The pornography debacle that captured national attention will likely end with a University System of Maryland policy governing when and where adult films can be shown on campuses statewide.
Sen. Andrew Harris (R-Baltimore and Harford) told The Washington Post he is seeking to amend the capital budget – a list of state construction spending that will likely be voted on today – to force the system to create a policy on porn for its 13 institutions, university lobbyist Ross Stern said. Harris could not be reached for comment.
The Board of Regents, a 17-member panel of gubernatorial appointees that oversees the system, will happily comply, said Chairman Clifford Kendall.
“I think this is the best way to resolve the issue, and we want to do that quickly,” Kendall said, calling the controversy a “tragedy” for this university.
The Regents will convene on Friday but probably not finalize the policy then, Kendall said, to allow more time for discussion and debate. He could not comment on what the policy would look like, although he expressed the desire to rid system institutions of X-rated films for entertainment purposes.
Last week when the state’s operating budget was being discussed, Harris proposed an amendment that would have pulled the university’s funding for screening Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge at the Hoff theater. Although many legislators thought Harris’ reaction was “overkill,” the amendment would have passed without question, since no state lawmaker would want to essentially vote for pornography, Senate President Mike Miller said.
Even though most in Annapolis agreed the issue was overblown, many legislators still questioned if hardcore porn is appropriate on a state campus and if the university should promote such films as entertainment. At the same time, with a budget deficit of $500 million to close by Monday, more important issues are at stake, said Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George’s).
Students are watching and waiting to see what will happen next, said Kenton Stalder, a junior English language and literature major who is running for the Arts and Humanities legislator position on the Student Power Party ticket and was a key player in pulling off yesterday’s porn protest in the name of free speech.
“We’re not opposed to the Board of Regents deciding a policy as long as it is a result of an extended dialogue between students and administrators, and comes to a conclusion in the spirit of free and open inquiry,” he said.
Although free speech activists are encouraged by the direction the pornography debate is going, they will still fight for their rights if need be, Stalder said.
sticedbk@gmail.com
