A public university in Wisconsin is facing criticism after attempting to covertly fund a speaking engagement by a former adult film star by using student funds.
A student administrator at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse attempted to secretly arrange a speech by former pornographic film star Nina Hartley during National Freedom of Speech Week.
According to the La Crosse Tribune, Chancellor Joe Gow arranged for Hartley to visit UW-La Crosse and deliver a speech on “the realities of adult entertainment and the benefits of people taking ownership of their sexuality.” In return for her speech, Hartley was paid $5,000 from the school for her appearance.
Unsurprisingly, UW-La Crosse did not actively promote the event on their website, likely to avoid the obvious blowback that would come with spending educational funds on a speech by a porn star. According to the Tribune, the existence of the event was not made known to the press, and the talk was only promoted via digital signage on campus.
When asked about the reasoning behind the secrecy of the event, Gow admitted the event may be offensive to some individuals, but also remarked that he wanted to avoid negative press from people who may “sensationalize” the event.
“We promoted it extensively on campus, on our digital signs, and we felt that was the best way to do it,” said Gow. “There was concern, because it’s a controversial topic, that people would send this far and wide, and we’d get people who aren’t going to come, and they sensationalize it.”
According to campus administrators, the $5,000 payment for Hartley’s speech was taken from the University’s auxillary fund, which is funded by mandatory student fees.
Despite his efforts to limit criticism of the event, Gow admitted he received negative feedback from a number of students and faculty on the appropriateness of the event for a college campus.
“Some students did not think porn and adult entertainment are good things,” Gow admitted.
John Patrick (@john_pat_rick) is a graduate of Canisius College and Georgia Southern University. He interned for Red Alert Politics during the summer of 2012 and has continued to contribute regularly.
