Bulk delivery cable to off-campus student housing prevents Ricks College officials from out-and-out banning a music video channel, but one official says it shouldn't be allowed.
Ric Page, housing director at the college owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is quoted in the college newspaper as saying that much of the programming on MTV goes against college rules and should not be allowed in off-campus housing.But some students and apartment managers say the college shouldn't be censoring what is seen in students' homes and the decision to watch or not to watch should be left to the viewer.
Others say they are sticking with school rules not to allow it. One manager said it's not available in his complex because it's not religious.
Page says much of what is seen on MTV would be classified as R-rated by Ricks officials. Watching R- and X-rated productions is banned at the college. The honor code, the moral guideline students pledge to uphold and face expulsion if they fail, says, "This include inappropriate movies on cable TV channels."
Five years ago, the college blocked MTV from being picked up in on-campus dorms over morality issues. But off-campus complexes purchase cable in bulk and maintain the distribution network, Page says.
Despite being privately owned, the off-campus apartments are contracted to the college for student housing and apartment owners agree to enforce the college's code of honor, even going so far as to direct managers as moral watchdogs, with nighttime room checks and expulsion of visitors of the opposite sex they find in the room.
Without the agreement, the college will not give its stamp of approval. Single Ricks students - all 7,700 of them - cannot rent apartments that are not approved and still be allowed to attend school.
Some apartment managers are speaking out against college policy, and increased competition for renters may be part of the reason.