Porn-making former University of Wisconsin campus leader argues for keeping his teaching job
MADISON, Wis. — In a closely watched case involving First Amendment rights, a former University of Wisconsin campus chancellor was fired after he pornographic films His wife was prepared to argue Friday that he would keep his permanent teaching job even if he risks being fired for unethical behavior.
Joe Gowwho had served as president of UW-La Crosse for nearly 17 years, hoped to convince a personnel committee of the University of Wisconsin Board of Governors to recommend that he remain tenured and return to teaching communications courses.
Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the Regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leaders became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.
A UW-La Crosse faculty committee unanimously recommended in July that Gow lose his faculty position because he abused his position to generate more interest and revenue from the videos. Lawyers for the university plan to argue Friday that he should be stripped of his tenure as a lecturer because he has damaged the university’s reputation and disrupted its mission.
Gow has demonstrated an inability to recognize his own poor judgment, lawyers for the university argued in documents filed ahead of the hearing.
“This alone creates a serious risk to the university if Gow remains in his position. In addition, the university’s reputation has been damaged and the damage will undoubtedly be further exacerbated if Gow returns to the classroom,” the lawyers said.
The regents’ personnel committee was to discuss the matter behind closed doors after hearing testimony on Friday. The recommendation, which is also secret, will then be discussed next week at a meeting of the full Board of Regents.
The case has received national attention, both because of the lewd manner in which a prominent university official made and spoke openly about pornographic films and because of the questions it raises about the right to free speech.
Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen have published about their experiences with pornographic films are protected by the First Amendment.
“It is utterly inconsistent with the First Amendment and the Board of Regents’ own profession of fidelity to the philosophy of free speech on a university campus to shut down or even punish expression that is lawful and does not seriously harm the mission of the university,” Gow’s attorney, Mark Leitner, argued in a filing ahead of the hearing.
The school is pushing to fire Gow for unethical behavior, insubordination for refusing to cooperate with an investigation and violating computer policies. UW-La Crosse’s employee handbook requires faculty to “exhibit a level of conduct that supports the mission of the university.”
Gow has maintained that he and his wife produced the pornographic material on their own time. He maintains that the videos and books never mentioned UW-La Crosse or his role at the university.
However, Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She was paid $5,000 of her tuition to appear. He came up with the idea to bring her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her, the university said.
Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under pseudonyms: “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhanced Our Relationship” and “Married with Benefits: Our Adventures in the Real Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.
Gow’s hopes of returning to classroom teaching are being thwarted by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow has been out of teaching for 20 years, he would be given general education courses, but she is opposed to allowing him to return to teaching in any role.