Photos by: Ashley Williams
By now we've all heard the story: UF's new Study Body President-Elect, Smith Meyers, was arrested last Tuesday while on a spring break trip in Key West. Smith was arrested after he pushed over two Harley-Davidson motorcycles while intoxicated. According to Key West Police Officer Nicholas Galbo, Meyers "was so intoxicated that he did not even recall coming down to Key West for spring break vacation." After a week, both the current Student Government president who is finishing her term and Meyers gave statements – both saying that he is still slated to carry out his term for the next academic year. Apparently student conduct codes don't apply to him.
Anthony Rojas, like many other of his peers, is outraged. Rojas, frustrated with the injustice, decided to take action and held a protest on UF's campus in Turlington Plaza on Tuesday afternoon. Rojas reasoned, "At the end of the day we want a student government that we can be proud of...we want a student government that is held accountable."
Rojas' opinions didn't go unrivaled. Many of Meyer's friends, classmates and other students who want Smith to be left alone showed up to cause a distraction to Rojas' words. They mocked his statements, shouted nonsense and held signs that had nothing to do with the real protest. Their signs said things such as, "Key West is in Tampa," "The British Blew a 13 Colony Lead" and "Queso at Chipotle." Members of the Impact party showed up with signs as well.
Rojas' didn't let the other protestors distract from his message. Zachariah Chou, Independent Senator for Infinity Hall, stood with Rojas as well. Chou explained, "People make mistakes – everybody makes mistakes, but not everyone gets to be the student body president."
Rojas stated his respect for the other protestors but wanted someone to come up and explain the reasoning for their stance and beliefs about not holding Meyers accountable. No protestors holding mocking signs or members of the Impact Party stepped up to speak.
No one holding the rivaling opinion agreed to comment on the issue.
Chou was upset that no one was willing to verbalize why they support Meyers and continued to stay silent. Regarding the student senators, Chou said, "They can't even speak for themselves, all they do is share Alligator articles...that goes along with transparency and accountability."
Rojas didn't let the protest stop at Turlington. After the protestors had cleared, he headed down to the Dean of Student's office to present his petition. Rojas has already received over 400 signatures to force Meyers to resign.
Meyers' future as student body president remains unclear, while another thing doesn't – UF students aren't letting Meyers take office without a fight.They feel betrayed and ashamed that the world will view UF students in an unprofessional light for his wrongful actions.
When the officer asked Meyers what school he attended, Meyers said the University of the Florida, prompting the officer to say “it’s always UF.” How embarrassing. How would he have reacted if he knew that was the student body president of UF? Chou said, "There has to be consequences for your actions. Having a president with a mugshot is not something that should be acceptable.”
Rojas says that more protests may be in the future, but for now hopes to have over 500 signatures by the end of the week. He plans on meeting personally with the Dean of Students, Jen Day Shaw, later this week.
"The student body president is the face of the University of Florida...we don't want that face to be a mugshot. We feel that the Student Body President should be a role model on campus – not a headline in a national newspaper," Rojas stated.
