Trey Parker, Matt Stone Are mtvU's Men Of The Year

mtvU has named the pair their 2011 Men of the Year, alongside Burmese opposition leader and former government detainee Aung San Suu Kyi, who was dubbed Woman of the Year. The college network praised Parker and Stone for continuing to "push the envelope by targeting hypocrisy with a comedic sensibility that satirizes zealotry and inserts reason into the global debate." MTV President Stephen Friedman explained in a statement that, "Each year, mtvU shines a spotlight on the individuals who have challenged us to think about the world in a new way and who have left an indelible mark on our culture and society. ... We're proud to honor Aung San Suu Kyi and Matt and Trey who, in radically different ways, have positively contributed to the cultural narrative of a historic year."

In naming Parker and Stone, the network said that for 15 years, the pals and creative collaborators have "fearlessly pushed boundaries by taking shots at liberals and conservatives, atheists and the ultra-religious, and everyone in between. After they met at the University of Colorado, the two film students created an animated short called 'The Spirit of Christmas,' which became a viral sensation and introduced the world to Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny. Since then, they've become two of the most distinct voices in comedy, and in our culture."

And, in the same week that Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton is set to make a historic visit to Myanmar on Friday to meet with Suu Kyi, mtvU has honored the freedom fighter as its Woman of the Year. "A living reminder of Mahatma Gandhi's legacy, mtvU's Woman of the Year is fearless in her pursuit of democracy and defense of human rights," read the announcement. "Suu Kyi refused to be silenced by one of the world's most authoritarian states, and her lifelong effort proves that nonviolent resistance can overcome the fiercest oppression. After spending more than 15 years under house arrest for her political views, Suu Kyi continues to demand democratic reform from the Burmese military junta. In March, the junta stepped down, and last week, her party re-entered Myanmar's political system, with the likelihood that Suu Kyi will run for parliament."

Beginning Wednesday (November 30), mtvU will profile its People of the Year to millions of young people on college campuses around the United States in short-form segments on-air and online. Last year, the college network named Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj its Man and Woman of the Year.