One day after the A.S. Council passed an Oct. 23 amendment banning pornographic images from being aired on Student-Run Television, John Muir College senior Steve York rebroadcast a video with an overlaid image of an A.S. senator in place of the adult-film actress featured in the clip.

The face of Thurgood Marshall Senior Senator Kate Pillon, a staunch supporter of the ban against “graphic sexual activity involving nudity” on SRTV, was seen in place of the actress engaged in sex with York when the video was replayed on Oct. 27. York, who spoke of his disapproval of the amendment at the Oct. 26 A.S. Council meeting, had warned councilmembers that they “could not win” the battle of censorship when it came to free speech and SRTV content.

Pillon, who made public her vote to ban pornography during an open discussion at the meeting, stated that although she recognized the intent of the piece to be hurtful, she understood on a professional level that it could also be seen as political satire of a public figure.

“I’ve voted all along that this kind of explicit sexual acts shouldn’t be on SRTV,” Pillon said. “Because I’ve voted that way, I was attacked. They tried to make it personal, to have it get to me, but they haven’t and they can’t.”

The amendment, passed in a 14-8-0 vote, was a topic of controversy not only among the students attending the meeting, but councilmembers as well. Senators debated the legality of the nudity ban, which some believed could be seen as the A.S. Council impeding the station’s First Amendment rights. The majority ultimately decided that the legality of the item was best left up to the university’s legal counsel, and could not be adequately interpreted by the senators.

According to SRTV Station co-Manager Andy Tess, neither he nor his partner were present at the station at the time of the latest broadcast, although he knew of rumors that “Koala TV” had plans to air another segment.

“We, as managers, don’t get involved in the creative process,” Tess said. “It’s very clear in the charter what our responsibilities are. We are to make sure no student breaks FCC broadcast rules and regulations, which Steve York has not done.”

John Muir College Senior Senator Conrad Ohashi, who voted against the ban on pornography, said that, although he felt sympathy for Pillon, the latest broadcast has not changed his mind on the broader issue. The same day of the second airing, the Muir College Council passed a resolution supporting free speech on SRTV.

“I view last Thursday as a political statement, and political statements should be honored as freedom of speech,” Ohashi said. “I feel even more strongly now that this should go through the grievance process.”

Pillon herself expressed no desire to let Thursday’s airing alter her views in any way.

“I believe strongly that I was attacked for standing up for what I believe in,” she said. “I’m not going to stop doing that.”

Rather than inciting personal vendettas, the effect of Thursday’s broadcast may be the galvanization of the council, according to acting Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Gary R. Ratcliff.

The broadcast was aired as a political statement, and had no personal bearing, acccording to York.

“This was not a personal attack on Kate Pillon,” he said. “She threw herself into this debate and made herself a figure for satire. Granted, it was done in a very low-blow way, but it got the point across.”

Tess said that he did not believe the legislation passed last week was in effect because it had yet to be signed by A.S. President Christopher Sweeten. Meanwhile, York said the council did not have the vote necessary to install the nudity ban.

“I am personally convinced that the amendment to the constitution required a two-thirds majority to pass, and they didn’t have it,” York said. “I would hope if A.S. has a problem with the content of the show, they would follow their own Media Grievance Procedure guide. Issues with content belong there, not on the council floor.”

York’s decision to air his Oct. 27 broadcast was indicative of the Koala’s unprofessional manner, Ratcliff said.

“‘Koala TV’ had an opportunity to honor the intent of the A.S. Council and they chose not to,” he said. “From what I’ve read, Steve York is characterizing it as civil disobedience, but they singled out a member of the council. I thought it was very cruel and hateful.”

The university will allow the A.S. Council to ultimately decide what course of action will be taken in this matter, Ratcliff said.

“The university hasn’t been passive,” he said. “We’ve made resources like campus counsel available to [the council], but there haven’t been any plans formulated to intervene. This is a council matter.”

Pillon said that although personal legal action against York may be within her rights, she does not believe it to be the most productive way of dealing with the situation.

“I don’t want to engage Steve York,” Pillon said. “Fighting back is stooping to his level and gratifying him. It’s not what I want. We can turn this into a positive thing, as far as the community coming together.”