The photograph of the young man accused of robbery on the cover of the Alligator is dehumanizing and completely unnecessary.
It is a duty and a responsibility of the Alligator to relay the news for the safety and security of our students and for a better understanding of events like these on campus, but to plaster the photograph of an individual, cuffed, in only his underwear, being strip-searched by the police is a gross violation of an individual's rights and privacy.
The image frames the accused as a spectacle and as an object to be gawked at. A simple story would have been enough, and I think there needs to be consideration to take the image down.
If an image is really necessary, then take a photograph of the cuffs being placed on the suspect's wrists or of him being slid into the back of a car. But to have a young man sitting in his boxer shorts with his pants around his ankles as he is being strip-searched is going beyond a "strong photo" and crossing into the territory of violating an individual's rights.
While I am not arguing in defense of his actions, the repercussions of his criminal offense do not include being treated as an animal and photographed as a creature in a zoo without clothes.
He, like any other human being, is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. Following the latter, he should then be treated with due process, but that does not excuse the subjugation of an individual at a very basic human level.
I feel, if anything, the photograph should be a commentary on the poor procedure of University Police rather than demonization of this young man. The newspaper has agency and is responsible for running the photograph.
A photo is meant to provide insight into the story that is provided alongside it. The image illuminates the glaring faults of UPD in the manner in which this situation was handled. The article itself does not discuss the injustices of the situation; if it did, the photograph would be appropriate.
The story paired with the image discusses the crime and only the crime. The image paired, in this case, with this article becomes a violation and a perpetuation of thought processes and ideologies that are misplaced.
It is unnecessary, it is inflammatory and in that regard, the Alligator is responsible. The manner in which you frame media is very important, and I think in this instance, it was framed poorly.
Mary-Alison Burger
Gainesville resident
