Controversial IUSTV comedy shows lead to statement of decency

A fake investigative report about sex in the stacks of the library, a humorous look at racism through milk and a story about people selling their family to play the stock markets. The three comedy shows that IU Student Television has expanded its programming lineup with this year are all boundary-pushing. Complaints about controversial items have led to the design of a statement of decency at IUSTV, the only independent student-run TV station in the country.\n“Each episode we try to push our limits a little further,” said senior Joey Reinisch, creator and producer of the cartoon show “Destructo Box. “We try to put a bit more pressure on our programming director, Kyle (McVey).” \nSo far, four episodes of “Destructo Box” have been broadcast, consisting of independent stories taking place in a flat city with square characters. On the surface everything appears normal, but meanwhile horrifying things happen.\n“I think students either love or hate ‘Destructo Box,’” said said co-producer Phil Mclaughlin. “When a fragment was shown in a class a friend of mine attended, somebody called it crap. ‘No, it’s awesome!’ somebody else found.”\nThe same probably goes for “F’N Democracy,” fashioned after Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” and Stephen Colbert’s “The Colbert Report.” \n“A lot of students watch it and like it,” said producer Max Taylor, “but also some hate mails have been sent to the TV station. These people found certain items disrespectful. I think, however, the show is getting better with each episode. We started kind of crude and unrehearsed, trying to just say a lot of funny things. Now we are attempting to ... prepare more, because there’s more behind it. ‘F’N Democracy’ is getting funnier and more intelligent.”\nThe third comedy, “IU Live!,” has received three written complaints, said senior Alana Salata, producer of the variety show. \n“Getting hate mail is good, because that means people are actually watching,” she said.\nAdded co-producer and senior Mike Ferry: “We usually mock the complainers in the show.” \nAn item that got a lot of buzz was a parody on the rivalry between the Kelley School of Business and School of Public and Environmental Affairs, which got more than 1,300 hits on YouTube. \n“Our actors are already being recognized on the campus,” Ferry said. \nIUSTV programming director Kyle McVey said there have been some growing pains. \n“We are aware of the fact that the shows have aroused some controversy at the campus,” McVery said. “That’s why we are figuring out a statement of decency for IUSTV now. Hopefully that will bring a better balance between a creative content and keeping more viewers happy next year.” \nMcVey underlines that such a statement needed to be designed anyway. \n“Every television station or newspaper has to deal with debates about decency,” he said. “Certainly we do not want to restrict freedom of speech and creativeness. The shows are entirely created, written and produced by students, and personally I am very proud of them.”