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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 29 december 2023

Wisconsin university chancellor says he was fired for producing

and appearing in porn videos

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — For- "Good judgement requires
mer University of Wisconsin- that there are and must
La Crosse Chancellor Joe be limits on what is said or
Gow said Thursday that the done by the individuals en-
school's governing board trusted to lead our universi-
fired him because mem- ties," Rothman wrote.
bers were uncomfortable Rothman added that Gow
with him and his wife pro- served at the pleasure of
ducing and appearing in the regents and was not
pornographic videos. entitled to any specific pro-
The Universities of Wiscon- cess. "That should be abun-
sin Board of Regents, which dantly clear to him," Roth-
oversees UW-Madison, UW- man said.
La Crosse and 11 other re- Gow took heavy criticism
gional campuses, voted in 2018 for inviting porn ac-
unanimously during a hast- tor Nina Hartley to speak
ily convened closed meet- at UW-La Crosse. He paid
ing Wednesday evening to her $5,000 out of student
fire Gow. fees to appear. Ray Cross,
After the vote, Universities then UW system president,
of Wisconsin President Jay reprimanded him and the
Rothman and regents Presi- regents refused to give him
dent Karen Walsh issued a raise that year. Gow said
statements saying the re- This undated photo provided by University of Wisconsin system shows UW-La Crosse Chancellor then that he was exercising
gents had learned of spe- Joe Gow. the system's free speech
cific conduct by Gow that Associated Press policies.
subjected the university to never mentioned UW-La and he was never given a into a role teaching com- Gow and his wife star in a
"significant reputational Crosse or his role at the uni- hearing or other opportu- munication courses. But YouTube channel called
harm." Rothman called versity in any of the videos nity to present his case. He Rothman said Wednesday "Sexy Healthy Cooking" in
Gow's actions "abhorrent" and the firing violated his said he's contemplating a evening that he planned which the couple cooks
and Walsh said she was free speech rights. lawsuit. to file a complaint with UW- meals with porn actors.
"disgusted." But neither of "My wife and I live in a "I got an email last night L's interim chancellor, Betsy They also have written two
them offered any details of country where we have a saying I was terminated," Morgan, seeking a review e-books, "Monogamy with
the allegations. First Amendment," he said. Gow said. "I wish I would of Gow's tenure. Benefits: How Porn Enrich-
Gow told The Associated "We're dealing with con- have had the opportunity Rothman said in an email es Our Relationship" and
Press in a phone interview sensual adult sexuality. The to have a hearing. When to the AP on Thursday "Married with Benefits —
Thursday morning that re- regents are overreacting. reasonable people under- morning that Gow failed Our Real-Life Adult Industry
gents had discovered that They're certainly not adher- stand what my wife and I to act as a role model for Adventures" under pseud-
he and his wife, former UW- ing to their own commit- are creating, it calms them students, faculty and the onyms. Their biographies
La Crosse professor Car- ment to free speech or the down." community and mistakenly on Amazon contain links to
men Wilson, had been pro- First Amendment." Gow had planned to retire believes the First Amend- their videos on X, the social
ducing and appearing in Gow also complained that as chancellor at the con- ment equates to a "free media platform formerly
pornographic videos. the regents never told him clusion of the spring 2024 pass to say or do anything known as Twitter, and a
He maintained that he what policy he violated semester and transition that he pleases." pornographic website.q

Democratic mayors renew pleas for

federal help and coordination with

Texas over migrant crisis

as U.S. cities have struggled is aboard. tried to avoid penalties by
to manage the increasing "We cannot allow buses with making unscheduled drop-
number of migrants sent people needing our help to offs in the suburbs, forcing lo-
from Texas and other states. arrive without warning at any cal officials and authorities
Republican Gov. Greg Ab- hour of day and night," New to step in. Recently, one bus
bott's busing operation has York City Mayor Eric Adams unloaded migrants overnight
transported more than 80,000 said at a virtual news confer- at a gas station in Kankakee,
migrants to Democratic-led ence with the other mayors. roughly 70 miles (110 kilome-
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news cities since last year. His ad- "This not only prevents us from ters) from Chicago.
conference, Dec. 12, 2023, in New York.
Associated Press ministration recently stepped providing assistance in an or- "The lack of care that has
up the practice with char- derly way, it puts those who been on display for the last
By SOPHIA TAREEN help and coordination with tered planes. have already suffered in so year and a half has creat-
Associated Press Texas over the growing num- The mayors sharply criticized much in danger." ed an incredible amount of
CHICAGO (AP) — The mayors ber of asylum-seekers arriv- Abbott and the effort, saying Chicago has cracked down chaos," said Chicago Mayor
of Chicago, New York City ing in their cities by bus and buses arrive at all hours and on so-called "rogue" buses, Brandon Johnson. More than
and Denver renewed pleas plane. outside designated drop-off with lawsuits, fines and tickets. 26,000 migrants have arrived
Wednesday for more federal The mayors' requests come zones with no details on who In recent weeks, buses have in the city since last year.q