Photo TR: Dr. Kevorkian comes to UF

[WillMontu]

Disclaimer and overview:

 

As you may or may not know, Dr. Kevorkian a very controversial public figure, best known for his "assisted suicides". He even created a device known as the Thanatron, (literally "Death machine"; it makes a good name for a Togo, doesn't it?)

 

UF initially planned to have Kevorkian speak at UF earlier, but after an incident involving a John Kerry and a student being tasered (do a Google search for the 2007 catchphrase "Don't Tase Me Bro"), the event was postponed.

 

Although best known for his advocacy for assisted suicide, much of his speech covered his political views, such as the war in Iraq. He suggested that everybody "refuse to vote" and reforms in the prison system. He did talk a bit about euthanasia (it literally translates to "peaceful death", which contradicts the ride of the same name over in Japan), but he was restricted from going into too much detail due to his parole.

 

The visit was funded by UF's student government's "ACCENT" program, which aims to bring public figures to campus, including those that are controversial. While there have been figures such as Bill Clinton and Alberto Gonzalez, there have also been some that are not, such as Bill Nye (the Science Guy, who also makes an appearance on several Disney attractions, including Dinosaur at AK and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ)

 

I thought the event was interesting, and while many people who attended did not agree with his views, it went relatively smoothly and I was able to snap a few pictures from the event.

But at that point, the crowds really started to thin out.

There were members from various departments

After a ten minute intermission, Kevorkian left and there was a panel discussion among several UF faculty members

The interviewer and the doctor ended up sharing a single mike

We can't hear you! Get closer to the mike!

There was a lot of applause (and the occasional "booing") during the show when Kevorkian expressed his opinions on politics, religion, and euthanasia. Can it get much better than that?

At this point was a Q&A session. People sent questions by e-mail before the event

A wider view of the action.

If you look closely you can see his limo parked in the back

I'm sure someone can think of a good caption for this

The man himself gets behind the podium

I believe the man on the right is Kevorkian's lawyer.

Important looking guy gets on stage

The program

Finally inside, with tunes from Lynyrd Skynyrd playing overhead.

They had handheld metal detectors, so we couldn't bring our weapons.

 

I was able to take my camera in, since I'm too poor to buy a proper SLR

The line moved slowly to begin with, but started to speed up

This one is probably more disturbing

Most of them had simple "Death is not welcome here" signs

They had set up a "protest zone"

The event was held in the "O'dome", known as being the home of the UF basketball team (though I'm not counting on another national championship this year)

A lot of news networks were there, including some from Jacksonville

The line stretches as far as I could see. Maybe I should have gotten a Q-bot

But I was the only one with the awesomeness known as the TPR hoodie!

Looking back towards the arena. The weather was a bit chilly, so many people bundled up.

All I have to do is find the end of the line

Ever since meeting with TPR back in March 2006, I haven't lost a single ticket. This one is no exception. The event was free, though UF students got first dibs at tickets

This was one of the lines just to get in, partly due to the increased security and popularity of the event

[ginzo]

Interesting stuff. Next time UF should book this guy:

 

http://www.timecube.com/

[dandaman]

Wasn't Kevorkian holed up in a Michigan prison not long ago? I think the local news did a live report on his release some months back.

 

^Between him and Ahmadinejad, they could make for the best campus speech duo in history.

[ParkTrips]

^^ I remember when he came to my school! Makes Kevorkian look like an angel!

[ginzo]

^^ I remember when he came to my school! Makes Kevorkian look like an angel!

 

In addition to GT, he also had a speaking appearance at MIT. Though apparently it basically turned into a crowd full of students laughing at the poor old nut case.

[jackskellington101]

What an interesting speaking engagement. If anything, it would be interesting to listen to him being as infamous as he is portrayed.

 

Bill Nye (the Science Guy, who also makes an appearance on several Disney attractions, including Dinosaur at AK and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ)

 

Where's Bill Nye in Dinosaur? I know he's in Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ, but I don't remember him in Dinosaur. And Bill Nye's controversial! He got booed at his talk at McLennan Community College in Waco, TX. That's controversy!

