Tenured Professor Takes University of Wisconsin to Court After Getting Fired Over Pornographic Videos

Former University of Wisconsin Chancellor Joe Gow is taking the school to court after being fired for the second time over his pornographic double life, after the Board of Regents unanimously voted to remove him from his tenured professor position on Friday.

"Constitutional rights are not so easily trampled. With FIRE's help, Gow's fighting back. And not only for himself but also to protect the free speech rights of faculty everywhere. Next stop: Federal district court in Wisconsin," said the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in a statement released Monday afternoon.

Gow will make his best case with Mark Lietner as his attorney, FIRE said, adding that Gow also sent a letter to the UW Board of Regents with all the legal precedents protecting public employee's rights to speak, write, and film sexually charged expression.

Gow was fired last year as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin after pornographic videos of him and his wife surfaced online. Even after losing his position as chancellor, Gow remained a tenured faculty member until last week.

The UW Board of Regents rejected all the arguments in a 17-to-0 vote. Gow referred to the regents as the "Board of Hypocrites," asserting that by terminating him due to his pornographic publications and video productions, UW failed in its commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech.

Gow's future has been uncertain for months, even though the UW Board of Regents took less than one hour to decide on Friday. Gow was nearly immediately dismissed from his position as chancellor, but tenure protections kept him working during his leave.

The faculty vote was backed by Gow's replacement, UW La Crosse chancellor James Beeby, who forwarded the motion to the UW Board of Regents, who subsequently chose Gow's fate.

UW System President Jay Rothman called Gow's actions "abhorrent" and alleged he caused "significant reputational harm" to the university in a statement.

A faculty panel heard a case in June and recommended his removal in July by a vote of 5 to 0. In addition to the accusations made against him, Linda Dickmeyer, chair of the Department of Communication Studies, voiced doubts about Gow's suitability for a return to teaching, saying that his notoriety "would follow him into that classroom" and casting doubt on his effectiveness, according to the Inside Higher Ed.

Gow made pornographic videos with his wife and with other adult film stars, occasionally. He denied the UW's accusation of impropriety and pointed to calls from state lawmakers who demanded his termination, alleging that the system is bowing to political pressure.

The regents claim to want to protect and promote free expression, but their action today shows this isn't true," Gow wrote in a statement sent on Friday morning.

"Late last year, when they fired me as chancellor, they said it was because the books and videos my wife Carmen and I posted on the internet were 'abhorrent' and 'disgusting.' And now, after a long and fraudulent process, they have fired me as a tenured faculty member, as well," added.

Gow argues that his actions are protected by the First Amendment and that his online activities have no interference with teaching responsibilities.