University of Maryland and Porn

[Canto]

Here's the link to the Article.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/college/bal-movie0402,0,3273550.story

"The University of Maryland, College Park, has canceled this weekend's screening of a hard-core pornographic film after state lawmakers objected and threatened to cut funding to the flagship state university."

This is..disturbing. The senator that brought this up is of course a conservative. While I agree that there are issues with the showing of porn at an educational institution, I strongly disagree with the bullying done by the senator. Any thoughts?

 

[rulezdaworld0]

lol he's just jealous he can't see any wherever he works.

 

[Aught3]

It does seem weird to be showing porn at a university, what was the point?

 

[Saladin]

It does seem weird to be showing porn at a university, what was the point?

A lot of people like to do things like this and then pat each other on the back for being enlightened enough to not be offended or grossed out or whatever.

 

[Spase]

It does seem weird to be showing porn at a university, what was the point?

Well, it seems it was going to be played by the student union.. which.. I think may be a student organization. Apparently a lot of people weren't aware it was an adult film...

It wasn't being paid for by school funds, it was being "donated" by the company that produced it essentially as advertising to the demographic they have every reason to target (male college students).

I don't know.. I've always been leery of student organizations on campus anyway...

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Censors are to be considered guilty until proven innocent. I mean really... do they think college kids aren't having sex, forget about watching in on their computers? Plus, I remember that the first Pirates movie came out in an edited cut that you could rent at Blockbuster. The producers seem to be trying something almost experimental with porn, by including non-sexual action and a plot of some sort. It could be worth watching for no other reason than it offends people, which is something college students should be talking about anyway.

 

[monitoradiation]

I would object, as a student (were I enrolled there) to showing such a film and would not show up for the screening simply for the reason that the University is supposed to be a place of higher education. I suppose if it were shown as part of a course on cinematography the lines could get blurry; however, at a student union gathering like a pep rally there is no need for such a film, or a film of any kind.

 

[ebbixx]

It does seem weird to be showing porn at a university, what was the point?

Film series show all sorts of things. Ours screened Deep Throat and a couple of others that were regarded as "key examples" of porn genre film making (back when porn actually was shot on film). Fortunately my college was a private one and there was no controversy I can recall. Then again, it was also the late Seventies.

They also screened Last Tango In Paris, which this yob undoubtedly would have objected to as well.

The point is, if nothing else, to affirm freedom of speech and spark campus discussions of issues like "indecency" statutes and censorship.

 

[ebbixx]

Well, it seems it was going to be played by the student union.. which.. I think may be a student organization.

On most US campuses the "Student Union" is the main umbrella student organization under which most other student organizations such as film series, photo clubs, student-run theater groups and so on are organized. That the student union might sponsor something in its own name indicates very little, except, possibly, that no smaller organization wanted to put itself in harm's way by claiming to sponsor the showing.

 

[Synystyr]

Just another strike for religiotards to claim the education system is satanic and therefore all science can be dismissed as false.

 

[ebbixx]

at a student union gathering like a pep rally there is no need for such a film, or a film of any kind.

If you read the article, this was not being shown at a pep rally or any other semi-compulsory gathering.

It was being shown, at least it seems, as part of the usual college film series that most universities tend to have as an entirely optional student activity. No one was being coerced into watching, unless by another student. And a Planned Parenthood presentation was supposed to precede the screening. And the distributors were providing the film for free.