[downunder]

Didn't Kervorkian invent Flashback at Magic Mountain and the Golf Channel?

[BelizeIt]

Great signs at that event.......

 

Abortion: Don't let kids ruin your career.

Euthanasia: Don't let parents ruin your retirement.

 

I can understand the arguments for and against Euthanasia. On one hand if you or a family member is terminally ill, (probably in significant pain) with zero chance of recovery, then why should you be forced to live out an existence until you slowly "waste away" in agony and finally die.

 

On the other hand, you could have a family member who is depressed and has lost the will to live, but could be treated with medication. Another situation is to have an older family member (in good health) who feels that they are a "burden" to the family, so they opt for this way out.

 

Personally, I would support Euthanasia for people who are terminally ill. If someone is wasting away from Cancer or Aids etc... or they are in horrible pain, this is awful way to slowly die, and being drugged up on morphine or whatever 24/7 is no way to live.

[BarryH]

What an interesting speaking engagement. If anything, it would be interesting to listen to him being as infamous as he is portrayed.

 

Bill Nye (the Science Guy, who also makes an appearance on several Disney attractions, including Dinosaur at AK and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ)

 

Where's Bill Nye in Dinosaur? I know he's in Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ, but I don't remember him in Dinosaur. And Bill Nye's controversial! He got booed at his talk at McLennan Community College in Waco, TX. That's controversy!

 

Bill Nye is in Dinosaur, at least his voice is. He can be heard in the interior preshow room with the bones and paintings of dinosaurs. He talks about the history of dinosaurs and how they became extinct.

[astroworldfan1]

Can sombody explane this to me in a easier form of what this guy did to get in jail?

[SharkTums]

old guy help sick people suicide

 

Was that simple enough?

[astroworldfan1]

^ Yep.

 

-Tatum

[Wes]

Mel Gibson came to our school once, and got in a bad argument with some professor who was upset over the inaccuracies of the Mayan culture in "Apocalypto". He ended up calling her a bad name or something, it was big news for my crappy little school.

[jackskellington101]

Where's Bill Nye in Dinosaur? I know he's in Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot and CyberSpace Mountain at DQ, but I don't remember him in Dinosaur. And Bill Nye's controversial! He got booed at his talk at McLennan Community College in Waco, TX. That's controversy!

 

Bill Nye is in Dinosaur, at least his voice is. He can be heard in the interior preshow room with the bones and paintings of dinosaurs. He talks about the history of dinosaurs and how they became extinct.

 

Oh duh, of course. I had a total brain fart there. Thanks.

[carolinacaniac]

Wasn't Kevorkian holed up in a Michigan prison not long ago?

 

My in-laws are Corrections Officers at Lakeland Correctional Facility where he was last being held. Lakeland is a lower security prison in Coldwater, Michigan. He was taken there because they have an on-site medical facility and he has some kind of illness himself.

 

My step-mother in-law was on duty the day he was released and saw that he was greeted by one of the big evening news anchors, but I can't recall which one.

[ginzo]

Mel Gibson came to our school once, and got in a bad argument with some professor who was upset over the inaccuracies of the Mayan culture in "Apocalypto". He ended up calling her a bad name or something, it was big news for my crappy little school.

 

Ha. Good old Mel. He's trying to out crazy Tom Cruise.

[WDWliker]

While I understand where this guy is coming from, I'm on the proverbial fence for euthenasia. I understand that it's the only way for a terminally ill person to die peacfully, but the thought of it sounds terrible.

I, however, support abortion. I understand if some people disrespect my opinion, but it's their choice. As long as it isn't abused. I only belive it should be used if the child has an ailment which either causes the end of the child before he lives properly, or it ends up with a disability.

 

Again, these are my choices and no-one should be allowed to change them. I don't let advertising suave me. I choose my own belifes. So please don't flame this post because I have certian belifes which someone doesn't agree with.