Next step for Gow’s free speech battle: The courts

LACROSSE, Wis. – The porn-producing former UW-LaCrosse chancellor, Joe Gow, confirmed he plans to take his case for academic freedom and free speech to the courts. The Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has supported Gow through his final appeal within the University of Wisconsin system, which he lost last week. “We’re going to talk to the FINE people next week about a lawsuit because this is wrong,” je said. “I’m being discriminated against because of things that my wife and I put on the internet on our own time as private citizens,” he said. “The universities should not be able to fire a tenured professor over that.”  He acknowledged that the case is cutting edge but rooted in basic principles that protect college faculty to pursue novel theories and approaches. He repeated his claim that the UW regents are hypocrites, espousing a commitment to free expression but not walking the talk. About a lawsuit Gow said: “We’re excited about it, because this time we’ll get to be heard by an impartial judge or jury.” He said he can image the U.S. Court having an interest in exploring the issue. Meanwhile, he said that said that he and faculty wife Carmen Wilson, who co-produced the videos, expect to be visiting campuses nationwide to talk about their experience and what it means for free speech.

Earlier: Gow’s termination at UW-La Crosse upheld