Creative-minded college students across the country will be competing for the chance to win $2,500 in the second annual American Civil Liberties Union College Freedom Tour.

Zilo Networks Inc., the tour’s co-partner, will serve as the vessel for the ACLU and its message, says co-founder and president Campbell McLaren.

Zilo Networks is in a unique position in the college spectrum, McLaren says. The New York-based media outlet includes a television channel that reaches more than six million college subscribers daily.

“We try to do programming … that finds the college point of view,” McLaren says. “Everything we do is going to solve the problem we found five years ago.”

That problem, McLaren says, is a disconnect between society and college students. With no programming aimed at the 18-to-24 age group, college students were being left out, and McLaren says what is being aimed at young people is insulting.

“I believe MTV takes artists and trends and says, ‘Boom — this is cool, so you should think it is cool,'” McLaren says. “MTV gives you everything pre-chewed, and all you have to do is swallow.”

Part of the reason there isn’t much competition for students’ attention these days is because everyone is afraid to go up against the powers that be, McLaren says.

“Absolutely, [MTV] is a powerful machine,” McLaren says.

However, Zilo Networks does have faith in college students and trusts their judgment, McLaren says. The network encourages people to think for themselves, he says.

“[Students] have a bullshit meter so finely tuned, it’s scary,” McLaren says.

This free-thinking attitude is what is behind the partnership between Zilo Networks and the ACLU and their joint competition, the ACLU College Freedom PSA Contest. Students have until April 16 to submit a 30-second taped public service announcement on any subject, as long as it pertains to the ACLU and its message.

That message, says Cara Harris, senior in liberal studies and president of the ISU student chapter of the ACLU, is to inform and educate students and actively pursue civil liberties on campus.

“We want to fight for everyone’s equality,” Harris says.

As long as a participant’s public service announcement parallels the ACLU’s message, students stand a good chance in the competition, McLaren says.

“Have a strong opinion, express yourself, and you’ll probably do well,” McLaren says.

The winner, in addition to receiving $2,500, will win a trip for two to the second phase of the Freedom Tour, a star-studded comedy event being held in the fall. In addition, the winning spot will be televised on Zilo’s college network for everyone to see, McLaren says.

Even though the competition is being held nationwide, including film production powerhouses like New York University and the University of Southern California, McLaren insists Zilo is not looking for the next Steven Spielberg.

“Do graffiti on a wall and videotape it,” McLaren says. “As long as you have a concept, it will work. If [students] have got an opinion, they should express it.”