Former Wisconsin chancellor fights for job after porn video scandal

Joe Gow, the former chancellor of UW-La Crosse, was dismissed in 2023 after it was revealed that he and his wife produced pornographic videos. Following his termination, Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position and is now fighting to retain his tenured teaching role. A personnel committee of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents is set to review his case, which has attracted significant media attention due to its implications for free speech rights. The university's faculty committee unanimously recommended that Gow lose his faculty position, citing unethical behavior and exploitation of his role to promote the videos. University attorneys argue that his actions have damaged the institution's reputation and interfered with its mission. They contend that Gow's inability to recognize his poor judgment further justifies his removal from the faculty. Gow maintains that the videos and accompanying e-books he created with his wife do not reference UW-La Crosse and were produced during their personal time. However, he faced criticism in the past for inviting a porn actor to speak on campus, which raised questions about his judgment and appropriateness as a university leader. The outcome of the personnel committee's discussions will be kept confidential before being presented to the full Board of Regents. Gow's hope to return to teaching is met with opposition from his department chair, who argues that his long absence from the classroom makes his return inappropriate.