University of Maryland cancels screening of porn movie

[Syt]

Porn film screening canceled at university

BALTIMORE - 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.

UM President C.D. Mote Jr. decided to cancel the screening of Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge, which was to be shown at the student union and had been approved by a student programming committee.

A behind-the-scenes negotiation between state Senate officials and the university ensued after a debate broke out Thursday on the chamber's floor over the screening.

"That's really not what Maryland residents send their young students to college campus for -- to view pornography," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

He acknowledged the legislature shouldn't get involved in censoring movies, but said the General Assembly is not going to support the screening of hard-core pornographic movies on a state campus paid for by taxpayer dollars.

Sen. Andrew P. Harris, a Republican from Baltimore and Harford counties, suggested amending the state's annual budget to deny any funding to a higher education institution that allows a public screening of a film marketed as an "XXX-rated adult film," unless it is part of an official academic course.

Miller indicated he would vote for the budget amendment, giving substantial backing to the threat of denying the university tens of millions of dollars in state funding.

Senators debated the evils of pornography and the First Amendment for much of the morning, but Miller postponed discussions several times as groups of school children entered the gallery on field trips to the State House.

At one point, Miller explained to students why senators kept changing the subject.

"If you kids are wondering what we're doing, we're waiting for you to leave the room," Miller said. "We're going to talk about some bad stuff."

As of Wednesday, the student union at UM had not received any complaints about the film, but many students and others on campus seemed unaware it had been scheduled.

The 138-minute film, billed as a "XXX blockbuster" by its distributor, Digital Playground of Van Nuys, Calif., was the most expensive porn movie ever made, at $10 million. It was released in September 2008.

Christopher Ruth, a spokesman for Digital Playground, said he was disappointed and upset about the cancellation. He said at least five other universities, including Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon and the University of California, Los Angeles, had screened the film and none had canceled.

"Showing a movie like this opens up a discussion, a discourse on sexuality and gender roles, and for them to stifle that discourse from happening is amazing," said Ruth.

The film was provided to the university free, so no student fees or state money was used. But some observers still questioned whether hard-core porn has a place on a college campus.

The chaplain of the Catholic Student Center, the Rev. Kyle Ingels, said pornographic films are "degrading to the human person," adding, "It really runs counter to our efforts to try to form people to be men and women who will go out and contribute to society."

Adam Kissel, director of the Individual Rights Defense Program at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, based in Philadelphia, said the legislature was "far out of line" for threatening to withhold funding and said Mote's apparent "capitulation" was "distressing."

Obscene content is not necessarily protected under the U.S. Constitution, Kissel said, but the fact that the student union planned to have Planned Parenthood give a prescreening presentation on safe-sex practices before the film strengthens the First Amendment argument.

Planned Parenthood, which does not endorse pornography, had accepted the invitation as a way to educate students.

Four years ago, the university's student union showed Deep Throat, the classic 1972 porn film, said Lisa Cunningham, program coordinator for the union's Hoff Theater.

She said she thought Pirates II would be a good alternative to drinking or other dangerous activities.

"We thought this would be something fun for the students to do, especially since we're getting close to the end of the semester," Cunningham said. "We're a college movie theater and we thought it would bring out the students."

[The Brain]

Pretty rich for a Catholic chaplain to talk about contributing to society. Fucking pedophile.

[Caliga]

Pirates I was great.  One of the best pornos ever.

Carmen Luvana

[Syt]

Yes, but I preferred Porn Wars (at least Ep. 1, have yet to watch 2&3). It also taught me that people, esp. women, in a galaxy far, far away speak with heavy East European accents.

[Razgovory]

Pirates I was great.  One of the best pornos ever.

Carmen Luvana

Oh she's good.

[garbon]

"It really runs counter to our efforts to try to form people to be men and women who will go out and contribute to society."[/b]

People who watch porn never go out and contribute to society?

[Darth Wagtaros]

"It really runs counter to our efforts to try to form people to be men and women who will go out and contribute to society."[/b]

People who watch porn never go out and contribute to society?

I've never seen it as a big communal activity to be honest with ya.

[DGuller]

I think showing a 138 minute hardcore porn movie in public is the best way to fight pornography.  The memory of blue balls would haunt all of the guys in the room for the rest of their lives.

Speaking of porn on college, in my freshman English class we were assigned a movie called "Prospero's Books".  It was supposed to be based on Shakespeare's Tempest, but all I remember was every actor's junk flopping around.

[Lettow77]

Pretty rich for a Catholic chaplain to talk about contributing to society. Fucking pedophile.

Trolling, surely? Not all priests are pedophiles, and while the papacy may not run the tightest ship, holy men remain a source for good in society. I dont think I know anyone except for emo kids who'd be so dismissive and callous of what a priest has to say around here.

[Saladin]

Yes, but I preferred Porn Wars (at least Ep. 1, have yet to watch 2&3). It also taught me that people, esp. women, in a galaxy far, far away speak with heavy East European accents.

[Razgovory]

"It really runs counter to our efforts to try to form people to be men and women who will go out and contribute to society."[/b]

People who watch porn never go out and contribute to society?

Hi!

[The Nickname Who Was Thursday]

Pretty rich for a Catholic chaplain to talk about contributing to society. Fucking pedophile.

Trolling, surely? Not all priests are pedophiles,

Yet all Mormons are going to hell. 

[Malthus]

Why on earth would university students want to see a porn movie in public? 

[Eochaid]

People who watch porn never go out and contribute to society?

No, they usually are a bunch of wankers

kevin

[FunkMonk]

Why on earth would university students want to see a porn movie in public? 

I guess it's the groovy thing to do now?