UTV13 hopes to get public access

Off-campus students who want their UTV13 may soon be able to get their wish. Currently, UTV13 is only available in campus dormitories wired for ResNet. But the broadcasts of student-run television stations at neighboring Drexel and Temple universities are available to cable subscribers living off campus in University City. Administrators have consistently raised concerns that a student-run television station could be irresponsible and abuse public access air time purchased with student funds. Officials have also worried that the content of unsupervised broadcasts might reflect poorly on the University. But after years of informal discussion, the University Council Committee on Communications will formally take up the issue of whether to offer access to UTV13 outside of ResNet at its December 18 meeting. The committee had planned to deal with questions about UTV13 getting public access air time earlier in the semester, co-chairperson Ira Winston said yesterday. But members were not able to find a mutually agreeable time to meet. Winston, who also serves as director of computing for the Engineering School, said the committee will be looking seriously at "the feasibility and desirability" of making UTV13 available to a viewing area outside of the University. There are a number of weighty issues to consider when thinking about beaming UTV13's signal into the wider West Philadelphia community, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. "UTV is not the same thing as [The Daily Pennsylvanian]" she said. "It is part of the University, and the question is, can they get the kind of [financial] support and advice that they need to make it reasonable?" To that end, Scheman said she would support the development of a firm editorial policy governing the station's programming and aid in shaping a schedule that responds to what audience members want. She added that she would also advocate the appointment of a faculty adviser for UTV13 -- although "it would be utterly inappropriate for the faculty to be in a position of censorship." "There needs to be a process that allows those people who are involved to feel accountable, and in fact be accountable," Scheman said. But UTV13 Sports Director Jon Teitel, a College senior, said the thought of having an adviser worries him -- especially if the University asked the station to choose from a list of candidates selected by the committee. Teitel said the list might prove to be a problem if the faculty or staff members on it wanted to determine UTV13's news content or the tone of sports stories. "Right now, if I say 'fucking shit' on the air on ResNet, I don't think anyone can penalize me physically, emotionally, financially, judicially or otherwise," he said. On the other hand, Teitel added, if the adviser simply offered suggestions for improvement, creating such a position could have a positive impact on UTV13. "It's do you want to be responsible for what you do, and have total independent control, or do you want to have a viewing audience beyond your wildest dreams?" he asked.

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