In a closely watched case of First Amendment rights, a former University of Wisconsin chancellor who was fired for making pornographic films with his wife argued Friday to keep his tenured teaching position even though he could be removed from his position for unethical behavior.
Joe Gau, who had been chancellor of UW-La Crosse for nearly 17 years, hoped to convince the personnel committee of the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents to recommend that he be allowed to retain tenure and teach communications courses.
Gau has been on paid leave for the last 15 days. their faculty position Because the Regents removed him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leaders learned of the video posted on pornographic websites.
University attorney Wade Harrison told the six members of the personnel committee on Friday that Gow's behavior was “unethical, hypocritical and unacceptable.”
“That’s enough,” he said. “Dr. Joe has to go.”
The UW-La Crosse Faculty Committee unanimously recommended in July that Gau should lose his faculty position, saying he abused his position to gain more interest and revenue from the videos. University lawyers argued Friday that he should lose his permanent teaching position because he damaged the university's reputation and interfered with its mission.
Gau has proven that he is unable to recognize his son. poor self judgementUniversity lawyers made this argument in documents filed before the hearing.
The Regents Personnel Committee discussed the matter behind closed doors after taking testimony Friday. Its recommendation, which is also confidential, will be put forward for consideration by the full Board of Regents at a meeting next week.
The case has attracted national attention as it involves a high-level university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films, and raises questions about the right to free speech.
Gow argued that the videos and two e-books he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were 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 comfortable speech. It's quite the opposite. We need the First Amendment precisely when controversial, unpopular speech is most at risk. And that's what we have here.”
Harrison, the university's attorney, countered that the videos themselves were legal, but they were not protected speech under his employment contract.
“Gow's pornography videos are not protected by the First Amendment,” Harrison said.
The cow has got it what does he want“That means we focus on our books and videos,” Harrison said.
The Regents asked no questions.
The school is pushing to fire Gow for unethical conduct, refusing to cooperate with an investigation and violating computer policies. The UW-La Crosse employee handbook requires faculty to “exhibit a level of behavior that supports the university mission.”
Gau has said that he and his wife produced the pornographic material on their own time. He stressed that the videos and books never mentioned UW-La Crosse or his role at the university.
However, in 2018, Gove was criticised for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She was paid $5,000 from student fees to speak. The university said it came up with the idea of bringing her to campus after shooting a pornographic video with her.
Gau and his wife have e-books written under pseudonyms: “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures.” But they also collaborate on a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks with porn actors.
Gau's hopes of returning to classroom teaching have been opposed by his department chair, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that since Gau has not taught in 20 years, he will be assigned general education courses, but she opposes allowing him to teach in any role.
