UCSD Cancels Campus Showing Of Berg Video

SAN DIEGO -- University of California, San Diego administrators made a last-minute decision today to cancel campus showings of the videotaped beheading of American civilian Nicholas Berg in Iraq.

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Ariel Mor, a 20-year-old UCSD political science sophomore, planned the event as "pro-American," saying he hoped it would increase support for U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East nation, according to news reports.

Mor intended to show the eight-minute video repeatedly between noon and 3:30 p.m. on two 25-inch television sets on the La Jolla campus's central Library Walk.

University officials decided the video did not violate student policy, after considering the circumstances and the fact that Mor followed campus rules in reserving a spot on campus.

Mor, however, decided for unknown reasons this morning not to show the video, according to a UCSD official who requested anonymity.

A second party then decided to go ahead with the plan, but administrators canceled the event because the group lacked the necessary school permit, the official said.

Mor had obtained the reservation under the name of the Israel Action Committee, a student organization he used to lead.

Anti-U.S. insurgents kidnapped Berg in April while he was in Iraq searching for work. His decapitation was videotaped and released on certain Web sites.

Mor said he hoped the showing would prompt students to become more politically active. He said that after watching the video about two weeks ago he had trouble sleeping for days.

The gruesome video already has led to controversy at San Diego-area schools. Earlier this month, several Grossmont Union High School District teachers were placed on leave after airing the tape in class.

The showings prompted a rash of protests from parents, administrators, school board members and students.