seemed to be a screening call a couple of days later. At this time,
I was asked what issues I felt passionately about and I replied that I
was an advocate for socialized medicine in the U.S., that I was opposed
to our nation's involvment in 'Operation Iraqi Freedom,' that I was
opposed to Florida's Right-to-Work status ( which counteracts Labor
Unions from forming and/or operating), and on a world perspective I
explained my position against Globalization and [neoliberal] structural
adjustment programs. The screener seemed very much satisfied and
offered me two timeslots for a Friday evening session (6:30 or 7:30). I
picked the latter and was instructed to appear at Dauer 45 (basement
room), I was also told not to have anything sugary at least one hour
prior and that I would earn $30 for my time.
Upon reaching the Dauer Hall basement I noticed signs requesting
silence as interviews were being held and I also noticed that every
single office on the floor was locked for the weekend. As I grew closer
to the room #45 I could hear a young woman arguing with two older
men about how rude they were and how uncomfortable they had made
her feel, however, fearing I was late, I knocked and cracked the door
open to let the staffers know I'd arrived. I was asked to be seated
outside and after a few minutes I was given a packet to read, fill out,
and sign.
The first page asked basic questions such as name, ethnicity, date of
birth, and contact information. The second, third, fourth, and
following pages gave me a glimpse into what kind of 'survery' this
actually was. The packet made mention of the use of audio-recording,
video-recording, the use of electro-shocks, the use of isolation, and
instructed participants in the 'survery' to read passages in which they
were being dishonest in varying degrees. The packet made no mention
of the risks involved for students suffering of heart conditions or
health-related ailments, it did specify that the electro-shocks felt like
'bee stings' or 'needle pricks.' Upon asking one of the senior staffers
just how painful the shocks would be, he said with an almost sadistic
tone that 'you will have to experience it for yourself,' and naturally when
I asked him if he had, he replied that he hadn't, experienced it that is.
Next I asked the junior staffer the same question and she replied that
the pain inflicted by the electro-shocks 'varied from individual to
individual and that the experiment had passed the review board.'
All the while these two dimwits thought I was asking these questions
because I was considering to participate! Once I had asked enough
questions and received enough vague-at-best responses,
I left my seat, returned the unsigned waiver to the junior staffer, and told
them that as a former representative of the student body that I felt these
experiments should not be taking place behind the walls of the
University, and that I would see to it that these experiments would be
called to a halt immediately. I was wrong.
After sending out an open letter to UF President Bernie Machen and
carbon-copy the Dean of Students Eugene Zdiarski, the Student Body
President Joe Goldberg, the Student Senate President Diane Kassim,
the Student Senate President Pro-Tempore John Boyles, fmr. Student
Advocacy Cabinet Director Peter Gruskin, activist Charles Grapski,
writer-activist Noam Chomsky, WCJB TV 20 News, the Independent
Florida Alligator (editor Mike Gimingnani), the Gainesville Sun (editos
Jim Osteen), and the American Civil Liberties Union, I expected some
kind of a reaction to say the least.
Almost immediately I heard back from Noam Chomsky, Charles
Grapski, Peter Gruskin, and the ACLU, but fearing that the initial email
may not have made it some of the recipients, I personally contacted
both Mike Gimignani and Jim Osteen for a second and third time. No
one from Student Government even demonstrated the common
courtesty of having replied to have said they received it or even to pay
the most basic courtesy of acknowledging my letter as a former SG
official of less than one calendar semester. But nothing, nothing from
SG, nothing from the administration, nothing from the Gainesville Sun,
and absolutely nothing from the Independent Florida Alligator.
Now it's time to ask yourselves a few questions:
1. In what setting could electro-shocks be used in a legal manner
to extract the truth from subjects? Polygraphs hooked up to car batteries
remain illegal on U.S. citizens. (One would hope)
2. The use of electro-shock therapy, despite a resurgence
in use for extreme mental disorders, is considered a very serious
treatment by the Medical community and is reserved for special cases
of treatment. Even minor voltage can be harmful to the brain, however,
there was no mention of this on the waiver(s).
3. Both the Gainesville Sun and the Independent Florida Alligator
ran ads for this survey even after being informed of the specifics
through a series of emails I sent them. Did you know that
the University President is held legally-liable for these experiments?
Do you think the student-participants were aware of this?
4. Did you know that the staffers promise to discard the lists of
participant's names, but that the audio and video footage remains in
circulation indefinitely? Furthermore, did you know that devices
(possibly delivering electrical shocks) were placed on subjects heads
and wrists?
5. Why do you suppose that ads for this survey would be
intentionally vague, would be held at evening hours when both
students and faculty are long gone (notably on a Summer session
Friday night), and why would you suppose that ads running the
Gainesville Sun carried the stamp of the USDOD but this stamp was
omitted on ads running the in Independent Florida Alligator?
6. Are you aware the world's best torture specialists are in fact
medical doctors and psychiatrists? Are you aware that the
United States and other first power nations invest countless resources
in mind-control weaponry and that such experiments (such as MK
ULTRA) have been taking place within the walls of American
universities for over half a century? How does it make you feel that your
very own university may be whoring you to military experiements?
7. Is your dignity worth $30? Should we allow these kinds of
experiments because they pass a dubious board or because some of
our peers live on shoestring budgets and submit themselves to these
shameful practices in order to put food in their growling stomachs?
I kid you not, for this isn't a dramatization, and you sincerely believe that
all students are without, I'll introduce you to some of my friends.
Remember, there's very little financial aid in the summer terms and
also keep in mind that $30 buys a lot of Ramaan.
8. Just because something is legal and voluntary does it mean it's
ethical and/or appropriate for our university?
I may be out of office but I still care about my constituents and I'll still
take a strong stance on their behalf. I never in my life felt more proud of
myself and determined to carry out my vision for a better UF than that
night at the Orange & Brew when I won my senate seat. I will always
fight for the student body, be it against block tuition, deaf and blind SG
leaders, a scumbag president like Bernie Machen, or an even moreso
repugnant media that allows him and his cronies to whore the student
body in order to preserve their way of life and ensure that UF retains its
research-oriented direction despite whatever may befall the students.
Thank You.
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