Former Wisconsin university chancellor fired for porn career fights to keep professor job

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s top official has taken the first steps to remove a faculty member who was previously fired as chancellor because of his early career in the porn.

The former chancellor, Joe Gowsaid Wednesday that interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan filed three charges against him on March 29, accusing him of unethical conduct, failure to cooperate with an investigation and use of UW-La computers Cross to produce pornographic material.

Gow declined to share a letter from Morgan detailing the accusations, saying he didn’t want to appear like he was trying to make his case in the media.

But he added that the ethics charge could be linked to his writings in two pornographic e-books. He declined to go into details. The allegation of lack of cooperation stems from his refusal to speak to an outside law firm investigating the case without the assistance of an attorney, he said. He denied using state-owned equipment or state dollars to produce porn.

Spokespeople for UW-La Crosse did not respond to emails Wednesday seeking comment and details about the accusations. Mark Pitsch, a UW System spokesman, declined to comment.

Gow said he requested a hearing before a university committee, as is his right under state law. The committee would recommend to the Board of Regents, the governing body of the UW System, whether he can retain his replacement position as a tenured communications professor. The board would make the final decision on whether he can stay.

The regents fired Gow as chancellor in December after learning that he and his wife, Carmen Wilson, a former professor at UW-La Crosse, were producing and starring in pornographic videos. They have also written two e-books titled “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real-Life Adventures in the Adult Industry” under pseudonyms.

Gow had planned to retire as chancellor at the end of the spring 2024 semester and transition to a role teaching communications courses. But Jay Rothman, president of the UW System, put that on hold until his tenure could be reconsidered.

Gow claimed that he and his wife produced pornographic material in their spare time. He insists the videos and books never mentioned UW-La Crosse or his role at the university and that the regents violated his free speech by firing him.

The university committee hearing has not yet been scheduled, Gow said, but he is eager to clear his name. Students told him they thought he was a great person and looked forward to taking his classes, he said.

“It’s really hard to be treated like a criminal when you’ve done nothing wrong,” Gow said. “I’m really curious how the administration is going to prove that I did something wrong.”

The regents hired James Beeby, dean of Keene State College of New Hampshire, last month to succeed Gow as chancellor. Morgan was one of three finalists, along with Beeby and Indiana State University President Christopher Olsen.