The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents fired the chancellor of UW-La Crosse this week following revelations that he had filmed pornographic videos of himself and his wife and posted them online.
The board voted unanimously to fire Joe Gow, who had served as the chancellor of UW-La Crosse since 2007 and was set to leave his post at the end of the school year and return to his faculty position. Gow’s ouster from the chancellorship came after UW System President Jay Rothman recommended Gow be removed following the discovery of the pornographic videos.
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“In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm,” Rothman said, according to WXOW. “His actions were abhorrent. As a tenured faculty member, Dr. Gow will be placed on paid administrative leave as he transitions into his faculty role at UW-La Crosse.”
Rothman also said the university is launching a review of his tenure and position at the university.
In response, Gow said he was “deeply troubled” by the board’s actions and decried a lack of due process in his ouster, saying he was “not informed of the policy that I violated, nor was I given a hearing to present my side of the case.” The embattled administrator also said the erotic material he produced with his wife was protected by freedom of speech.
“Moreover, the Regents appear to be overlooking the fact that books and videos my wife and I have produced are protected under the First Amendment as well as the Regents’ own Commitment to Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression,” Gow said.
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Gow and his wife reportedly posted the videos on the pornographic sites OnlyFans and Pornhub and had used pseudonyms to write books about the pornography industry.
The UW Board of Regents has named Provost Betsy Morgan as UW-La Crosse’s interim chancellor.
