University Fires Former Porn-Making Chancellor Who Wanted to Stay On

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire Joe Gow, former university chancellor, after a controversial career shift to making pornographic films.

Gow, who had served as chancellor of UW-La Crosse for nearly 17 years, was seeking to retain a teaching position at the university following his dismissal in 2023.

He argued that his videos and writings about his experiences in the adult film industry were protected by the First Amendment. However, university attorneys argued that Gow had violated his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation, and acted unethically.

The regents held a closed session Friday morning before voting publicly. There was no discussion during the open session prior to the vote to dismiss him.

Gow has been on paid leave from his teaching position since the regents first fired him as chancellor after university leaders discovered his involvement in pornographic films.

According to Gow, the films and two e-books he and his wife, Carmen, published about their experiences in the adult industry were created in his personal time and had no connection to the university.

“The people who fired me today aren’t a ‘Board of Regents,’ they’re a ‘Board of Hypocrites,'” Gow said in a statement after his dismissal.

“They have zero credibility on free speech and expression.”

He plans to file a lawsuit against the university, claiming that his dismissal is a violation of his free speech rights.

Gow’s videos, which were posted on pornographic websites, were accompanied by two e-books written under pseudonyms: Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship and Married with Benefits — Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures.

He and his wife also run a YouTube channel called Sexy Healthy Cooking where they cook meals with porn actors.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), denounced the Board’s decision as a blow to academic freedom.

“FIRE has said time and time again: public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” he said. “We’re disappointed UW caved to donors and politicians by throwing a tenured professor under the bus.”

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has been navigating delicate relationships with Republican lawmakers, who have pressured the system to cut back on diversity initiatives and view the university as a liberal institution.

Rothman’s administration recently instructed university leaders to remain neutral in public statements.

Retaining Gow in any role could have triggered further backlash from Republican legislators, jeopardizing a requested $855 million increase for the system in the next state budget.

In 2018, Gow faced criticism for inviting porn star Nina Hartley to speak on campus, paying her $5,000 from student fees.

He reportedly developed the idea for the event after filming a pornographic video with her.

Despite Gow’s long academic career, which included multiple teaching awards at Alfred University in New York, Linda Dickmeyer, chair of the UW-La Crosse communications department, opposed his return to teaching.

She argued that Gow, who has not taught in over 20 years, would be assigned general education courses but should not be allowed to teach in any capacity.

Gow maintains that his involvement in adult films should not disqualify him from teaching or from academic life, and his fight to stay on may continue through the courts.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.