Two students aired the Nicholas Berg beheading video on Student Run Television on May 27 as part of the show “Perfect Vision,” which normally runs on Warren College Television. A previous display of the video on WCTV caused Earl Warren College administrators to shut down WCTV indefinitely. Another group of students had also planned to show the video on Library Walk on May 25, but canceled the reservation.

Before airing the video, SRTV cautioned viewers regarding the graphic nature of the video, which shows the beheading of Berg, an American civilian killed in Iraq.

According to SRTV station manager Jared Lindo, the station consulted with their A.S. adviser and Triton Cable officials before deciding to air the program.

Neither Lindo nor “Perfect Vision” host Earl Warren College junior Daniel Watts have received any complaints from the administration.

“I think that people have to realize that there are heavy, intense things going on in the world and that ignoring it isn’t going to make it any better,” Lindo said. “I think one of the most important things that need to happen when people disagree with each other is that they should talk about it.”

Watts said he wanted to air the video to stimulate political debate, and took calls from viewers following the screening of the beheading.

“I wanted to give people an opportunity to see a side of the conflict that the mainstream media hasn’t shown the people,” Watts said. “It’s easy to find pictures of Iraqi prisoner abuse — those are all over the place, the mainstream media shows that.”

During the show, Watts and co-host Steve York, a John Muir College junior, described the recent shutdown of WCTV and attempts by students to display the Berg video on Library Walk. Both hosts claimed that the administration has a “double standard” regarding political demonstrations.

“It’s funny because there are certain things that the administration doesn’t kick people off for,” Watts said on the show. “Half those organizations don’t make reservations, they just set up tables. If there’s no one else who wants that specific spot on Library Walk, it’s just ridiculous to make them have a reservation 24 hours in advance, which is what the administration is trying to require of controversial groups.”

According to Director of Student Policies and Judicial Affairs Nicholas S. Aguilar, students are not unduly prevented from exercising their right to free speech on Library Walk.

“Library Walk is also a public thoroughfare and so it is also the case that anyone can engage in the exercise of free speech, so long as they are not using equipment or staking out a spot reserved for someone else,” Aguilar said. “If an individual is able to engage in free expression without blocking the traffic flow, we would not take the initiative to stop them.”

Watts also objected to Warren administration pulling the plug on WCTV, citing a history of editorial control by the students. Aguilar defended the move, saying that WCTV is an educational resource.

“It’s inappropriate for the university or any individual to interfere with a student’s right to free expression in a recognized public forum,” Aguilar said. “Warren College Television is not a public forum.”

Aguilar said that WCTV is an educational resource that was established by the Warren residential dean’s office for administrative and educational purposes. According to Aguilar, its policies and practices have been to broadcast only content determined by the Warren dean to promote the college’s educational mission.

Students have been denied access to WCTV since May 26.

Warren Dean of Student Affairs Jeff Philpott could not be reached for comment.

[Ed. Note: Daniel Watts is the Opinion Editor for the UCSD Guardian.]