২২ সেপ্টেম্বর, ২০২৪

"The case has garnered national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-profile university official making pornographic movies and publicly talking about it..."

"... and the questions it raises about free speech rights. [Joe] Gow argued that his videos and two e-books he and his wife, Carmen, have published about their experiences in adult films are protected by the First Amendment. 'You don’t need the First Amendment to protect "The Star Spangled Banner,"' Gow’s attorney, Mark Leitner, told the committee. 'You don’t need the First Amendment to protect easy and comforting speech. It’s exactly the opposite. We need the First Amendment precisely when the danger of stifling, controversial, unpopular speech is at its highest. And that’s what we have here.'... The school is pushing to fire Gow for unethical conduct, insubordination for refusing to cooperate with an investigation and violating computer policies.... Gow has maintained that he and his wife produced the pornographic materials on their own time. He insists the videos and the books never mentioned UW-La Crosse or his role at the university...."

From "Porn-making former University of Wisconsin campus leader argues for keeping his teaching job" (AP)." Gow, formerly chancellor of UW-La Crosse, made his argument to the personnel committee of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

I don't know if these free-speech arguments garnered the attention of the regents. We're told they "asked no questions."

২৮টি মন্তব্য:

Iman বলেছেন...

“'You don’t need the First Amendment to protect "The Star Spangled Banner,"' Gow’s attorney, Mark Leitner, told the committee.”

Yes, but do you need it for “Sperms of Endearment” or “Saving Ryan's Privates”?

Critter বলেছেন...

So the left’s position is that free speech protects pornography that even the Supreme Court has maintained is an exception to free speech. But the first amendment doesn’t protect science (alternative COVID treatments that actually work) or political ideas that challenge the entrenched powers?

tim in vermont বলেছেন...

If the Board of Regents figures that this guy is going to make parents hesitate to send their daughters to UW, well "free speech" is just a sideshow.

Wince বলেছেন...

This "Happy Sexy Couple" have a YouTube channel called "Sexy Healthy Cooking!"

Tonight's dish: Professor Gow's Frickn'

With guest porn star, Will Pounder.

Lilly, a dog বলেছেন...

Now you have me thinking of all the great 90s porn parody titles.
"The Flintbones"
"Edward Penishands"
"Juranal Park"

And I had a friend who was always trying to get everyone to watch" Fatliners."

gilbar বলেছেন...

argued that his videos and two e-books he and his wife, Carmen, have published about their experiences in adult films are protected by the First Amendment.

NO ONE stopped them from Making porn.. they want to STOP him from working for the state.

gilbar বলেছেন...

isn't The Star Spangled Banner considered RACIST? and UNACCEPTABLE to modern ears?

Zavier Onasses বলেছেন...

Publish or Perish. High pressure life there at the University.

n.n বলেছেন...

Social progress. #NoJudgment #NoLabels #TakeAKnee, ladies, and germs

TickTock বলেছেন...

What about tarnishing the reputation of the school?

We've sunk well below the lowest common denominator here.

Lilly, a dog বলেছেন...

"Gow’s hope to return to teaching in the classroom is opposed by his department chair, Linda Dickmeyer. "

There has to be a punchline in there somewhere, but I'm just not seeing one.

Aggie বলেছেন...

How is this a Free Speech case? They were not hired to produce porn. They are not forbidden to practice their craft. He is simply not fit to hold his tenured position. Good decision.

The Vault Dweller বলেছেন...

Reminds me of Ward Churchill. I think he was fired and was successful in his lawsuit after being fired by the University.

n.n বলেছেন...

Ethics is the religion of context that has progressively been disfavored and fallen into ill repute with the popular exercise of liberal license.

The Vault Dweller বলেছেন...

What if in their free time they spent it joining Pro-Life protests, that while legal in and of themselves, were deeply offensive to some members of the University?

Lazarus বলেছেন...

The lawyers could argue that what he produces is more useful than what most people at the university turn out ...

walter বলেছেন...

To be fair, he had a lot of time on his hands.

rehajm বলেছেন...
এই মন্তব্যটি লেখক দ্বারা সরানো হয়েছে।
bobby বলেছেন...

"We need the First Amendment precisely when the danger of stifling, controversial, unpopular speech is at its highest."

Just to tickle AA's language interests, there's a misplaced comma in that sentence that drastically changes its meaning.

rehajm বলেছেন...

It’s seems this kind of behavior is a requirement of public school hires. This or paid violent political protesting…

Gospace বলেছেন...

Somehow I see this, Pastor Robinson's predilections, and government health officials holding sex parties during covid lockdown as all related to one another. And the Epstein client list... and Sean Diddy's guest list and enablers. And RADM Levine and Pete Buttigieg and the crossdressing luggage thief whose name I can't recall off the top of my head.

Jamie বলেছেন...

Without reading any other comments - if their claims that they did it all in personal time using personal equipment (including electricity) and didn't in any way defame the university are true, [shrug] I agree with him.

Jamie বলেছেন...

Ding ding ding

Jamie বলেছেন...

Of course, "didn't defame the university" might be kind of a high bar in this instance. If they were producing, say, a travel vlog that offered advice that didn't comport with the university's official stance on leisure travel in the age of catastrophic climate change, but didn't mention their positions at the University or refer to the University in any way, well, that would seem to me to be clearly protected.

Porn, OTOH, is slippery, in so many ways.

loudogblog বলেছেন...

"We need the First Amendment precisely when the danger of stifling, controversial, unpopular speech is at its highest."

This is the exact opposite of what the Democrat party is currently saying.

Michael K বলেছেন...

At least the black guy running for NC Governor was only watching porn. Not making it.

Iman বলেছেন...

For Your Thighs Only… On Golden Blonde… Pocahotass… Sleeping Booty…
The Loin King… Snatch Adams… Schindler's Fist… Crocodile Done Me…

ron winkleheimer বলেছেন...

@The Vault Dweller

He already would have been fired.