The politics of porn: Free speech in Maryland

Date: 4/8/2009 3:49 pm

Last week, the University of Maryland found itself caught between politics and pornography. The university planned to show a pornographic movie, accompanied by a Planned Parenthood talk on safe sex practices. After hearing about the event, a Maryland legislator fast-tracked a budget amendment denying state funding to any school that presents hardcore pornography, leading university officials to cancel the screening. Students, faculty and administrators at the university have called the General Assembly's interference an infringement on First Amendment rights.
Senate President Mike Miller had mixed feelings on the situation, but said the amendment would have passed in the Senate if it came to a vote. "I don't believe in censorship, but at the same time, I don't think that film was appropriate in a state building on a state campus," said Miller. "Yes, the amendment was overkill, but at the same time, it would have passed because it forced legislators to either vote for hardcore pornography or university funding."

In addition to concerns about limits on freedom of expression for students, some UMD professors were also alarmed by the General Assembly's amendment. Professor Robin Sawyer said the state has not right to censor students or professors.

Monday night, the Student Power Party at UMD screened the first 30 minutes of the movie for about 200 students, faculty, administrators, and members of the media. While state legislators could still attempt to punish UMD for the screening, the event was sponsored by a student group, not the school's administration. The event began with a press conference and panel discussion focused on free speech an censorship.

"Student speech is fully supported by the First Amendment," said David Rocah, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. "This is a teachable moment [over] something that is not that important." After a week of controversy, the Maryland General Assembly decided to ask all public universities to report on their pornography screening policies, and the University of Maryland regents are meeting this Friday to discuss and possibly adopt new policies.

Read the original story from the University of Maryland Diamondback
Read the Diamondback article about the screening
Read the Diamondback article about the Regents’ actions
Read more from the Washington Post

Issue: Free Speech and Academic Rights

Re: The politics of porn: Free speech in Maryland

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Issue: Free Speech and Academic Rights